HEXCHECK BEAUTY
Find the foundation family before the product name
Foundation names vary by brand and product line. HexCheck separates the decision into measurable depth, undertone direction, and color difference, then gives you a transparent reference family to compare against real products.
Build a reliable complexion target
Enter a known complexion color or create a target from several jaw and neck samples.
Diffuse daylight usually gives the strongest starting evidence. Avoid direct sun and mixed bulbs.
Record three to five nearby points that represent the area where foundation must blend.
Skip makeup, facial hair, glare, shadow, lips, clothing reflections, and strongly discolored areas.
A low average Delta E spread means the sampled areas describe a more stable target.
The lighting selector applies a directional correction for common warm and cool casts. Mixed or uncertain lighting should be treated as lower-confidence evidence.
Use Undertone as an input
Foundation Finder can estimate a direction automatically or accept Warm, Cool, Neutral, or Olive as a deliberate filter.
- Choose Auto when the target was sampled carefully and you want the color measurement to lead.
- Choose a specific direction when you already verified it in Undertone or through real product comparisons.
- Use the “Use target in Undertone” action when the leading direction is uncertain.
- Keep neighboring undertone families visible because real brand labels do not follow one standard.
Read the reference ranking
HexCheck generates an internal grid across nine depth levels and four undertone directions. Each result displays:
- A transparent depth-and-undertone name.
- The exact reference hex value.
- The measured Delta E from the corrected target.
- A quality label ranging from Excellent to Distant.
- A comparison of depth shift and undertone shift.
The depth-range control changes how broadly the result list explores neighboring levels. Tight is useful when the target is reliable; Broad is better when lighting or camera processing may have shifted the target.
Preview coverage, finish, and settling
| Control | What the preview represents |
|---|---|
| Sheer coverage | More of the complexion target remains visible beneath the reference shade. |
| Medium coverage | A balanced blend between the target and the selected shade. |
| Full coverage | The reference shade controls most of the visible result. |
| Matte finish | A slightly deeper, lower-reflection direction. |
| Natural finish | A neutral display transformation. |
| Radiant finish | A slightly brighter and clearer display direction. |
| Settling preview | A controlled darkening and warming comparison, not a product-specific prediction. |
Real formulas can darken, warm, cool, or remain stable depending on pigments, oils, skincare, wear time, and the environment. Use the preview to understand sensitivity, not to predict an exact formula.
Use mixing directions when one shade is not enough
The mixing cards show 50/50 reference directions using:
- The adjacent lighter depth.
- The adjacent deeper depth.
- The same depth in the target undertone family.
These values describe color direction only. Two real products may not mix predictably because their pigment strength, base, coverage, and finish can differ.
Verify a real product at the jaw and neck
- Swatch several adjacent depths and undertones in narrow stripes from the lower cheek across the jaw.
- Let the product dry and interact with skincare before comparing it.
- Review the face, jaw, and neck together in indirect daylight.
- Check whether the full-face finish changes the apparent depth.
- Compare photographs only after checking the result with your eyes.
- Record the exact brand, product line, shade, finish, and date because formulas can change.
Know what the tool does not claim
- The reference shades are not manufacturer products or purchasing recommendations.
- A displayed hex value cannot reproduce a physical liquid, powder, stick, or skin finish.
- Camera processing and display calibration can shift subtle complexion differences.
- The tool does not evaluate ingredients, allergies, skin conditions, wear, or product safety.
- Always confirm the real product on your skin and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.