Help me choose foundation shade - pics and a tool!

[NachoAddict]

I want to buy an urban decay foundation but am struggling to pick a shade. Please help! Here are some naked face photos, shock horror. I usually wear nude or medium beige true flawless foundation by Avon.
My skin is usually quite yellow looking, not sure that shows on the photos.

www.urbandecay.com/nakedskin#/Finder/Find Your Shade/1

Its quite expensive so I want to get it right.

Your best bet is to pop into a store that stocks it and get a couple of samples- it's really hard to tell from your photos as the lighting makes you two very different shades. Urban Decay counters at House of Fraser etc are really good for giving you decent sized samples as well- the Naked Skin foundation is lovely but doesn't have the best staying power so is definitely worth taking the time to trial it for a few days before you buy!

I was afraid someone would say that, I am sp impaitent I just want to order now will have to try and get into the city at the weekend.

Do you have any recommendations for a great foundation? I am slowly upgrading my stuff from avon and want to buy decent stuff.

I personally love the YSL Touche Eclat foundation but it all very much depends on your skin type- are you oily, Dry, combo or normal? The Urban Decay Naked Skin is nice, but for me I find it starts to fade and settle into fine lines (that weirdly aren't even noticeable without makeup!) after about 3 hours of wear. I'm very cool, pale skin tone so certain brands I can't get the right shade in- Chanel for example does a couple of lovely ones but they are too yellow toned for me (which actually might make them perfect for you as you say you have more of a warm/yellow tone).

I think the best thing you can do is bite the bullet and hit Boots/John Lewis/House of Fraser etc and get samples!

I can suggest a few to get samples of if you let me know your skin type and what kind of coverage and finish you want?

I use the Estée Lauder foundation in Ivory beige in the summer and ivory nude in the winter. Amazing foundation, lasts through sweat and rain! I'd recommend using a beauty blender sponge as this way you don't get a too think application.

Hope this helped x

Oo yes- make sure you use a decent brush or sponge. I personally love a good brush as I'm rubbish with sponges but it personal preference. My favourite brush for foundation is the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (is often on offer for about £7/£8 too which is a bonus)

I have very oily forehead and cheeks and someimes between my eyebrows and the end of my nose can by dry and flaky.

I think samples will be the way to go, would live reccomendations please, that would be great. I like full coverage, buildable is fine.

My skin is olive I think but not tanned altjoygh I tan well in summer/on holiday and don't burn easily, I have some freckles.

Oh and I use a beauty blender but I use it dry, it never really works well damp for me.

I don't think Naked Skin will be enough coverage for you if you like full- is also not great on forehead oil so you'd be better trying the Urban Decay full coverage option I think- All Nighter.

YSL- Touche Eclat (I adore this and have combo skin- some people say they don't like the new formulation- I personally think it's longer lasting and better for combo skin which it sounds like you have). YSL All Hours is supposed to be a good long lasting, full coverage, however I've not tried it myself.

Chanel- Perfection Lumiere Velvet
Estée Lauder- Double Wear (although he very careful to moisturise well on your dry areas with this one as it can cling)
Giorgio Armani- Luminous Silk or Lasting Silk (only have stands in Selfridges though 😕)

What kind of price are the YSL ones?

Will Debenhams or John Lewis have a counter? Teying to think what shops are about.

Is MAC as good as youtube would have me believe?

YSL is usually £30. Chanel/Estee Lauder usually about £34. Urban Decay about £28. So all very similar price brackets.

I don't like Mac foundations as I find they feel very heavy on the face in general. Mac are great for lipsticks though (although NYX do great copies)

And yes Debenhams, John Lewis and big Boots will have them

I love chanel, Dior, MAC, Urban decay and Tom Ford, they are pricey, I try to find dupes now, Bourjois healthy mix is a dupe for the chanel one.

I use the Real techniques sculpting brush or the foundation brush to apply my foundation.

The No7 foundations in boots are brilliant too, and you can get one matched to your skin tone with their colour match thingy bob It matches brilliantly.

I had assumed the YSL and Chanel ones would be much more expensive, that has surprised me.

Can I just do a tour of the counters asking for samples? Will they be able to tell me the right shade?

I have ordered my first Urban Decay eyeshadow palette which was 40% off, so excited to try it!

MAC is good, I love most of their make up, Boots, John Lewis, Debenhams and House of Fraser will all have make up counters, though where I am you can only buy MAC in House of Fraser.

Just take a tour of the stands and ask them to colour match and give you samples. They all give you them so don't feel embarrassed to ask!

I just ask for samples I have no shame, and most of the time I get given one, or you can try it in the shop, but if you do make sure you go outside and leave it for a bit as the lighting is different and some foundations oxidize.

I am rubbish at asking for things but I dont want to waste my money, I will just have to woman up and do it.

So I just say, can I have a sample please?

Just go to stand- say that you are interested in (insert name of foundation) and would they be able to help you find the right colour. If they have one that looks a good match, ask for a sample of it so you can see how you like it.

I am guessing I need to go in with a bare face?

if you are going to have it applied on your face then yes you will have to go bare faced
I went in the morning when it was quiet, and had the colour match for the boots No7 foundations, I got matched to Calico, I have a cool skin tone and have very combination skin, I use a pressed powder to take off the shine.

Just go over to the counter and ask about the foundation you are interested in, ask if you they have any samples you can take home with you to try.

Try looking on findation it’s a site that you can input the brand and colour you currently use and it will show you other brands and colours. Not sure it has Avon on but worth a look.

I am not convinced the avon shade is quite right for me either.

I will just have to brazen it out, thats what the samples are for after all right?

There is a voucher for estee lauder double wear if you google.

You'll be fine! I've never been refused a sample- they expect people to want to try it first.

And to avoid any confusion with shades if your current one isn't quite right, going barefaced might make it easier to match.

OP i went to an estee lauder counter recently and asked for a sample of DW and they put a little gadget thing against my cheek and it bleeped and she declared i was ivory beige (or beige ivory?) and poured some of said colour into a teeny bottle for me to take away. It was perfect and 2 weeks later (when the teeny bottle ran out!) i spent my £36 on a full size. I love it.

They have 50 shades. One of them will be right :)