Mixing It Up

Have you ever found yourself at the makeup counter or drug store trying every shade of that hot new foundation everyone raves about, but failing to find one right for you? You’re not the only one. As a pale girl, I find it quite a struggle to review foundations since most of them don’t offer a shade that’s light enough for my skin tone. The solution? Liquid pigments that you can mix in with your foundation to create your custom shade!

Pro brands like MAC and lllamasqua have been offering these while now, but it wasn’t until Cover FX came in the picture that things really kicked off mainstream. Now all all budget beauties can rejoice because The Body Shop has released the Shade Adjusting Drops in Lightening and Darkening, 2 shade options that won’t break the bank. They were made to match their Fresh Nude Foundation, but you can basically mix these with any compatible liquid foundation you like or use them as a highlighter or contouring shade.

Tips for mixing: Don’t try to darken a really light shade or lighten a really dark shade by more than 1 shade. Going extreme will only end you up with an ashy result.

I tried the Shade Adjusting Drops in Lightening, a white watery liquid with a cool pink undertone. It helps to neutralize yellowness while lightening. In other words, the perfect companion for foundations that are too dark or orange. I’ve tried this with a couple of foundations that were just slightly too dark for me and the result turned out great. First, I’d put the normal amount of foundation on the back of my hand and mix in 1 drop of the Shade Adjusting Drops (Lightening) and mix the two using my fingers, which would make it 1/2 shade lighter. Then I’d check my custom made shade to see if it matched my face before adding some more foundation or lightening drops. The pipet isn’t as easy to work with to get the right amount, so be aware of that. The consistency and finish of the foundations didn’t change.

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau (Solvent), Diheptyl Succinate (Skin Conditioning Agent – Emollient), Cyclohexasiloxane (Conditioning Agent), Octocrylene (Ultraviolet Light Absorber), PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate (Emulsifying Agent), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (Ultraviolet Light Absorber), Silica (Absorbent), Cetyl Dimethicone (Emollient), Titanium Dioxide (Ultraviolet Light Absorber), Hydrogenated Polydecene (Skin Conditioning Agent), Magnesium Sulfate (Absorbent/Bulking Agent), Alcohol Denat. (Solvent), Glycerin (Humectant), Disteardimonium Hectorite (Stabiliser), Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil (Skin Conditioning Agent – Emollient), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Caprylyl Glycol (Skin Conditioning Agent), Ammonium C6-16 Perfluoroalkylethyl Phosphate (Surfactant – Emulsifying Agent), Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer (Film Former), Ethylhexylglycerin (Skin Conditioning Agent), Caprylhydroxamic Acid (Chelating Agent), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder (Skin Conditioning Agent – Humectant), p-Anisic Acid (pH Adjuster), Parfum/Fragrance (Fragrance Ingredient), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Propylene Glycol (Humectant), Sodium Hyaluronate (Humectant), Rosa Alba Flower Extract (Skin Conditioning Agent – Emollient), BHT (Antioxidant), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Sorbic Acid (Preservative). [+/- CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide (Colorant), CI 77499/Iron Oxides (Colour), CI 77492/Iron Oxides (Colorant), CI 77491/Iron Oxides (Colorant)].

Overall I’m really satisfied with what this product does. Now I can start using samples that were just a little too dark and I can continue to use the foundations that became too dark. No more worrying about having to buy 2 shades of a particular foundation depending on your summer and winter skin. Now you can just match it with a single drop. I’m almost out of my first bottle and I highly recommend this to anyone who is struggling to find the right shade, no matter if you’re too pale or somewhere in between shades.

The Body Shop Shade Adjusting Drops (15 ml) – € 14 / £ 10 / $ 20.
Available at The Body Shop.

Disclaimer: Product mentioned was purchased.