For African American women, one of the hardest aspects of makeup shopping is finding the right face makeup—ie, foundation, powder, concealer and tinted moisturizer—to perfectly match their skin tone. Look no further! Here, we’ve compiled the best complexion-perfecting makeup on the shelves for brown skin, whether you’re Alek Wek mahogany or Paula Patton cafe au lait.
Applied with an oversized face brush, Bare Minerals SPF 15 Original Foundation ($25) buffs skin to an airbrushed, unbelievably perfect sheen. Plus, it comes in a zillion shades for brown skin—a must-have before an important event, like a wedding, first date, or job interview.
Black Opal Cover and Clear Concealer ($5.75) is nothing short of genius. The creamy, ultra-blendable concealer is spiked with acne-fighting salicylic acid, so it helps zaps zits while covering them up!
If you want a “polished” look without heavy coverage, Becca Luminous Skin Colour ($21) is the answer! This tinted moisturizer goes on sheer, leaving your skin with just a hint of glowy, radiant color. The last six shades in the collection, from nut to walnut, are formulated to flatter the fairest to the darkest brown skin.
Philosophy The Supernatural Airbrushed Concealer, Dark ($25) comes with three creamy concealers you can custom-blend to create the perfect shade for you. This palette gives amazing coverage—under eye circles, blemishes and hyperpigmentation don’t stand a chance!
Bobbi Brown Foundation Sticks ($40) come in fabulous shades for brown skin, and they’re super-easy to apply. Simply swipe over cheekbones, forehead, bridge of nose and chin, and blend with a sponge. The creamy formula leaves skin looking natural and dewy.
Enriched with good-for-your-skin minerals, Iman Second to None Cover Cream ($12.99) seamlessly covers imperfections and evens skin tone, leaving skin feeling silky-smooth.
MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation ($26) is a Black girl classic, and for good reason! Not only does it come in a zillion brown hues, the 2-in-1 formula has the lightweight texture of a powder, with the serious coverage of a foundation. The best of both worlds.
