I’ve already chatted about my solutions to some pale girl problems: corned beef legs and my discovery of the perfect porcelain powder, but I’ve found that getting foundation to match is the biggest pain. Even the lightest available shade in most ranges is too dark for me, especially at this time of the year when the sun is a distant memory. (Read about how to choose your foundation tone in Are you pink or yellow).
I was sent a bottle of Face Atelier Zero Minus and I instantly realised it could help to fix this problem . It’s a pure white base that, I suppose, could be worn alone, but it’s real purpose is to lighten foundations that might be too dark. There’s also a Zero Plus, to darken pale foundations, Zero Plus Plus to go darker again and Heat, a bright orange-red to increase the warm undertone in your foundation. All of ‘em retail at €38 for a 30ml bottle.
Zero Minus; original foundation shade; the mix
When it came to giving it a whirl, it took some time to get my shade exactly as I wanted it. I add a little bit of Zero Minus to my foundation, mix it together and add more if I need to. In the pictures here, I’ve mixed it with the darkest foundation I own, Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow in Ivory, to show what it can do. One part foundation to two parts Zero Minus were the measurements I worked with. It also needs a good shake before used, due to the heaps of silicone.
Seeing as pasty old me had to use so much, the formulation of the Zero Minus overpowered that of the foundation used. Thankfully, I’m a fan a thick consistency with a dewy finish and Zero Minus ticks both of those boxes. Being very thick it’s a bit of a chore to work in with a flat foundation brush so I use my fingers or a buffing brush.
Result: perfectly matched foundation. And I honestly DO have clothes on!
Coverage is pretty hefty, even when mixed with sheer foundations. I went without concealer on almost all of my face when I had this on. It does the job and will come in handy if, like me, you’ve acquired a huge collection of too dark foundations that would otherwise go unused. (Read How NOT to choose a foundation to see how easily this can happen…)
People who can shuffle into a chemist and grab a foundation will probably baulk at the thought of shelling out almost forty quid for this, but I’m sick of being limited in what I can use; this fella means I can try any budget foundation and not worry about a shocking face-to-neck clash. Wonderful!
Read about the foundations you’re rating right now.
