None of the above.

Your foundation shade should match YOUR NECK. Your face needs to match the skin that is directly below it – or you’ll look like you’re wearing a mask.

Q: Why is the skin on your face often a different color than your neck/body?

A: The skin on our face and hands are exposed to far more environmental stress (UV damage, weather conditions, pollution, etc.) than any other parts of our body. Because of this, they tend to be slightly different in color (depth or tone) and do not always match our neck or the rest of our body.

The best place to check for correct foundation match is the neck, just below the jawline.

Swipe foundation (with your finger), full strength, from your jawline (an inch or two in front of your ear) down to your neck. DO NOT BLEND – the foundation needs to match perfectly without being sheared out. Once you find a shade you feel best matches the color depth and undertone of your neck, it’s time for the Final Test.

Final Test:

Apply the foundation, full strength to your chin. Now, look straight on, into a mirror. If you’ve chosen the correct foundation shade, there should be no visible demarcation and the color of your chin should blend seamlessly with the adjoining skin on your neck (which has no foundation on it).