Buying foundation but not from a counter?

[DiscoDancer]

Maternity leave lack of funds has kicked in, and my foundation needs updating. Went to my local boots today, not a massive store but has all of the loreal/max factor stands etc (plus a Clarins and Clinique counter).

Anyway wanted to check to see what shade I should get, but how can you test this short of actually applying to your whole face and checking it out when you get home? There were no assistants nearby to ask? Have always purchased Clinique foundation/face powder so always get I applied or a small sample to take home, but still if I'm spending £10 on something I want it to be the right one. Any ideas?! Lighting was too dire to just do back of hand testing only.

Apply it to your inner arm/wrist. Then go outside into daylight and see how well it matches.

Try this website which will narrow down your choices and help you find the right shade:

findation.com/

Get yourself colour matched at a Mac counter but don't buy.

Choose a high street foundation and google for the Mac equivalent. I have saved pounds doing this as on reviews people always refer to their Mac shade on beauty blog/ reviews.

Oh the Mac thing sounds good.

But I usually do as you've described! Apply to whole face, or at least over nose and cheeks, go home and check. I do this even at counters as I don't trust them . Feel a bit brash doing it in Boots myself though! Also means heading to shops without slap

Go prepared with a bare face, wipes and a mirror in your bag. Brazenly apply tester to side of face, forehead or where ever you're happiest. Lisa Eldridge suggests the side of the jaw near your ear. Go outside to daylight and check your fine self out in your mirror. If it looks hideous, wipe it off. If it looks okay, go and do something else for an hour or two and check it again later.

Make sure you remember which shade you tested, otherwise you'll have to do it all again!

This is handy for matching the shade you usually use to other brands.

Don't match to your arm, match it to your chest. Otherwise your face and neck/chest will be completely different colours!

If you know what shade you are in one of the big brands, ie MAC, Clinique, then have a look on Temptalia. It has an index of what shades match across the brands.

For cheaper but good foundations, have a look at L'Oreal, Bourjois or Rimmel.

No 7 is significantly cheaper but they colour match I pay around 12 quid

Go to Boots where they colour match no 7 with that machine thing

The machine No7 use is utterly crap, please don't rely on it. Me, my sister and many posts on here attest to its inconsistency.

Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation is gorgeous and about a tenner.

Check out eBay for your actual clinique one there are always bargains to be had

Thanks all. Love those colour matching websites. Are there any to get your lipsticks matched too?! I can sense some money to be saved here!

The machine No7 use is utterly crap, please don't rely on it. Me, my sister and many posts on here attest to its inconsistency

Is it? I used that for my wedding make up :( hope I looked ok

Google lipstick dupes. Quite a lot of websites and blogs dedicated to finding dupes of more expensive products.

With lipsticks, I tend to find that even if the colour is a good match, then the texture and wearability of the cheaper product isn't as good.

I got a great match from No 7 BUT the machine matched me too pale so clever make up counter man matched me a shade darker and told me I could bring it back if I didn't like it at home.

Wrt lipsticks,I try them on my finger tip, if it looks ok against the finger tip then it'll suit your lips as the skin is a similar shade. This has stopped me buying lip sticks that are too 'brown' when I need to go for a pinker shade.

Now I think of it the lady at boots suggested I go a shade darker than the machine suggested. She tried a couple on my skin and I went with her recommendation.

Ask for samples at the counters. Lancôme, Clinique, Estée Lauder and Clarins are all good with matching & samples. I had a Bobbi Brown BB Cream Sample given to me in two separate shades as the SA said I could wear either but to try, and then decide. I haven't actually bought any foundation since before Christmas....am still working through the very generous samples!

I sound like a real cheapskate, but companies want you to happy ++ with you're eventual purchases and know that in our present economy! it's madness to spend £25 on a product that isn't absolutely right.

Just ask!