Have you checked out Christine's foundation matrix over at Temptalia? Such an ingenious idea! As long as there has been beauty blogs, I am surprised no one else have come up with anything similar. Or maybe you have? School me in the comments!
Christine created a Google Spreadsheet with MAC foundation shades (like NW35, NW40, NW45, etc.) as the common reference points, as many women out there have been sucked into the MACtrix at one time at another. I was sucked in May 23, 2009. And so far, I've only been smitten with one product. You already know. You then scroll down the list to see which other brand (whether it be a department store, drugstore or a MLM (multi leveling marketing) company like meet mark, Avon, Mary Kay, Artistry or Market America.
If you don't see a brand that you regularly use, you can add it in column A, which is a list of all the foundations that have been added so far. I knew on the Iman Cosmetics site, they have a section where you can see which Iman shade would correlate with your MAC, L'Oreal, Black Opal, Revlon or Fashion Fair. Unfortunately, the selection of brands and shades are limited. For example, the site didn't have a Iman shade for NW40. However, I do know that it's in the Clay section. I added Iman Cosmetics Second to None Cream to Powder Foundation as well as Iman Cosmetics Second to None Stick Foundation at the bottom along with the shades.
If you know there isn't a match, you can type in "none" or "no match." Besides the Iman ones, the only shades I were certain about for me were the department store shades. While I am NW40 in MAC, my shade in Clinique Even Better Makeup SPF 15 is Ginger. As for CoverFX Total Coverage Cream Foundation SPF 30, I am B25.
Did you know that Mary Kay Medium-Coverage Foundation in Bronze 600 is MAC shade NW43?? My best
friend, who was a Mary Kay consultant at the time, matched me. Now I am curious to see what shade I truly am. So exciting! I am even more excited since I recently got my BeautyBlender in the mail this past Thursday!
Possible matches for me:
Benefit Hello Flawless Powder with SPF 15 in All the World's My Stage
Black Opal Cream Stick Foundation with SPF 8 in Heavenly Honey
Eve Pearl HD Dual Foundation in Tan
L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Makeup with SPF 17 in W7
Revlon ColorStay in Caramel
Revlon Beyond Natural in Level 4
Concerning the whole cool/warmth thing, I learned a trick: NW40 is a cool-toned shade. I am embarassed to admit that I thought that it meant that I was warm-toned, when actually it's the opposite. I need warmth or I'm not warm. It's the same with you warm-toned girls out there: you are not cool or you need coolness.
Have you headed over yet to add your shades? I know that Seymone from Reflections of Beauty logged into the spreadsheet but I am not sure if she added any new data. When I found out that a probable Black Opal match for me is Heavenly Honey, I remember she recommended that I try the True Color Liquid Foundation, which is oil free.
I'll keep you posted on my findings!