Whether you are a makeup novice or an expert, there is one thing we can all agree on: beauty comes in many different shades. But when it comes to brown skin tones, sometimes the products they see in stores and on social media don’t work for them and it’s quite difficult to choose makeup for dark skin!
One of the biggest reasons dark skin tones are excluded from mainstream beauty is the lack of options for such makeup. Society has largely dictated that dark-skinned women should be satisfied with nude shades and other colors that don’t fit their natural tone rather than wear bolder colors or traditional “nude” shades.
Brown skin is a beautiful skin tone but comes with some unique challenges. For example, understanding what colors complement brown skin can be difficult. It’s important to find the right shades that match your skin tone!
That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best and most affordable makeup for dark skin that you’ll find anywhere.
Makeup For Brown/Dark Skin tone
For ages, it has been a stereotype that fairer, brighter skin is more beautiful than darker skin tones. We have had a range of whitening creams and brightening face products to make darker skins appear fairer. It doesn’t make the melanin-rich skin appear prettier, rather causes skin concerns. Here are the makeup products you should use for darker skin tones to enhance your features.
1. Best Foundations
Foundation is the base of a makeup routine and should be used according to one’s skin tone for the best results. Following are our best makeup foundations for brown/dark skin for full coverage look.
- MAC Studio Radiance Face And Body Radiant Sheer
- Nars sheer glow foundation
- Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation
- BLK/OPL True Color Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15
MAC Studio Radiance Face And Body Radiant Sheer
This long-wearing and waterproof makeup foundation is one of the best foundations for all skin types. It comes in 30 different color shades to match people worldwide. It doesn’t cause acne or allergic reaction. It is one of the fans’ favorite foundations to keep their makeup fresh on red carpets and late-night events. Even during day time, it is the best choice to even the skin out and create a smooth surface to apply more makeup.
Nars sheer glow foundation
This foundation evens the complexion while enhancing the texture and brightness of the skin. Strong antioxidants guard against harmful free radicals, and glycerin draws and retains moisture. It comes in 36 different shades giving beauty to a range of skin colors. The wide range of skin tone colors doesn’t work to make skin fairer or brighter in color, rather, it enhances and improves skin’s natural color, making it look more attractive and pleasing.
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation
It is a full-coverage foundation with a natural matte finish that lasts 24 hours, is oil-free, buildable, breathable, transfer-resistant, and comes in a variety of colors. This oil-free foundation applies smoothly and covers flaws without caking, oxidizing, fading, or creasing for smooth, flawless skin all day. There are more than 50 hues with warm, neutral, and cold undertones. It is a staple makeup routine foundation by famous makeup artists worldwide.
BLK/OPL True Color Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15
These pigment sticks with a long wear time provide complete coverage with a velvety sheen. Sculpt your cheekbones and emphasize your features, or cover imperfections and under-eye circles. For all skin types, perfect.
For a flawless finish, the Shade ID technology employs multicolored chromatic pigments to adapt to your skin tone.
2. Best Concealers
The concealer conceals dark circles, age spots, blemishes, and more by obstructing pigments and blending these flaws into the skin. It is comparable to foundations, except that it is often thicker. To prevent smudging, you should always layer concealer over your foundation. To achieve natural makeup we have listed some of the best concealers for brown/dark skin tones.
- Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
- Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation
- Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
A multifunctional concealer with a creamy medium-to-buildable coverage and a natural, radiant finish that brightens, corrects and perfects for up to 16 hours.
A long-lasting skincare solution that moisturizes for all-day hydration, evens out skin tone, conceals dark spots and blemishes, and brightens under the eyes. It may be used to contour and highlight. both transfer- and crease-proof 30 colors are available. The wide range of color shades makes it accessible to people of all skin colors. So forget about dark circles and under-eye bags, because Nars Radiant Creamy concealer is here to save the day.
Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation
The Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation is the go-to product for Dior makeup artists to achieve high-coverage perfection and an immediately beautiful complexion with ultra-buildable coverage. The new Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation complements all skin tones due to its 40 different hues, 16 intensities, and 6 undertones.
It covers dark circles and eye bags that make the eyes look tired and sleepy. Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation is 100% safe and dermatologically tested to apply on the skin.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer
The third concealer on the list of Makeup for brown/dark skin tones is Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Flawless Concealer. Its all-day wearable lightweight cream consistency gives off the polished appearance of beautiful skin. Medium buildable coverage that is transfer-resistant, color-true, and won’t slide, slide, or melt away. It gives a natural matte appearance. The infusion of minerals and emollients nourishes the skin, making blending easier.
3. Best Blushes
Different colors are needed for different skin tones. The greatest blush produces a natural flush by adding color and livening up your face while giving your cheeks new depth and liveliness. Here are a few blushes for darker skin you can use for a glamorous look.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
It is a light, airy liquid product that develops and blends with ease for a subtle flush of color. A little goes a long way with this product since it is infused with color pigments that stay all day. It flawlessly layers over liquid/powder formulations without affecting makeup and is error-proof.
It is available in 11 different shades from which people of all colors and tones can choose according to taste.
e.l.f. Cosmetics Monochromatic Multi Stick
Use this multipurpose, multipurpose stick on your lips, cheeks, and eyes for a rosy, monochromatic look that is soft and glowing. Use this shimmering, luxuriously blending cream-to-powder stick as your eyeshadow, lipstick, and blush for a seamless, monochromatic look. It is ideal for touch-ups on the fly and almost perfect because of its lightweight, miscible composition.
Use alone or as a foundation for powder products for an even more durable color. It produces a fashionable, monochromatic effect when applied to the cheeks, lips, and eyes.
4. Best Contouring Sticks
Contouring sticks help you enhance your facial features by highlighting or shadowing different areas on your face. It is important to pick the right shade because if you mess it up, your whole makeup will look uneven and out of place. Scroll down and choose the best stick for a perfect look.
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Contour Stick
The L’Oréal Paris Contouring stick is a lightweight, breathable foundation for makeup that resists everything and lasts all day. It highlights, accentuates, and covers your features. Complete covering that lasts up to 24 hours will help you achieve a precisely sculpted appearance. Infallible Shaping Sticks’ creamy, glide-on texture melts into the skin to create weightless, long-lasting coverage that doesn’t settle or drag.
FENTY BEAUTY Match Stix Matte Skinstick Foundation-Stick
You may contour with Match Stix Matte Contour Skin sticks in various colors that have been painstakingly refined and tested to look excellent on a range of skin tones. Additionally, they come in a stick type that is simple to apply and ideal for precise placement anywhere you wish to contour.
The buildable cream-to-powder composition is weightless and incredibly simple to blend, but it also stays set without creasing or caking. It is made to layer.
5. Best Lipsticks
We know that every lip color doesn’t suit every skin tone. One has to be very specific in picking lipsticks according to their skin color and the look they are going for. These Lipsticks mentioned below are very suited for people with a darker complexion.
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Semi-Matte Lipstick
The creamy, semi-matte product covers your lips with long-lasting, classic wear and a smooth, velvety feel. Rihanna created the Fenty Icon lipstick to be easily refillable with a design you’ll want to flaunt since you grab these irresistible shades repeatedly. So color, get a case, and start being your damn icon.
Nars After Glow Lip Balm
To hydrate and safeguard lips, apply a lip balm enriched with various antioxidants.
Treat your lips with the enticing sheen and subtle color of Afterglow Lip Balm. Mono Hydrating Complex, an antioxidant combination, and smooth, silky comfort are all part of the formulation. SPF 10 is present in the Clean Cut shade, providing vital sun protection. This lip balm embodies the phrase ‘total temptation meets sheer sensation’
6. Best Eye Shadows
Eye shadows are one of the most important parts of makeup. With eye shadows and brown or darker-colored skin, people might get a little edge over fairer skin. They can apply bold and bright eye shadows, which might not be visible on lighter skin.
Natasha Denona Glam Palette
The GLAM PALETTE, Natasha’s all-time best-selling palette, has sumptuous chromatic crystals, creamy matte, and dazzling metallic finishes of key colors for day or night. It doesn’t fall out or crease and is long-lasting.
The eye shadows are easy to blend, effortlessly usable, and water-resistant. It comes in a durable pallet containing 15 shades in matte and metallic.
Huda beauty Eyeshadow Palettes Rich
Introducing 3 universal tiny eyeshadow palettes that everyone may use. Each palette has 9 tempting variants of the popular nude colors.
Each palette has a remarkable hue range and was designed to complement every skin tone and eye color: Buttery mattes, ultra-shimmery shadows, and complimentary metallic hues are also available, all with textures that are easy to blend.
It’s time for you to decide what nudity means to you. Three naked color schemes are available: naked light, naked medium, and naked rich obsessions.
Makeup Tips for Tan/Brown Skin
When it comes to makeup, those with tan or brown skin have a wide range of options. The key is finding the right shades that complement your skin tone.
Here are some general tips to keep in mind when doing your makeup:
- Start with a clean, moisturized face. This will help create a smooth canvas for your makeup.
- Apply a foundation or BB cream that matches your skin tone. If you need help deciding what shade to choose, test out a few shades on your jawline and pick the one that disappears into your skin.
- Choose a shade one or two shades lighter than your skin tone for concealer. This will help brighten under-eye circles and cover up any blemishes.
- When choosing eyeshadow, go for colors complimenting your eye color. Brown and golden tones look great on those with brown eyes, while green and blue hues compliment hazel eyes. For eyeliner, opt for a waterproof formula in either black or brown.
- Finish off your look with mascara and the lip color of your choice! A peachy nude or pink lip gloss is always flattering on brown skin.
Conclusion
When it comes to brown skin, there are a few universal truths: We all want our makeup to look flawless, but we also don’t want to look like we’re wearing a ton of it. And while finding the best foundation shade is essential, it’s only half the battle—you also need products that compliment your undertone.
Whether you have cool-toned, warm-toned, or neutral-toned brown skin, these tips will help create a natural and beautiful makeup look.
