AIBU to be pissed off with the entire experience of shopping for foundation?

[Nicebucket]

I love makeup, but I hate shopping for it! I don't want to me harsh because I know the people at makeup counters are just doing their job, but they really upset me sometimes and it kills the whole experience.

For starters, they ALWAYS try to match me to a shade that's wayyyyy too dark for my skin. I'm a MAC NC 25/30, so I'm definitely not pale, but I'm not exactly dark either. But for some reason, the foundation shades they match me to at counters such as Bobbi Brown, Nars, Clarins etc. are proper dark.

I don't understand why this is? Is it an assumption that everyone wants to look tanned and slightly orange? Or is it because I'm of Indian origin and Indian skins are generally a bit darker so they assume I must be too?

I genuinely don't understand. Could I be blind and unable to understand my own skin tone?!

I've been to the Benefit counter a few times and they've always given me the right shade

I had a massive strop at the Boots lady who tried to oompa loompa me. I ended up stomping off with shade lighter than normal just to prove my point

I have found Smashbox has good foundation (my skin is similar to yours).

Don't go looking to buy. Ask for a make-over then see what you think of what they have used.

I've been using CT magic foundation for about a month now, similar colouring to you and shade 6 matches me perfectly. When I ordered it (shade 7) they sent samples of 6&8 to try too and I'd overestimated how dark I was. I really like it, it's the first foundation I've used that hasn't made my skin feel weird.
Mac are terrible for giving me darker foundation than I need and I've got £100s of makeup in a drawer that I can't use

Reading all this makes me glad I gave up make up 4 years ago. Never buy it, never wear it. Wouldn't know where to start getting some now if it's this difficult these days

Laughing at the laminated foundation! It's probably a more accurate description though, many a time I've come away from a makeup counter looking like dark oak or antique mahogany!
Worst was Bobbi Brown, you could see the brush strokes all over my face, I reckon B&Q would have done a better job with a tester pot of Dulux

Why not just take the last of your previous bottle of foundation, and use that to find a match with a new one?

I think we need a foundation swap group, I also have at least 6 virtually untouched foundations that were crap on me once I got home.... I keep eyeing up some on Avon but can't cope with buying more that are not quite right.

Mac make a white one which you can mix up with your darker shades to make the shade you need.

I like Chanel for make up with my olive coloured skin. I also like boots if funds are low.

SDT- I've tried!! They girls behind the counter just tell me I've been wearing the wrong shade all along

It's hopeless.

Lila- hahahahh! I've done that once myself!!

But why do you have to listen to the girls behind the counter? You are the customer, and the customer is always right - just buy the shade you want!

Also feel your pain, I'm Irish and have light brown hair, blue eyes and very fair skin with a smattering of freckles, but like a PP above have fairly rosy cheeks and don't suit anything yellowy/gold coloured at all - and every single time I've been to a make up counter I've come away looking like I'm auditioning for TOWIE. I don't really wear much make up and only want something with light coverage to even up my skin and basically just ensure I don't scare my patients at work, but even when I tell them this they trowel it on an inch thick. The worst ever was Benefit - I quite like some of their stuff but the one and only time I agreed to let the girl at the counter loose on me I swear my face was so shiny and day-glo orange they could have used it to guide in planes in the dark. DP nearly gave himself a hernia laughing. I'm currently using a Bare Minerals one which so far seems to be quite good. Have also had a good MAC one previously but had to be firm when buying it at the counter at Heathrow 'no I don't want to try any others thanks no I am sure thanks no really I just want to buy this one yes I know it's very light yes I'm sure it's the right one thank you now please just take my money before I miss my flight'

I wouldn't go to an assistant on a counter for the simple reason they always have to find something from their own range for you for commission reasons. Not their fault, but sometimes some ranges don't have enough tones/undercolours so they find the best one out of a limited range and try to flog you that.

Why not just do it yourself? I go to the cheaper end of the ranges (or you can go where you like) and try them all, I was told to try them on the inner wrist (as exceptionally pale so don't want any orange/dark stuff), I do that and if I like one, then try a bit more on my hand to see how it blends.

I have always had success like this and don't pay more than £10ish and get lots of compliments on my skin.

I found a Rimmel liquid foundation the other week that was absolutely perfect for my dead/ghost complexion. It was in Superdrug on an end stand labelled Halloween Makeup alongside black eyeshadows and other products designed to make you into a ghost

DD thought it hilarious.

I go mad in Sephora when I'm in the USA. Wish we had them here.

check out www.findation.com you can put in your mac colours and it will tell you what shades in other brands
ive found it pretty spot on for me

I ended up with a BB cream from L'Oreal, think it's a new product.

There were 3 varieties, all with some form of correction included and supposed to turn into foundation on the skin.

The one I picked was for redness correction, it goes on green and it does seem to smooth out skin tone for me and turn the redness down, while I can't feel it on the skin, like I do with too many foundations. Even my resident beauty expert (dd aged 15) agrees!

I don't think it would suit the really pale, but for redness correction it's fine.

I ignore the Makeup SAs much now - apart from checking re colour matches, which I then double check myself.... Preferably outside.

A friend of mine who's black recommends Blackup and another Iraqui friend with an olive complexion swears by Clinique Almost Makeup.

I have used Bobbi Brown (ok but not great), MAC - too pale. Chanel vitalumiere great but expensive for everyday. Dior did a great laminating one but it got discontinued... I've given up on high end for everyday but will try Dior Star or the NARS luminating one next time I buy a high end.

Currently using Max Factor compact one which is fab, i do have success with the odd Maybelline one too. I am NC25 which is pale but not too pale!

I use Bobbi brown serum foundation and really like it.

I also got samples of the CT Magic foundation (I'm a 4) in 3 shades. I didn't find it drying and I have very dry skin, but I do prep with a heavy moisturiser (eve Lom TLC).

I was less impressed with CT light wonder foundation - I find it a bit too illuminating tbh.

Do boots still offer the service of matching to your skin or have I made that up ?

OP I reckon it's the colours in your skin rather thank how dark or light it is that's making them offer you darker tones. I'm whote British but I have a very olive complexion and I think that actually means a lot more yellow than red in the colour - I'm guessing Asian skin is even more liable to this effect. I find all the colours too pinky for me.

Wow ta chipsandpeas think you have saved me a fortune there !

I've a very pale face and a white neck. I went to Space NK and got a lovely Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser. A bobbi brown lady made me look like an Oompa Loompa once.

I love the boots no7 foundation matching service, fit the first time in forever I can reliably buy foundation that is just right for me. No7 also has a good range of formulations, Stay Perfect is my go to but really like the new Airbrush foundation