How do we find out what shade is best for us? I've always found this to be the main reason it is hard to buy foundation online.

That is a very good question and maybe you can suggest to the seller that they do a virtual application app. However, to help you out as best I can, I can tell you that this color worked for me as well as my mother and our skin tone is different. Not sure if that helps but the chamois #03 worked for us both. She is fair skinned and I am olive skinned but I do NOT sunbathe anymore. I apply it lightly so I think that shade could be good for lots of women. sorry I can't help more but I am not a chemist nor a makeup company employee.

Which shade is suitable for light wheatish skin tone??

Fair will be appropriately! Or medium if you like a bronze look.

Does Belle Pierre do animal testing?

I don't think so . I would have checked on it but I could be wrong. I have used this product now for a few years. My mermory istn't what it used to be. If it does, then I don't want to use it again. I know this sounds fickle but normally I would always check before I used it. Maybe both of us need to ask someone else to make sure. Sorry I couldn't help more.