What is makeup Match2Me and how does it work?

Shopping for makeup is harder than you think

Wish you had your own personal stylist who could tell you what suited you best? Or maybe the thought of navigating endless aisles of beauty brands makes you break out in a cold sweat? You’re not alone – choosing the right makeup can be overwhelming.

Nobody wants to invest in a foundation or lipstick only to find that it doesn’t suit them. And in an increasingly online world, the demand is higher than ever to take the guesswork out of shade-matching for those who can’t swatch products in-store. The answer? Trinny London’s Match2Me technology – read on for everything you need to know.

What is Match2Me?

Match2Me is an online tool that, in just a few quick questions, highlights the right shades of makeup for you by analysing your skin, hair and eye colour. With around 3,000 different combinations of possible results, every individual's Match2Me is completely personal to them. For example, if you’ve got warm brunette hair, green eyes and a caramel complexion with a neutral undertone, Match2Me will take all of this into account to create a curated collection of shades that suit you. Just think of it as your personalised cheatsheet for choosing the right shade, every single time.

We know that it’s not just makeup that can be confusing – navigating the world of skincare can be just as daunting. That’s why we’ve also created a skincare Match2Me tool to help you find the perfect routine for your specific skin type, concerns and goals.

Why we created Match2Me

We created Match2Me for three key reasons:

1. Rethinking your routine

When was the last time you changed up your makeup? Five years ago? More than ten? Here at Trinny London, we want to encourage you to rethink your routine – and that means going back to basics and building a new look for the person you are today. It’s easy to experiment when you know that everything in your beauty bag has been curated just for you, as you don’t need to worry about new shades and products not suiting you.

2. Keeping things simple

There’s so much choice out there, it can be difficult to know where to start – especially if you’re a beauty novice. We offer the option to only view your Match2Me shades when you click on one of our product pages, so you’re never overwhelmed by endless colour choices when shopping.

3. Taking the risk out of ordering online

We know that it can feel risky to order makeup without swatching it in person first. Match2Me will highlight your exact shades, so there’s nothing to worry about – and if you aren’t totally happy, you have the option to return lightly used makeup within 30 days.

Why it’s so difficult to choose the right shades of makeup yourself

We’ve all been there – you splurge on an fancy foundation on payday, full of hope that it’ll give you a flawless, you-can’t-tell-it’s-makeup finish. You take your time at the makeup counter, covering your hand in swatches – maybe you even manage to catch the makeup artist for a second opinion – and you come home confident that you made the right decision. But then – horror of horrors – when you apply your new dream foundation the next day, it looks completely wrong.

Why does this happen? Getting your base shade right is notoriously difficult, but there are a few ways we can fall foul of the shade-matching trap:

You tested it in the wrong lighting

The harsh glare of department store lighting can be deceptive – what looks like a beautifully blended base in the store can look orange or ashy in the daylight. Until you’ve seen how your base looks in natural light, you won’t know for sure if it’s the right shade for you.

You don’t know your undertone

Finding the right base shade isn’t just about how dark or light your complexion is, but about whether you have a cool, neutral or warm undertone to your skin. Get it wrong and it will look unnatural, but get it right and it will look like you’re not even wearing foundation – which is the goal, after all. A reference photo of someone with a similar skin tone can really come in handy here, so we’ve put together a lookbook you can refer to for help.

The formula doesn’t stand the test of time

Ever noticed that your foundation changes colour during the day? It’s down to a process called oxidation, which causes the shade to darken or turn orange when it’s exposed to the oxygen in the air. Road-testing a foundation to see how it looks at the beginning and end of the day is a great way to determine whether the shade is right for you.

The finish doesn’t work for you

The finish of your chosen base can make a big difference to how the shade looks on your skin. For example, the sheer, buildable coverage of a tinted serum is much easier to match to your skin tone than a thick matte foundation (and it won’t look cakey, either). If you’re not sure what kind of finish might work best for you, think about your skin type. Dry skin benefits from the dewy, radiant finish of a tinted serum, like BFF De-Stress, while people with oilier skin tend to prefer the fuller coverage and soft matte finish of BFF Rebalance.

You’re swatching in the wrong place

You might be used to swatching on your hand, but remember, that isn’t where you actually wear foundation. We recommend swatching along your jawline – that’s where a mismatched shade will be the most apparent, as you can clearly see the contrast between your face and your neck.

How to complete your makeup Match2Me

Not the best with technology? Don’t worry, you don’t need to be. Match2Me couldn’t be easier to complete – all you have to do is answer a few simple questions. Even better, the whole process takes less than a minute.

Step 1

Go to the Match2Me tab on our website and select Match2Me makeup.

Step 2

Tell us your name – it’s how all great friendships begin.

Step 3

Select your eye colour, hair colour, skin family and skin tone – if you’re unsure, compare your skin tone to the models on the screen.

Step 4

Discover your curated selection of shades and your personalised lookbook.

Step 5

Save your profile – you can also have it emailed to you so that you can refer back to it whenever you want.

Top tips for using makeup Match2Me for friends and family

Buying the right makeup for someone you love can be even trickier than finding your own perfect shades (do they have brown eyes or hazel?). Thankfully, Match2Me can help there too. To determine their skin tone, think about what they look like without any makeup. Make sure you have a photo of them handy to help you choose, and compare their skin tone to the models shown on the page. When it comes to hair colour, if their hair has highlights or balayage, focus mainly on the colour surrounding their face.

Once their Match2Me is complete, the fun can really begin. Do they love a red lip or a smoky eye? Do they prefer simple and classic, or bold and daring? Once you know which shades suit them best, the possibilities are endless.

How often do you need to update your makeup Match2Me?

Rethinking your routine means thinking about the person you want to be today – and that can change as often as you want it to. If you like to dye your hair (or if you’re embracing the grey) we’d recommend updating your Match2Me to reflect your new hair colour. You might also want to update your information if you’ve got a tan, as you might want a darker base shade to match your new sun-kissed complexion.

Ready to find makeup suited to you?

Over one million people have already completed their makeup Match2Me and discovered their perfect shades – are you ready to join them?