Black Beauty

Finding products for deeper skin tones can be difficult. Whether it be at the drugstore or the department store, it comes as no surprise that women of color, especially black women with much deeper complexions, are much too often overlooked. 

Brands don't seem to realize that black women come in a huge variety of shades (Africans are different from Carribbeans, are different from Americans are different from blacks of mixed heritage), and it really doesn't cut it when these brands only include one or two darker shades. 

But there is hope. 

There are a handful of black friendly brands:

IMAN
CoverGirl Queen 
Black Radiance and 
M.A.C.

IMAN

CoverGirl Queen

This is Black Radiance, not Wet 'n' Wild. 

I know, right. 

M.A.C.

Bobbi Brown in her book 'Makeup Manual' offers valuable advice about choosing the right foundation(s). Black skin tends to be darker around the perimeter and lighter in the center (the middle of the forehead, the cheeks and the bridge of the nose, the typical places we highlight). Sometimes, to accommodate the multi-tonal nature of the face you have to have a couple of shades of foundation (tinted moisturizer and/or BB cream). Start with the lighter shade, applying it in the center and blending outwards. Then apply the darker shade around the rest of the forehead the temples, the jawline and under the chin. For women who want to emphasize the luminosity of the center, apply a lighter colored bronzer with slight shimmer (LORAC tantalizer perhaps) as well as a shimmery golden shade across the lids. But if you want to emphasize the warmness of the darker tone focus on contouring with an appropriate colored bronzer and blush. 

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual

For mocha, or mixed skin tones use a golden pink shimmer as a highlight if you want to bring out the golden tone in your skin.
When it comes to eyes think chocolates, toffees, coffees, deep wines, deep plums, (basically anything that sounds delicious - Yumm), navy, granite, bronze, teal, green, and golds. 
Cheeks will be berries, bronzes, dark apricots, corals and terracottas. 
Think corals, raisins, garnet reds, sheer golds, caramels, toffees, bronzes, berries and plums (similar to the colors your would pick for cheeks) for the lips. 

Deeper skin tones can get away with the bright jewel tones such as eggplant, green, metallic grays and cobalt blues, in addition to the golds, coppers, bronzes and coffees on the eyes, which means these skin tones can afford to be more adventurous with color. 
Straight up gold as a highlight. 
Dark raisin, burnt orange, fuchsia, bright reds, and magentas on the cheeks. 
For lips choose sheer and shimmer glosses, gold honey, caramel, orang, coral, plum, bronze, golden pinks. Or Blackberry, maroon, raisin and deep reds. 

Five Minute Face By Carmindy

Hope some of you found this useful. I will be sure to include similar information for everyone else. 

Remember, 
Don't just wear makeup, Rock it.