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Thread: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

  1. #1
    Reznor
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    Default Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    I SUCK at picking out makeup. I grew up with a stepmother that hated me, and no females to show me how to do all the feminine girly things that most acquire the knowledge to in their teens. One of the things I never got, and still haven't figured out, is makeup for skin. Whenever I do it, it looks SO fake. Or, if I happen to match my skintone, my bad skin shows blatently through the makeup and makes it look strange or tacky. I think the main problem is non-professional grade makeup and the inability to match my own skintone. I'd like to order some MAC studio FX makeup, but none of them look like my tone, at all. I'm guessing I'm just looking at them wrong. They all seem too dark or too orangey/pinky for me.

    I hate doing this (who doesn't hate exposing their flaws?), but here are some pictures to give you an idea of what I'm dealing with, skin-wise.

    Me: makeup free (aside from the obvious eye makeup), in natural lighting. If you can show me the shade of studio fx I need, I'll love you forever! (PS, you can't see it, but I have a VERY pale yellow asian-type tone to my skin, so I probably need something very pale but olive based as opposed to pink-based).




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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    Don't go darker than C3...I used to wear C4 I have the same skin base as you yet my skin is shaded more of a medium...I bet you're C3 or C2 (if there is a C2)

    Don't go for the NC shades...they're too ashy for a yellow, olive based skin tone. That's what a Mac rep told me anyhow...


  3. #3
    Veteran Member Heaven777's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    Oh my gosh, you are totally cute!! (had to get that out of my system) You and I have like the SAME skin and I use this foundation, it's light doesn't clog up my pores or look all cake-ey. MAC studio finish Matte foundation "NC20" ---Concealer--- Select cover up "NW 20" Select sheer loose powder "NW 20" and the perfect blush to keep you from having barbie cheeks is a little on the peach side for uss pale and yellowish girls try this MAC powder blush # A54 also matte finish. Here is a pic of my skin with the makeup on, if you look at my neck and chest you can see the naked color. Please excuse the purple lipstick tho, I always take a pic to check out new colors on me...that one was a "NO" LOL

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    Veteran Member Heaven777's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    Hmmm...LSM, I didn't know that about the "N" shades. Oops I hope I didn't give her bad advice. I think she should maybe just go to her MAC place, they'll help a lot. I hope my makeup doesn't look ashy...ACK...

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    Featured Member Muyaha's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    Best bet is to walk in to a MAC place and see what they think try the foundation on and then go outside (for different lighting) and see if it blends with your natural color.

    I may have many faults, but being wrong ain't one of them.

  6. #6
    Reznor
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    My problem is that there are no mac places near here. At all. =/

  7. #7
    Reznor
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    And thank you all for the fast response, btw!

  8. #8
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    Oh hon, I think you're beautiful. It sounds like your step-mom was jealous.
    My mom didn't teach me make-up because she didn't wear any and we didn't get along anyway. You're not alone in that.
    You appear to have what is termed by drugstore make-up brands as "porcelain" or "light beige". I don't use MAC so I don't know what names they have for shades. (PS There's a thread about a 30% off MAC discount card somewhere on BB....do a search...)
    Question: can you pick up a tan when summer comes around? Keep this in mind, since you might need to buy extra foundation/ powder to shade your regular make-up....

  9. #9
    Reznor
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    Thank you

    Yes, this summer I'll be sporting a tan. The only reason I don't have one right now, is because I'm doing lazer hair removal, and they told me to stay pale.

    I have a couple of modeling offers lined up, and it's embarrassing when they have to photoshop my entire face...

    I actually have something tomorrow.... is there any makeshift crap I can use for now? Like something I can pick up from Walmart? Is there anything that's not too bad that's made by Cover Girl/Max Factor/Maybelliene/etc?

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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    Hey Reznor, I was just checking out the mac site and unfortunately they don't have color descriptions for the foundations. BUT, I did find this guide on their site:

    M·A·C shade designations for Foundations, Concealer, and Powder are a combination of a letter and a number.

    The letter represents the colour family of the product. The number denotes the lightness or darkness. The higher the number, the deeper the colour.

    The first step in selecting your shade is to simply look at your skin, without make-up, in daylight.

    Decide which of the following descriptions best represents your skin colour:

    If your skin looks more Golden Beige, you match with Neutral Cool or NC shades.

    If your skin looks more Pink Beige, you match with Neutral Warm or NW shades.

    Most skin tones will fall into these two classifications. However, if you are still not certain which classification is right for you, consider the undertones in your skin.

    To determine your undertone, take a look at the underside of your forearm:

    If your veins look more blue, then you most likely have pinkish undertones. If your veins look more green, then you have more yellow or golden undertones.

    If you have a significant undertone to your skin, you may choose to play it up or play it down by trying a shade that includes or excludes your undertones:

    If your skin looks more Yellow-Golden Olive, you will find those undertones in the Cool or C shades.

    If your skin looks more Beige, you will match with the Neutral or N shades.

    If your skin looks more Pink, you will find those pink undertones in the Warm or W shades.

    Please bear in mind, finding the "right" colour is something very subjective. Most people will wear a variety of different shades throughout the year because the colour of skin changes according to the lighting, the seasons, and physical well being. We encourage you to
    near you, or if you prefer, to for a personal consultation.
    :

    Your best bet will probably be to email your pic to a mac artist on their site...


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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    ooops, Heaven I meant to say NW. But your makeup looks perfect for you.


  12. #12
    Reznor
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    Oh! Also....

    I just heard that you're supposed to put on a moisturizer underneath before putting on makeup? What kind should I use? Obviously some kind for problem skin.

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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    i have very similar skin to yours, colorwise, and i also suffer from mild breakouts. it took me FOREVER to find the perfect foundation - one that wasn't too heavy yet covered everything. a friend of mine introduced me to estee lauder's double wear foundation. i highly recommend you try it. just go to the makeup counter and have them help you find a shade. the stuff stays on forever and covers everything. i tried MAC foundation and found that even the studio fx didn't cover well enough and i didn't like the colors on me (too orangy).

    just another non-MAC suggestion. i love their eye shadows though! good luck!

    oh, and yes, moisturizer is important. i love l'oreal pure zone oil free moisturizer.

  14. #14
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    Yes, moisturize, moisturize, take oil pills, wear a hat.....facial skin wrinkles easily from UVA rays and the fact that our facial musculature causes creases and folds. A craggy faces looks sexy on a man but not as well on a lady!
    The skin issues deserve a whole other thread, since it takes going through a few things to find what works best for each person..my sister got a big red welt from the benzoyl peroxide cream I use without problems. My best pal can't use Proactiv 'cause of the sulfur. The only thing that cured my acne was birth control, and I still break out sometimes ; (
    PS Thank you very much to LoveSexMoney for posting the MAC color guide, that's the best one I've ever seen.

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    God/dess Bunny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    Well, I had a great mom growing up but she never wore much makeup so I didn't learn much there. I usually go to the Chanel counter and ask for help.

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    Featured Member Muyaha's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    i use kiehl's facial moisturizer. And i have such acne prone skin.

    I may have many faults, but being wrong ain't one of them.

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    God/dess PaigeDWinter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    You have a similar skin tone to mine, a little less yellow than I am though...

    I dont have a specific brand that I use EVERY time, but I always seek out the palest YELLOW tone they have, and compensate for the lack of SUPER pale yellow-toned cover up with a very pale loose powder.
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    Featured Member Veronika's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    When I was very pale, I had better luck with Prescriptives than MAC. I think I was "ecru" (they have various: sheer, true.. whathaveyou". They just had a more tue "pale" colour. I am part native american so I have a wacky yellow undertone to my skin. This is me in a flier... yes I was really that pale. A drugstore option is Loreal true match. They have concealer and powder to match as well.
    Last edited by Veronika; 03-31-2005 at 02:41 PM.
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    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    I do not like MAC foundation. I do not have acne prone skin...rarely break out...until I put on that foundation. It always gives me break-outs. I usually don't even wear foundation (even when I was working). But, I would suggest that you try some other foundation that will be lighter...especially if you are prone to break outs. There is a new line of foundation (cover girl, I think) that has a color sample display. It's a clear plastic with all kinds of foundation color blocks on it. You hold the plastic card a couple of inches from your skin and then buy whatever color "disappears" against your skin. I am not sure how good CG is, but it's a start.

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    Default Re: Help! I can't figure out my skintone....

    I use Eucerin for sensitive skin SPF 30.

    Oh and another alternative for face makeup...you may want to try Bare Minerals. You can get a starter kit on sephora.com that comes with 3 brushes, 2 shades of face powder (for custom blending if you desire) and the mineral veil. And it comes with a bronzer too.


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