Why does my foundation look yellow...recommendations please!

[Sunflowersinthegarden]

Hello all,
I'm on the search for some light/medium coverage foundation. Currently use the bare minerals tinted moisturiser and I really like it but I feel it's starting to look yellow on me. I've also got another 2 higher end foundations (can't remember the name). I ordered from ilmakiage for the first time after doing the shade finder quiz and I still look yellow!

I would love to have a non yellow or orange medium coverage foundation/tinted moisturiser. I don't like Matt, so a sheer/glow finish preferred.

I do like bare minerals, so if anyone has used this and knows of a more pinky/not yellow shade, please let me know!

Thank you.

Why not visit a bare minerals counter and let them match your foundation for you?

What shade are you using ? I’ve tried vanilla and it’s more pink toned but I literally used it once and hated it as it just sat on my skin and accentuated all my pores and lines and I so wanted to love it after reading about it

Do you know what your skins undertone is - cool/neutral/warm?

Maybe look for more neutral shades - if you are ordering online lots of companies will state if it's medium neutral etc.

What's your exact shade your using in the bare minerals atm - maybe I can help point you in the right direction of something with the same shade but a more neutral undertone.

Getting matched at a counter is a good idea if you can get to one.

Also bare in mind some foundations oxidise over time so start to look more yellow once the air hits them. So worth trying something on your skin first if you can get a sample.

You could get a No7 counter in a large Boots to analyse your skin tone with their gadget.

Thanks all, my local Boots never has anyone on the Bare Minerals counter. Also, if I'm honest...I'm really self conscious about my face and hate beauty counters.

@CuteAsDuck I currently have 2 bare minerals shades, at the moment I'm using Buttercream as I'm very pale in the winter. It's almost looking a bit yellow and dark but seemed a good match before, so not sure what's happening!
I also have it in "natural" for the summer. As I'm really pale in winter and tan a lot in the summer. The natural (from what I remember) is quite good because it's a not orange or yellow.

I'm not sure about my undertones! I'm useless. A quick look online suggests maybe a cool undertone...as my veins are more blue.

@WorriedaboutThe I may give that shade a go! I do find it nice and lightweight on my skin but I suppose it depends on your skin type.

@WrinklesShminkles not a bad idea as I used to use no7 and like it. I just struggled to find a replacement after the discontinued the one I used to use.

N7 will use their gizmo and tell you what shade you are, then you can match on something like Findation. Brands like Estée Lauder are good because their foundation is divided into N, C and W so you can't go wrong. It's amazing how a paler W (warm) looks dreadful on me for example, as despite being a human mozzarella I'm a C (so reddish rather than yellowish toned)

Buttercream is a very warm, yellow based shade. Vanilla is more pink based. Or you could try Nars tinted moisturiser in Terra Neuve or Gotland.

I've just switched to Fenty - available to try out at bigger Boots. Each shade comes in two base colours - one pink & one yellow. There's a matt one & a glow one. The only disadvantage is the foundation doesn't have an spf so I've carried on using the Amber Solaire Super UV factor 50 face sunscreen that I was using in the summer on beach trips (when I don't usually bother with my usual full slap.)

Bobbi Brown have a good range of shades but they've got too expensive for me. (I still miss Prescriptives & still have one remaining cover up from my stockpile from when they closed.)

I had this problem. I was buying foundation on the basis that I thought my skintone was warm ( dark brown eyes, light brown hair, skintone to the dark side of medium). Eventually, a consultant at the Clarins counter found a perfect match, and it turned out it was a neutral tone.

For reference, it's Clarins Skin Illusion in Amber 112C.

It's hard to work it all out! When I do the Bare Minerals shade finder online, it doesn't direct me to the pink tones but I'm fed up of being yellow! I just end up guessing.

Vanilla might be better for you as others have said. Or even birch although may be on the pale side. I don't know what bare minerals are like for samples but maybe worth trying to get your hands on a sample pot if you can.

Try not to feel self conscious about asking the counter staff if there ever does happen to be somebody there. I worked on counters for years and a good counter rep will do their best to put you at ease 💗

Findation.com is brilliant if you happen to have a shade you do like in another foundation. You can put in the ones that are a good match and it will tell you what other brands/shades would be a good match.

Hi all,
So my new foundation in Vanilla arrived and I hoped it would be more pink.
To be they both look pretty much the same and yellow/orange!

They both look way too dark for your natural skin tone.

You look more like cool ivory in no 7. You might be looking yellow because the shade is far too dark on you.

Also when I look online the colours look nothing like they do on my arm.
Below I found online and it's the same shades as I'm showing above! They look nice on this lady's arm.

I think you are going to have to bite the bullet and go to a make up counter and put some on your skin. You can ask for a tester sample at Estée Lauder and I’m sure most others will do the same so you can try at home with your other make up and see what it looks like on your skin.

@LimeCheesecake nooooooo. You're right but I hate doing it. I think I just want the Bare Minerals to work because I like it so much.

Seeing the colours on my arm, I've realised they look about 10 shades too dark!
I think the lightest is Opal. Maybe I need to try that.

@NeedAHoliday2021 funnily enough, you are right! I'm a cool ivory in No7! How did you know? I'm so incompetent.

Don’t buy any more without going to a counter! Even if you don’t speak to a person and just put some on your wrist then go look in natural light - do not part with any more money until you have checked they are correct!

Il makiage is literally the worst foundation I’ve ever tried. I’ve tried both their normal and their higher coverage ranges and whilst the colour was ok (not amazing though), the formulations were awful. Like the cheapest make up you could find.

I think you need to test on your face. My skin colour on my face is nothing like the colour on the inside of my wrist.

@LimeCheesecake you're right! I may have to make a trip to Boots. I just find it very intimidating and the last few times I've been, hardly any counters are manned and if you ask for help, you get a random person who says they know nothing about the brand.

@Sunflowersinthegarden I’m usually useless at girly stuff. I am cool Ivory myself though. I got the colour match thing done. My dd1 wears no7 because we could get the lady in boots to help and avoid orange lines. It is worth getting properly matched but I agree it’s a bit awkward (Although They’re always lovely).

Hi OP I’m also pale (similar to your arm colour) and vanilla matches me really well. It’s definitely less yellow than buttercream. Have you tried it on your face - I think your
inner arm will always be paler especially in winter.

Having seen your arm I say def try the Birch! Opal might be too pink. Birch is more neutral.

At the very least you need to swatch them at the counter though even if your too scared to get a colour match done.

It's just so hard to tell online!