When it comes to black women and makeup, the cliché "less is more" doesn't necessarily apply. "African American skin can take makeup," Mills insists. "Lupita Nyong'o, Michelle Obama, Toni Braxton -- all of these women wear makeup, and a lot of it."

That's not to say you should aspire to "showgirl chic" when you're putting on your face. But you can get away with wearing heavy makeup and still look "fresh, stylized and clean," Mills says. For instance, when it comes to base, Mills likes a "more substantial foundation" against dark skin. "Heavier works better -- [like] cream sticks." If your skin is particularly oily, she suggests using a mineral foundation or primer and powder.

Mills says that learning how to contour and highlight your face makes a particular impact on darker complexions. "Highlighting ... really pops features and makes eyes stand out so beautifully."

Mills says that warm metallics like bronze are stunning against black skin. Shimmery or metallic eye shadow or liner is a fool-proof way to wear the trend. For staying power and extra-vivid color that won't disappear into dark skin, tap a powder shadow over a cream shadow in the same shade.

"A shimmery or dewy highlight across the cheekbone is beautiful on dark skin," says Badro. "Just stay away from too much shimmer if there is texture on the skin." The contrast of light-reflecting pigment on dark skin makes rough or uneven texture very obvious.

Barose steers clear of shimmer altogether. "Anything dewy or luminous will look oily," he says. "I always go with matte, because it'll still have that sheen anyway [if] skin is dark."