Makeup expert shares her tips for picking the perfect foundation

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Sharon Pak, who is an in-house makeup expert for high-end brand Il Makiage, shared advice for those looking to find the right foundation
According to Il Makiage, 94% of women are wearing the wrong shade
She advised people to exfoliate before going to test foundations to make sure that the skin is prepped properly
The beauty pro also suggested that anyone who is looking for a new formula should test it on their neck in order to avoid any potential allergic reactions
With regard to choosing a shade, she said that the best places to test the product are the jawline, neck, chest, cheek, or inner wrist

Published: 07:21 EDT, 26 April 2019 | Updated: 08:00 EDT, 26 April 2019

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With more foundation formulas and shades being released than ever before, picking the perfect product can feel slightly like finding a needle in a haystack - which may be why a staggering 94 per cent of women are wearing the wrong shade.

But now a makeup expert has come forward to offer some guidance on how to find the ideal foundation match for your skin - while revealing a few simple hacks for how to ensure that you end up with a long-lasting and natural-looking finish after applying it.

Speaking to DailyMail.com Sharon Pak, who is the director of marketing and an in-hour makeup expert for high-end brand Il Makiage, explained that three main things to keep in mind when picking a foundation are actually incredibly simple: formula, shade and finish.

Picture perfect: A beauty expert has revealed exactly how to choose the ideal foundation for your skin type and tone

And when it comes to testing for each aspect, Sharon says there are a few incredibly easy tricks to use to ensure that you end up with a product that is perfect across the board.

First, she urges any makeup shoppers to take care when considering a new foundation formula, explaining that the potential for an allergic reaction shouldn't be ignored.

Pro: Sharon Pak, a makeup expert for high-end brand Il Makiage, shared her top foundation tips with DailyMail.com

'Sometimes the formula might be too thick or cause an allergic reaction,' she noted.

'When I test foundation on myself, I test a small amount of the product on my neck.

'I’ve made the mistake of trying out a new face mask without testing it prior and it was one of my biggest regrets - I had bumps all over my face and it took two full weeks for my skin to clam down. After that, I never like to test anything directly on my face first.'

Once you've found a formula that suits, it's time to turn your hand to the shade, which is perhaps the trickiest part of the process - and one that can be affected by several different factors, Sharon explained.

'The shade should match your natural skin tone as close as possible,' she noted. 'One important thing to note is that the skin on your face isn’t all the same color, the center is usually brighter.

'The idea is to get a shade that looks the most natural; there should be no harsh lines where your neck and chin meet. The neck or chest area tend to be the areas that match your natural color the most - make sure to blend your foundation into your neck for a seamless transition as well.'

Go carefully: Sharon explained that you can use different areas of your body to test foundation shades, including your neck, inner wrist, cheek, or jawline

To make sure that you are matching your new foundation as closely as possible to your actual skin tone, Sharon has one quick and easy hack: 'A good tip is to exfoliate your face prior to applying or color matching, to get the most accurate shade.'

When you are ready to test the color, Sharon says there is no one 'perfect' place to swatch the product, instead it is about finding what area works for you.

'It’s all based on personal preference and what you’d consider your most natural color,' Sharon said. 'This could be your jawline, neck, chest, cheek, or inner wrist, but it totally depends on the person.'

You can also choose to go a few shades darker than your natural skin tone, if you want to try and look more tanned or sun-kissed than usual - but Sharon warns that if you are going to go down this road, you need to ensure you are blending the product properly into your neck and chest.

'I personally am a total sun girl during the summer and I can go three shades deeper,' she said. 'During the winter and fall, I tend to opt for a shade that is lighter than my average shade.'

If you are still struggling to find a match, Il Makiage also offers another option; the brand recently launched a Try Before You Buy system, which allows customers to find a perfect shade match online using a specially-made algorithm.

Whatever way you go about, Sharon says there are three key products to add to your stash in order to make sure that your foundation lasts all day long: setting powder, setting spray and a primer. Et voila!

Now pick your perfect foundation from FEMAIL's favorites

Take your pick: The Il Makiage Woke Up Like This Flawless Base Foundation (left, $44) offer 'medium to full coverage and is super lightweight' according to Sharon, while the Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation (right, $40) will give you full coverage in a cream formula.

Au natural: If buildable, lightweight coverage with a long-lasting finish is what you're after, then these three foundations are the ones for you. Maybelline New York Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation (left, $11.99), Revlon PhotoReady Candid Natural Finish Anti-Pollution Foundation (center, $10.99) and Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation (right, $49).

A clean sweep: If you need a wide shade range, look no further than the Pur Cosmetics 4-in-1 Love Your Selfie Longwear Foundation & Concealer (center, $36), which is available in a staggering 100 options, while the Wander Beauty Nude Illusion Liquid Foundation (right, $40) boasts a beautiful skincare-enriched formula that nourishes your complexion while you wear it.

Matte attack: A fan of the picture-perfect finish? Love lots of coverage? Turn your attention to the Kat Von D Lock-It Foundation (left, $36), which gives a great matte finish with plenty of coverage, or look to the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation (center, $48), which has a slightly more lightweight texture. And in the middle of those two sits the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation (right, $35).

Long-lasting: If you have a busy, seemingly-endless day ahead during which you want your makeup to stay looking nothing but flawless, then try one of these foundations, which each boast up to 24 hours of wear time. Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Hydrating Foundation (left, $36), Becca Ultimate Coverage 24 Hour Foundation (center, $44), Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Full Cover Foundation Concentrate (right, $55).