Navigating Makeup Shades for Darker Skin Tones

Finding the right makeup for darker skin tones can sometimes feel like a challenge, especially with limited shade ranges or products that don’t quite hit the mark. But the beauty world is evolving, and now there are more brands catering to deep skin tones with inclusivity in mind. Here’s a guide to help you navigate finding the perfect shades and products for your complexion.

Know Your Undertone

The secret to finding the right makeup shade starts with understanding your undertone. Your undertone is the faint hue beneath the surface of your skin, and it generally falls into three categories:

Warm: Yellow, golden, or peachy tones.
Cool: Red, blue, or pink tones.
Neutral: A blend of both warm and cool tones.

How to Determine Your Undertone:

Check your veins: If your veins show a green hue, you’re most likely warm-toned. If they show a blue or purple hue, it’s a sign you may have cool undertones. If you’re unable to tell, you’re probably neutral.
Jewelry test: Gold jewelry typically looks best on warm undertones, while silver complements cool undertones.

Once you know your undertone, you can better choose foundation, concealer, and other complexion products that complement your skin without looking too ashy or orange.

Foundation: Finding the Perfect Match

Choosing the right foundation is essential for creating a smooth, flawless base. Many people with darker skin tones struggle with either foundations being too red or too gray. Thankfully, brands are expanding their shade ranges to include more undertones and deeper shades.

Tips for Choosing Foundation:

Swatch in natural light: Always test foundation on your jawline in natural light. This helps you avoid the product looking mismatched between your face and neck.
Mixing shades: Sometimes, the best solution is to mix two shades to get your perfect match, especially if your face is slightly darker or lighter than other parts of your body.
Brands that cater to darker skin tones: Look out for brands known for inclusive shade ranges like Fenty Beauty, NARS, Maybelline, Revlon, MAC, and Estée Lauder. You can also check out Nigerian brands like Zaron, Hegai and Esther, BLOT, and Nuban Beauty.

Pro Tip: Foundations that oxidize (get darker as they dry) can be tricky. To avoid this, swatch a bit of product on your skin and let it dry completely before deciding on a shade. Here’s a chart to help find your foundation shade.

Concealer: Brighten Without the Ash

When it comes to concealer for darker skin tones, the wrong shade can leave your under-eyes looking ghostly or too pale. Look for concealers that are one to two shades lighter than your foundation for brightening the under-eye area, but still have a warm or golden undertone.

Tips for Concealer:

Avoid ashy tones: Choose a concealer with enough warmth to counterbalance darkness under the eyes.
Color correcting: If you have hyperpigmentation or dark circles, try using a color corrector (orange, red, or peach for darker skin) before applying concealer. This neutralizes dark areas so your concealer looks seamless.

Blush: Adding Warmth and Definition

Blush can be the perfect finishing touch to enhance your complexion, but on darker skin tones, it’s important to choose shades that provide a natural flush without looking chalky.

Blush Shades to Try:

Deep berries: Shades like plum, cranberry, and wine add warmth and look stunning on darker complexions.
Burnt oranges and terracottas: Warm hues like these give a beautiful, sun-kissed glow.
Rich fuchsias: These bright colors pop on dark skin, creating a vibrant, youthful look.

Pro Tip: Cream blushes can give a dewy, natural finish, while powder blushes can be layered for intensity.

Contour and Highlight: Sculpt and Shine

When it comes to contouring darker skin tones, the key is finding shades that create definition without looking too muddy. The same goes for highlighters that enhance your glow without appearing too frosty or ashy.

Contour Tips:

Choose a deeper foundation shade: Some people find that using a darker foundation or concealer works better for contouring, as it blends seamlessly into the skin.
Contour sticks and creams: These are often easier to blend than powder contour products on deeper skin tones.

Highlighting Tips:

Warm golds and bronzes: These shades enhance the natural warmth of your skin, giving it a radiant glow.
Avoid icy or silver-toned highlighters: These can leave a gray cast on darker skin. Instead, opt for gold, rose gold, or copper highlights for a flattering shimmer.

Eyeshadow: Bold Colors That Pop

Bold, vibrant eyeshadow shades look stunning on darker skin tones. Try to experiment with color.

Eyeshadow Colors to Try:

Golds and bronzes: Metallic shades in warm tones look stunning against dark skin.
Jewel tones: Emerald, sapphire, and deep purples enhance rich skin tones, creating a captivating look.
Bright colors: Electric blues, oranges, and pinks pop beautifully against deeper skin.

Lips: Rich, Bold, and Beautiful

Lipstick is where you can have the most fun! Darker skin tones can pull off a wide range of shades, from bold reds to deep purples and nudes.

Lipstick Shades to Try:

Nudes: Seek out warm-toned nude shades that enhance your skin. For darker skin, shades with brown, caramel, or orange undertones work best.
Bold reds: Rich, warm reds with a blue undertone pop beautifully against dark skin.
Deep berries and purples: Shades like plum, wine, and burgundy add drama and look luxurious on darker complexions.

Pro Tip: Use a lip liner to define your lips and prevent feathering, especially when wearing bolder shades.

Navigating makeup for darker skin tones doesn’t have to be intimidating. With the right knowledge of undertones and the increasing availability of inclusive beauty products, it’s easier than ever to find shades that enhance and celebrate your complexion.

Don’t be afraid to experiment, and most importantly, choose products that make you feel confident and radiant.

Hugs and Kisses,

Msglam.