We Asked A Makeup Artist The Biggest Mistake People Make With Foundation

The best way to create a picturesque full face of makeup is by starting with the basics. Because if the basics aren't right, everything that follows will suffer. One of the most reliable pieces of base makeup is of course foundation for your face. Foundation is meant to make your complexion look even and refined, covering up imperfections on the skin for consistent beauty. Using the right foundation is absolutely non-negotiable when it comes to making your face shine as it sets the stage for applying the rest of your makeup correctly. But what is the best way to avoid a potential makeup blunder? Unfortunately, there are common foundation mistakes you've probably been guilty of that are setting up your entire face for failure. 

To learn about fixing common makeup mistakes, Glam reached out to professional makeup artist and licensed esthetician Jade Griffin, founder and CEO of Queen Productions. Surprisingly, it's not necessarily the brand or the application of foundation that can be the biggest problem. "In my opinion one of the biggest mistakes people tend to make is choosing the wrong foundation color," Griffin tells Glam exclusively. It turns out that picking the right shade of foundation for your face isn't an exact science. "Most people think that they are lighter or darker than their true shade," Griffin explains. While lip and eye makeup can allow for fun experimentation with various atypical colors, foundation shades need to be precise so the face can be used as a canvas for other makeup choices to look cohesive.

Picking the right shade of foundation depends on more than you may realize: skin color of course, but also undertones. It's important to figure out your skin undertones because they remain consistent throughout the year and do not change overtime. An incorrect shade of foundation can make your skin tone look uneven and strange. You'll want to make sure the foundation shade is right for your skin so it properly glistens and doesn't appear flat. The right shade of foundation will blend in with your skin so nicely that it will look natural as if you are not wearing makeup at all.

So, how does one make sure they are selecting the correct shade of foundation? "The best tips for testing makeup shades is to test them on your neck or chest," Griffin recommends in our exclusive chat. "Being that our bodies are different shades all over you want to make sure that it matches your face." Testing different shades can be a challenge when there are so many available (Maybelline alone has 40 different shades to choose from in its Fit Me Foundation line). Griffin advises to "never test on your hands or arms because they tend to be darker due to sunlight exposure." Make sure you are aware of hacks you can try if your foundation isn't the right shade, including blending products.