How to match foundation to my skin tone?

[ICompletelyKnowAboutGuineaPigs]

This is probably a really daft question but I can't get one that matches. I have so far trusted the people in the shops/make up stands, but I wore my latest purchase the other day and I think it's too dark for my pale winter skin.

Don't want to spend a huge amount if possible but there are so many products I don't know where to start. Any tips?

Boots no7 have a colour match machine. They hold it to your skin and tell you which of their colours is right for you. I was really dubious when I had a go but the colour is an exact match, I'm really pleased with it. First time ever I think I've got a good match for my skin colour, I've never managed to get a good match doing it myself.

Ask for a tester to try at home - any counter will be happy to give you some to try at home.

Yay, another thread where people can say how fab it is that Boots will tell you which foundation of their ones to buy pull the other one OP. There were several 'over-enthusiastic Boots service promoters' sails close to the wind on here earlier in the season.

It doesn't make the actual foundation any better. And they get it wrong at least as often as they get it right anyway with their fancy machines. No comparison with an experienced make-up counter person actually looking at your skin and recommending the right one for you.

I was in Boots the other week and saw someone getting that colour match thing being done - she was sold completely the wrong colour.

I got it done, took two samples (same colour, different formulations) and at home and in natural light I was Peter Andre-esque. My sister got it done and was told she was the same shade as me, she's clearly not! She went to a different Boots and they sold her a different colour which she's happy with, for balance. So the machines / staff aren't even accurate.

OP and others, if you want a good match head to Mac counter in a dept store, they'll sort you out.

Unfortunately I've tried MAC products in the past and had horrendous advice so I've avoided ever since.

I actually did go into a Boots today and she did the colour match machine thing. It did choose a colour but when the No7 lady applied it she saw it didn't match and chose another one. I was actually really pleased with the service and I honestly have no brand preference at all. I'll just have to wait and see whether the formula agrees with my sensitive skin, but no complaints about the advice - it was certainly better than the last woman at Clinique who chose one that made me look like a satsuma!

The thing with the Boots machine is- it will only match you to one of the colours they have in their range- and that may not be right for you! They only have about 9 shades per foundation whereas someone like Bobbi Brown must have about 20 or more.

Boots matched me and I told her before she began that I would be the palest shade- she disagreed but lo and behold the machine agreed with me.

However, the palest Lift and Luminate was okay as a shade ( but don't like the formulation it seems a bit dull on my skin) but the same shade in one of their other foundations was much darker!

Getting the right shade is IMO more important than the formulation. It should not be visible on your face when you try a bit on your bare skin. if it's too light it will stand out- and too dark the same.

IMO it's best to go to a counter that does matching - like Estee Lauder, Lancome, Bobbi Brown or Clinique and come away with samples to try at home in daylight.

Or- just pay less for something like L'oreal and accept that it might be £9 down the drain. Their Colour Match foundation is okay actually- and they are labelled as warm, cool, or neutral shades.

I was matched by nars at house of Fraser last week and was really impressed. She gave me a little sample pot as well as the full sized one I bought so if I didn't like it I could return the full sized one.