How to Get Your Perfect Foundation Shade

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Getting color matched incorrectly is almost a rite of passage. The right shade is hard to find; even with guidance, we’ve all worn or bought the wrong shade at least once. Coupled with the fact that some brands don’t offer a diverse shade range, the idea of custom foundation color sounds like a dream. Enter Boldhue, which is essentially a foundation printer that promises the perfect shade every time.

Founded by Rachel Wilson and Karin Layton, the device scans your skin and creates your foundation shade out of a handful of primary colors.

First, the setup takes quite a bit of time (so if you hate manuals, stop here). But fortunately, you have to do it just once and you’ll have to replace the cartridges only as you use them, like your printer. You insert the color cartridges, plug in the device to charge, and connect to the app. Once set up, the app will play a tutorial on how to scan your face. With the built-in wand, you’ll scan your forehead, chin, and neck, avoiding hyperpigmentation, discoloration, or acne, to get your most accurate shade.

Once satisfied with your shade match, you can dispense the color, which takes less than a minute. All you need to do is stir the formula to create and apply your shade. With light usage you get about three to five applications out of the amount dispensed, but I found if you want fuller coverage you’ll get only one use out of the amount. You can save and name your shade to easily make it again when you run out.

I had some difficulty turning the device on and connecting to the app. So, the initial setup was difficult and took some time to finish. The wand is also sensitive and disconnected during testing, so I couldn’t continue creating my shade until I restarted the device. The sensors on the device that help make the shade are also sensitive. During testing, there was a notification that the sensors needed to be cleaned, another issue that prevents you from moving on to the next step in using the device.

So there are quite a few issues to iron out with the device. Boldhue’s team says there are troubleshooting videos available on the app, and you can connect to customer service, too. Through the app, you can also check the cartridge levels and see if they need to be replaced.

The first time, my shade was a bit off; my forehead and chin were darker than my cheeks. But after I tested on my forehead, cheek, and neck instead, I got a better shade match. To get a more accurate match, you can scan your cheeks, too, or any areas on your face without discoloration. I only need a different foundation shade about twice a year (winter and summer), but it’s cool to have the option to get my shade without swatching multiple shades at Sephora.

The best way to apply is with a Beautyblender, which the starter kit comes equipped with. Wilson recommends prepping your skin with a clear primer or sunscreen and dabbing it on with a damp Beautyblender for an airbrushed look. Since this is a radiant formula, I’d recommend setting it with powder and setting spray to prevent it from getting oily.

While you get a custom color, you don’t get a custom foundation finish, but Wilson promises the foundation formula is a universal favorite. The finish is glow-y and the coverage is light but buildable. It feels and applies almost like a tinted moisturizer.

I did one light layer and then another layer in areas where I needed more coverage, blending it out with the sponge. I have combination skin and prepped it with a dewier sunscreen so the finish was a little oily. I skipped concealer and set the foundation with Hourglass powder and setting spray, and it looked mostly matte/natural. I’d recommend setting the foundation to keep it matte and in place throughout the day. I needed about one to two touch-ups after a few hours to keep it from looking too oily. Since this is a recent launch, there is only one formula available, but Wilson said there’s a possibility for matte formulas in the future.

It has the approval of makeup artist Sir John, who works with multiple celebrity clients and has signed on as artistic director. If you’re not working with celebrity clients or working backstage at Fashion Week, you can still find it useful. Wilson developed the device with beauty enthusiasts in mind and anyone who has difficulty finding their shade.

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