Women of colour often have a limited variety of choices when it comes to makeup, although in the recent years, more and more cosmetics companies have started including darker shades in their collections. Divine.ca brings you tips on choosing makeup for darker skin, and some awesome products to try!
Basic skincare tips
Every woman needs a basic beauty routine to keep her skin looking healthy; it should include washing your face twice a day (morning and night), and moisturizing afterwards. Deeper complexions tend to look ashy when not properly moisturized, so don’t skip this step! Also, if your skin tends to be on the oily side, make sure to choose fluids or gel-based moisturizers rather than very rich creams or lotions. Exfoliating your skin is also important to remove dead skin cells and make sure any moisturizers or masks you use are their most effective. Where makeup is concerned, make sure to choose products that are oil-free.
Foundation
An even complexion is the best canvas for any makeup, whether you’re going for a natural look or something more glamorous.
▪ If your complexion is naturally even, you may not need to wear foundation. Simply use concealer to hide any blemishes or imperfections, then follow with some powder to keep shine at bay.
▪ If you do need to wear foundation, make sure to choose one that is very close to your skin tone by trying it on at your jaw line or on the inside of your wrist. Choose a concealer that is slightly lighter than the foundation, and a finishing powder that is the same colour as your skin, or marked “translucent”.
Products to try:
Basic skincare tips
Every woman needs a basic beauty routine to keep her skin looking healthy; it should include washing your face twice a day (morning and night), and moisturizing afterwards. Deeper complexions tend to look ashy when not properly moisturized, so don’t skip this step! Also, if your skin tends to be on the oily side, make sure to choose fluids or gel-based moisturizers rather than very rich creams or lotions. Exfoliating your skin is also important to remove dead skin cells and make sure any moisturizers or masks you use are their most effective. Where makeup is concerned, make sure to choose products that are oil-free.
Foundation
An even complexion is the best canvas for any makeup, whether you’re going for a natural look or something more glamorous.
▪ If your complexion is naturally even, you may not need to wear foundation. Simply use concealer to hide any blemishes or imperfections, then follow with some powder to keep shine at bay.
▪ If you do need to wear foundation, make sure to choose one that is very close to your skin tone by trying it on at your jaw line or on the inside of your wrist. Choose a concealer that is slightly lighter than the foundation, and a finishing powder that is the same colour as your skin, or marked “translucent”.
Products to try:
1. Oil-Free Foundation (top to bottom: F-70, F-90, F100) by Cargo, $32 at Cargo counters
2. Concealer by NARS (Toffee), $25 at Sephora
3. Deluxe Finishing Powder (Medium, Dark, or Deep) by Black Opal, $7.82 at imagesandshades.ca
Eyes
The darker your skin, the more intense the pigments of an eye shadow need to be for the colour to stand out. For a natural look, go for shimmery shades in a hue similar to that of your skin tone for just a subtle hint of colour. The important thing to look at when choosing an eye shadow is the undertones of your skin:
▪ If your skin has warm undertones (if you look best in bright clothes like red and orange, for example), golden, copper, and apricot hues are bound to work well.
▪ On the other hand, if your complexion has cooler undertones (you tend to look better in colours like blues, purples and fuchsia), blues and greys may be best.
For more eye definition, use an eyeliner brush to line your upper eyelid with a dark charcoal or black eyeshadow. Finish with one or two coats of black mascara.
Products to try:
The darker your skin, the more intense the pigments of an eye shadow need to be for the colour to stand out. For a natural look, go for shimmery shades in a hue similar to that of your skin tone for just a subtle hint of colour. The important thing to look at when choosing an eye shadow is the undertones of your skin:
▪ If your skin has warm undertones (if you look best in bright clothes like red and orange, for example), golden, copper, and apricot hues are bound to work well.
▪ On the other hand, if your complexion has cooler undertones (you tend to look better in colours like blues, purples and fuchsia), blues and greys may be best.
For more eye definition, use an eyeliner brush to line your upper eyelid with a dark charcoal or black eyeshadow. Finish with one or two coats of black mascara.
Products to try:
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Cheeks
If your complexion is on the lighter side, look for caramel, honey, and apricot shades of blushes. Women with darker skin may need to go for deeper shades, such as plums, currants, and mauves to brighten up their look. Again, keep your skin’s undertones in mind when choosing a particular shade of blush. Another option is to use bronzer instead of blush—this works especially well if your skin has warm undertones.
Products to try:
Lips
For a natural day look, try a simple gloss that will give you lots of shine without adding too much colour to your lips. An evening look, however, calls for a darker colour. Fuller-lipped women should pick matte shades of lipstick if they want to play down their mouth. If your skin is particularly oily, it’s a good idea to blot some translucent powder on and around your lips before you line them or apply lipstick to keep the colour from slipping.
Products to try:
If your complexion is on the lighter side, look for caramel, honey, and apricot shades of blushes. Women with darker skin may need to go for deeper shades, such as plums, currants, and mauves to brighten up their look. Again, keep your skin’s undertones in mind when choosing a particular shade of blush. Another option is to use bronzer instead of blush—this works especially well if your skin has warm undertones.
Products to try:
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5. Powder Blush (Raizin and Fever) by MAC, $21 at MAC stores and counters |
Lips
For a natural day look, try a simple gloss that will give you lots of shine without adding too much colour to your lips. An evening look, however, calls for a darker colour. Fuller-lipped women should pick matte shades of lipstick if they want to play down their mouth. If your skin is particularly oily, it’s a good idea to blot some translucent powder on and around your lips before you line them or apply lipstick to keep the colour from slipping.
Products to try:
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6. Luxury Lip Shine (Edgy) by Iman, $19.50 at certain Sears locations |
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