How do I work out if I'm warm or cold undertones for foundation?

[Howaboutthisone]

I currently wear intensity 1.0 in double wear light which is a bit dark on me. I'm thinking of trying out the cheaper rimmel perfect match. And in the past have used mac but not been totally convinced by the colour match NW15.
I've heard a lot about this warm/cool undertones thing and am not sure how to work it out!

Another question as I try to understand this...

So if I'm cool toned for example, as most foundations don't have the identifying W or C of mac, do I go for a more yellow to balance out or do I go for more pink - I think the more pink as it will be a better match but is that right?!

Are you sure you're more pink than yellow? In your OP you said you weren't convinced by MAC's diagnosis is the reason I ask!

Not really! Identifying that is my next step! I'm hoping for some time tomorrow when dc1 is out and dc2 naps(hopeful!) to hold up colours etc! I'm just trying to get my head around the way it works!

I'd just go back to a MAC counter, say you're not convinced and ask to be rematched!

(T

(Then when you've got a match you're happy with you can google what other foundations match that colour.)

I think you're right- that's what I'll have to do! I'll need to make a trip to the big smoke especially in the next few weeks.

The NW in MAC means Not Warm (ie cool) and NC Not Cool (ie warm). Not sure why they use inverse logic but that's how a makeup artist explained it to me. Anyway, I'm neutral toned and try to find foundations that are neither very pink nor very yellow.

I'm sure that's not right. A makeup artist said that?

I thought
NW = neutral warm
NC = neutral cool.
?

I think from what someone said upthread that you're right that NW stands for neutral warm but that it is to make you more neutral by adding warmth and is therefor for cool tones. Therefore it could be helpful to think of it as standing for Not Warm! I am most definitely not certain of this however- hence my starting the thread

Those aren't officially what they stand for but Dodo is quite right in terms of what they mean. So:

NW=neutral warm=for cool toned (pinky) skin
NC=neutral cool=for warm toned (yellowy) skin

Howsaboutthisone, yes, if you are a cool undertone, pinky based foundations would look better. If I were you I'd go into John Lewis or a large department store and get one of the big names to colour match you. They should offer you a sample, enough for a week or two. Bobby Brown are generous with their samples. Get comfortable with that then you can try to find a similar Rimmel shade. I always go slightly lighter, much more flattering and then use bronzing powder to achieve a darker contoured look. Complicated business being a woman!

I've learnt loads from this thread! Thank you!

Ie always relied on the gold silver thing and it works. I'm very fair, and gold looks hideous on me, whereas silver looks fab. Chanel vitalumiere was a big let down for me as it was too yellow, and MAC was a nightmare. Easter Lauder and Lancôme have the best tone range IMO.