GUIDE TO M·A·C SHADE NAMES FOR FOUNDATION, CONCEALER, AND POWDERM·A·C shade designations for Foundations, Concealer, and Powder are a combination of a letter and a number.
The letter represents the colour family of the product. The number denotes the lightness or darkness. The higher the number, the deeper the colour.
The first step in selecting your shade is to simply look at your skin, without makeup, in daylight.
Decide which of the following descriptions best represents your skin colour:
If your skin looks more Golden Beige, you match with
Neutral Cool or
NC shades.
If your skin looks more Pink Beige, you match with
Neutral Warm or
NW shades.
Most skin tones will fall into these two classifications. However, if you are still not certain which classification is right for you, consider the undertones in your skin.
To determine your undertone, take a look at the underside of your forearm:
If your veins look more blue, then you most likely have pinkish undertones. If your veins look more green, then you have more yellow or golden undertones.
If you have a significant undertone to your skin, you may choose to play it up or play it down by trying a shade that includes or excludes your undertones:
If your skin looks more Yellow-Golden Olive, you will find those undertones in the Cool or C shades.
If your skin looks more Beige, you will match with the Neutral or N shades.
If your skin looks more Pink, you will find those pink undertones in the Warm or W shades.
Please bear in mind, finding the "right" colour is something very subjective. Most people will wear a variety of different shades throughout the year because the colour of skin changes according to the lighting, the seasons, and physical well being. We encourage you to visit a store near you.
NC50/brown-eyed beauty
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