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Straight From The Pros: African American Makeup Tips
Women of color have some of the most gorgeous skin tones but may find their makeup choices limiting -- Check out this guide featuring some of the best African American makeup tips and products for that perfect glow
When browsing the makeup counters at department stores, some women of color may find that not all cosmetics lines cater to their beauty needs. In other words, it can be difficult to find makeup for African American skin. Some makeup lines simply do not have foundations that go dark enough, causing one to look washed out, while others may lack the colors that will show up on darker skin. Los Angeles Makeup artist Phil Ranger shares some African American makeup tips to help you achieve the ultimate look.
1) Face: Avoid makeup that is too light, as it can make skin look chalky. Yellow-based foundations work best for women with darker skin. The goal is to see the makeup disappear after applying it on your skin, with no visible boundary between. Test foundation colors in natural light -- if you have trouble finding the right color, try mixing two shades (one darker than your natural color and one lighter). When searching for blush or bronzer, brown and copper complement African American skin tones. A touch of shimmer will highlight cheekbones nicely.
2) Lips: Earth tones, neutrals, pinks and dark burgundy instantly add glam to lips. For a more natural look, dab on some lip-gloss. Choose a lip liner that is close to the shade of your lip-gloss or lipstick to avoid a dark outline.
3) Eyes: Shimmery and metallic eye shadows can look amazing against African American skin. Mixing two complimentary colors like gold and purple can boost the drama factor. The darker your skin, the brighter the colors you can pull off. Accentuate eyes with brown or black eyeliner. Black mascara will make eyelashes stand out. For extra pizzazz, try false eyelashes.
For those looking for the best makeup for African American women, there are several noteworthy lines. Supermodel Iman founded IMAN Cosmetics in 1994, a collection that features makeup for women of all shades. Cover Girl carries the Queen collection line, which actress Queen Latifah posing as the new face for the cosmetics. Cover Girl has some of the best makeup for African American women, and includes everything from concealer to nail polish. M.A.C. is another popular brand that carries a variety of shades and bright shadows and lip colors to give darker skin that extra pop. Black Radiance is dedicated completely to women of color, and Fashion Fair is the oldest and most established makeup brand for black women. Combine these African American makeup tips along with the best makeup for African American women for the ultimate beauty experience.
1) Face: Avoid makeup that is too light, as it can make skin look chalky. Yellow-based foundations work best for women with darker skin. The goal is to see the makeup disappear after applying it on your skin, with no visible boundary between. Test foundation colors in natural light -- if you have trouble finding the right color, try mixing two shades (one darker than your natural color and one lighter). When searching for blush or bronzer, brown and copper complement African American skin tones. A touch of shimmer will highlight cheekbones nicely.
2) Lips: Earth tones, neutrals, pinks and dark burgundy instantly add glam to lips. For a more natural look, dab on some lip-gloss. Choose a lip liner that is close to the shade of your lip-gloss or lipstick to avoid a dark outline.
3) Eyes: Shimmery and metallic eye shadows can look amazing against African American skin. Mixing two complimentary colors like gold and purple can boost the drama factor. The darker your skin, the brighter the colors you can pull off. Accentuate eyes with brown or black eyeliner. Black mascara will make eyelashes stand out. For extra pizzazz, try false eyelashes.
For those looking for the best makeup for African American women, there are several noteworthy lines. Supermodel Iman founded IMAN Cosmetics in 1994, a collection that features makeup for women of all shades. Cover Girl carries the Queen collection line, which actress Queen Latifah posing as the new face for the cosmetics. Cover Girl has some of the best makeup for African American women, and includes everything from concealer to nail polish. M.A.C. is another popular brand that carries a variety of shades and bright shadows and lip colors to give darker skin that extra pop. Black Radiance is dedicated completely to women of color, and Fashion Fair is the oldest and most established makeup brand for black women. Combine these African American makeup tips along with the best makeup for African American women for the ultimate beauty experience.
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Older comments
i found this very helpful
by HunnyBrown Thursday, December 27, 2012 at 07:34PM Report as inappropriate
Very good article. I will keep these things in mine, when shopping for foundation especially. I will have to check out Iman line
by mzzr2u Friday, October 26, 2012 at 05:54PM Report as inappropriate
this is an issue for hispanic and indian women as well.
by AmandaAmanda Monday, May 7, 2012 at 04:46PM Report as inappropriate
It is nice to know where to tell my friends to look for makeup in their shades.
by beautybody Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 09:59PM Report as inappropriate
Opalima beauty has a nice range of eyeshadows and blushes for all skin tones.
by minluv Monday, March 5, 2012 at 01:48PM Report as inappropriate
After reading this article...I still find myself a little puzzled as to what is a good product for medium-dark skin. I have tried Iman and it was too heavy. I felt the make up on my face, which is not what I wanted. I use Studio Fix M-A-C and it works pretty well. I thought the article would have a list of products showing them on African American...however the artice did give good tips and a starting point on at least what to look for an a few brands were listed. I will however look into the Queen Covergirl Collection.
by Mrs_B Monday, February 6, 2012 at 12:16PM Report as inappropriate
this is helpful. I am 24 and just starting to wear foundation or whatever it's called, but I can't find the right color for my skin. I get frustrated when there are 30 different light shades and a couple dark ones, our skin varies more than any other race I believe. And it's somehow limited. But I will try the covergirl, the other products might be a tad too expensive for me
by cece1214 Friday, January 27, 2012 at 11:21AM Report as inappropriate
Hmmmm.still not sure of what products are best for dark and olive skin tones,cos I don't like Iman,I find Mac powders have great true to life colors n coverage,they tend to clog pores n shift shades at d end of d day or in humid conditions
by yetunde Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 04:54AM Report as inappropriate
cool :)
by peaches095 Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 10:44AM Report as inappropriate
I want to try Iman cosmetics but I can't find them anywhere
by buzzbeauty Friday, January 6, 2012 at 10:49AM Report as inappropriate