HOW TO ... Choose the correct foundation & concealer shade for your skin tone 

If this video had been around years ago, I would've saved thousands. It should be a requirement BEFORE you ever purchase foundation. Thank you!

Very good demonstration of choosing a foundation on bare skin

Great explanations! I have a neutral undertone and have struggled with foundation matching forever. I wore makeup a little as a teen but felt I always looked fake because I always seemed to be inbetween shades. I stopped wearing makeup except a very light powder, neutral lipsticks, and a touch of eyeliner. I did this for years.... I mean YEARS! I started playing around with a bit of makeup again about a year ago and found your channel shortly afterwards. You have explained things so much more than anyone in Sephora, Ulta, or any department store has ever attempted. Your explanations of undertones, coloring, and color correcting have been invaluable! Thank you for always taking the time to break it all down for your wolf pack to understand!!

That demo was an eye opener! No more wearing makeup when buying higher end foundation for me. No wonder they always seemed to match me with foundation too dark. I used to think I was a cool under tone...took me awhile to realize I'm neutral. It does make a big difference. Yes, we say "that's a different or fine kettle of fish" here in the States. Thanks Gemma!

I’m glad you did this half natural, half makeup video!

This was the best advice yet for picking the right foundation and concealer colors. Your older video on finding your undertone was so helpful in not only picking makeup but clothing and accessory colors as well. I used to think I was warm but realized I am neutral and..bonus..because our skin tones are similar I use your color choices as a starting place and generally they work for me! I've heard and read the kettle of fish expression but it wasn't common here in the US Midwest although we do have our own unique expressions. It would be fun to compare different expressions for the same circumstance..lol. Thanks for the great information! xxx

Great video and very helpful as always. I hate the lighting in department stores and drug stores. Useless for color matching. I sometimes think I can do better on the internet because some websites - especially Sephora - do a great job of color description. But my advantage is that I live in the USA so I can return the ones that don't work and keep buying until I find the correct one. You're the BEST.

Wow thankyou Gemma. I have never seen a colour match video on RU-vid before. This is my first one and I have found it to be very informative and easy to understand. I'm now thinking that some of my foundations are ok and some are just totally wrong. You have encouraged me to go back to Dior and Estée Lauder on different days to be colour matched for foundation and concealer. However the thought of going into These makeup departments without any makeup on does intact terrify me, but I'm going to put my big girl pants on and face my fear! I'm going to be 50 in October and I just want to look lovely and well put together without being over done. Xx

Great advice Gemma, finding the right foundation & Concealer is a nightmare... 🙄 and don't get me started on undertone!! x

I’ve had my colours done and confirmed as cool toned, I’m extremely pale, barely tan and go pink easily. Went into Boots and was colour matched with their no7 service and came out warm beige! Clearly I was quite surprised, I asked for a sample, tried it at home and not only was it the wrong undertone but also too dark, I looked like I’d been tangoed. So I’d say, trust your instincts and agree on getting a sample before you buy!

You are just such a wonderful teacher.I always learn so much from your videos. One thing I have been doing is to encourage people in the comment sections of videos to suggest positive, drama free influencers they enjoy watching. Here is mine! Pampered Wolf Thataylaa Emily Noel Zabrena Jessica Braun Allie Glines Casey Holmes Kathleen Lights Nikkia Joy I know there are many more, but these are a few of my favorites! Feel free to share yours😃

I have looked ill and orange many times. 😆 Thanks for this advice.

Wow that's crazy. I had no idea what a difference it makes to not have any makeup on when color matched. Thanks for clarifying that.

Hi Gemma., ¡what a great demonstration!, I doubt I've bought the correct foundation tone for me ever in my life.Thank you 😊

Wow! I learned so much in this video! You are amazing! You leave the other RU-vid makeup gurus way behind!!! 😲

I just watched a bunch of videos that you did... finding undertone, shaving , picking the right foundation, dermarolling , underage concealer and I have learned so much from you ,I'm a fan !!!

after watching your video I did this and went into target bare faced and got matched for the No7 lift and luminous foundation. what a difference. thank you for the video

Hi Gemma I must tell you just browsing I came across a Joan Collins foundation it came today and it’s amazing on a mature skin it’s loaded with hyaluronic acid , it doesn’t sink into any fine lines it cost £18.65 the colours are either cool or warm I choose the warm fair and it’s a perfect match I think I am going back to amazon for the concealer so it will match up ! Hopefully! Love liz , I just needed to tell you ! Great video Gemma ! I went into Debenhams and the counter assistant had the most tanned face I have ever seen but her neck was so very pale so no I didn’t buy any foundation from this young lady !

That’s such a brilliant and true experiment! Thank you! Makes sense now why the Estée Lauder assistant matched me with a colour that when I got home I realised was too dark in the Double Wear (although the Double Wear Light was the same colour name but a perfect match - but she didn’t put that on my skin just gave me a sample of both in the same shade). Love your videos but they’re costing me money!! 💸

"Kettle of Fish" is a well known phrase in Australia too. It means "an alternative; a different thing altogether." ☺️

WOW! The face/foundation experiment was really eye opening! The entire vid was crystal clear and, at last, I totally "get" it. I wish I could samples thro the post. Being disabled it's so difficult to get out and about. Great vid Gemma, thank you 🌹🏵💮🌺🏵🌸💮 PS : We say "A different kettle of fish" here in Lancashire . I don't know what it means either! 🤣🤣😂🤣

Great video. How can anyone give a thumbs down? 😖

You are sooo right about how important it is to match your foundation to your actual skin color. Three of my favorite foundations are drug store in which I selected my own color. It is just so easy to apply. Any mistakes will blend right in and still look flawless. My favorite is CYO 106 or 108. I have 3 high end foundations that I rarely reach for because the sales people "color matched me" wrong (IMO). If I have to work to correct their mistake and then still don't feel pretty, it is definitely the wrong shade. Many youtube influencers apply darker or warmer shades on their faces. In my opinion it gives the impression that this is how it should be done. Listen to Gemma, fellow pack members.

Wow!! Another masterclass from the masterteacher!!! This was such a helpful video. These 2 topics are indeed very confusing when trying to find the right shade. I thought it was super interesting when you did the swatches on both sides and the matching foundation changed. Again, another brilliant makeup class 👍👍Thank you Gemma for your awesome explanations 💖

For drugstore foundation I usually do a little research online before I shop. I have occasionally returned a product at Target or Walgreens but I really don’t like wasting it. For the L’Oreal infallible fresh wear it took me a couple of tries to get it right. With all those shades it really surprises me that they’re not forthcoming with the undertone. I have a warm undertone and under the bright lights in Target it’s really hard to detect the undertones. I love shopping at Sephora for high-end foundations. They let you take home three samples to try out which is awesome. They also have the color IQ camera they put on your face in three spots to assign you a color code. I went to work barefaced because I went out at lunchtime to do this. I was very happy when the girl applied foundation on my face!

From a fellow northerner and make up addict - this is a brilliant video, thank you! I thought I knew everything there was to know about foundation matching but you've taught me something new. I often get matched to shades, that are too dark and now I know why. New rule, no make up! Also kettle of fish is a great saying and should be more widely used. Keep up the good work 😁

Very interesting video and you are so nice and professional! Everybody has bought the wrong foundation at least once in their life!

Cheers Gemma, that was really helpful. I get totally confused by the different labels for foundation. For instance I got colour matched to Boot's No.7 Hydroluminous in Cool Beige but I have no idea what that might be in other brands. I was recommended to have the same colour concealer but an under eye concealer a couple of shades darker, as my under eyes are much paler than the rest of my face. It's a minefield.

TY that was an amazing demonstration - matching with no makeup on. I probably would have doubted it if I hadn't seen it myself. Next time I go buy foundation - clean face!

Another truly informative video. You are very educated in this field. I’ve learned some more tricks, but that’s another kettle of fish. BTW, raised in New Jersey USA, and we said that in my house. Thank you .

Wow, my head is spinning... thank you for explaining this. So few speak of this..,

Brilliant video, Gemma! Yes, definitely go to a high end store WITHOUT makeup on to get color matched! I learned the hard way! It’s so hard to find the perfect foundation...for me, it either oxidizes or there’s an ingredient in it that causes an allergic reaction or a breakout. It really is trial and error sometimes.Thank you for sharing your expertise! Love you!❤️😁

Great video - this explains why I have so many foundations that really don't suit me! Thanks so much for explaining it so well.

That's why I am so happy that I found foundation brands which I love. Chanel, BareMinerals and Charlotte Tilbury. I know my shape meanwhile (undertone is neutral) and I'm ALWAYS fine:) Since I'm using self tanning drops all year round I also don't have the problem about matching face, neck and decollete anymore😀 Love your videos Gemma❣

Lots of online stores now have the colour match system too - so you can enter your fave foundation or a variety of foundations and they will give you colour suggestions which is handy. Other places will provide you samples which helps so much to get a couple of goes at home. Clever idea about the chemist and a sample. Not sure if it will work in Australia. Oh Aussie subscribers check out Kiana Beauty online or in store in Melbourne. Perfect for samples and generous ones at that. Their customer service is exemplary. I mix my concealers to use dark and light to get the right colour (I use revolution) as I can’t go lighter under my eyes - it just makes me look sick.

OMG I’m so getting little pots for testers 🤣🤣 can’t wait until they bring testers back out in the shops bc I’m asking 🤣 this would help me so much ✨☺️ Thankyou for all the advice ✨✨

This is the most informative video on this topic that I have ever seen! Excellent!

This is an excellent explanation of the importance of finding your undertone. The actual demonstration explains why I was constantly getting a shade just ”slightly off”. Great video.

Really enlightening Gemma. I know my undertone and pretty familar with my skin tone but wow. That made a total difference when you demonstrated makeup and no makeup side💓💓💓💓.

I'm 1w1 bone in Estee Lauder double wear. So I too know the pale side. Lol. I can do neutral to warm, but nothing cool. Thank you for this video!

Unfortunately you did forget that there is a 4th undertone and that is Olive. It's SO difficult to find a good match for, most of the time I have to mix 2 sometimes 3 colors together to get just the right shade. BH Cosmetics has the best match and wearing foundation that I have found besides a CC cream. Otherwise fantastic job and such thorough information and thank you so much! Love watching you and your mom!💕

I have yellow-to-olive undertones... it used to be difficult to find the right foundie for me back when everything was pinkish, but brands have become so much better at having a wide variety of shades now. You know, re: your comment at 4:25, I find that, depending on which country/region I'm shopping in, SAs have matched me to shades that were utterly pale, and other SAs have just pulled out the deepest shade they had without even bothering to look at me! I usually err on the side of caution while shopping online, and often end with a shade that's just a bit deeper LOL. Extremely useful post xx

This is a game changer video. Thank you so much! It's so funny the way the people in suoerdrug or boots look at me when i put the tester on and walk out then back in and try another! Lighting is horrific. This is so educational and I've not seen anything like this before. You are a supernova not just a start 💖💖💖💫

I think half-and-half thing might start a new trend. 😍 Awesomeness! Was a really good video though. I think so many of us get it all messed up. Was great seeing you do the to stripes on each side..Crazy, the difference it made. Well, I feel like I learned a lot from this that would seem like not that big a deal normally. 💜

Me too, Gemma. It’s tough but easier than it used to be. I lean cool, but many ‘cool’ undertone shades are really too pink.

Very good advice, I like the idea of taking samples in the drugstore. I am looking forward to my next visit to Superdrug!

Thank you. I appreciate your taking one for the pack so we know what’s correct for us in foundation.

Out of interest I took a bronzer back to Mac today that I wasn't getting on with and they exchanged it for another! I had a receipt but they didn't want to see it, I thought it was very decent of them x

Great info. I think I usually end up with a color that is too dark or orangie for my skin. I will now go in much more educated. Thank you!!!

Here in the Deep South of America, we use the term “kettle of fish” all the time. Great video; thx so much!

Kettle of fish - the long copper pot that fish was cooked in way back in Victorian times was called a kettle. As for the advice - thanks so much, Gemma, I faced the trauma of a bare face and finally got my MAC shade, much lighter than I’d ever realised given the redness and freckles!

I'm in the club, I'm exactly the same tone and complexion as you and wish i would tan. Have often bought foundations that are not the right match, Thanks for the great video Gemma.

I just found this and it's really relevant right now especially, thank you!

Lol 😂 😂😂 when you said “kettle of fish” being from South Yorkshire I have grown up hearing this phrase so totally got it xx fantastic video and extremely helpful Love watching your videos 🥰

I have heard the saying “that’s a fine kettle of fish”:so I do understand and agree with that statement. Because of the virus most of the stores do not have any samples out for you to even see! I was in Sephora and they have nothing out, but I was in Ulta and they have samples out so you can see the color, but you can’t see a swatch. It is very helpful to at least the color of the makeup you are buying in hopes you are making the right choice. This was very informative! I love Nordstrom because of their return policy and because of it I don’t mind taking a chance I am getting it right or wrong because if it is wrong I can return it. Thanks 😊

This is very helpful! Thank you! 💕

What a great review! Foundations are the hardest thing to get right...thank goodness the cosmetic companies are realizing we aren't all the same undertone....

Wow this was helpful but my next makeup stock update i am going to high end to get matched up until i can have a bit more confidence thanks your a gem

Thank you Gemma, I really like how you offer education with your videos. I am much better at picking foundation after watching your undertone video.

Brilliantly demonstrated! Great video.

Absolutely fantastic video Gemma. Well done on your demonstration 👏👏 brilliant xx

& All this time I'v been disappointed at the ladies at the stores because they never get my shade correct, I was going in with makeup & would remove a little like you did. Oops 🙄

Gemma, This was extremely helpful and I am going to have save this video so I can come back a reference it. I am a neutral that leans cool and I have never had much lucky finding a foundation I like. I have decided I'm going to save this video and find a Dior counter. :)

I'm a neutral light and have gone down that road of too dark and too warm😞 I have looked like an orange creamsicle.

Brilliant explanation and demo as usual! Got my T-shirt today - great fit and shape, not boxy at all, and I've had several people ask me what that means!

Thanks so much for this great video! I struggle to find the right foundation and this was very helpful. And thank you for all the time you put into your videos. It's very much appreciated. 😃

OMG Gemma, all of this is precious advice! I'm saving this video for future reference!

Gemma, I love your concise and entertaining yet so very informative videos! I have never had the nerve to go into a store without any makeup...anyway, they always seem to get it wrong! I was amazed at how different the two shades you use looked on bare skin, though...and yes, we do say “that’s a fine kettle of fish” here in the US-not heard often these days, but probably a throwback from the colonial days! Love your channel! ☺️💕‼️

Great video thank you as a older person but new to make up it really helps

Thank you so much for the amazing information.. I've been wearing makeup for over 30 years..( Since I was 4.5 yrs. Lol) I've always had my love/hate relationships with my foundations.. The Color just always seem to change or something... The oxidation I think you said.. Yes that's happened to me so often.. So I just stopped using foundations for the longest time and just used sticks or concealer to fix imperfections and then blush and powder.. And just go with it.. But I would like to use a light to med coverage fairly light to natural. My undertone is neutral and goes both ways sometimes. I just want to say this video really helped me alot.. Thanks alot!!!😀😀❤❤👍👍 I like using Walgreens or Wal-Mart makeup.. Btw 😁

Thank you!!!!!!!!!! I was so surprised when you did the foundation on the no makeup versus the removed makeup side of your face. Great video!

Gemma, If you had a pound for every pound you've saved us you'd be a millionaire....ten times over. Your tips make so much sense and it's possible I might be able to purchase the first foundation that has every matched my skin......for so many years, I can't tell you(probably 30 yrs) I haven't worn foundation because I have never been happy with the look/colour or finish of any foundation I have bought......but tomorrow is a new day!!!! 🤗

Such a great video Gemma and I love the tip on the little pots to get samples, genius 😍💕 xx

Thank you so much for all of these helpful tips Gemma. It did make me feel a little sad though to hear that you were uncomfortable shopping without makeup on. (Gemma you were blessed with beauty) No one should feel that makeup is a requirement. ♡

This was so clear and helpful, especially the jigsaw bit! thank you. I was once colour matched with my stomach :/ And it was wrong

Great tips, Gemma. I wanted to add something I almost never hear from people, because it's quite easy to overlook. The RGB color settings in people's monitors are often set incorrectly because either people like the look of different settings, because people don't ever check those settings, or because different phones, tablets, computers even have different qualities of graphics altogether so that they may not even be able to generate true coloration. So when buying online, sometimes you may purchase the wrong color of product because of these things, not so much that the website you're purchasing from has lousy lighting and pictures. So do keep that in mind. And as you pointed out, lots of brands will describe the particular shades (as fair pink-based, etc). That at least is much more helpful than not having such description.... particularly with the monitor issue.

LOL that's a good idea for samples at the drug store but it will only work if they have sample bottles available. I guess since the US allows returns there aren't as many sample bottles for customers to try in the drug stores. I'd so use that trick next time though!❤❤❤

It’s after 11pm and I’m now seeing that I listen to you for information and laughs. Ps that was a compliment

This was so educational and I learned many tips! Thank you! Truly love your personality and honesty! So refreshing. Thanks so much.

I got my mug today and it is absolutely adorable!!! I love it 🥰 You’ve done a fabulous job on your merchandise! And thanks for your foundation/concealer experiment! I still struggle with color matching. If I happened to get just the right one I would stay with it religiously until one day when I finally noticed something just wasn’t right. I believe it was the undertone factor I’ve been getting wrong. And I don’t think I’ve ever been color matched without a full face of makeup on. Wow! 😱 What a difference! Thanks again Gemma!

Hi Gemma, what a useful video, what a top tip re drug store foundations. A fish kettle is actually a big pan with a lid to cook whole fish in. I guess that's where the saying comes from x

I’ve not seen such a detailed explanation for skin color. Very good job. I have heard the term “kettle of fish” used many times throughout my years, but it’s not used as much today. People under a certain age probably aren’t familiar with the expression. Great to know the origin of the term. I thought it was an American expression. I must read up on it now. Also, although we can return products to the drugstore in the U.S., I know many people who do not return things. It just doesn’t seem appropriate. Great, great video. TY

A wealth of information in your video Gemma, thank you for clarifying how to color match and determine your undertone. This is so helpful. Hugs ....Sherry

Brilliant video, Gemma! And your demonstration on each side of your face really made the point about how color-matching can wrong. I plan to test al my foundations. I’m not sure any of them are a perfect match. :(

I would say you're more a warm, yellow undertone Gem, with a touch of pink in your cheeks perhaps but you definitely throw a dominant yellow on screen. I find neutral is a bit tricky as you still have a dominant undertone. E.g. mine is a dominant yellow undertone with secondary pink tones, and I suit gold jewellery over silver, which is a good indicator of warm. True cool / pink undertoned skins suit silver better. What surprises me is that a lot of darker or more tanned skin tones are actually cool undertoned. E.g. Italians, who look amazing in black clothes, but I look a bit sick old or tired in black. I always assumed I was cool cos I'm fair, and that darker, tanned people were warm until I had a stylist do my colour palette last year, so much fun I highly recommend it. I have so many colours in my palette I didn't know I could wear and i threw out (donated) a tonne of clothes that are the wrong colours for me. No wonder I never reached for those clothes, the colours were too cool. It's great for selecting make up colours too. :)

Extremely helpful, thank you. I’ve been struggling with concealer shades recently as I switch up my foundation a lot.

I love the way you present information. You must have been a teacher at some point. Thank you so much!!🥰

This was so interesting! I would never have believed this if i hadnt watched you doing it! I have to admit Im a bit like your mum ( you quoted your dad as saying she doesnt answer the phone without a full face on lol) and the idea of going into a store sans makeup is horrifying. However, having seen the results, I shall have to don giant sunnies and slink in to Sephora next time I am in the market for a new foundation. Thank you so much for this great video Gemma. have a fantastic day xx

I just came back to watch this again and it was SO helpful- even more so in quarantine times!

Wow...just watched your under tone and this shade finder video as I've been going through your library Gemma... it finally all makes sense lol. After all these years I finally am confident in my under tone and how to find my correct shade....thank you 😊 💓

Excellent explanation and reasoning. I'm currently playing with the idea of mixing lighter/close match foundation and a darker tone or mid-summer tone, to use as natural contouring effect. I was ideally not wanting to spend loads on a concealer tbh - but already finding out that even that's a different world of finishes and textures, let alone brand shading etc! Maybe I'm being too adventurous

Yesterday I saw this video, and today I found a foundation which matches my skintone (for the first time in my life it was quite easy!) I never knew what tone was the right for me. I ever thought that I am a warm type, because years ago somebody said it to me. But actually I wasn't think about that when I bought foundation. My face is a bit olive... or gold. My hair are light brown with a Golden undertone. But my eyes are more of a cool grey green. And my chest is more pinky. When I look into my Face, then I would say gold fits me better than silver (sunglasses) but a dress on my chest may look better in silver. I WAS VERY CONFUSED! An orange-red looks terrible on me, but most of the cool summer colours are also terrible! Everytime I bought make up, I looked for a sandy tone (like my face) and then my face looked more orange and it was hard to blend on my face, and not possible to blend in my neck and chest! After I saw this video I thought "Ok, maybe I am more a neutral skintone!?" And today I went in a drugstore and looked for something 》neutral《. I found immedatly two diffrent brands that matched my face very well! A foundation and a BB- cream! They both blended very well in my face and my neck and chest! I WAS SO HAPPY! I bought them both to see how they look in daylight, and for the first time all of my face and my neck has one tone! without dark stains or redness or something! I am happy, and I really look forward to go to work or go out with full face make up.... 👍🏼👍🏼😙😙

Different kettle of fish is used in Ireland too. Must look up the origins. Your woman from Countdown has a website to look up phrase origins!

Hi there, dearest Gemma!!! I missed you 💙 Let's learn about foundations - and hope I learn something😄 *EDIT* : I have fair skin, yellowish undertone, and I totally get the 'buying the foundation to the skin tone I'd like to have'... I wanted mine to be the pinkish kind... 😶

Thank you Gemma!!! Your explanation of foundation matching is so helpful!!! I’m visiting your channel from @Stephanie Marie’s channel, and watched the collab video you guys did together. I’m subscribed to her channel, and now I’m a subscriber of yours!!! I’ve seen many RU-vid videos on foundation matching, but yours has been the most helpful!!!

I have often been out looking like a tangerine! I thought I was the only person that stashed sample pots in my handbag when looking at drugstore foundations. I feel cheeky but I have a drawer full of foundations that are too dark and a couple that are too pink. I really don't have room for more mistakes!

Fab. as an older woman I love this info.

Best demonstration and tips for choosing the right foundation I´ve seen on youtube so far. Also enjoyed your undertone vid. Great channel!

What great tips! We have tester bottles here in Canada and now I am going to carry some of my little jars with me and take home rather than trying on in the store. One of those great "Why didn't I think of that" ideas. And a fish kettle is a pot - loved your face when you asked who puts fish in kettles lol

It makes a massive difference, I went into boots for a colour match and the shade was really too dark (I went in with a full face of makeup), honestly I looked like I was from a Central American country when the makeup was applied, I ended up having to mix it with some CYO that I had bought (that made me look like a ghost) around 2:1. Thankfully I now have warm ivory rather than deeply beige (yes the difference was that great even with the makeup removed first). For me going out without makeup is particularly horrendous as a trans woman as I have quite a bit to cover up on my face, one of the issues I face is the dark red colour corrector for the few patches of beard shadow remaining, I am hoping that after the next couple of laser sessions I can dispense with that (it's basically very thick theatrical makeup).