If you’ve ever shopped for foundation on your own — i.e., without help from a beauty advisor — you’d know that finding a foundation that matches your skin tone can be an uphill task, not matter what your skin tone may be.
And this problem is more serious for people with darker or deeper skin tones, who somehow don’t get included in the colour tone for most brands.
The good news is, there are some brands who have been trying to be inclusive by offering more than 20 shades of foundation (because come on, there’s no way everyone can find a suitable shade if you only have five colours). Scroll the gallery to see the brands with pretty extensive colour range.
This story was first published on Cleo Singapore.
Number of shades: 30
Chanel finally launches more shades to include people of darker skin tones. The Ultra Le Teint Fluide will see addition of new shades come April 3, taking the total number of shades to 30. However, according to the brand, the number of shades may differ depending on the point of sale.
Number of shades: 24
While this foundation has 50 shades internationally, only about half of the shades are available in Singapore. This foundation promises a long-wearing but weightless finish, and is even waterproof.
Number of shades: 48
You know this brand for its brow products, but did you know that their foundations are also great? Our Beauty Editor tried and attested to this. It’s formulated without gluten, parabens, alcohol, oil, mineral oil or talc and is cruelty-free and vegan.
Number of shades: 44
This is infused with Rose Hip Oil to nourish your skin while giving it a glowing finish. As its name suggests, it’s supposed to make your skin look like, well, skin, as opposed to looking cakey.
Number of shades: 30
If you’re wondering why it’s called a multi-tasking concealer, the reason is simple: it comes with skincare benefits. This means, it not only evens out your skin tone just like other foundations, but also hydrates and plumps your skin, thanks to the infusion of babassu, essential fatty acids and antioxidants.
Number of shades: 44
Anyone who has used this foundation would gush about how great it is—even celebrities swear by it. It contains anti-aging properties, which you might think you don’t need but hey, it’s never too early to start prevention. True to its name, it creates an airbrush finish, giving the impression of really good skin.
Number of shades: 36
Ok let’s be real: this foundation is not cheap. At $100 per pop, you can probably get two mid-range foundations. But Pat McGrath is the woman behind runway makeup, so you know what you’re paying for. If you have extra cash and don’t know what to buy, maybe you could consider this.
Number of shades: 29
If you’re looking for an oil-free foundation, this is it. While some oil-free foundations tend to be cakey and difficult to blend, this promises a natural-looking finish that lasts all day.
Number of shades: 40
Don’t know how to use the famed Custom Cover Drops? Fret not, the brand now has a foundation that saves you the hassle of mixing with primer or moisturiser.
Number of shades: 50
By now, the name Fenty Beauty is synonymous with having a wide range of shades. It launched with 40 shades and now, it has added 10 more to the line-up. We’re not surprised if Rihanna decides to add more along the way. After all, the brand is all about celebrating inclusivity.
Number of shades: 50
If you’ve tried this foundation, loved the finish but couldn’t find one in your shade, good news: they now offer more shades. It’s supposed to provide an “invisible cover”, which essentially means it blurs out imperfections to give you the poreless look that will look great even when you’re on 4k TV. Currently, 33 shades are available on Sephora.sg.
Number of shades: 45
ICMYI: Kat Von D has rebranded itself to KVD Vegan Beauty. The brand’s ethos are still the same; the only difference is that Kat Von D has stepped down and sold all her shares to Kendo. The foundation still provides as good a coverage as in the past—it can conceal tattoos!—and still offers a variety of shades.
Number of shades: 20
Don’t like the feeling of wearing foundation and prefer something that feels like second skin? Well, look no more because this is the foundation for you. Like its name suggests, it’s weightless so you feel like you’re wearing nothing.