There have been many days when you have applied your makeup and you feel confident and everytime you look in the mirror you feel good about yourself. But there have been many days when you apply your makeup and when you look in the mirror you tend to have this ashy kind of look.
There is a simple explanation on why your makeup looks grey, it will be the fact that your foundation color that you are using is the wrong shade for your skin. Even if your using a translucent powder it may be to light for your skin tone.
Using A High SPF
One of the reasons why your makeup might look grey is because the makeup or skincare might have a high sun protecting factor. On darker pigmented skin a high SPF has white components such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide which usually sits on the top of the skin.
The titanium dioxide and the zinc oxide reflect UVA/UVB rays which act like a barrier that reflects light that sits on top of the skin which is known as physical sunscreen. This gives the skin a white cast which can look grey on darker skin types. Always consider wearing skincare or makeup with a lower SPF to prevent a white/grey cast on more richer skin complexions.
Applying The Wrong Undertone Of Foundation
When it comes to applying foundation it’s important to choose a foundation that has the correct undertone. Foundations can be the same color but the undertone can be different. There are three undertones to know which is cool, warm and neutral.
Cool undertones have more blue, pink and red in them. Warm undertones have more yellow, peach and golden in them. Neutral skin tones usually have a bit of both cool and warm undertones in them. It’s really important to know your skin undertone because this will determine how your foundation will look on the skin.
If the foundation is cool for the skin and applied on a warmer skin tone it could look more grey and ashy. Your skin’s undertone can be determined by looking at the veins, If your veins are green then it means your skins undertone is probably on the warmer side, If the veins are blue then it means it can be on the cooler side.
Not Applying The Correct Foundation Color
When it comes to selecting the correct foundation color its very important. If the foundation is too light for your skins complexion it can look grey especially if your skin’s complexion is more on the rich side. In order to avoid this its always wise to make sure your foundation blends into your skin and looks like your actual skin. Foundation should always make your complexion look healthy and vibrant not grey and dull.
If you do make the mistake of picking up a foundation that is lighter than the skin’s complexion there is no need to throw out the foundation. Instead look at using a foundation mixer which might add more warmth to the foundation. Foundation mixers come in various shades depending on your skin’s complexion. This is a great way to get your foundation to match your skin properly.
Not Using A Color Corrector
Another reason why your makeup could look grey is because you may have hyperpigmentation such as dark spots. When foundation is applied directly on top of it, it can change the color of your foundation making it appear grey. This is where color correctors are used to correct the skins complexion. Color correctors use the opposite colors of the color wheel to cancel out each other, most color correctors come in a concealer form or a primer form.
Once the color corrector is applied to the skin, your foundation can then be applied on top. The color corrector will correct the skin’s complexion which will cover any imperfections. It’s important to color correct the skin if you suffer with dark circles, dark spots or any other discoloration.
Depending on the dark spot if it’s a brownish dark spot then it’s best to use a concealer that is red based. If you suffer with dark under eye circles it’s best to use a concealer that is yellow because it neutralizes blue and purple pigmentation, by implementing color correctors to your regular makeup regime this can prevent your makeup from looking grey.
Not Using Complimentary Colors
As mentioned if you use the wrong skin undertone with foundation this also applies to makeup. It could make your skin undertone look ashy, If cooler colors are placed on a warmer skin tone it wont compliment it. It could make the skin look more dull looking which will make the skin look grey.
The cool undertones in makeup wont compliment warmer looking skin tones. This is especially true when it comes to highlighters, contours colors, blushes and even lipsticks. It’s best for warmer skin tones to look at makeup that is complimentary for warmer skin tones.
Skin tones that are more on the richer side need to be careful not to wear makeup colors that are too light or too cool for their skin tones otherwise this will also make the skin look grey.
Using A Translucent Powder That Is Too Light For The Skin
Translucent powders are usually used to set the foundation into place. Translucent powders also can be transparent once it is swept off the skin. It’s important for richer skin complexions to make sure that the translucent powder isn’t too light for the complexion.
The reason being is because when pictures are taken, the flash from a camera will reveal that the translucent powder was too light for the skin and any light reflective particles will bounce off and reflect in pictures. This can make the skin appear more grey especially on deeper skin tones. Therefore, make sure that your translucent powder is within the same color range as your skins complexion.
Blend Out Makeup Properly
When it comes to makeup it’s really important to blend out the makeup correctly. This is especially true for setting powders and translucent powders. Make sure that your setting powder is always blended out properly.
This will give a cakey and greyish look in some cases. This will usually happen if your using the same powder in the winter, in the summer and the skin is more on the tanned side. To avoid all this it’s important to always dust off an excess powder with a large powder brush.
Not Using The Correct Lighting
Another reason why your makeup may look grey is because you may have applied your makeup in the wrong lighting. If the lighting is too bright or even too dull this can have an impact on how your overall makeup look will appear. I personally have applied makeup in fluorescent lighting thinking my makeup looked fine but only to find out later on in natural lighting that it was not right. The best way to avoid this mistake is by always testing your makeup out in natural lighting.
When purchasing makeup in the store make sure your able to test it in natural lighting if possible. The lighting in the stores can really be misleading and be a bit too bright which can make you choose the wrong foundation shade. When purchasing foundation try to ask for samples of the suggested color and one shade darker and test out the makeup in natural lighting once you get home.
This could prevent a costly mistake of purchasing the wrong foundation in the wrong lighting. Natural lighting will show the correct shade of makeup that indoor lighting won’t be able to determine.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to your makeup looking grey there are many contributing factors. The basics of makeup application should be considered.
The first thing to always remember is to make sure that you use color corrective techniques to help even out the skin’s complexion. If there is any discoloration to the skin this will affect the way the makeup will look. Otherwise most foundations won’t be to cover any skin’s discoloration.
Another contributing factor as to why your makeup may be looking ashy is because you may be wearing the wrong undertone. If a cooler undertone is used on a richer skin tone it could make the makeup appear more on the grey side.
Always make sure that the correct color foundation is applied. This can occur by making sure that the foundation blends in to your normal skin. Lastly, always make sure that makeup is applied in the correct lighting so that it compliments in the skin to avoid a grey complexion.