The beauty industry is slowly but surely becoming more inclusive but let’s be honest here, we still have a long way to go. Plenty of brands have vowed to look inwards and ensure their ranges cater to a plethora of skin tones and shades but there’s still work to do.
“I really do believe the beauty industry is taking the time to diversify products,” said Bobbi Brown PRO Artist, Zara Findlay. “Do I think there still needs to be improvements? Of course. There is always room for improvement. It is, however, so refreshing to see so many different shades of foundations from new cosmetic brands and brands that weren’t so diverse in the past.
Zara says that’s exactly why she joined Bobbi Brown Cosmetics 11 years ago and has stayed with the brand for so long. “After already being in the beauty industry for four years, it was the first time I found my perfect foundation shade that didn’t make me look ashy or orange. Bobbi Brown also introduced me into the world of correcting and concealing which is a vital part of makeup for an Asian women and a huge part of my daily makeup routine, too.”
Whilst Zara says she finds it fairly easy to find her foundation shade in most brands, she often struggles to find the right undertone and an expert that has the knowledge behind an Asian women’s skin. “Being half-Indian myself, I have areas on my face – like my forehead and chin – that are naturally darker than the rest of my face. I also have a very yellow/golden undertone. So what is difficult is being given the right advice on how I can get a foundation with the right undertone and how to get my skin looking even without having to buy two different foundations.”
If you’ve struggled to find the perfect products for your skin tone, Zara has shared her ultimate guide to foundation matching for Indian women.
Firstly, Zara says there are several points to consider before shopping for a foundation, including:
- The right undertone so it doesn’t look like our face and body are disconnected
- The right colours so we don’t look ashy or orange
- The education on correctors, concealers and bronzing to tackle any deep hyper pigmentation if the foundation on its own is not going to match the different tones on the skin. Because let’s face it, we are not one colour all over
- Knowing if my foundation is going to oxidise and look darker through the day
After some careful consideration about exactly what you’re looking for, Zara shares her tips for foundation matching to ensure you buy the perfect foundation for your skin tone…
- Swatch the foundation on your cheek, chin and forehead. This will show you how the foundation is going to look against any different tones you may have on the skin.
- Try and establish your undertone (yellow, pink, neutral, olive). A knowledgeable makeup artist will be able to tell you your undertone if you are not sure.
- Make sure that you are also looking for correctors, concealers and bronzers that will work well with your foundation choice as they really contribute to the final look of your base makeup.
- A really great tip which I do myself is follow makeup artists/beauty bloggers/influencers that have the same/similar skin tone and colour as yourself. This is handy because you will know that if a makeup product suits them, it will most likely suit you which makes finding the right foundation colour for yourself much easier.
For more tips, hacks and product recommendations, check out Zara’s Instagram page.
