An important thing you cannot afford to go wrong with is your foundation shade. What if you bought a shade darker than you need? How to fix a too dark foundation? Not everyone can afford to buy another one when this brand new product sits inside your pantry without any use. So, let us find out how to fix this.
Keep reading to know how to solve this problem. The solution is not as tough as you think!
In This Article
How to lighten dark foundation when in a hurry?
There are actually many ways in which you can do this. There are on the spot fixes and also fixes that will allow you to lighten the shade of the entire bottle too. And we categorize these solutions in a similar manner, so you use the quick fix right away and save the bottle after you get back home!
First let’s go with quick fixes. After all you could be stuck with wrong foundation right now!
Quick fix tricks
iStock
1. With A Moisturizer:
We always carry a moisturizer with us. Women never leave home without a small portable bottle or tub in their bag. That’s all you need to fix your foundation!
Take a little of the foundation on the back of your hand and add a few drops of moisturizer to it. Mix it up well. Check to see if the shade is fine. You can add more moisturizer if needed.
The moisturizer will reduce the pigmentation of the foundation. The shade is now perfect for you.
StyleCraze Says Take care to use two different moisturizers if you have combination skin – a water-based one for your oily T-zone and another oil-based one for the dry areas on your face and neck. Alternatively, use a moisturizer formulated especially for your skin type as you may end up using quite a bit to dilute the foundation to get the perfect shade. Related: 10 Effective Ways To Moisturize Your Skin Naturally
2. With A Finishing Powder:
Almost everyone has a light shade of this product that they use for highlighting their makeup look. If you have got one, you don’t need anything else.
Once you have applied you foundation, just apply the finishing powder evenly all over your face. This will lighten out the pigmentation of the foundation. But remember to only use the powder that you use for highlighting, not the one you have set aside for contouring or bronzing!
3. With A Wet Sponge:
iStock
When you use your fingers to blend in your foundation especially a liquid foundation, it will seem darker than when you use an applicator or a brush. When you have a foundation that is darker, avoid using your fingers. A sponge is the perfect solution!
Before you use the sponge, dampen it a little. Do not show it under running water. The idea is for it to be a little damp, not soaking wet. Once you dampen the sponge, take very little of the foundation and spread it onto your skin. Ensure that you use a light hand. You do not want the foundation to settle into the crease and give out a darker shade a few hours down the line.
4. With A Concealer:
First things first, this demands a light hand and the use of the product in smaller quantities.
Apply a concealer wherever required and hide the blemishes. Then take very little of the product and blend it around the concealer. Make sure that you blend in a triangle instead of circles if you have dark circles. That is dot the foundation around the eyes, and then begin at the ends if the eye and move downwards towards the cheek. In this way, if you have dark circles, it doesn’t get highlighted!
Piece of cake.
Related: How To Apply Concealer: DIY Tutorial + Using It As Foundation
5. Use it sparingly:
Shutterstock
Buying a darker foundation is not always a bad thing. It can spare you the expenditure of buying a new concealer.
Now all you have to do is not use this every day and all over your face. Just use it on the blemishes or marks you wish to hide. Just like you would a concealer!
6. As a bronzer:
It can also dub as a bronzer if you don’t already have one.
Apply a powder foundation all over the face and use the darker foundation only on your cheeks and jaw line to make it more prominent.
Related: How To Apply Bronzer
How To Save The Entire Bottle?
7. With A Moisturizer:
All you have to do is to add some moisturizer to the entire bottle of the foundation.
But go about this carefully. Don’t just dump it all it. Remove the foundation from the bottle and transfer it into a bowl. Now slowly keep adding moisturizer and testing it until the right shade is achieved. Now you can transfer the contents back into the bottle.
8. With A Lighter Foundation:
Shutterstock
Let me tell you a little secret. Just before I got this foundation that is too dark, I ended up buying a foundation that was too light for me! The good thing that happened is that I now have a foundation that is too dark and too light for me.
How is that good? Because I can now mix these two in the right proportion to end up with the right shade of foundation! Again over here, do not just dump it all in together. Take one of the foundations in a bowl and slowly keep adding the other until you end up with the right shade.
9. Save It For The Summers:
iStock
If you feel like none of the above methods, then remember every product you buy has a shelf life of at least a year. And that means, that there will be at the very least one summer that will arrive before the product expires. With summer comes tan. This foundation will be prefect to use then. So don’t throw the bottle out in a rush. Patience pays!
Subscribe StyleCraze Says You can safely store away the foundation in a clean, cool, and dry place, which means definitely not in a bathroom cupboard or shelf. Another great alternative is to store it in the refrigerator as it will stay fresh and not become melty or cakey.
A little patience and presence of mind is all you need!
Infographic: 5 Quick Fixes For Dark Foundations
See! You do not have to trash that dark foundation you accidentally purchased. In the art of makeup, everything is possible.
In case you need to look up these tips real quick, here is an infographic for easy reference.
Many women purchase foundation that is either too dark or too light for their skin tone. When purchasing a product for the first time, getting the wrong foundation shade is common. To correct a foundation that is too dark, follow the tips and tricks listed above. These are some quick remedies for lightening dark foundations. However, it is important to remember that purchasing a darker foundation is not necessarily terrible. It may save you the cost of purchasing a new concealer. All you have to do now is make sure you do not apply it every day and all over your face. Simply apply it to the blemishes or spots you want to conceal.
