

The temptation to pursue a sun-kissed Beyoncé or J.Lo glow will always be there, but for those of us with ultra-pale complexions, it's but a dream.
This realization—married with increased sun damage awareness and a slew of alabaster stars such as Rooney Mara, Krysten Ritter, and Emma Stone opting out of faux tans—is making it easier and easier to embrace a natural, Casper's-got-nothing-on-me visage.
This said, it doesn't make the challenge of evading chalky, clown-like territory when choosing a foundation any less daunting. So, to ensure pale women everywhere are putting their most luminous faces forward amidst the dull winter weather, we looked to celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles for her quick and dirty tips.
In pursuit of a flawless finish, one must always make the all-important decision of powder versus liquid. While the former may seem suited to milky-white complexions, if your skin is dry forget it. Plus, it makes it that much harder to achiever the ever-desired, lit-from-within look.
"I prefer a luminous liquid foundation as paler skin tones can often be more on the dry side," explains Stiles. " The more luminous it is, the less ghostly the complexion will appear as anything too matte reads 'goth' very quickly."
Try: Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturizing Foundation, $47; bergdorfgoodman.com or Nars 'All Day' Luminous Weightless Liquid Foundation, $48; nordstrom.com.
Test a shade on your body
Foundation is primarily for your face, but all is lost if its one shade, and your body is another. The best rule of thumb? Test it on your limbs. "I'll put the foundation on the inside of my arm or the back of my hand and walk around for a bit to see if it oxidizes," she says. "If it remains neutral then I know I have a good match."
Pay attention to undertones
In general, fair skin either has pink or yellow undertones. Identifying which you possess is the easy part—the hard part is making sure that it doesn't lean too far one way.
"Anything with too yellow of an undertone will read as very sallow if you aren't careful," says Stiles."When in doubt go with the most neutral shade you can find."
She finds her happy medium by keeping one pale foundation in a very neutral "bone" shade and one with a hint of pink in her kit to match either undertone.
Use two different *neutral* concealers
"Find one shade for under the eyes and another for covering blemishes," she instructs. "They'll be doing different jobs so you'll need different shades; something with a touch of peach for under the eyes to counteract the blue/purple tones and something more neutral to cover blemishes."
Try: Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in "Very Fair Skin Tones", $34; bergdorfgoodman.com or Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX 01, $48; beauty.com.
Contour, but do so cautiously
"Pale women get to contour, too!" insists Stiles. Since fair skin reveals all of the undertones in in color cosmetics so easily, she recommends using a cream contour verses a powder so you can blend it out more into the foundation.
"Neutral is key since anything too orange will read as really orange, so a contour that has grayish tones will be more believable and undetectable," she adds.
Try: Cover FX Contour Kit in N Light, $48; sephora.com.
Follow Marie Claire on Instagram for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

Lauren is the former beauty editor at Marie Claire. She love to while away the hours at coffee shops, hunt for vintage clothes, and bask in the rough-and-tumble beauty of NYC. She firmly believes that solitude can be a luxury if you’ve got the right soundtrack—that being the Rolling Stones, of course.
-
One of King Charles’ Siblings Was Adamant That Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Be Evicted from Frogmore Cottage
Meanwhile, another sibling was “uneasy” about the decision.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Despite the Royal Family’s Disdain for Princess Diana When She Was Alive, It Regularly Pushed Both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle to Dress Like Her, New Book Claims
“During the past 13 years, Diana cosplay has become a royal staple.”
By Rachel Burchfield
-
King Charles Employs 28 Personal Household Staff Members That Have to Do Some Really Weird Job Duties
Talk about “other duties as assigned.”
By Rachel Burchfield
-
The 20 Best Hair Masks for Damaged Hair, According to Experts and Editors
Healthy strands, here we come!
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
How Often You Should Wash Your Hair, According To Experts
Keep it fresh, my friends.
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
The 11 Best Magnetic Lashes of 2023
Go ahead and kiss your messy lash glue goodbye.
By Hana Hong
-
The 32 Best Hair Growth Shampoos of 2023, According to Experts
Rapunzel hair, coming right up.
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
Beauty Advent Calendars Make the Perfect Holiday Gift
The gift that keeps on giving.
By Julia Marzovilla
-
The 18 Best Natural Hair Products in 2023
Remember: Your curls are your crown.
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
The 9 Best Hot Rollers for the Curls of Your Dreams
This is how we roll.
By Samantha Holender
-
The 12 Best Cream Eyeshadows, According to Makeup Artists
The best part? They’re so easy to apply.
By Samantha Holender