Your Favorite True Match Foundation Just Got an Upgrade

When the L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation launched back in 1994, it was a market disruptor, offering pioneer shade-matching technology, based in warm, cool and neutral undertones  — a new phenomenon for foundation. In 2012, the foundation got an upgrade to 33 shades and today, this cult-favorite foundation has expanded to 47 shades and includes an improved bottle and vegan formula, all while holding on to its key benefits that made us fall in love with it in the first place. We’re sharing everything you need to know about this iconic drugstore foundation glow up, plus how to find your perfect True Match foundation shade.

What Has Changed About True Match Super-Blendable Foundation?

True Match Super-Blendable Foundation still includes the skin-like, natural finish and diverse shade range that earned its loyal following. With that said, the team at L’Oréal Paris still managed to take what was a pretty perfect product and make it better in the following three distinct ways. 

The Bottle

Consumers loved the original True Match bottle but wished it came in a more mess-free container. The company listened and now the foundation includes an easy-to-use pump applicator that offers precise and mess-free application. 

The Formula

When it comes to what’s on the inside, the formula has the same hydrating, lightweight satin finish, natural-looking results and buildable coverage. Now, it’s also vegan, alcohol-free, oil-free and fragrance-free. These small tweaks have big impact, making the foundation suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

The Shade Range

The foundation includes nine new shades, with 47 shades in total, all formulated with six different color pigments to deliver the perfect match for deep, medium deep, medium, light-medium and light and fair skin tones. The True Match technology adapts to your skin and texture so you can’t tell where the foundation ends and your skin begins. The upgraded shade range still has the same shade numbers and undertone labeling for easy matching. 

How to Find Your True Match Shade

In a consumer test of more than 300 women, 99 percent found their perfect match from the True Match Super-Blendable Foundation collection, thanks to the shade range organized by six skin tones (deep, medium deep, medium, light-medium and light skin tones) and three undertones (warm, cool and neutral).

Follow these three tips to help you find your best shade.

1. Determine Your Undertone

Narrow down your shade match by determining your undertone, first. Flip your wrist over and look at your veins. If you have green veins, you have warm undertones, if you have blue veins, you have cool undertones. If your undertones look like a mix of blue and green, then you have neutral undertones which are a mix of warm and cool tones. 

2. Find Your Skin Tone Match

Once you know your undertone then you can point yourself in the right direction based on your skin tone. The True Match technology separates the shades into five skin tones — deep, medium deep, medium, light-medium and light. The True Match shade names all follow the same formula with the undertone and corresponding shade number. For example, W10.5 is a warm, deep shade while N4 is a neutral, light medium shade and C6 is a cool, medium shade.

3. Swipe in Natural Lighting

Those fluorescent lights at the drugstore do no justice when it comes to shade matching so swipe a few different shades of foundation and see how they look in natural light. This will give a good indication of what your foundation will look like once you step out into the world and it will help you narrow down the best match. 

If you think a few different shades could work, the Virtual Makeup Try-On Tool includes a shade finder and it’s a great way to help you pinpoint the exact shade for you.  

Next: Is It Better to Apply Foundation With a Brush, a Sponge or Your Fingers?

Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Creative Producer: Becca Solovay, Visual Designer: Sarah Duvivier, Content Director: Shalwah Evans, Prop Stylist: Catherine Pearson, Prop Assistant: Lindsay Jones