Being beauty enthusiasts we end up at the makeup aisle a little too often *occupational hazard*. During our regular research and frequent visits to the makeup counter we’ve learned a few tricks that we are about to spill. And no, this time we’re not telling you how to identify your undertone or which lipstick to wear, we’re going to tell you how to test your beauty products at the makeup aisle. Read on to find out everything.
- “Test foundation on your jawline” – Harshitha Prabhakar, Senior Beauty Writer
- “A little bit of smudging is good when it comes to eyeliners” – Anjali Agarwal, Features Writer
- “Use a cotton swab to test eye shadow” – Urvi Dalal, Senior Beauty Writer
- “Swatch lipstick on your fingertips” – Fatema Habib, Senior Beauty Writer
“Test foundation on your jawline” – Harshitha Prabhakar, Senior Beauty Writer

A few of us may know this foundation testing trick, but a lot of women are still unaware that the right spot to test your foundation shade is your jawline and not the back of your hand. This is important because the colour of the skin on your hands may be several shades different to that of your face. This trick will get you closer to your perfect foundation match.
“A little bit of smudging is good when it comes to eyeliners” – Anjali Agarwal, Features Writer

If an eyeliner is a part of your daily makeup routine, we know the struggle you’ve been through to find one that stays put all day. When testing eyeliner, draw a smooth line on the back of your hand, wait for a few seconds and then softly rub your finger over it. If it smudges a little then go for it, however if it spreads all over, you know what to do!
“Use a cotton swab to test eye shadow” – Urvi Dalal, Senior Beauty Writer

Most of us test eyeshadow swatches by directly picking them from the palette using our fingers. Did you know that the oils on your fingertips can change the colour of the eyeshadow? Therefore, use a cotton swab and test it on the back of your hand as well as on your inner wrist. Bend your wrist back and forth to see if the formula creases.
“Swatch lipstick on your fingertips” – Fatema Habib, Senior Beauty Writer

So you’ve been swatching lipsticks on the back of your hand or wrist all this time? Here’s what you didn’t know – the soft area of your fingertips has similar texture to that your lips and is therefore the ideal spot. This also allows you to feel the texture of the lipstick and is more hygienic than testing on your lips.
Written by Sanya Hamdani on Sep 26, 2019
Sanya Hamdani is a skincare enthusiast and lipstick hoarder, she truly believes no two red lipsticks look exactly alike. With a Master's degree in Communication & Journalism and 5+ years of digital writing experience up her sleeve, Sanya has some of the biggest beauty experts in the country on her speed dial. When she's not swatching products or writing about the latest trends in beauty, you will find her watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S. or cooking up a storm in the kitchen.