MAC FOUNDATION SHADES...NW OR NC? How can you tell

[Mandy4610]

I read the shade guide on the MAC website, but I still can't figure it out.

I am currently trying NW shades for both Foundation and concealer, but I noticed on youtube that alot of WOC use the NC shades, is this true?

Here is my skin tone if it makes any difference. Sorry I don't have a better pic yet, but I can post one later if necessary.

BTW. I wear MUFE HD in 178, but the pic below is without any thing on.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t8/mwandom/DSC03291.jpg

[PhonyBaloney500]

Some wear nc some nw. I wouldn't worry that you're wearing the wrong one because of youtube. I believe nc means neutralizes cool and nw means neutralizes warm. I have a hard time telling the difference though. I would go to the counter and ask or go on the MAC live chat on the website and tell them what celeb you look like or link the person to the picture you posted.

[iNicola]

I would go to the counter before purchasing from the website. My skin has a yellow undertone so I'm said to be a NC. NC 50 in foundation matches my tone back then (it was summer) but my neck and body is a bit lighter so I also have NC 45. I usually mix the both to together for the right shade. In the winter I'm NC 45 while in the summer I'm NC 50 or so. It looks like you have a yellow undertone in that photo but I could be wrong.

[ThePerfectScore]

http://www.specktra.net/foundation


An explaination of the MAC foundation color system:

http://www.specktra.net/files/images/foundation.jpg

It seems backwards that MAC says pink is a warm color and yellow a cool, but they use the artists color wheel which is essentially backwards compared to what people normally think of as cool/warm. You can always think of NW as meaning 'not warm', or 'neutralizes warm' and NC as 'not cool' or 'neutralizes cool'.

MAC shades come in level 15 (extra pale) through level 55 (very dark). They make a variety of foundations with different finishes and consistencies to suit different skintypes. It is best to visit your local MAC counter to determine the shade you would wear with the assitsance of a MAC makeup artist. The vein trick written about on the chart is not always the most accurate way of determining your shade because some veins can appear different colors than others. It is best to try the foundation on your skin if you can do so.

I got matched by two different MAs at two different stores. And both MAs were AA women so I trusted that they could relate to my skin color. They both came to the same conclusion. My forehead is darker and a perfect match for NC 50 and the center of my face like my nose and cheeks are a perfect NC 45. Here are some pictures of me using Foundation: MAC Fix Fluid in NC45 and 50.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l17/zajonson/th_Picture3-1.png (http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l17/zajonson/Picture3-1.png)http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l17/zajonson/th_Picture2-1.png (http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l17/zajonson/Picture2-1.png)http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l17/zajonson/th_face2.jpg (http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l17/zajonson/face2.jpg)

no make up versus with foundation

Hope that helps.... Also Specktra.net is a great resource for all things make up.