Adjusting Oil-Based Foundation Color

To adjust the color of your oil-based liquid foundation that is too light, you will need cosmetic pigments. For oil-based formulas and good longevity, pigments that are easily dispersible in oil or silicone bases are recommended.

Types of pigments suitable for this purpose include:

• Iron Oxides: These are the standard pigments used in foundation (Red, Yellow, Black, and sometimes Brown). You are correct that Red and Yellow are crucial for adjusting skin tone. You will likely need Red and Yellow to add warmth and depth. A tiny amount of Black might also be needed to darken the shade without changing the undertone too much, depending on how much darker you need it.
• Pre-dispersed Pigments: Some pigments come pre-dispersed in an oil or silicone base (like the ReadyMix™ series). These are very easy to mix into liquid foundations without needing special equipment.
• Coated Pigments: Pigments coated with substances like Triethoxycaprylylsilane or those from the FoundationPro™ series are designed for easy dispersion in liquid makeup and offer good adhesion and water resistance, contributing to longevity.

To adjust the color, you will need Iron Oxides Red and Iron Oxides Yellow. You might also need Iron Oxides Black to adjust the depth. Start by adding a very small amount of pigment at a time, mixing thoroughly, and testing on your skin until you achieve the desired shade.

Examples of suitable pigment types include:

• Iron Oxides Red (FoundationPro™)
• Iron Oxides Yellow (FoundationPro™)
• Iron Oxides Black (FoundationPro™)
• ReadyMix™ Iron Oxides Red (Cyclopentasiloxane Based)
• ReadyMix™ Iron Oxides Yellow (Cyclopentasiloxane Based)
• ReadyMix™ Iron Oxides Black (Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate Based)
• Iron Oxides Red (Triethoxycaprylylsilane Coated)
• Iron Oxides Yellow (Triethoxycaprylylsilane Coated)
• Iron Oxides Black (Triethoxycaprylylsilane Coated)

Choose pigments that specify good dispersibility in oil or silicone for best results in your oil-based foundation.