Foundation Swatches & Reviews - Dark Skin
I'm not one to spend hours putting on makeup each morning but I do like to look decent before heading out. Over the years, it seems like I've tried dozens of foundations. Some seem to be perfect for my skin tone and others have made me seem ashy and washed out. I do appreciate many companies for creating a wider variety of dark skin toned makeup, I just wished that some would actually reach out and get advice from a dark skin woman before making their products.However, I have been able to find a few foundations that I absolutely love. Some I wear everyday and others depending on the occasion: Reviews for each are below
Clinique Beyond Perfecting - $27.00
I purchased this foundation a few weeks ago and have been testing it out. I love the coverage that it provides. It is a foundation and concealer in one so 1 less step in the makeup process. It's heavy enough to cover your flaws but still lightweight to not clog my pores. It appears heavy when you first put it on, but give it time to dry before applying any other makeup.
Revlon ColorStay - $10.00
This is a lightweight foundation. If you have heavy dark marks, you will want to apply concealer before/after apply foundation. This color really matches well with my skin tone. They have done a great job the past couple of years with providing more of a variety for darker skin tones.
Maybelline Liquid Mousse - $8.99
Light to medium coverage. I would advise putting on with a beauty blender instead of a brush to get the 'airbrush' finish look. Normally wear this foundation in the fall or winter. Not a good summer foundation. It has a tendency to wear off early in hot, humid conditions.
Kat Von D Lock-It Foundation - $35.00
Full coverage foundation. The foundation is highly pigmented and I guarantee you will not need concealer. I'm a freelance makeup artist and this is the foundation that I use when I know I'm going to be doing makeup all day. It has stood the test of times in all weather conditions. They have 30 shades so enough to find a shade similar to your skin tone.
NYX Stay Matte Not Flat - $7.50
This is my everyday foundation. It's light to medium coverage and provides the right amount of coverage that I need without having to put on concealer. Not that many shade options so you may have to mix with an existing foundation to get the color that you need. I personally mix this with a MAC foundation to get the color and coverage I'm looking for each day. Once again, try putting on with beauty blender instead of brush in order to get flawless application.
MAC Pro Longwear - $34.00
This is the foundation that I use to blend with the NYX foundation. It's a full coverage foundation. Not something that I need everyday but blending it with the lightweight NYX foundation provides a perfect blend of what I'm looking for in everyday use. If you've never used MAC before, go to a store and let them match you for this particular shade. The NW45 that I normally wear in other MAC foundations was too red for me in this foundation. Getting the correct shade will make all the difference.
L'Oreal Infallible - $12.99
When I want to go for the 'no makeup - makeup look' I go with this foundation. Apply it in small amounts because it does go a long way. I like the matte look that it provides. It's a medium coverage foundation but if you apply in small quantities you can get the dewy fresh look that I normally go for on my off days. Not that many shades (only 1 for dark skinned women! I'm mean L'Oreal really!!!) but it gets the job done.
Beauty is not when you're perfect, it's when your fearless
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