Buying foundation online sounds risky — until you understand undertones. Glo Beauty Pressed Base comes in 16 salon-curated shades, organized into five undertone families. Once you know your family, picking the depth within it is straightforward. This guide is the same one we use on Glo clients in our chair.
First: Know Your Undertone
Undertone is the hue beneath the surface of your skin. Three categories cover everyone:
Cool (C): Pink, red, or blue undertone. Veins on your wrist look blue or purple. Silver jewelry flatters more than gold.
Warm (W): Yellow, peach, or golden undertone. Veins look green. Gold jewelry flatters more than silver.
Neutral (N): A blend of cool and warm. Veins are hard to read. Both silver and gold flatter.
When in doubt: stand under indirect daylight, look at the inside of your wrist, and the answer is usually obvious within 5 seconds.
Glo Beauty's 5 Shade Families
Glo organizes Pressed Base into five families, each with multiple depths. Once you find your family, depth is easy — Fair, Light, Medium, Dark.
Beige — Cool to neutral, light to medium-light. Beige Fair, Beige Light, Beige Medium, Beige Dark.
Natural — True neutral, light to medium. Natural Fair, Natural Light, Natural Medium.
Honey — Warm yellow-gold, light to medium. Honey Fair, Honey Light, Honey Medium.
Golden — Warm peachy-gold, light to deep. Golden Light, Golden Medium, Golden Dark.
Tawny — Warm bronze-rose, fair to deep. Tawny Fair (we carry).
Chestnut & Cocoa — Deep warm and deep cool tones. Chestnut Medium, Cocoa Light.
How to Pick the Right Depth
Once you know your family, depth is determined by your skin's lightness or darkness. Most people fall in Light or Medium within their family.
If you're between two depths, size up — Pressed Base is buildable. A slightly deeper shade blends out; a too-light shade always looks chalky.
Seasonal note: most clients are one shade lighter in winter and one shade deeper in summer. If you're shade-matching now in winter, expect to need the next deeper option by July.
Why Pressed Base Specifically
Glo Beauty Pressed Base is a powder foundation — different from liquid in a few important ways. The finish is a soft natural matte that reads more like skin than makeup. The buildable coverage means one pass for everyday and a second pass for special occasions. Vegan, talc-free, dermatologist-tested.
If you prefer liquid, Modern Matte Foundation is the same shade philosophy in liquid form. For sun protection plus tint, C-Shield Anti-Pollution Moisture Tint SPF 30 is our recommendation for daily summer wear in Wisconsin.
Pro Application Tips
- 01Apply with a fluffy powder brush in circular motions, not pressing — pressing creates patchy coverage.
- 02Always start at the center of the face and blend outward. The center carries the most pigment, the edges should fade naturally.
- 03Set your concealer with Pressed Base over the top, not under it. Powder over cream layers the right way.
- 04If your shade looks too pink at end of day, you may be slightly cooler than your shade — try the next Natural option down.
- 05Pressed Base lasts 8–10 hours without retouching. If you need extra hold, set with a setting spray after application.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I match my Glo Beauty foundation shade online?
Identify your undertone (cool/warm/neutral) first by checking your wrist veins under daylight, then pick the shade family that matches: Beige and Natural for cool/neutral, Honey/Golden/Tawny/Chestnut/Cocoa for warm. Then pick depth based on whether you're Fair, Light, Medium, or Dark. We carry 16 of Glo's salon-curated shades — see the full breakdown on our shade guide above.
What's the difference between Beige Fair and Natural Fair?
Beige Fair has a cool/pink undertone — best for clients with rose-pink or blueish undertones. Natural Fair is true neutral — works for both cool and warm undertones who don't want strong pink or yellow.
Can I return Glo Beauty makeup if the shade is wrong?
Yes — we offer 30-day returns on unopened Pressed Base for the wrong shade. Open product can be exchanged within 14 days for a different shade in the same family. We want you in the right shade.
Is Pressed Base good for oily skin?
Yes — the talc-free powder formula absorbs oil throughout the day and gives a soft matte finish without looking dry. It's our recommendation for oily-skinned clients in our salon.
Where can I buy Glo Beauty in Wisconsin?
Ann Michael Collective in Elkhart Lake, WI is an authorized Glo Beauty retailer. Buy online with U.S. shipping or visit our salon.
Find Your Pressed Base Shade
Browse all 16 shades online with full swatch images. Free returns on unopened Pressed Base if your shade isn't right.
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