How to Choose the Right Loose Mineral Foundation Shade
Quick answer: To choose the right loose mineral foundation shade, work out your undertone first, then test on your jawline in natural light and pick the shade that disappears into your skin. If you're between two shades, choose the lighter one and add warmth with bronzer, or mix the two. Our Colour Match chart and Colour Swap Guarantee make ordering Thin Lizzy Loose Mineral Foundation online easier.
Your foundation can look perfect under the bathroom light, then look a different colour from your neck the moment you step outside. Finding the right loose mineral foundation shade is simpler than it seems, and mineral powder is more forgiving than most foundations because you apply it in thin, buildable layers. Here's how to get it right in five steps.
1. Understand Your Undertone First
Your skin tone is how light or deep your skin is. Your undertone is the colour underneath, and no shade will look right if the undertone is off.
- Warm: skin leans golden, peachy or yellow. You tan easily, and gold jewellery tends to suit you.
- Cool: skin has hints of pink, red or blue. You may burn more easily, and silver jewellery often looks better.
- Neutral: somewhere in the middle. Both gold and silver suit you.
Quick test: look at the veins on your inner wrist in daylight. Greenish veins usually mean warm, bluish veins mean cool, and a mix means neutral.
2. Test on Your Jawline, Not Your Hand
The back of your hand is usually a different colour from your face. Swatch a little powder along your jawline so you can see how it blends into both your face and your neck. The right shade almost disappears. If you can see a line, or the powder looks grey, orange or pink, try another shade.
3. Think About Your Skin Type
Mineral powder suits oily and combination skin well. If your skin is dry or mature, moisturise first and use a light layer so the powder looks smooth. A shade that matches but sits badly will still look wrong, so prep and texture matter as much as colour.
4. Check in Natural Light
Store and bathroom lighting can be misleading. Check your shade by a window or outside, and look at it again a few hours later. Shopping online? Use our Colour Match chart and compare your skin with the shade swatches in daylight.
5. Re-Check Your Shade From Time to Time
Skin tone isn't fixed. Time outdoors, a holiday or simply the years can make your skin a little deeper or lighter. Many women keep two shades and mix them as their skin changes, so their match is always spot on.
What If I'm Between Two Shades?
Loose mineral foundation makes this easy. You can choose the lighter shade and add warmth with a light sweep of bronzer, or tap a little of each shade into the lid and mix them on your brush. Mixing also means you can adjust the colour from day to day.
Our Picks
Loose Mineral Foundation
Best for: buildable, natural-looking coverage in a range of shades.
A finely milled mineral powder made from a handful of simple ingredients, with no perfumes, preservatives or parabens. It buffs on seamlessly for coverage you can build from light to full, leaving skin looking soft, luminous and airbrushed, and it's easy to mix two shades together.
- Buildable coverage
- Soft, luminous finish
- 8 shades, with a Colour Match chart
- Colour Swap Guarantee if you pick the wrong shade
Flawless Fibre Brush
Best for: buffing mineral foundation on evenly.
A silky-soft, ultra-fine brush made with cruelty-free fibres and no animal hair. It picks up powder well and spreads it evenly, which helps any shade blend naturally into your skin.
- Silky-soft, ultra-fine fibres
- Cruelty-free, no animal hair
- Works with loose or pressed powder
How to Test and Apply Your New Shade
- Prep your skin: moisturise and let it sink in for a minute or two.
- Tap a little powder into the lid: a small amount is plenty.
- Swirl and tap: swirl the brush in the powder, then tap off the excess.
- Swatch your jawline: buff a small patch from your cheek onto your jaw and check it in daylight.
- Buff all over: if it disappears, buff in small circles from the centre of your face outwards.
- Build where needed: add a second thin layer over redness or age spots only.
New to mineral foundation? Read why women choose mineral foundation, our loose mineral foundation guide and our guide on how to choose a foundation.
What Customers Say
"I prefer Mineral Foundation than Liquid Foundation, The coverage it gives is great, my skin always feels light"
Deidre W., verified customer (Loose Mineral Foundation)
"Good selection of colors"
Kerry C., verified customer (Loose Mineral Foundation)
"Soft bristles are gentle on the face and I use it to apply my mineral foundation."
Mrs L. E., verified customer (Flawless Fibre Brush)
Read all Loose Mineral Foundation reviews →
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my undertone?
Check the veins on your wrist in natural light: greenish usually means warm, bluish means cool and a mix means neutral. Gold versus silver jewellery is another easy clue.
What if I'm between two shades?
Choose the lighter one and add warmth with bronzer, or mix both shades together on your brush.
Should mineral foundation match my face or my neck?
Aim for the jawline, where the two meet. That way your face and neck look like the same skin.
What if I order the wrong shade?
Use our Colour Match tool to find your shade. If it's not quite right, our Colour Swap Guarantee has you covered.
Can I buy Thin Lizzy mineral foundation in stores?
Yes. Thin Lizzy is available at Farmers, Life Pharmacy, Chemist Warehouse and Unichem stores across New Zealand. The range can vary by store, so the easiest way to get the full range, bundles and online deals is to shop online. See our FAQ page for stockist details.
Looking for a deal? Many of our best sellers are available in bundle offers from time to time. See our current Bundle Offers →
Final Thoughts
You don't need to get it perfect first time. Check your undertone, test on your jawline in daylight and re-check your match now and then, and you'll find a shade that looks like your own skin.
