15 Makeup-Artist Approved Products for Deeper Skin Tones
Fact: There’s no excuse for makeup brands not to have a full range of skin tone options, from the fairest of fair, to the deepest of dark, and everything in between. Ideally, those products also take into account undertones (a girl can dream!). There’s just no reason those with dark skin tones should have to try concealer after concealer or a million foundation shades just to find the right fit.
Luckily, there are some incredible products that makeup artists swear by for dark skin tones. We chatted with makeup artist Latrice Johnson to find out exactly what she uses on her celebrity clients (including Regina King and Sherri Shepherd). “The challenges I find with some foundations are that some of the deeper shades can either be too red, yellow, pink, or green-ish, or not deep enough,” says Johnson. But there are “brands that have not only amazing shade ranges but also beautiful undertones for deeper skin tones.”
Keep scrolling to find the best of the best concealers, foundations, eyeshadow, and more for your dark skin tone from some of your favorite IPSY-approved brands.
Courtesy of FENTY BEAUTY
1. Best Full-Coverage Foundation:
FENTY BEAUTY Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
It’s not surprising FENTY’s foundation in Johnson’s makeup kit. The liquid foundation burst onto the scene with a whopping 50 shades including a variety of undertones. It helped set the bar for foundation shade ranges so makeup lovers of all skin tones can choose to cover blemishes, dark spots and discoloration. It’s also one of the best foundations for oily skin. And recently, FENTY BEAUTY launched a Hydrating Longwear Foundation perfect for dry skin. Now, all skin types and skin tones can rock this favorite.
Courtesy of ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS
2. Best Natural-Looking Foundation:
ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Luminous Foundation
For a medium-coverage liquid foundation, ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Luminous Foundation is one of the best for deep skin tones who want a more natural-looking, glowy finish. That’s thanks to the 50 lightweight shades that cover without the cake. Those with dry skin or normal skin will love the way it smoothes over any lines or blemishes. And if you have oily skin, the coverage is perfect with a little setting powder on top. It works well for dark skin because of its no-flashback formula that creates a soft-focus effect in cool, warm and neutral undertones.
Courtesy of NARS
3. Best Hydrating Concealer:
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
Johnson loves this NARS concealer for its medium, buildable coverage in 30 shades. NARS’ multipurpose concealer works for both highlighting and contouring. Plus, it has skincare ingredients including magnolia bark extract, grape seed extract and vitamin E to hydrate and firm the skin. “It has beautiful rich tones with flawless coverage that works with all skin tones,” she says.
Courtesy of DOSE OF COLOR
4. Best Undertone Options in a Concealer:
DOSE OF COLOR Meet Your Hue Concealer
With 30 shades in fair, light, light medium, medium tan, dark and deep categories, DOSE OF COLORS’ Meet Your Hue Concealer is a favorite. That’s thanks to its lightweight but full-coverage formula in a variety of undertones. But just because there’s loads of pigment doesn’t mean this concealer looks cakey. Ingredients including sunflower seed oil and shea butter deliver soothing hydration. “The coverage is amazing with a wide shade range with multiple undertones,” says Johnson. “The rich, deep shades are definitely a staple in my kit.”
Courtesy of BEAUTY BAKERIE
5. Best Natural Eyeshadow Palette:
BEAUTY BAKERIE Breakfast in Bed Eyeshadow Palette
There’s nothing worse than a chalky eyeshadow palette. This palette has a blend of muted mattes and shimmery shimmers with no chalk left behind. The ultra-pigmented, muted neutral shades are anything but boring. Apply the medium-brown Messy Hair hue for an everyday glam and add the shimmery gray Boo & A View for a night out.
Courtesy of ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS
6. Best Bold Eyeshadow Palette:
ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Jackie Aina Palette
Iconic beauty YouTuber Jackie Aina created the palette because she had found the lightest shade of other eyeshadow palettes too chalky. This 14-pan palette features pressed pigments in both matte and metallic finishes. You can create bold warm and cool-toned looks that’ll flatter all skin tones but especially dark skin.
Courtesy of M.A.C.
7. Best Pink Blush:
M.A.C. Powder Blush in Fleur Power
Finding the right shade of blush to flatter dark skin has its challenges—and that’s the makeup brands’ fault. But don’t worry. There are some gorgeous shades that aren’t ashy at all. This powder blush from M.A.C. is definitely one of them. Johnson calls the pink-coral shade the “perfect pink tone when applied to the apples of the cheeks.” She says it “adds a youthful pink tone to the cheeks on deeper skin tones.”
Courtesy of NARS
8. Best Red Blush:
NARS Blush in Exhibit A
Johnson’s go-to blush to add brightness to the deepest skin tones is Exhibit A. The matte red has the perfect blue undertone so it’ll never leave an ashy hue behind. Plus, it blends out beautifully to give a natural finish and a first-kiss flush.
Courtesy of BEAUTY BAKERIE
9. Best Setting Powder:
BEAUTY BAKERIE Flour Setting Powder
Not only does this powder have a diverse range of skin tones, but it also features a yellow and translucent setting powder for all the highlight and color-correcting options. The finely milled powder is lightly tinted to blur pores and banish oily skin. The result? A natural matte finish without any flashback.
Courtesy of JUVIA'S PLACE
10. Best Loose Setting Powder:
JUVIA'S PLACE I Am Magic Loose Setting Powder
This powder is a natural-feel loose setting powder that feels soft even on bare skin. With five shades that flatter even the deepest skin tones, you can find a shade to use as foundation, concealer and contour—as well set makeup all day long. There’s a reason it’s a makeup artist favorite.
Courtesy of MORPHE
11. Best Bronzer Shade Range:
MORPHE Glamabronze Face & Body Bronzer
One of the most important things to look for in a bronzer is a large shade range. The MOPRHE Glamabronze Bronzer has just that. “It has rich, deep tones and a soft application,” says Johnson. Shades range from fair to deep with undertones in warm, neutral and cool. You can use the buildable, matte bronzer as a contour product or a bronzer for the body. It’s truly multi-use for all skin tones.
Courtesy of FENTY BEAUTY
12. Best Longwear Bronzer:
FENTY BEAUTY Sun Stalk'r Instant Warmth Bronzer
There’s nothing worse than working so hard on a face beat only for your bronzer to melt in the sun. Luckily, FENTY BEAUTY’s bronzer promises all-day, natural-looking longwear pigment in eight shades. Johnson loves the warm, neutral golden tones and rich deep red undertones of the various shades, as well as the buildability of the soft powder.
Courtesy of FENTY BEAUTY
13. Best Longwear Highlighter:
FENTY BEAUTY Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter
Yes, it’s possible to have a longwear highlighter without the cakiness. FENTY'S Killawatt Highlighter comes in four single shades and five duos. Those with darker skin tones will love the ultra-flattering metallic gold Trophy Wife and baby pink shimmer Wattabrat shades. A little birdie told us these are Rihanna’s favorites, too, and what’s good enough for RiRi is good enough for us.
Courtesy of MILK MAKEUP
14. Best Intense Highlight:
MILK MAKEUP Flex Highlighter
The MILK MAKEUP Flex Highlighter proves you can have a blinding highlight and zero chalkiness. The silky pressed highlighter comes in four shades ranging from Lit (a champagne) to Glazed (a bronze). Dealing with textured skin? Flex Highlighter contains elastic marshmallow root extract that allows the powder to really move with the skin instead of fighting against it. And the addition of blue lotus moisturizes, while chamomile helps calm redness and soothe skin.
Courtesy of DOSE OF COLORS
15. Best Nude Lipstick:
DOSE OF COLORS Liquid Matte Lipstick
There is no one nude and Johnson says Dose of Colors gets this. This lipstick includes multiple natural shades to flatter a variety of darker skin tones. Johnson especially loves the shade Cork. “It’s the perfect golden brownish lip color that pairs perfectly with any brown lip liner,” she says. And that non-drying matte finish? Perfection.
Courtesy of FENTY BEAUTY
16. Best Bold Shades:
FENTY BEAUTY Stunner Lip Paint
One word: stunning. Yes, we’re pretty sure that’s where Rihanna got the name. There are nine weightless, longwear liquid lipstick shades with a soft matte finish. Johnson calls Unveil the “perfect chocolate-brown lip color” and Underdawg (a black) and Uncensored (a blue-red) must-have bold shades for deeper skin tones.
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