Sephora + Pantone Color IQ

I wanted to go into a bit more detail about the Sephora + Pantone Color IQ system after my Sephora Haul post...

The Color IQ system premiered in select Sephora stores and is now available Sephora-wide, so check them out at your local Sephora!

Purpose:  to make finding your perfect match easier.

How it Works: A Sephora associate takes pictures in three different places on your face (I believe mine were forehead, cheek, chin) with a little device that looks like a light meter.  Your Color IQ number is pulled up on an iPad along with foundation matches.  The Color IQ number and matches are emailed right to you for future reference. 

I originally got matched in late 2013 when I went to pick up my free birthday gift, so my skin was definitely in winter mode!  My number match was 2Y06.

That day I wanted to get the Makeup Forever HD foundation so I had the associate test match the shade that the Color IQ suggested - 118 Flesh.  Being that it was winter, 117 Marble ended up looking slightly better on me.  Since I am in my summer skin now, I tested 118 Flesh and 120 Soft Sand in the store the other day and both looked good (120 is yellow undertone like 117.  I am a neutral undertone but leaning towards yellow so that might be why 117 looked good.).

MUFE HD in 117

All in all, I would definitely recommend getting a Color IQ match!  You can save your results to your Sephora account so you don't forget.  You can also go here to do a reverse foundation search to see what numbers are matches to foundations you're already wearing.  I added 2Y06 as well as 3Y03 which is the skin IQ match for MUFE HD 117.  Color IQ gives you a better starting point than you would normally have going in and testing a bunch of random foundations. 

I have put my foundation comparisons below in case that will help anyone as well!
Happy Foundation Hunting!

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My Foundation Shade Comparisons:
MAC -- NC 20-25
Makeup Forever HD -- 117-118
Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation -- Light 48
Kat Von D Lock-It Powder Foundation -- Medium 52
Urban Decay Naked -- 3.0
Bare Minerals -- Medium Beige
Revlon Colorstay Combo/Oily -- Medium Beige 240
Revlon Colorstay Whipped -- Medium Beige 250
Neutrogena Healthy Skin -- Nude
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers -- Nude 40
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse -- Nude (Light 4)
Maybelline Dream Smooth -- Nude Beige 180
L'Oreal Magic Nude -- Natural Buff 318
L'Oreal True Match -- N3

Sephora Haul

I have had about five different items in my online Sephora basket at any given time over the past few weeks.  There are many products I want to try recently...it was a tough call as to what I should get first!

I ended up popping into a Sephora brick-and-mortar store near me the other night and picked up the Kat Von D Lock-It Powder Foundation (Medium 54), Urban Decay's Eyeshadow in Mushroom, and the smaller Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil.

Kat Von D Lock-It Powder: I have the liquid version of the Lock-It foundation and have been loving it lately so wanted to try the powder for summer.  Plus I can use a light dusting of it to set the liquid.  I realized when I got it home it was one shade darker than I wanted (I couldn't remember what my Sephora + Pantone Color IQ suggested - more on the Color IQ in the next post).

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Mushroom:  I wanted a lighter but still slightly smoky color for summer.  Love the new packaging - my old UD shadows have the plasticy cases - this one is an upgrade!  UD eyeshadows are highly pigmented and have good color payout for the money.

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Oil: My previous hairstylist (before I moved) used to put this in my hair after my blow out to make it extra smooth and tame the flyaways.  It smells amazing and makes my hair look so sleek and shiny.  I have been meaning to buy it for a while now!  So glad I did!  I used it today in 80-something degree heat and humidity and my hair still looks silky smooth.

I am really excited to try the foundation and eyeshadow...reviews soon!

Products I Debated Buying:
-Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Pistol or S&M
-Urban Decay Naked Foundation (Shade 3.0)

Any thoughts on the Naked Foundation?