Article posted Wednesday, January 29, 2014 2:39pm

Dear Mary Pat,

This is not all that important, but I feel I should say something. My best friend’s foundation is a wildly different color than her skin tone.

She is a fair-skinned lady, but I think she believes that if she chooses a foundation that is a shade or two darker, she will look tanner and healthier. She looks a bit frightening, especially this time of year. How do I handle this?

Tonally Challenged

Sister Bay, WI

Dear Tonally Challenged,

She is your best friend – you should be comfortable enough to just tell her straight out. Wouldn’t you want her to be honest with you if the roles were reversed?

If you think she wouldn’t believe you or you can’t muster the guts to bring it up, maybe you should think about heading to the cosmetics counter for a neutral/professional opinion.

You will know you are at the right place if they try foundation on your friend at her jaw line and make sure it disappears. (You should get checked too since your foundation might need changing for winter as well.)

Hopefully, your friend will see that she will actually look healthier if her face is the same shade as her neck. No one looks healthy with an orange glow face next to a cotton white neck.

Good luck,

Mary Pat