How to Pick the right Estee Lauder Foundation Shade

How to pick the right Estee Lauder foundation shade for you

1. Determine your undertone

To determine your undertone, look at your bare skin in the mirror.

2. Look at your skin's intensity

Look at your skin's intensity to determine if it is fair, light, medium or deep.

The number in the foundation name relates to the intensity of the foundation colour. The lower the number (e.g. 1) the lower the intensity of foundation. So someone with fair skin will choose a foundation shade with a '1' in it.

The higher the number, the deeper the foundation shade. This means that foundations suitable for darker skin will have a higher number in the name.

Now we need to combine your undertone with your skin intensity to find the perfect Estee Lauder foundation shade for you.

Fair Skin 

If you have fair skin, you can choose the best foundation for you depending on your undertone.  If you can't find the shade that you're after, let me know via our Ask an Expert feature.

Fair + Cool undertones - 1C1 Cool Bone, 1C0 Shell

Fair + Warm undertones - 1W0 Warm Porcelain, 1w1 Bone, 1W2 Sand

Fair + Neutral undertones - 0N1 Alabaster, 1N2 Ecru, 1N0 Porcelain, 1N1 Ivory Nude

Light Skin 

If you have light skin, you can choose the best foundation for you depending on your undertone.  If you can't find the shade that you're after, let me know via our Ask an Expert feature.

Light + Cool undertones - 2C0 Cool Vanilla, 2C1 Pure Beige, 2C3 Fresco, 2C4 Ivory Rose

Light + Warm undertones - 2W0 Warm Vanilla, 2W1 Dawn, 2W2 Rattan

Light + Neutral undertones - 2N1 Desert Beige, 2N2 Buff

Medium Skin

If you have medium skin, you can choose the best foundation for you according to your undertone.   If you can't find the shade that you're after, let me know via our Ask an Expert feature.

Medium + Cool undertones - 3C1 Dusk, 3C2 Pebble, 3C3 Sandbar

Medium + Warm undertones - 3W1 Tawny, 3W1.5 Fawn, 3W2 Cashew

Medium + Neutral undertones - 3N1 Ivory Beige, 3N2 Wheat 

Medium Dark Skin

For medium dark skin, I recommend the following shades. If you can't find the shade that you're after, let me know via our Ask an Expert feature.

Medium Dark + Cool undertones - 4C1 Outdoor Beige, 4C2 Auburn, 4C3 Soft Tan

Medium Dark + Warm undertones - 4W1 Honey Bronze, 4w2 Toasty Toffee, 4W3 Henna, 4W4 Hazel

Medium Dark  + Neutral undertones - 4N1 Shell Beige, 4N2 Spiced Sand, 4N3 Maple Sugar

Dark Skin

For darker skin, I recommend the following makeup shades.  If you can't find the shade that you're after, let me know via our Ask an Expert feature.

Dark + Cool undertones - 5C2 Sepia

Dark + Warm undertones - 5W1 Bronze, 5W2 Rich Caramel, 5W1.5 Cinnamon

Dark + Neutral  undertones - 5N1 Rich Ginger, 5N1.5 Maple, 5N2 Amber Honey

Deep Skin

The shades below are the best match for deep skin. If you can't find the shade that you're after, let me know via our Ask an Expert feature.

Deep + Cool undertones - 6C2 Pecan, 7C1 Rich Mahogany, 7C2 Sienna, 8C1 Rich Java

Deep + Warm undertones - 6W1 Sandalwood, 6W2 Nutmeg, 7W1 Deep Spice

Deep + Neutral undertones - 6N1 Mocha, 6N2 Truffle, 7N1 Deep Amber, 8N1 Espresso

Choosing Estee Lauder foundation shades

Choosing Estee Lauder foundation shades can be hard.

Need more help finding finding your perfect shade? Need a different shade for summer vs winter? Feel free to contact me via our Ask an Expert feature and I'll be happy to help. 

For more information and tips on my favourite Estee Lauder products see here.

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