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9 Best Foundations for Dark Skin Tones

For African American women, the perfect foundation is an elusive prize. Experts reveal how to research, test and (finally) find your perfect match
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Fashion Fair
Fashion Fair True Finish Refining Mineral Foundation, $28, comes in 18 shades between the lightest medium beige all the way to the darkest deep brown. What also makes this brand a standout: when you mouse over each shade on the brand's website, you're given a helpful summary of the present undertones (i.e. "Dark brown with a red undertone") to take more guesswork out of ordering online. Fashion Fair also takes blotchiness and hyperpigmentation into consideration with Fashion Fair True Fix Foundation , $29.30, which pairs 30 shades in 15 compacts with duos women can blend together to create an even skin tone.

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M.A.C.
M.A.C. is known for it's impressive color range and the brand doesn't disappoint in the foundation field. Many lines may offer 20+ shades, but this typically means there are 10 to 15 shades on the light to medium end of the spectrum and a few dark shades tacked on the end. M.A.C., on the other hand, has products like M.A.C. Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15, $27, which comes in a hefty 35 shades to hit every complexion -- from the lightest shade (3.5) to the deepest, which clocks in at 58.

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BareMinerals
Although it's not touted as a specialized skin care line, BareMinerals offers one of the widest ranges of skin tones on the darker side of the spectrum compared to others on the market. BareMinerals READY Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20, $29, comes in 20 shades, a whopping half of which fall on the medium to dark range. Better yet, each swatch comes with a descriptive summary ranging from "rosy undertones" to "subtle yellow-olive undertones" to really help you nail your shade.

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Black Up Cosmetics
Established in 1999, this French makeup line was one of the first created by makeup artists specifically for women of color. The swatches for Black Up Cream to Powder Foundation, $41, show the brand's expertise in capturing the subtleties of dark skin. The foundation comes in a range of 16 shades with one of the darkest swatches on the market, and a new creamy formula enriched with mattifying powders curbs oil buildup for a velvety finish.

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Clinique
Clinique doesn't specialize in makeup for African American women, but Even Better Makeup SPF 15, $27, comes in 30 different shades. This well-balanced range has eight shades in both its "Medium" and "Deep" categories (along with seven shades in both "Very Fair" and "Moderately Fair") making it a great option for all ethnicities. This pick also contains citrus extracts to help even skin tone and diminishes age spots with each wear, making it extra beneficial for black women who are prone to hyperpigmentation and uneven patches.

BY ERICA SMITH | JAN 12, 2015 | SHARES
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