The search for a foundation that matches our skin tone can be a real challenge. And sometimes, when we think we have found the perfect match, suddenly, it turns orange on us! Why does that happen?
Why does foundation oxidizes?
When a foundation oxidizes, it turns orange, or one or two shades darker, on your skin. The oils on your skin or those present in the product can affect the pigments of the foundation, intensifying their color. This is why people with oilier skin are more prone to experience a change in the color of their foundation.
How to prevent foundation from oxidizing?
The only way to know if a foundation won’t oxidise on you is to try it before buying. Ask for samples or test it at the counter and then go for a walk. Wait one or two hours and if the foundation hasn’t changed color, go back to the store and buy it. If, instead, the foundation has turned darker, try testing a lighter shade and see if once oxidised, it matches your skintone.
I also read on some forums that using a primer may help. That makes sense because primers create a barrier on the skin so that your sebum won’t react with the foundation. But from what I heard, this method doesn’t work for everyone. Still, it’s worth a shot.
Has this ever happened to you? And have you got any tips to prevent your foundation from oxidizing?
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I know what you mean, I’ve tried putting on makeup to a client and after 30 minutes, it turned orange, I have to redo everything
I guess either they are acidic ! Primers do help 
wonderful post 
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One of the mineral foundation I used did turn darker on me. Primers do help a lot but the key idea is to wait to see if the color changes at all. It’s quite antagonizing, especially if you want to look pretty for a special occasion.
.-= Dao´s last blog ..MAC 168 Brush: Fabulous for Contouring =-.
i have experienced this oxidization many many times.
so now i have to try first before i buy. primers also won’t help much for my case. *sigh*
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Oh god, Gio, I was drinking Pepsi while your site loaded and that picture made me laugh so much I splurted it down my nose. Damn you, that’s so uncomfortable.
This is why I always tell people to never, ever buy foundation the first time they try it. Try it on your jawline (near the ear), and leave the store. Go home, walk around, whatever, leave it a couple of hours. See how it looks outside, in store windows, in your bathroom, etc.
Every single time someone colour matches me, I go “you might as well just go for the lightest shade” and they squint and hum and say “Oh, no, I think you’re a—” and then they try something, and frown, and huff, and concede and say “Oh, wow, yes that’s far too dark”.
Can’t trust anyone’s opinion but your own!
.-= Anastasia´s last blog ..Lime Crime: So Ordinary It Should Be Illegal. =-.
I hate when this happens to me. I find this common with mineral makeup.
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Nikki: thanks. Oh, that’s too bad! I’m sorry you had to redo everything.
Unfortunately foundations are tricky, you never know how they will react on the skin.
Dao: I think trying it on before buying and see if the color changes is the best option. But if you already have a foundation that oxidizes, using a primer with it is worth a shot.
prettybeautiful: that’s a shame! But at least if you try them before you buy, you’re sure to pick a foundation that works for you and won’t be wasting any money.
Anastasia: oops, sorry Ana! lol. You’re so right! Always try the foundation on for a few hours before buying it, you never know how it’s gonna react once it is on your skin. A shade may be the perfect match as soon as you try it on and make you look like an orange half an hour later!
That’s happens to me too, it’s so annoying! We know better than them what suits us!
Fabulessbeauty: I agree and it’s very annoying!
I use a foundation primer before applying foundation and that helps heaps! I’ve also come to notice that water based foundations tend to oxidize faster compared to oil-based. When foundation oxidizes on me it turns grey and ashy >.<
.-= Connie´s last blog ..It Feels Like Christmas! =-.
Connie, I’m glad a primer helps in your case. Really? I would have thought the opposite.
I am a makeup artist and have noticed foundations turning gray on certain clients. Especially African Americans or women who hit the tanning beds WAY TOO MUCH. How do I fix this????
Emily, do you mean grey in pictures or in real life? Because certain foundations contain pigments that reflect light a lot and they can make you look grey/white in pictures or if you go out at night with all those artifical lights, especially if your skin is very dark. If that’s the problem, then I’m afraid your only option is to use a foundation that doesn’t reflect light so much. Hope this helps.
hmmm i spend way too much on makeup… and my my foundation always turn orange on me no matter what primer i use grrrr . i hate my freaking skin its disgusting 2 look at! i have very oily acne prone scar skin ; ( FML !!! … i might try using a lighter foundation and see when it oxidize it might macth my skin tone … but im not looking fowward 2 forking out more money again. Gosh i hate my skin so much right now !!!!
Johhny, that’s too bad that you always have this problem even with primer. I think a lighter foundation is definitely the way to go as it would match you when oxidized. But maybe you can try asking for samples first so you can try it at home and see if it matches yuo without wasting more money on something that may not work.
I agree most counter makeup assistants do not know what their talking about when they try and match up your foundation colour, they just assume every one is dark! I tried jane iredale mineral pressed powder in warm sienna and it was way too dark for my skin tone.
But the most strangest thing was that after washing it offafter a dew hours it left a hue of colour of my skin. I tried washing it off several times but it is llike my skin has literally absorbed the colour and now it wont shift. My bare face colour looks as if i have i have a fake tan on which looks un natural. This may sound unusual but this mineral makeup has left a stain of colour on my skin.
Does anyone know if mineral makeup oxidizes and react to skin making it look darker even after you’ve washed it off ?
Glitter, SA always try to make me buy shades that are too dark for me too. The last time I went to my local beauty store, I asked the SA for help to find a foundation that matches my very pale skin and she wanted to make me try some from L’Oreal or Revlon which, at least here in Italy, don’t sell shades pale enough for me. She insisted on trying them on my anyway and the palest color was 3 or 4 shades darker than me! What was she thinking?!
I’m sorry you had such a bad experience with that foundation. I know mineral makeup can oxidize and turn darker but I never heard that can happen after it is removed. Have you tried exfoliating your face? That would get rid of the dead cells on the surface and make the color fade, at least a little.
Its been day 7 now and my face colour has cleared up. I have been using gentle micro dermabrasion everyday since that strange incident with the dark foundation. Its much better now thanks.
Glitter, I’m glad to hear that your face color is back to normal now. That must have been a weird, horrible experience.
I am Asian and have a brown skin (you know some asians are white kkk) … I wanna try maybelline mineralize products. what shade is good for me? thank you.
Alexa, unfortunately I’m afraid I can’t help you there. We all have different skintones with different undertones and the same foundation may not oxidize on anyone so the best thing to do is try a tester and see which shade suits you best. Remember to see how the color looks under natural lighting and if you think the shade is a good match, wait a couple of hours to see if it has oxidizes (turned durker) before buying the full size. Hope this helps.