Guides

Foundation too orange, too light or grey? What went wrong

A foundation that doesn’t match shows straight away, especially where it meets your neck. The good news: it’s usually one of three things, and all three can be fixed.

Too orange

• Too warm: the undertone is more yellow or golden than yours. Try the shade of the same depth with a neutral undertone.
• Too deep: one step too deep quickly looks orange on lighter skin.
• It oxidises: some foundations get darker a few minutes after you apply them. So wait a moment before you decide.

Too light or mask-like

• Too light: the depth is off, so try one step deeper.
• Too pink: the undertone is cooler than yours. Try neutral or warm.
• White in flash photos: some foundations with SPF reflect camera flash more strongly. You won’t notice in everyday life, but you will in photos.

Grey or dull

This often happens on deeper or olive skin when the shade is too cool or too light. More in the article on olive skin.

What you can do now

1. See which way it’s off: lighter or deeper, warmer or cooler.
2. Look for the neighbouring shade in exactly that direction: same brand, one step further.
3. If you’re between two shades, you can mix both.
4. Or use the shade that fits you best as your starting point in the shade finder: for every match it shows whether it’s lighter, deeper, warmer or pinker.