How to settle on a foundation

[citygirl1961]

I'm fed up of wasting time and money with this. My No7 match is cool ivory and the Essentially Natural foundation in this shade matches my skin perfectly. However, I was given a sample of the Hydralumious in the same shade and like that but it seemed darker when I put it on, I got a sample in the next one, cool vanilla and I feel that's too light. I also have a Clinique foundation (even better glow) but that's expensive to keep replacing, though there are often offers on the Clinique website. That shade is cream chamois and people say it looks OK but I feel it may be a bit dark.

Just a bit paranoid as I have recently seen two women in town with the dark line around their neck. They've looked fine from the front but when they've turned sideways they looked like they were wearing a mask. I don't want to look like that. I'm also aware in summer I might get a bit of colour anyway.

Buy samples off ebay/go to the counter first. Have you tried the findation online shade finder?

And you may find you need a summer and a winter shade

i find Clinique Even Better Glow oxidises on me, so looks fine when I put it on and I look orange an hour later.

If the Essentially Natural matches you perfectly why not stick with that?

I ought to do really but I always keep looking for something else, thinking that the more I spend the better the foundation will be.

I have tried Findation but it didn't seem to match me to anything.

Ahh that's how the company's get us. The next thing will always be "better"

If you’re struggling with this I’d really recommend dcypher. They personalise foundations to colour match based on a selfie you send to them. They make up a sample pot and you just pay P&P for it. Mine was right first time but if you’re not happy they can keep sending samples for free until they perfect your shade.

I’ve been really pleased with them.

I think first you need to decide what you prefer (matte, glowy, radiant), then you need to figure out what your skin is like: oily, dry, combination, fine lines, wrinkles, spots? Do you want sth super comfortable or do you just want to hide under it (full-coverage) and aren't bothered about comfort?
Do you want sth high-maintenance: sponge and/or proper brush, or sth you can put on with fingers and look great?
Some foundations oxidise: you put it on and it looks like you but then it turns yellow-ish or a bit orange after drying (some take a while though) so it's important to take a sample home ( more often than not the light is too warm/yellow so you look better than IRL, if you know what I mean?).
I like L'Oréal they have a huge range, good price, they last fine and they look good on but you need a rough idea of what you want/like and then you must go to a counter and get a sample to take home so you can check the shade in direct sunlight and, personally, I find comfort really important, I can't stand foundations that I can feel all day long. I also prefer not to have to set tbh (I only set concealer under eyes).
It's nice to have experts recommend sth in shops but we're all different so what works for them might not work for you. I don't know how old you are but I would stay away from young ones at the make up counter because they've might have tried products but young skin's better so they might no understand what you want because they haven't been there yet.
If you want to up you budget: MAC Studio Fix (fluid) or Body & Face. I also recommend you get test in the Studio Fix so you can go online and google Foundation X from brand Y in MAC N(SF no.) and you'll get loads of options. There are also several foundation match finders online and the MAC Studio Fix (liquid one) is always very accurate to compare to others.

tested no test