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A model wearing foundation A model wearing foundation

Here’s How to Pick the Right Foundation for Your Shade!

Are you on a quest to find the perfect foundation? The right foundation is like a best friend for your face, helping your skin look like you but on its best day. Discover the enchanting power of "lean on me" magic with the ideal foundation that enables you to showcase your most confident self to the world, just like a trusted companion by your side. If you're searching for your perfect match, look no further; we've got all the information you need right here. Or, try our shade finder for your perfect foundation and concealer match.

Find your shade

Your Ultimate Foundation Guide

The foundation in your makeup kit is the pillar of your ideal beauty look. It’s called foundation for a reason, right? It’s the base upon which your entire look is built. A smooth canvas that allows you to add color, shape, and definition, from subtle flicks to dramatic frills, and everything in between. Within our arsenal of amazing foundation products, we’ve got everything you could need and desire.

Explore our range and discover how each product can help you achieve a pore-blurred finish, a fresh-faced glow, or a perfectly mattified look. Pop them into your bathroom cabinet and makeup kit, and get ready to create a flawless foundation for any style you envision.

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Fresh nude foundation swatch

“I applied this foundation at 6am, ready for work and it was still perfectly in place at 6pm!”

– Leigh30

About Fresh Nude Foundation

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Identify Your Best Foundation Shade

Your makeup's cornerstone, finding the foundation that best complements your skin is key to achieving your desired look while preserving your natural beauty. The Body Shop offers a diverse range of foundation shades designed to suit every skin tone, and we're here to help you expertly identify your perfect match. With our easy, no-sweat checklist of three tips, you’ll soon master the art of navigating through the makeup aisles to find your number one. Whether you prefer powder, liquid foundation, cream, or concealer, we’ve got the right shade for you.

Model is smiling Model is smiling

Step1: Identify Your Undertone

Before you can find your perfect foundation shade, you need to figure out the undertone of your skin. What’s that? Well, every skin colour has a discernible undertone, most easily spotted via the vein colour on the inside of your wrist. If it appears blue or purple, you’re cool-toned. If it’s green, you’ve got warm-toned skin, and if you’re unsure, you’re likely to be neutral-toned.

Still unsure? Here’s a trick. Pop on a white T-shirt, or hold a sheet or paper to your face, and look in the mirror. If your skin then appears to be rosy, you’re cool-toned. If it’s yellow or golden, you’re warm-toned, and if it’s hard to tell, you’re neutral.

If that doesn’t work, there’s an even simpler method. Think about what kind of jewellery best suits you: gold, silver or both. If it’s gold, you’re warm-toned, silver and you’re cool, or both and you’re neutral.

Once you’ve determined your undertone, selecting the right foundation becomes much easier. Foundations for cool undertones typically appear pink in the bottle, while those for warm undertones have a more yellow hue. If you have a neutral undertone, the foundation will fall somewhere in between, offering a balanced blend that complements your natural complexion.

Fresh Nude Foundation bottle and lid laying on surface Fresh Nude Foundation bottle and lid laying on surface

Step 2: Text the Shades to Find the Perfect One

So, you’ve been thinking, how can I find my perfect foundation shade? The best way to discover your ideal match is by trying it out. But did you know there’s a correct way to test foundation colors? Take our tips with you in-store next time you’re searching for your perfect shade.

First and foremost, test your shortlist of shades only when the lighting is right. Look for natural light at its peak, as midday sunlight will help you see your made-up skin most accurately.

Model will bright eyeshadow Model will bright eyeshadow

Step3: Watch it Blend Well Into Your Skin

Finding the perfect foundation shade is like finding 'the one.' You want a hue that enhances your natural beauty without changing who you are. The right foundation should look and feel like a second skin, making you appear as your best self. As we always say, it's about looking like the ultimate version of you.

If a foundation shade stands out, it’s likely because it’s too light or too dark. A foundation that's too light can make your skin appear ashy, while a shade that's too dark can make you look overly tanned. Aim for a shade that blends seamlessly with your natural complexion for the most flattering effect.

On the subject of tans – remember that your skin tone is likely to change within a subtle spectrum with the seasons, its tone warming up with the weather. That means, depending on when you’re searching for your best foundation shade, your skin might not be its truest tone. Ideally, you want to go for a shade that’s closest to the hue your skin is most of the year. When you try it, if the test shade seemingly disappears into your skin, it’s a match.

COMPARE BY SKIN TYPE

Similar to any other product in your skincare collection, your foundation should be customized to cater to your specific skin type or concerns. Following this sage advice ensures that your skin will harmonize with your foundation, resulting in a radiant, glowing, and stunning complexion. We’ve rounded up some of our best foundations to help get your skin there.

The Body Shop Matte Clay Skin Clarifying Foundation The Body Shop Matte Clay Skin Clarifying Foundation

Foundation for Oily Skin

The Body Shop's Tea Tree Face Baseis a foundation with oily skin-friendly ingredients built in. Enriched with Community Fair Trade tea tree oil, this powder helps control excess oil and shine while promoting clearer-looking skin. It feels lightweight on the skin, yet it's totally buildable, allowing you to achieve full coverage that's still breathable. Plus, it lasts, providing 12 hours of long-lasting coverage without the need for touch-ups. Your complexion will be left looking smooth and matte all day long.

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FOUNDATION FOR SENSITIVE SKIN FOUNDATION FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

FOUNDATION FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

Though more of a skin concern than a skin type, we couldn’t help but tell you about our ideal foundation for sensitive skin. Our Fresh Nude Foundation is enriched with vitamin E and natural-origin hyaluronic acid, as well as Community Fair Trade aloe vera from Mexico. It helps you achieve a smooth, radiant, healthy-looking glow with medium, even coverage. And it blends easily, letting skin breathe and helping you look fresh-faced and natural. Trust us, every day will feel like a good skin day with Fresh Nude Foundation.

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SKIN TINT FOR ALL SKIN TYPES SKIN TINT FOR ALL SKIN TYPES

No-Makeup Skin Tint for All Skin Types

A good foundation for every skin type has got to be our Second Skin Multi-Tasking Skin Tint. This lightweight, moisturising tint is the perfect ‘no-makeup’ makeup, leaving a sheer hint of natural-looking coverage. It’s super easy to blend and can be built up or worn under a fuller coverage foundation if you like a more flawless finish. Enriched with Community Fair Trade shea butter and moringa seed oil, it helps keep skin hydrated for 24 hours and is sweat and humidity resistant. Oh, and did we mention it doesn’t block pores? It evens out skin tone, leaving a luminous-looking complexion.

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Finally Finish with a Concealer

Sometimes, your skin needs a little extra help to achieve that even, smooth-toned look. That’s where concealer comes in. The most precise of the face base products in your makeup kit, concealer effectively hides dark circles and blemishes. Paired with a foundation that matches your skin tone, concealer is your go-to for achieving a flawless finish.

FINISH OFF WITH CONCEALER

LIQUID CONCEALER

Wake up and glow with our Vitamin C Concealer. It gives you lightweight, crease-free coverage, but still lets your skin’s true radiance shine, enriched with natural-origin vitamin C. Dial down the appearance of dark circles, blemishes and uneven pigmentation or dab where you want to spotlight skin in all the right places. It's certified by The Vegan Society, suitable for all skin types and available in 20 shades.

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