12 tips to enjoy makeup bought in the wrong shade

You spent days reading suggestions on beauty blogs, researching prices on different websites, reading reviews, scouring the brand’s website and finally decided to buy that amazing powder. She passed the code correctly to her friend who was abroad, counted the days on the calendar for the end of the trip and when she finally arrived and delivered the product, surprise! You bought the wrong tone.

When the wrong purchase is made over the internet, the situation is a little easier, since, by law, you have seven days to exchange (or give up on the purchase of) any product purchased outside a physical store. But what about in situations where exchange is not possible?

The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to give up makeup bought in the wrong shade. Professional makeup artists give you some tips on how to reuse products that are lighter or darker than your skin. Check out:

Basis

Lighter than your skin:

1. Use it as a highlighter. “When you buy a foundation lighter than your skin tone, this is a tip. Apply the product along the nose and temples”, suggests Otávio Lameiro, beauty stylist at the Celso Kamura salon unit in Campinas. But Ramiro Cerqueira, image consultant in bone structure and behavior at the Office Hair salon, in São Paulo, warns not to repeat the same shade of foundation when applying the compact powder. “Otherwise it looks very white.”

Darker than your skin:

2. Tune the face. “With a darker foundation tone, you can shade your face and create a depth effect. Apply on the forehead, jaw and base and sides of the nose”, advises makeup artist Maicon Freitas.

3. Disguise imperfections. The stylist and makeup artist Gustavo Carvalho comments that the foundation in a darker tone is a great ally for correcting imperfections on the face, especially light spots.

4. Mix it with moisturizing cream. “That way, it gets a lighter tone, getting closer to the color of your skin”, recommends Otávio.

Liquid Paper

Lighter than your skin:

5. Disguise pimples and dark circles. Gustavo points out that the concealer can be a great ally to neutralize darker spots on the skin, such as pimples and dark circles.

6. Lighten your lips. “The lighter concealer can be used on the lips, together with the lip balm, to give the effect of a nude mouth”, adds the specialist.

7. Bring even more light to your face. The lighter concealer also helps to brighten the complexion. “Apply it to the area below the eyebrows or above the cheekbones to brighten the area. If you apply it in the center of the nose, the face will be longer and thinner”, says Otávio.

Darker than your skin:

8. Create a deep look. You know that look that penetrates the depths of the soul? A darker shade of concealer can help give your eyes more depth, according to Maicon.

9. Create a slimmer look. “By using the darkest concealer in the region below the cheekbone, you will be able to give the impression that it is smaller”, says Otávio.

Dust

Lighter than your skin:

10. Play with light and shadow. The lighter shade of the powder can also help balance the light and dark effects across the face. “Swipe the center of the forehead, over the chin and nose, always spreading the product well so as not to leave marks”, recommends the beauty stylist.

Darker than your skin:

11. No more “ghosting” in photos. Anyone who is used to using lighter shades of powder knows well that this can be a trap when taking pictures. Depending on the angle, the face can come out super white and too shiny. So, powder in a darker shade can help break this effect. “Just be careful, too much can leave a strong tanning tone only on the face. Don’t overdo it”, warns Ramiro. A good tip is to apply the dark powder not only on the face, but also on the ears, neck and décolleté to make the contrasts of the face more natural. Another alternative is to use a lighter foundation before your darker powder to even out your skin tone.

12. Tune cheeks and nose. “Use the product marking the underside of the cheekbones”, suggests Otávio.

not to make mistakes anymore

Experts agree that the best way to avoid buying makeup products in the wrong shade is to experiment. Many brick and mortar stores offer showcase items so you can compare items to your skin tone. Especially when purchasing new products, don’t risk shopping online so you don’t have a chance of mistake.

Gustavo recommends trying foundation, powder and concealer directly on the skin of the face so there is no doubt. “The foundation should be spread over the jaw and harmonize with the skin tone and the powder should never be applied to the arm or hand to try it out, as there is great variation in relation to the color of the face”, he explains. For the concealer, Maicon recommends testing in the darkest region of the eyes, where the dark circles are.

If you still have doubts about the foundation, makeup artist Orlando Rosseto recommends a mascara: “Put a drop of each color on one of your fingers and then run your fingers over your face, forming two vertical stripes. The color you least see is the right shade.”

Otávio adds that another important concern is to always buy products according to your skin’s top. “A more matte foundation for oily skin and a more hydrating foundation for dry skin”, he concludes.