Makeup Tips for Dark Skin

One of the most important aspects of makeup success involves using techniques/products that properly match your skin tone. So if you have a darker complexion, you’ll obviously want to use makeup techniques that work well with your skin type.

This being said, let’s take a look at some important factors with regards to applying makeup on dark skin.

Applying Makeup on Dark Skin

Makeup tips for dark skin.

Cool or Warm Undertones?

Beautiful latin womanThe first step in the process of dark skin makeup application involves finding out if you have cool or warm undertones.

A quick beauty tip for figuring out if your skin has cool or warm undertones is this:
hold an orange cloth or piece of paper up next to your face while standing in front of the mirror. Assuming the orange piece of paper makes your skin “glow”, then it has warm undertones.

If you’re still unsure: hold a pink cloth or pink piece of paper up to your face while again standing in the mirror. Assuming your skin brightens with the pink paper next to your face, it has a cool undertone. When you’re standing in front of the rows of cosmetics in the store, you can use this same trick to make buying products a little easier.

Make sure to buy face makeup from the same warm or cool family in a shade that matches your skin tone.

Using Powder on Dark Skin

It’s true that it only takes a small dusting of powder over your face in order to get the job done. But while it may seem like any shade of powder will work no matter what your skin tone is, this notion couldn’t be further from the truth!

Your dark brown skin won’t look healthy or lustrous if it has a layer of powder that was meant for a woman with tan or pale skin.

Long story short, avoid being overwhelmed in the makeup shop by reading about makeup and dark skin.

Before applying powder, apply your concealer first and foundation onto clean skin.

You’ll probably have a couple of shades of powder because, in the summer, your skin may be darker than it is in the winter. Use a makeup brush to tap or buff the powder onto your face.

Powder is great for reducing oil, keeping the oil from building up, and can be used on the areas of skin that see the most oil production.

Before wearing your powder for a night out – or anywhere other than your house for that matter – check the applied powder in natural sunlight outside to be sure that it’s complimenting your complexion and not causing more problems.

If the powder makes your skin look ashy, then it’s too light.

Having muddy-looking skin after applying powder comes from using a product that’s too light for your skin tone.

Not all cosmetic companies make shades for dark skin, but Cover Girl, Makeup Forever, MAC, and some other drug store brands may be worth a try.

Another tip for finding worthwhile powder is to try it out at the makeup counter and wear it throughout the day. This can help you decide if the product is worth buying or should be skipped.

And remember that finding cosmetics for dark skin can be a challenge in itself, but luckily it’s not impossible!

Foundation for Dark, Brown Skin

When your skin is working against you, use foundation to mask any imperfections that may show up.

Foundation can be tricky and difficult to match on deep skin colors because of the red undertones – instead of yellow or pink undertones that medium and fair skin colors tend to have.

If you’ve ever tried a foundation with a yellow undertone, then you’ve likely already discovered that the result is an ashy-looking complexion.

To avoid ashy skin, cover hyperpigmentation, and conceal uneven skin tone, all you’ll need to do is choose the right foundation.

One brand to consider purchasing for foundation is Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, which happens to be great for layering to cover the aforementioned hyperpigmentation or uneven skin tone.

Black Opal Foundation Stick and other Black Opal cosmetics are all made with women of color in mind. Their foundation sticks offer heavy to light coverage with matte finishes workable for all-day wear.

The Queen Collection from CoverGirl offers women of color another option for foundation. And the last brand worth mentioning in this discussion is MAC because their Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation line features a large array of shades catering to dark skin colors. Amongst this line, you’ll find a number of lightweight and heavy-duty products that make it easy to hide imperfections.

Here is our guide for finding the best foundation for different skin types.

Concealer for Dark Skin Colors

Many of us use concealer for dark under-eye circles, acne scars and other imperfections. Just as there are different reasons to use concealer, there are different types of concealers to suit the various areas of skin that need to be covered up.

You may even need to use three or four shades to suit your skin tone. But before buying a concealer, you’ll want to determine what areas of your face need to be concealed to be sure you’ve got the right formula.

Most concealers say right on the packaging which areas of the face they are suitable for.

So if you need to conceal around the eye, then using a product meant for under-eye concealing would be best since it’s creamy and lighter than other products like the matte finish variety; these are meant for other areas of your face.

To find a shade of concealer, just take a look at the foundation you use and choose a concealer that’s a couple of shades lighter.

If you want to read more about finding best concealers, read this article.

Bronzer and Deep Skin Tones

Sun-kissed skin isn’t just for summer or for light skin tones! In fact, there are a few different beauty tips for finding a shimmering bronzer for that sun-kissed look that’s so desirable for summer.

The first thing worth knowing about choosing a bronzer for dark skin is to avoid using one that’s lighter than your natural skin color.

This will keep you from looking dirty or homeless, but still, give you the beach bunny glow every woman deserves.

Test out new bronzers on your jaw to see if the color is tan or golden on your skin. You may have to try different shades, brands, and textures to get the look you’re going for.

The best formulas of bronzer for dark skin are powder, pressed powder and cream bronzers, and they can be narrowed down according to your personal skin type.

For example, someone with dry skin would see better results with cream, while oily or normal skin can use powder.

Applying Blush to Dark Skin

Blush can add color to your cheeks and help define your cheekbones.

When you’re applying blush, always use a soft fluffy brush to avoid harsh lines.

Stiff brushes pose a problem when blending out the color and make the finished result look less natural.

Here are some more things to keep in mind while shopping for a new blush to brighten up a dull complexion.

Pink always looks stunning on dark complexions, but not every shade is suitable for day-time wear.

Bright pink works well if you want to add a bold shade for added drama while clubbing or for girls’ night out.

Other pinks are great for breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner, or any other time you feel like being rosy.

A bronze blush with a slightly pink hue highlights your skin while giving you a soft radiant glow; choose a bronzed pink blush that is close in color to your natural skin tone.

Brush the color on the apples of your cheeks as well as your cheekbones for instant color and glow.

Plum blush is great for after-hours or for dates. The reason why plum is another excellent blush color is because of the undertones it brings out of your skin. Swipe a plum shade of blush onto your cheeks to up your appeal; just beware of using a shade that’s too dark for your skin so as not to look like a zombie.

Eyeshadows for Dark Skin

Eyeshadows allow you to enhance eye shape, color and size, as well as offering up a chance for self-expression.

You can use eyeshadow to make a big statement or use it to soften your feminine features.

Before you apply any eyeshadow to your lid, use an eyeshadow primer to boost the pigmentation of colors and for long-lasting wear.

Caramel shades see pleasant results with champagne hues, while darker skin sparkles with coral shades.

Pink shades are also good choices for dark skin – or light skin for that matter! The trick is to keep the color below your crease when you are applying it to your lid.

Gold is also a great color match for dark skin hues.

Check also makeup tips for brown eyes.

Lipstick for Dark Skin

Finding a shade of lipstick that flatters women of color isn’t hard; there are quite a few shades that complement a dark complexion ranging from nudes to bright colors.

Bold pinks, oranges, reds and purples are all cute and flexible lipstick shades for women of color. The trick to making bold lips work for dark-skinned women is to keep the rest of your makeup simple and neutral to avoid looking like you belong in a circus!

Nude lips are still on trend for dark skin hues. The great thing about wearing a nude lip is that it’s easily worn with any outfit for all occasions.

Choose nudes that are coffee-colored like toffee, mocha and caramel.

Peach, orange, and coral colors are great choices too because there are a variety of different shades and depths of color that make it easy to find something flattering for your specific skin tone.

A woman can never go wrong with red lipstick because it’s a classic that never goes out of style!

The trick is to find the right shade that compliments your skin’s color.

Dark skin hues look best in shades of red that are wine or brick-colored. Bright red lips can be done too if you’re willing to put the time into finding one that works well with deeper shades. Try applying the vibrant red-only on the center of your lips to make them look lush.

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Makeup for dark skin.

All about makeup for dark skin.

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