Best Foundations For Black Women

Black Women, how many of us have been able to go shopping and easily, and I mean easily pick out a foundation shade?! I will wait. It’s still a myth for us to find foundations that actually match our skintones and undertones from some brands. I have also noticed even when the brand has darker shades, they don’t have testers available or even on display (what?) It’s happened to me twice in Croydon (Croydon where the majority of people are of colour!). The first time I went to the YSL counter to get matched to the touché éclat foundation, they had no dark shades on display even though they have dark shades- to think of it, I think they got rid of their dark shades because they didn’t have it in House of Fraser or Debenhams too. I asked the lady and all she said was it will come in next week, went back next week and still no shades. The second time was at the Clinique counter, I asked to be matched to the Super Balanced Foundation and she said she had no testers for the darker shades and no samples can be given to me (but I will probably be the darkest shade and she can sell that to me, at that point I said well I’m not buying anything without testing it so no thanks!). She then went on to say it’s a problem with all the dark shades and it has been going on for a while (so why haven’t you fixed it? Hm).

Women of colour don’t fret though, some brands are taking notice and some stores are doing something about it! We are also taking matters into our own hands and producing makeup shades for us and by us! (Motivation for me!). Superdrug has launched their Shades of Beauty Campaign and they are challenging all their beauty brands and asking them for more dark shades. They also stock more hair products for afro/Caribbean hair e.g. products from ORS, Palmers and Shea Moisture! Guess who will be joining this repertoire soon? CANTU! Boots No7 have also extended their No7 perfect match shade range as they have partnered with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (if you haven’t read any of her books! Seriously pick one up- Americanah is a good read).

Anyways, I thought I would share the foundations I have to let you guys know which brands cater to us and the foundations out there for us too. I don’t have a lot of foundations but I hope you find this helpful. I will link where to purchase and any reviews I have on them!

The Body Shop Fresh Nude Foundation, Tuscany, £15

Finish- Dewy/Fresh

Texture- lightweight

Coverage- light to medium buildable

16 shades in total and I’m in the darkest shade. They have a shade lightener and darkener that allows you to custom match your perfect shade. I think this is very good as you can also use this for your other foundations or even make tinted moisturiser!

 

Mary Kay Time Wise Luminous Wear Liquid Foundation, Bronze 6, £16

Finish- Luminous

Texture- light

Coverage- medium buildable

23 shades in total (although it says 23 on their site but I could only count 21). They have this in a matte finish too if you have oily skin or prefer a matte finish.

Mary Kay Time Wise Luminous Wear Liquid Foundation – full review

 

Makeup Forever Ultra HD Foundation, 180=R530, £29

Finish- natural, second skin like, invisible

Texture- very lightweight

Coverage- medium

A whopping 40 shades with different undertones! Best shade range I have ever seen! I got matched to the wrong shade (the darkest at the time and wrong undertone for me too). At the time because I didn’t know much I thought it was a good much. Now I know it’s not a perfect match but it still very workable with a light concealer. I mostly use it now during the summer (if there is sun lol) or on sunny vacations where I know I would tan. This foundation feels like you have nothing on your skin and looks very natural!

 

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, Benares, £31

Finish- glowing, radiant

Texture- lightweight

Coverage- light buildable

19 shades in total. This is the newest addition to my foundations and I really love it so far. But NARS need to do something about their packaging: they charge for a pump AND once the pump is in you can’t put the cover back on -_-

 

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H, shade 12, £30

Finish- satin/soft matte

Texture- light

Coverage- medium buildable

15 shades in total. Best foundation ever! It feels really nice on the skin and doesn’t look cakey. Lasting power yes! Lancôme really did it with this foundation and I definitely recommend it. I would like to try their Cushion Foundations but unfortunately in the UK they only have 9 shades (boooooo)

 

So that’s my mini foundation collection, I use them for different occasions e.g. my body shop foundation is my everyday foundation and I breakout the Lancôme for special occasions! I would love to try different foundation forms like sticks or powders even. Other brands worth mentioning are

Milani

Black Opal

SmashBox

Cake Cosmetics

Anastasia Beverly Hills

What’s your favourite foundation?