App Helps You Find the Perfect Foundation Match
For foundation wearers, finding the perfect match is a battle. Whether it's finding the right shade, the right amount of coverage, or the finish you like, there's a lot of "trying before buying" going on in the makeup aisle. So when I heard bareMinerals was launching an app called MADE-2-FIT that would make the foundation-matching aspect of shopping for makeup easier, I took note.
Instead of the standard way of selling makeup, in which a brand offers a group of shades to choose from, this app uses scans of your face to blend a custom shade just for you. And the best part is you can do it right from your couch (or wherever) and never have to take a trip to the store.
Here's how it works: After downloading MADE-2-FIT on your phone (it's only available on iPhone), unmute your device and have the app guide you through the process, which uses MATCHCo color-matching technology. To get the truest reading of your skin tone, start with a clean face and take the scans under indoor lighting with no direct sun. Begin by steadily tapping the phone camera against a stack of white paper to "calibrate" your phone. Next, tap your inner wrist until the app gets a good read, and then scan your face.
The app will take you through a series of scans on areas such as your forehead, both cheeks, and both sides of your jawline. That's it! From there, enter your shipping information and wait for the mailman to bring your custom bottle of bareMinerals Fresh Faced Foundation with your very own name on it for $49.
If for whatever reason you don't love your match - for example, if you didn't calibrate correctly or you didn't use good enough lighting - bareMinerals offers a 100 percent shade-match guarantee and allows returns within 30 days of delivery.
So with that in mind, I sought out four other avid foundation wearers like myself to give the app a try. Each of the below women struggle with finding their perfect foundation shade and were stoked to find out a service like this exists. After each woman tried the app and received her bottle in the mail, she removed her base makeup (full disclosure: eye makeup was left on) for the "before" photo. The "after" photo shows a full face of each woman's new foundation either applied with their fingers or with the Perfecting Foundation Brush. Here's what everyone thought.
Maya
On the app:
The app is so cool! I felt like I was participating in some science experiment on my face. The instructions were super clear and it was really easy to use. It also took all of five minutes for bareMinerals to declare my foundation shade - genius!
On the foundation:
The shade had a grayish undertone that left a subtle, ashy cast on my face, particularly on my forehead area. If the shade were a little warmer to complement my red undertones and less cool, it would have been a closer match. It was definitely wearable and would mix well with my other go-to foundations. I was really into the silky texture though because it gave my skin a glowy finish and I’m all about the glow. But I’m more of a full-coverage girl, and this formula was more sheer and light. For women who love light-coverage, buildable foundations, this is perfect for them!
Final thoughts:
Finding the perfect foundation shade has been a forever beauty struggle for women, so I definitely think this app is an amazing step in the right direction. I’ve always loved bareMinerals because they’re an OG shade-inclusive brand, and what girl doesn’t love receiving a foundation in the mail with her name on it? I would encourage people to try the app and the foundation to make sure they cater to varying undertones.
Ali
On the app:
I had never tried anything like this app before. I had to actually pay attention to the instructions but it was pretty straightforward to use if you followed the prompts. It felt very futuristic so that was fun.
On the foundation:
The color definitely matched better than others I’ve used before. Whether it was my redder T-zone or more pale jawline, I felt like the color blended in well no matter where I applied it. I had to use a few coats to get the coverage I wanted but all in all, it measures up to others I’ve used.
Final thoughts:
I would definitely recommend it to a friend who has trouble matching their shade!
Jada
On the app:
The app is really easy to use and actually really innovative. I just used my phone to determine skin tone - how cool is that?
On the foundation:
I was pleasantly surprised how accurate it was, considering the matching was done on my phone. I guess that's why you have to tap your phone on your skin a bunch of times in different areas to get a good match. When I first applied it, I used too much product so I ended up giving myself cake face. But the second time, I used less product and it was perfect. I use facial oil most days as a moisturizer, so that plus the foundation gave me the natural and dewy finish I normally like.
Final thoughts:
It beats spending half a day swatching shades or playing guessing games in the drugstore.
Sade
On the app:
I haven’t tried anything like it before but I thought the app was really easy to use.
On the foundation:
It was cool getting the bottle with my name on it. It’s a little chalky to touch but blended in pretty nicely with a brush. It seemed like it was a match but in natural light, I found the tone to be dull and the warmth in my skin got a little lost. However, it’s worth noting that you have the option to return the bottle and try it again.
Final thoughts:
Personally, the consistency wasn't a fit because the coverage was a little light; it’s pretty sheer so you have to apply it more to get the full coverage I'm looking for.
Brooke
On the app:
Once you get a hang of the rhythm you need to calibrate the phone, it's pretty easy to use. My skin tone is uneven, and totally different colors in certain areas of my face, so I was skeptical going into this. How would it be able to create a perfect shade for me when my face isn't one even color? I liked how the app takes that into consideration and asks for scans of different areas around your face.
On the foundation:
It's a buildable foundation and goes on very sheer at first, so I applied a few layers to get the coverage I usually like. The shade was almost too good of a match for me! What I mean is that I keep my face out of the sun so it's always a couple shades lighter than my body. Because of that, I would probably take scans of my arms and chest next time, rather than my face, to get a foundation that better matched my body.
Final thoughts:
I liked this foundation! I never really like how flat my face looks with only foundation on, but I could tell it was a good match for me. It looked even better when I finished my face and added some dimension with concealer, bronzer, and blush. A friend at dinner that night said my skin looked nice so that's a plus! I'll be trying this app again when it's time to find my new shade in the winter.
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