Top Foundation Makeup For Ebony Women

If you are an ebony woman that has been round and round trying to find your perfect shade of foundation then this is the blog for you. Here is my list of top, looks like skin, foundations for women of color.

Before I begin I must stress that it is important to know your skin undertone. While we as a people like to use terms like "red boned" to describe a lighter skinned woman that is not always accurate. A light skinned person like Jennifer Lopez could be more olive or yellow undertoned while Azealia Banks could be way more red in her undertone.

A good way to tell is to turn your wrist so that your palm is facing the sky. Then look at the veins in your wrist.

If your veins look Blue or Purplish Blue then you have cool undertones.
If they look yellow or Olive/Green then you have warm undertones.
If you see both then you are neutral.

Another way to tell is to hold up silver and gold jewerly  to your skin.

Look better in silver? Probably cool undertones.
Look better in gold? Probably warm undertones.

What does that equate to?

Cool - Makeup that has a peachy or pink undertone for fairer skin, but is often much more of a red undertone for darker skin.
Warm - Makeup that has more of a bronze or golden undertone.

The next thing you need to know is where is the best place to match your foundation to:

A) Your Hand
B) Your Face
C) Your Chest

The answer is actually C, unless you are going for a warmer bronzed look. I say this is best because there is nothing worse than your neck being a different color than your face, then you look like you're wearing a mask.

Then why not match it to your neck you ask? Because it can be a different color than your face and chest. The best thing to do is to make sure from your collar bone to your forehead matches. Try to bring a small mirror with you to the store and test the makeup on your collar bone before purchasing.

Last order of business before I jump into this blog about the best foundations on the market is to suggest to you not to limit yourself to one shade. Why? It's better to show you than to explain. So check out this video!

Now on to the makeup!

1.) Cinema Secrets

If you don't know about this then get familiar. It's one of a few makeup industry standards. There is a very good chance that a brown skin celeb you saw on the red carpet is not wearing Cover Girl, they are wearing cinema secrets.

This has a nice build-able coverage. It can go on sheer, be mixed with moisturizing lotion, or can heavily cover any imperfection on your face. But what I love the most about this foundation is that it doesn't feel like you're wearing makeup. In fact it doesn't feel like you are wearing anything at all.

This company sells this in pallets of 5 shades as well as individual. It's best to buy the pallets first IMHO because not only will you easily find your shade but also if your skin changes you can find another shade without guessing (this just happened to me).

 

This makeup does need to be set with a powder which they also sell. I have the translucent one which is one of the finest powder that I have ever used! But once you set it, you can forget it. It's not going anywhere.

Plus you can use the lighter shades in the pallet to highlight darker areas on your face too. The pallets for women of color are pallet #10 and #11.

Pallet #11= Yellow based undertones
Pallet #10= Red and Olive based undertones

You will see on the website it says "Ultimate Foundation ___ Series". This is assuming that you know the numbers of the #11 and #10 pallet which are 100 series and 200 series (meaning they say 101, 103, 106 onward). They just call their shades series + the number the way Mac says warm + a number.

The best I can tell you is that if you are an NW45 in Mac than you are probably going to land right smack in the middle of pallet #11 and your number will probably be #106-53 of the 100 series.

If you're a bit lighter than that, or consider yourself a sweet caramel/peanut butter sister then #103-39A (Pallet #11) if you're yellow based & #202-20 (Pallet #10) if you are red based.

If you've got more of a Beyonce skin shade then you are probably playing with a #101-01 (Pallet #11) or a #201-67B if your olive undertone, and #201-67A if you're more pink under-toned (both pallet #10). 

Pallet numbers 107-40 (#11 pallet, yellow based) and 203-25 (#10 pallet, I think is a bit red based to my eye) are dark but wait...

They have numbers 110-23A (yellow based #11 pallet) and 204-27 (Olive based, #10 pallet) which are the deepest darkest skin tones!!!

So how much does this industry makeup cost?

Is it more expensive than department store prices like Mac?

Nope!

The pallet of 5 shades retails for about $24.00.

The individual sample is around $3.00 (take advantage of that because this stuff lasts forever). A .25 oz pot is $14.00 and a .50oz pot will run you $22.00.

I know what you're thinking... oz?????

You have to understand that this stuff is suuuuuuuuper, duper pigmented. So much so that I can't even see myself ever buying the .50oz. That's a lot of makeup!

Pros: Color selection for even the darkest of complexions, great for all skin types, lasts a long time, lasts all day

Cons: Can only be purchased online or through theatrical stores 


2) Graftobian

Looks very similar to Cinema Secrets and to many this is THE holy grail of foundation. Their shade selection is also a thing of beauty.  I don't have to tell you too much about it because they do have a bit of a chart right on the website to help you find your match based on other makeup you may have worn --> CHART

I will say that their darker shades are:

Midnight Merigold (your NC 50 in Mac)
Burnt Umber 
Sienna
Pecan
Chestnut
Warm Umber (your NW 45 in Mac)
Hazelnut
Hidden Magic
Nightfall
Phantom (your W 55 in Mac)
Sable
Shadow Dance

I know I'm missing a bunch of my caramel, peanut butter, and lighter sistas in here but there are sooooo many shades. I'll try to update this in time.

Edit: Ooops, I for got the price. Retails for $23.99 for a 5 shade pallet, $14.99 for a 1/2oz dish, and $22.99 for powder foundation (Note: Setting Powder Is $5.99 for .70oz & $11.99 for 5oz)


Pros: Color selection, all day wear, feels very light on the face, can be mixed with moisturizer, can be light coverage, can be full coverage, can be purchased in *some Sephora stores

Cons: Mixed reviews on oily skin



3) RCMA


Now this is a heavy weight champ! You put this on when you want a flawless face that never needs a touch up, and cannot be moved even if you are caught in the rain. I've used it and trust, this is no joke. Used on movie sets for yeeeeeeeears because it ain't going nowhere and there is a shade for every human being on the planet!

The shades are hard to pick if you are not a professional makeup artist so let me help you out here:

Shinto 1-8 are mostly warm, ebony skin tones
KO 1-8 are red and olive, ebony skin tones

Numbers 1 through 3 of either pallet would be for my fair sistas.
Numbers 4 and 5 of either pallet are more of my medium complected sistas.
Numbers 6 through 8 of either pallet are for my dark skinned sistas (My NW 45s are a 7).

Retail is $4.00 a sample & $10.99 a pot

Pros: Doesn't go anywhere, water proof, can be thinned, full coverage to a T, can be mixed with a moisturizer, great for oily or combination skin, you can purchase a thinner by the company to water it down a bit too for $11.99

Cons: Not the easiest to use for the novice so be sure you learn how to use it first, can only be purchased online or through a theatrical retailer, not the best for dry skin unless mixing with a moisturizer, not recommended for daily use by some (though I personally think you can IF you thin it).


4) Iman

The makeup I'm going to talk about is Iman Second To None Stick Foundation. This is another holy grail for many ladies and for good reason. The color match is good (but you must know your undertone), and it's great for most skin types. This is another company that if you go to the website they can help you find your shade based on previous makeup you have worn.

In some places Iman Cosmetics can be  found in stores, even drug stores.  
Retails between $14.00 -$16.00

Pros: Decent color selection for most women of color, more widely available than pro cosmetics, Good for many skin types.

Cons: It's a stick foundation so you have to know the proper way to apply it, not as widely available in stores as it use to be, must know your undertone to get a perfect match


5) Revlon ColorStay
 
I really want to make this a drugstore tie between Revlon and Maybelline, however Maybelline's best product SuperStay doesn't have enough shades to make the cut :o( My skin complexion is the darkest they sell (actually I think it oxidizes just a itty bitty pinch darker but not noticeably so), and the shade before it is quite fair (like it jumps from Beyonce to Kelly).

Get a few more shades Maybelline and you will totally own this category because Superstay is no joke!

On to Revlon! This is a great dupe for the more expensive brands of liquid foundation, namely Mac, and Makeup Forever. This stuff hides every imperfection on your face. It's suppose to be medium coverage but is build-able. Put a great powder over this and you're perfect! Retails between $12.00 -$13.00

Pros: Great dupe for more expensive brands, build-able coverage, easy to find in stores, that have oily/combo skin formulas and dry skin formulas.

Cons: May not be good for sensitive skin, strong perfume scent, darker complexions may have to mix two shades together (Nw 45 girls will most likely have to mix Cappuccino with Caramel), may run very slightly red for some undertones.


6) Mary Kay

This is perhaps the most underrated makeup of all time. The color/shade selection is amazing! And it is for all skin types, and I mean all skin types!!! Nothing more I can say about this other than, when all else has failed... get a rep on the phone ASAP! Retail $20.00

 

Pro: For all skin types, If you have sensitive skin this is a great alternative, wonderful shade selection

Cons: Not available in stores. You must shop online or contact a rep., there is a very small chance you may have to mix shades though I haven't run into that yet.


Now what didn't make the cut and why:

Mehron Celebre Professional HD Foundation - Also heard it's great. Never used it but by the looks of it there are enough shades there for darker complexions you just may have to mix 2 together to have a perfect fit. Also shades MD1 through MD4 look to be for lighter black women while DK1 through DK4 are for darker complected women. I do think they should add some more shades to compete with the pros makeup above that I listed though.

Avon Ideal Invisible Flawless Foundation - Heard that it's great, I just don't know. Never tried it.

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation - Again, never tried but heard good things. Will update if I get it :o)

Mac - though an excellent color selection I hate how it oxidizes (changes color on your face after mixing with natural oils), and I feel like there are too many incidents of allergic reactions to recommend. Even a lot of models refuse to wear it for that reason. If they could just figure out what that ingredient is that is causing such a high number of reactions they'd be straight. Now this is not to say this if you use it you will have a reaction, I just don't like the odds. Try it at your own risk (best ones would be Face & Body, and Studio Sculpt).

Bobby Brown - Hate, hate, hate the undertones of this product. Absolute beautiful finishes but the color selection in terrible. Either way too red, or way too orange. I don't want to put sistas through the trouble. If you feel like you have a reeeally orange or red undertone than by all means try it.

Makeup Forever - Just like Maybelline if they had darker shades than my complexion (which is a NW45/47 type) then they'd make the cut for sure!!! Until that day... pass!

Clinique - Again with the shade selection. Great product but their selection for both Caucasian, Asian, and women of color sucks. Unless you feel like mixing your makeup all day every day it's a pass. I would put it right there with Revlon for mixing but it's too darn expensive to be playing makeup chemist. Unless you are lucky enough (like playing the number) to have their exact skin shade as a color... pass, pass, pass!!!


Powders, powders, powders!

I almost forgot! Makeup lasts best when set with powder, however there are quite a few powders that don't work well on dark skin. Lets talk about the ones that do!


1) Ben Nye Mojave Powders

 

You really can't go wrong with this line. Sienna and Topaz shades fit most brown shades. While Banana powder (a MAJOR fav!) is pretty universal as it doesn't deposit color so much as warm up the skin. For darkest complected women Chestnut & Ebony powders are a great fit. Retails for $7.99


2) Iman Second to None Semi-Loose Powder


Another great product from Iman that fits most ebony complexions. Retails between $14.00 - $16.00


3) CoverGirl Translucent Honey

While not perfect this covers most deeper ebony skin tones well, and is a favorite of many. Retails for about $6.00

That's all folks! I'll update it if I find another amazing product.


Most products here can be purchased at either camerareadycosmetics.com, Amazon.com, or your local Walmart.