How to Choose Your Foundation Colour

The perfect base is a foundation colour that matches your natural skin tone exactly, imparting a skin-like finish that complements any makeup aesthetic from natural to full coverage.

However, just as skin concerns evolve throughout the year, so too can skin tone; and fluctuations in sun exposure, weather, and time spent indoors can all affect the skin’s radiance and tone.

In this guide, Armani beauty shares expert advice for how to choose a foundation shade that enhances – rather than diminishes – the skin’s innate glow.

Choose a foundation that matches your skin tone and enhances your glow

A mismatched foundation shade can make the skin appear flat or sallow, but a colour that is true to skin tone will refine and elevate the complexion.

Armani beauty’s signature Luminous Silk Foundation has been developed with pigment technology to offer an ever-closer colour match, while simultaneously imbuing the skin with a natural glow finish. Comprising 44 shades, the Luminous Silk Foundation formula uniquely balances coverage without dimming luminosity.

“Celebrated for its ability to create radiant yet flawless coverage, Luminous Silk Foundation has long been the hero behind countless red-carpet complexions and a staple in makeup artist kits,” explains Jason Branigan, Armani beauty’s National Face Designer.

The Luminous Silk Foundation shade range is categorised by fair to very deep skin tones. Knowing where your surface tone sits within this range is the first step in how to choose a foundation colour that blends flawlessly with the complexion.

Find the right foundation shade for your undertone

Surface skin tone changes with sun exposure, but the skin’s undertone is a constant – and the key to a seamless colour match. Undertones are the hues that sit below the surface of the skin, and they can be cool, warm, or neutral.

Discover how to correctly identify a cool, warm, or neutral undertone with Armani beauty’s expert foundation-matching guidance below.

Foundation shade for cool undertones

Signs of a cool undertone are blue or purple veins on the inner wrist, and skin that burns rather than tans. Generally, skin with a cool undertone will also suit silver jewellery best.

When choosing a foundation shade for cool undertones, seek out a foundation with a pink, red, or blue base. The Luminous Silk Foundation collection has been developed with simple markers like “Cool Pink”, “Cool Peach”, or “Cool Red” to indicate cool undertone bases in specific shades.

Foundation shade for warm undertones

Warm undertones are indicated by green veins on the inner wrist, skin that tans easily – without burning – and a natural compatibility with gold jewellery.

The best foundation shades for warm undertones will have a peach, yellow, or golden base colour. In the Luminous Silk range, look for any shade that’s prefaced by “warm” labels: such as “Warm Golden”, “Warm Olive”, or “Warm Peach.”

Foundation shade for neutral undertones

As the name implies, neutral undertones are a blend of cool and warm hues. Those with a neutral undertone burn and tan – and may notice a mix of blue and green veins on the inner wrist. Neutral undertones typically suit both gold and silver jewellery.

A foundation shade for neutral undertones sits somewhere in the middle of cool and warm – so look for peach or slightly golden-hued formulas. These are easily identifiable in the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation collection as “Neutral Golden”, “Neutral Peach”, “Neutral Olive”, or “Neutral Pink”.

Swatch against bare skin in natural lighting

When testing any foundation formula against skin tone and undertone, it is important to swatch the shade against bare skin. This will allow you to ascertain how it fares in natural lighting and obtain the most accurate colour reading.

If shopping in-store, ensure that you cleanse and moisturise first. Swatch three to four foundation shades on your cheek near the jawline, then stand in natural lighting. The jawline is an ideal placement for swatches because skin colour isn’t consistent across the face and neck, so it is best to choose a foundation shade that suits both areas.

In terms of how to find the right foundation shade online, Armani beauty’s virtual try-on tool is designed to determine your closest possible match. Simply use your live camera or upload a photo to see how different foundations will look on your skin. Similarly to in-person colour-matching, always test on clean skin in natural lighting.

Adjust your foundation shade seasonally

Skin tone can subtly change as sun exposure increases or wanes, making it vital to match your colour to the season. If you are between shades, try mixing two different Armani Luminous Silk Foundation colours until you settle on one closest to your skin tone.

Remember, you can also lighten foundation with a lighter face powder – such as the Luminous Silk Glow Fusion Face Powder – or warm up the complexion with bronzer.

How to get the Armani Glow with your chosen foundation shade: a step-by-step application guide

With the perfect colour match, the coveted Armani glow can be achieved in just a few steps.

“The newly enhanced Luminous Silk Foundation refines the signature Armani Glow – delivering the same luminous, skin-like finish with an elevated sense of comfort, fluidity and performance,” Jason Branigan – Armani beauty’s National Face Designer – explains.

Using Armani beauty’s step-by-step guide, learn how to build a radiant, dewy base, brighten the complexion, and warm up the cheeks and lips.

Step 1: Begin with hydrated, primed skin

For a smooth, flawless finish that promises longevity, always prepare the skin sufficiently before applying makeup. Armani beauty’s Luminous Silk Illuminating Primer is infused with 89% skincare-based ingredients and delicate “Golden Hour” pearls to impart a veil of hydration and subtle luminosity under makeup.

“Radiance starts with hydration,” Jason adds, “so prepare your skin by massaging in two pumps of Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer to ensure foundation glides seamlessly across the complexion.”

Step 2: Apply Luminous Silk Foundation

A little goes a long way with the Armani beauty Luminous Silk Foundation, and coverage can be gradually built up in light layers to achieve your desired finish. “The Armani Glow is less about heavy coverage and more about strategic luminosity, placement and skin preparation,” says Jason. “Now with added skincare benefits, Luminous Silk Foundation lasts for 24 hours and enhances your natural luminosity. Using a brush or fingertips, simply apply a small amount of foundation, blending from the centre of the face outwards. The lightweight texture melts into the skin, enhancing your natural complexion.”

Step 3: Brighten with concealer

With the goal being enhanced radiance and a skin-like finish over heavy layers, concealer can also be approached with a light touch. Using the Luminous Silk Lightweight Liquid Concealer, focus on spot-concealing and brightening specific areas of the face.

“Brighten the under eyes with your chosen shade of Luminous Silk Concealer,” advises Jason Branigan. “I like to brighten inner and outer corners and add a touch of brightness on the cheekbones, bridge of the nose and Cupid’s bow.”

Step 4: Finish with colour

The Armani Glow routine would be incomplete without a flush of colour on the cheeks and lips. Available in a wealth of shades to complement various skin undertones, the Luminous Silk Cheek Tint Shine adds both warmth and radiance to the complexion. Then, amplify shine with your favourite shade of Prisma Glass Lip Gloss.

“Add your chosen shade of Cheek Tint or Cheek Tint Shine to the apples of the cheeks, blending upwards and over the cheekbones for a lifted effect,” recommends Jason. “Then, pair with your favourite shade of Prisma Glass to complete the Armani Glow look.”

Mastering the art of how to choose a foundation colour for your undertone can also guide you towards the right lipstick for your complexion.

Next, Armani beauty invites you to find the lipstick colour that suits you best.