On the search for the ultimate Big Day foundation, but don't know where to start? Here are five golden rules to finding that perfect match.
Go Bare
You wouldn’t get bra fitted over your existing one, would you? It’s tricky to get a true match if you’re already wearing foundation, so ensure remove it off before being colour matched. Watch out for unforgiving beauty hall lighting. “Make sure you have good natural light or as close to when testing for a shade,” advises Debbie Finnegan, M.A.C Senior Artist. “Bad lighting can lead to bad choices”.
Shop Around
Beauty halls are the best place to road-test many brands in one go, and each may offer different formulas like powder, stick, cream and liquid. The right one depends on your skin type; for example, liquids are best for dry skin while powders fare better in warm climates - destination wedding brides, take note.
Illustration by Anna Kozdon
The Pros Know
Forget painting stripes on the back of your hand to find your shade. Beauty counter assistants apply makeup all day so they’re the best people to match you up. Have foundation applied on one section of your face so you can properly gauge its effectiveness. The best place to test is by swatching across the mid-jaw or just above your collarbone. You’ll know when you find ‘The One’ because it will vanish into your skin.
Let it set
You’ve found your shade, hooray! But don’t buy it – yet. Give it time to set as foundations can often change as they oxidise. Wait at least 30min before making a decision. If you can have a full face of foundation applied and leave it on until bed time so you can see how it lasts against a full day’s wear. Most brands are happy to give you a small sample to take home so you can test each one before you make a decision.
Try before buying
The advantage of samples is that you can test the formulas with your normal products to see how they all work together. Collect as many samples of your favourites and note which worked best before you make your final selection.
Foundation Finder
Our pick of the best products on the market
NARS
All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation (£34), Sheer Glow Foundation (£33) and Velvet Matte Foundation Stick (£30) all boast a diverse spectrum of 20 shades.
• www.NARScosmetics.co.uk
NARS All Day Luminous Weighless Foundation in Cadiz and NARS Benares Velvet Matte Foundation Stick
Bobbi Brown
Prides itself of perfecting real, healthy looking skin. Skin Foundation SPF15 (£34) comes in 25 shades while Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation SPF 15 (£34) has 19.
• www.BobbiBrown.co.uk
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation
Clinique
With an incredible 160 shades in more than a dozen ranges, Clinique is one of the best brands on the market and a go-to for half of Khush's beauty team. Beyond Perfecting™ Foundation and Concealer (£27) is ideal for brides who want a 2-in-1 that delivers all day, while the Chubby in the Nude™ Foundation Stick (12 shades) is ideal for quick retouches when you're on the move.
• www.Clinique.co.uk
Clinique Chubby in the Nude™ Foundation Stick
M.A.C
Caters for all ages, all races and all genders. The Studio Fix fluid range (£23.50) has 46 shades and Studio Fix Powder range (also £23.50) has 53. There are over 50 shades of foundation in over 14 different formulas. Now that's what we call inclusive. M.A.C, take a bow.
• www.MACcosmetics.co.uk
Image from MAC
Too Faced
Oil free and with medium-full coverage, Born This Way (£29) comes in a range of 24 shades. Peach Perfect Foundation offers a matte finish in
12 shades (£27).
• www.TooFaced.com
Image from MAC
Fenty Beauty
Proving she’s more than just a chart-topper, Rihanna’s beauty venture Fenty has been very warmly received thanks to its inclusive range of no less than 40 Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation 300 shades (£26). For her, it was essential “that women everywhere would be included”.
Mission accomplished Rhi Rhi.
• www.HarveyNichols.com
Image from Fenty Beauty
As seen in Khush Wedding Winter 2018 KW17. Buy this issue here