Brands offering foundation samples?

[TheRealCannyFraddock]

I need a light foundation/tinted moisturiser type product but I'm not near shops and I have no idea whether my undertones are cool or warm, pink or yellow. I don't want to buy a full size product in the wrong colour even if it can be returned so I am looking for samples but I don't think many companies provide them? Can anyone advise? Thank you!

Am thinking of having my colours done to help me make more informed choices!

I've had the same problem but related to menopause (foundation I used to use somehow looks wrong now.
Not sure what your budget is, but I bought some samples off eBay for very little.
I found the cosmetic counters pretty mean frankly. They seemed happy to plaster you in foundation at the counter (complete with 'warming me up' - ie: turning me orange!) but less happy to let you try anything at home and in natural light.
Clarins were the most helpful for me and decanted some into a tiny pot for home.
Good luck!

@Eaumyword I have more than once made an regrettable purchase that looked fine in the light of a department store! Do you think the samples are genuine? I don't mind spending a bit before I invest in a full size product.

Me too 😆
Can't speak for all sellers/samples of course, but I always used Bourjois foundation and the samples I bought of different Bourjois colours were definitely real.

I use Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue tinted moisturiser and I've been given samples in the past. The last time was from a Boots on Oxford St that has a lot of makeup counters so I'd imagine larger Boots elsewhere would do the same?

I am very pale and struggle with foundation as I have pale red cheeks too. I even went to the Charlotte Tilbury counter in John Lewis and the foundation they put on me had a real yellow undertone to it.

Anyway I took a punt on Dcypher. You take a couple photos live on their website/app and they colour match your skin tone. If it isn't right they will send you replacements for free. I either used my phone or laptop I can't remember but it tells you if the lighting is good or not. Shockingly it is the best match for my skin I have ever had in 30 plus years of making do.

Thanks, that's helpful. I have what I would optimistically call 'blemishes' and need some coverage these days, but don't know where to start.

@AutumnCrow honestly their advert was on Instagram and I just do not buy from Insta/Tiktok at all. But they had a woman with rosacea and her foundation coverage was really good. So I did some research. I tend to mix mine with moisturiser too for a more tinted moisturiser look rather than full foundation. You can choose the coverage. It isn't the cheapest foundation but I liked the fact they would replace it if the colour was off. I took the photos from slightly different angles, they ask for 3.

I was waiting for Lisa Eldridge to bring her samples out as she does a foundation sample card with 4 colours but my pale skin one is never in stock, ever. I was really looking forward to trying hers as I love her as a make up artist. https://www.lisaeldridge.com/collections/foundation-sample-cards again loads out of stock. I would be light set 1 in colour with rosy cheeks.

You say you aren’t near any shops - but can you make a trip to one? If so, I recommend going to Space NK. They have several brands and will give you (free) sample pots so you can try them on for at least 2 or 3 days each. That way you can see how they look in different lights and how they stay on over the course of the day/evening. Then you can buy what you decide on through their online shop.

Look on eBay for samples . You can usually buy tester pots from the big brands like Estée Lauder, Clinique etc

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! I will make a city trip and check out a Space NK - I have never actually been in one and wasn't sure what they sold. Curious about the Lisa Eldridge sample cards but I have never come across reviews of her foundation, will have a search to see if it suits 'mature' skin. Tester pots that can be used over 2 or 3 days are what is really needed to make sure I see myself in different lighting, the other day I was sure I looked great using a concealer and then the car mirror revealed I had the appearance of someone who had been embalmed!

Go to an Estée Lauder counter , they give out fantastic samples that last for days.

I recently got a sample pot of the Bobbi Brown weightless skin foundation and really liked it. I’ve since bought it and loving it on my skin.