Finding the right foundation shades is tricky enough as it is, but for someone born in Pakistan, it is a lot more demanding. Due to the host of unique skin colors along with the variety of undertones ranging from warm to neutral to cool it can be quite challenging to search for a shade that not only matches your skin color but also complements your undertone. Here’s a guide to help you choose the perfect foundation shade for your Pakistani skin tone in 5 easy steps.

1. Learn About Your Skin's Undertone

The undertone of your skin is the subtle hue that lies beneath your skin's surface. It plays a key role in determining how a foundation will look on you. Generally, skin undertones fall into three categories: 

• Warm Undertone: If your skin has a golden, yellow, or olive tint, you have a warm undertone. 
• Cool Undertone: Skin with a pink, red, or bluish tint indicates a cool undertone.
• Neutral Undertone: A mix of both warm and cool undertones, neutral skin often works with a wider range of foundation shades.

Here's How to Determine Your Undertone

• Vein Test: Look at the veins on your wrist in natural light. If they appear green, you likely have a warm undertone. If they look blue or purple, you may have a cool undertone. If you can’t distinguish between the two, your undertone might be neutral.
• Jewelry Test: Which jewelry looks better on your skin—gold or silver? Gold usually complements warm undertones, while silver enhances cool undertones.

2. Identify Your Skin Tone

Pakistani skin tones vary widely, from fair to medium to deeper shades. Knowing your skin tone is essential in finding the right match. The easiest way to recognise your skin tone is by spending a day on the beach!

• Fair tone: Light skin that burns easily but doesn't tan easily.
• Medium tone: The most common skin tone in Pakistan, characterized by an olive or tan appearance, tans easily but rarely burns
• Deep tone: Darker skin tones with rich pigments, never burns and tans only during prolonged exposure 

3. Understand Your Skin Type

Pakistani skin often faces environmental challenges, such as humidity, heat, and pollution, which can affect how a foundation wears throughout the day. Understanding your skin type is essential, not just for finding the right foundation shade, but for choosing the ideal formula:

• For Oily Skin: Prioritize finding a matte or oil-free foundation to keep your skin from looking unpleasantly shiny. Ingredients like salicylic acid or oil-absorbing powders can help control excess sebum production.
• For Dry Skin: Use a hydrating or dewy foundation formula that adds moisture to your skin, such as foundations with hyaluronic acid or glycerin.
• For Combination Skin: A satin or semi-matte foundation works best, providing balance without emphasizing dry patches or making oily areas worse.

4. Test the Foundation Correctly

Picking the right foundation shade is about more than just looking from the bottle or swatching on the hand. Here are some tips for testing:

• Test on Your Jawline: Always swatch the foundation on your cheek or jawline instead of your hand or wrist. Your face and hands have different tones due to sun exposure, so it’s best to match the color where the foundation will be applied.
• Check in Natural Light: Artificial store lighting can affect the actual appearance of the foundation. Once applied, step outside or near a window to see how it looks in natural light.
• Oxidation Test: Some foundations oxidize and turn darker once applied, especially in humid climates like Pakistan’s. Leave the foundation on for a few minutes to see if it changes color on your skin before purchasing.

5. Consider Seasonal Changes

Pakistani skin tones often vary between seasons due to sun exposure. You may notice that your skin tone is lighter in the winter and deeper in the summer, requiring different foundation shades. It’s a good idea to keep two shades—one for summer and one for winter.

Top Foundation Brand For Pakistani Skin Tone 

Taking all this into consideration, Zay Beauty stands out as the only local makeup brand that specifically caters to Pakistani skin tones and the country’s often changing weather, offering an incredibly versatile range of shades and formulas. Additionally, their foundation shade names are amusingly accurate, creating a sense of familiarity and comfort for their customers.

Now that you know how and where to pick your foundation shade from, what are you still waiting for? Hop onto Zay Beauty’s online store and start shopping today!