By: Yasmine Sahid
Makeup. Whether you strut a natural look or glam yourself up everyday: it still has to match our skin tone. Many girls have the blessing to be able to go to a foundation aisle and be greeted by an array of colors, making the ability of finding a near perfect shade match easy and efficient. But for many women of color, it doesn’t always come easy to find the perfect match. There are many makeup brands today that still fail at offering a wide selection of shades that are able to match women of darker complexions. In fact, high-end fashion designer Marc Jacobs met controversy when he came out with his foundation line “Re(marc)able” and was criticized for its lack of diversity. The set includes about 22 colors, 19 of which range from pale to light tan as three is directed towards darker skin tones. As a black girl, I can give a first hand account of the struggle of having to spend extra time in a makeup aisle just to see if a foundation won’t make me look like I just dunked my face in a bowl of powdered doughnuts.
I remember when first began my foundation journey my Freshman year of high school, I use to wear my mom’s Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup. Later on when I had to pay for my own makeup I realized the hardship of actually looking for a foundation that matched my specific color. Many have come out with foundations that are aimed towards deeper shades and tones. Even in the drug store aisle it is possible to find something that is a spot on match. Here I list my top five foundation lines. This list consists of drug store and department store brands that offers a wide selection of colors and not just one “Mahagony” or a “Coco Bean” that was just thrown in the mix.
1. Mac Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15
This foundation line consists of 42 shades. 42 SHADES! This was the first foundation that I lived on for the last three years. You are guaranteed a color that matches your skin.
Pros: Shade is a guarantee fit. Medium coverage.
Cons: Not suitable for oily skin. Transfers easily.
2. Maybeline New York Fit Me
After realizing that I could no longer afford spending $30 on foundation, I took a stab at this drugstore brand that has gotten a fair amount of positive reviews. This is a good dupe for the MAC Studio fix, but instead cheaper and lighter. This costs about $7 and focuses on the cool and warm undertones of any skin color.
Pros: Light weight with medium coverage, cheaper, stays dry and matte for most of the day.
Cons: Not as large of a color selection as MAC studio fix, runny.
3. Cover Girl Queen All day Flawless Foundation
This here is for all the Queen Bee’s out there. The Makeup line inspired by Queen Latifah is made specifically for girls of color and carries rich pigments
Pro: Many shades, lightweight, affordable
Cons: Hard to find in drug stores.
4. IMAN second to none foundation stick The super model Iman made a super makeup line that hits the mark for any girl who is seeking her skin tone. A brand that is directed for deep skin tones the products not only have a wide range in foundation but other products such as bronzer, lip stick, and blush.
Pros: Various shade, blendable.
Cons: Must need primer for best results.
5. Nars All Day Luminous Weightless foundation This foundation gives a smooth lasting coverage. Light weight, this product has several shade ranges.
Pro: Lightweight, long lasting.
Cons: Pricy, can get patchy later in the day.
The makeup industry is getting better about representing those of the chocolate or caramel kind. One tip of finding your perfect shade is going to a MAC or Sephora store to get a foundation match. Watch out for colors that may make you look ashy or blotchy, being a clear indication that the foundation is either too light or dark. But for a brown girl, finding the perfect shade is basically love at first sight. I end this article with a saying that I believe was said by Mother Theresa: “If you love something so much, blend it on. If it stays on your face it is yours.” (or something like that).