Buying Makeup That Suits You

BEAUTY · GLOBAL

Buying Makeup That Suits You

Shade matching, formulas by skin type, testing in store and hygiene

Most makeup that ends up unused was the wrong shade or the wrong formula, and both are decided in the few minutes before buying. Neither has much to do with price.

Match foundation on the jawline

Test three shades in a stripe along the jaw and look at them in daylight rather than under shop lighting, which is warm and misleading.

The right shade disappears. Anything you can see the edge of is wrong, and the neck and face should match.

Undertone matters more than depth

Cool undertones lean pink or blue, warm lean yellow or golden, neutral sits between. A shade at the right depth with the wrong undertone reads grey or orange.

Look at the veins on your inner wrist as a rough guide, and at whether silver or gold jewellery suits you better.

Formula by skin type

Oily skin suits matte and long-wear formulas, which can look flat on dry skin. Dry skin suits luminous and hydrating formulas, which slide on oily skin by midday.

Skin changes with season, so a formula that worked in July may not in January.

Where to spend

Complexion products and anything used near the eyes justify spending, since shade accuracy and formulation matter. Lipsticks, eyeshadow and tools are where budget ranges compete well.

Testing in store

Ask for samples before committing to anything expensive, and check the returns policy on cosmetics, which is frequently stricter than on other categories.

Counter staff are frequently brand representatives rather than independent advisers.

Building a small collection

One foundation or tinted moisturiser, a concealer, a blush, a mascara and a lip product cover almost every occasion. Buying for the face you have rather than a look you have seen is what makes things get used.

Note what you actually reach for over a month, which is usually three or four items.

Sales and sets

Seasonal beauty sets frequently work out cheaper per millilitre than buying individually. Check the sizes rather than assuming, since some contain miniatures.

Testing colour properly

Test on the jawline rather than the hand or the wrist, since those are a different colour from your face. Let it sit for ten minutes, because many foundations oxidise and darken after application.

Take a photograph in daylight, which shows a mismatch the mirror hides.

Removing it

Remove makeup properly every night, including around the lash line, since left overnight it causes irritation and blocked pores.

Hygiene and shelf life

Replace mascara every three months, wash brushes weekly and never share lip or eye products. Check the open-jar symbol showing how many months a product lasts once opened.

Discard anything that changes in smell, colour or texture.

WHERE TO BUY

Ready to shop Douglas? Use the link below to visit the official store.

→ Shop Douglas — official site

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