You're Doing It Wrong: The Right Way to Color-Match Your Foundation

Everyone's on the au naturel kick, but most of us need a little bit of makeup to cover up blemishes, dark circles, and pigmentation from time to time (or, if you're like me, every day). The dead giveaway that you've got a face full of makeup? When your foundation (or concealer) doesn't match your skin tone, creating a mask effect.

I ventured to the Nars Boutique on Melrose in Los Angeles to chat with Phuong Tran, head makeup stylist at Nars. When it comes to finding the perfect foundation, Phuong spilled the technique everyone should use to get the most precise shade, including where you should be testing it (hint: it's not along your jawline!), plus tricks of the trade for keeping your foundation set without going overboard on powder.

The foundation Phuong tested on me was Nars's new All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation ($48), which was just released this week on NarsCosmetics.com and in the brand's boutiques (and was what both Taylor Schilling and Claire Danes wore to the Golden Globes).

I was clinging to my tinted moisturizers for a while, but I really fell in love with this foundation. It's very light — it doesn't feel like you're slabbing on a heavy foundation, which was half the appeal to me. However, the coverage is remarkable. All you need is one tiny pump of the foundation to cover your entire face. The pump only allows a small amount of product to be dispensed at a time, so you don't have to worry about going overboard. I've been applying a small dot to my nose, chin, and forehead and reserving a majority of the product for my cheeks, then blending outward toward my jaw and hairline. I don't use concealer with this foundation, which really speaks to the coverage it gives.

If you have oily or combo skin, you'll love the oil-free formula. And for the person who's constantly on the go, it lasts a full workday (and then some). Plus, it comes in 20 different shades, so finding your perfect color includes testing several options.

You can find Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation everywhere else on Feb. 1.