How to find your foundation match

Makeup is an interesting conversation and connection point for individuals, particularly women.

I only started consistently wearing makeup in my late twenties, largely because of the constant events I was attending at the time, the peak of YouTube makeup tutorials (its prime, by the way), and the confidence makeup gave me, especially during breakouts.

I was just an eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss girl. I don't have glass skin (who does, really?), but I’ve learned more about makeup as I've gone along. And still learning.

The makeup industry has exploded in the last couple of years, with more brands entering the space and consumers, along with influencers, demanding greater inclusivity. A legacy brand, Clarins South Africa is no different, hosting a lush event to introduce their newest foundation range, Skin Illusion Foundation, at their offices in The Firs, Rosebank.

They also unveiled the diverse faces of their campaign, which included the likes of Vongai Mapho, Deborah Chambers, and Boitumelo Rametsi.

The event theme was shades of nudes, with guests showing up in their best nude tones. We sipped on drinks, mingled, and matched shades while sharing conversations with fellow women, all tied to the driving narrative of shades of Southern Africa.

Some of Clarins Skin Illusion Full Coverage foundation tones. Picture: Sandisiwe Mbhele

The Skin Illusion Foundation offers full coverage, promises to be long-wearing, available in 24 shades in-store and 28 shades online and claims to "work like skincare", a phrase we've been hearing a lot lately. I found my perfect match during the event, and after wearing the foundation, I received plenty of compliments, one person even asked, "Are you wearing foundation? It doesn't look like it, it's so good."

This is perfected by their SkinFit technology, which allows the foundation to adjust to every movement of the face.

Clarins Skin Illusion foundation bottle and box on a display. Picture: Sandi Mbhele

But getting the perfect shade of foundation starts with understanding your skin. A good skincare routine is essential, but another growing trend is identifying your undertones. Yes, I was puzzled when people started talking about warm, neutral, and cool tones, especially when TikTok videos started breaking it down everywhere. Luckily, Clarins training manager Lebo Ngwenya broke it down for us:

Warm undertones: You're comfortable in the sun, go a little darker but don't burn. These appear as yellow, golden, or peach hues. Look for makeup products with yellow or golden undertones.

Neutral undertones: You’re comfortable in the sun but can burn. You can generally wear a wider range of shades.

Cool undertones: You avoid the sun because you burn quickly. These appear as pink or blue hues. Look for makeup products with pink or blue undertones.

I hope this helps, happy matching.

Clarins Skin Illusion full coverage foundation will be available in 24 shades and 28 shades online.