Ever go to the makeup counter and think you hit a home run with a new foundation only to get home and realize the color is totally off? Pretty much sucks, doesn’t it?

Good thing Sephora wants you to get that perfect shade from within the store’s over 1,000 foundations with a cool new technology called Sephora + Pantone Color IQ. With this new service Sephora + Pantone Color IQ aims to scientifically match precise foundation shades from the vast options found on the beauty haven’s shelves.

So how exactly does this work?

The Sephora + Pantone Color IQ system is based on Pantone’s CAPSURE™, a compact, hand-held spectro-colorimeter that is used in the design world to identify color with unsurpassed accuracy. As the first of its kind in cosmetics retail, the device works by taking an image of the skin, analyzing it and assigning an official PANTONE SkinTone number. With that number, Sephora beauty experts reference SEPHORA’s Universal SkinTone Library on an iPad®, which holds over 1,000 foundation SKUs, to determine what products are a precise match for each skin tone.

Ready to get your match?

This exclusive SEPHORA foundation service will be available at Sephora 5 Times Square in Manhattan beginning July 26th and Sephora Powell Street August 2nd. And here are some tips to follow before you visit the store for this service:

· Do not work out for 30 minutes prior to match

· No chemical or harsh peels 3-6 days prior to match

· Drink more water and less caffeine prior to match; caffeine restricts blood flow, effecting flush of skin

· Disclose if you are wearing self-tanner to the Sephora artist for a better match

Hopefully the service will be rolled out to more stores in the near future!

What do you think of Sephora + Pantone Color IQ?

About Danielle

New York City freelance writer, Image Consultant, Makeup Artist, Fashion and Beauty Producer for Bag Ladies Radio, and President of Urban Glamour, LLC. I'm a Hofstra University and Fashion Institute of Technology grad with a penchant for pretty and enjoy bringing out the FIERCE in everyone through personalized thorough image and makeup consultations. Think of me as your style and beauty entourage all wrapped up into one bubbly brown package :) I have had the honor and privilege of working backstage at NYC Fashion Week shows like Karen Walker, Jayson Brunsdon, Sabyaschi, Altuzarra, and Bridal Market Week for Vera Wang. You can also find me running around photo shoots doing makeup and styling. If you have a style or beauty question, contact me. Your question could be featured on the site!

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