Technique · Written in Casablanca
How to match foundation shade
Test three shades along the jawline, in daylight — never the wrist, never shop lighting.
Written by Lamyaa Aissi, professional makeup artist, Casablanca.
How to do it
- Swatch three candidates side by side along the jaw, down onto the neck.
- Step outside or to a window. Shop lighting is designed to make everything look correct.
- The right shade disappears because it matches the temperature of your neck, not because it is invisible.
- Expect to mix two shades rather than find one.
The Moroccan adjustment
The rule that matters most here: most Moroccan skin runs olive or golden. A shade matched on depth alone against a neutral or pink base goes grey within the hour. Undertone, not depth, is what decides.
What goes wrong
Matching to the face rather than the neck. A face is often a different tone from the neck, and matching to it leaves a visible line at the jaw.
Questions
How to match foundation shade?
Test three shades along the jawline, in daylight — never the wrist, never shop lighting.
What goes wrong most often?
Matching to the face rather than the neck. A face is often a different tone from the neck, and matching to it leaves a visible line at the jaw.
Does this change on Moroccan skin or in a Moroccan climate?
The rule that matters most here: most Moroccan skin runs olive or golden. A shade matched on depth alone against a neutral or pink base goes grey within the hour. Undertone, not depth, is what decides.
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