Gone are the days when Black women had fewer options at the makeup counter. While some brands back in the day carried a plethora of shades, with Fashion Fair and Mac Cosmetics being among the first, most failed to offer the variety that’s available today.
Now more than ever, makeup brands are meeting the new standards of inclusivity, offering a greater range of hues for darker skin. From classics to current favorites, we’re filling you in on some of the best foundations on the market today. Plus, professional makeup artists let you in on a few tips and tricks. Here are the five best foundations for black women.
Finding the right shade starts with knowing your undertone, aka the hue underneath the surface of your skin, which never changes. Selecting a foundation with the wrong undertone can make you appear pale, red, orange, or even gray.
One way to find your undertone is to look at the veins on the underside of your wrist. If they appear blue, your undertone is cool. If they appear green, your undertone is warm. Can’t tell? You may be neutral. However, this method doesn’t work for all Black women. If this is the case for you, try holding a piece of gold and silver jewelry against your skin. If the gold looks better, you probably have a warm undertone. If you wear silver better, you most likely have a cool undertone. If you wear both equally well, you may have a neutral undertone. Standing in front of a white background can also make your undertone more apparent.
- Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation
If you’re looking for a natural finish, consider making room on the shelf for this foundation. Long-lasting, yet hydrating, this liquid formula promises to help combat fine lines and wrinkles. Don’t need much coverage? Applying a few light dots of foundation onto your face and blending with your fingertips may do the trick. For medium coverage, start with thin layers of product and gradually build using a foundation brush.
- Fashion Fair SkinFlex Stick Foundation
This single-stick, the multipurpose foundation is explicitly designed for deeper skin tones. Giving sheer to full coverage, this semi-matte formula claims to correct hyperpigmentation and smooth out your complexion. Swipe once onto the skin for a light finish, pat, and blend with your fingertips. Want more coverage? Swipe two to three times and mix using a foundation brush.
- Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation
With a whopping 50 shades, this oil-free, lightweight formula provides medium to full coverage. It also contains innovative technology that helps your skin adapt to any climate. For medium coverage, dispense one pump and blend out with a damp sponge. If you’re going for full glam, apply another pump and blend using a foundation brush.
- Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation
Boasting 34 shades, this lightweight, full-coverage foundation claims to keep you glammed up for 16 hours. The formula contains a blend of fruit extracts that can help your skin appear smoother over time. For optimal results, take one pump of foundation, warm with your fingertips, and blend to achieve that au naturel look.
- Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Face and Body Radiant Sheer Foundation
If all you need is light coverage, this sheer, waterproof foundation could be your new holy grail product. Perfect for a minimalist look, this hydrating formula may provide just enough coverage while giving your skin a natural glow for as long as eight hours. Apply to the skin using a foundation brush, a sponge, or your fingertips and blend away