Chances are, like me, you grew up using brands for darker skins like Fashion Fair and Iman, before perhaps migrating to MAC, NARS, Illamasqua and Sleek at some point. You may have since branched out into Becca, Black Up, Urban Decay, Make Up For Ever, Smashbox and NYX – these are all incredible brands that cater to darker skins well (although they work well on other skin tones, too). The fact is that we know what brands work hard for us, and the majority of those are now found in high streets and department stores across the country. But that’s too easy; way too easy. Because it doesn’t give you the thrill of unearthing that tiny gem of a brand that may genuinely change your approach to your make-up. Whether it’s a statement lipstick, or an eye shadow that can get you out of a funk, the following brands might just hold the golden ticket.
Brand: Cake Cosmetics
Started by Stevie Newman (she was sick of watching her darker-skinned pals struggle to find and afford make-up), this brand is aimed exclusively at women of colour. The main crux of the brand is the price – Newman wanted it to be easily affordable and prices range from £5.99 to £13, which, sadly (you know the drill) means the packaging is not as super-luxe as you might like. Although buying foundation online is more than a bit risky, I’d say give it a whirl at these prices –especially if you have dry skin. They also have some of the darkest shades I’ve seen, which even compare to the likes of Illamasqua.
Top buy: Cake’s foundation, £13, is made with Jojoba, beeswax sourced from Essex and coconut oil to deeply moisturise the skin.
Brand: House of GlamDolls
You might not have heard of David Horne, but you’ll have used his products. He was the product-development genius at Illamasqua – and since recently leaving the company, he has created his own brand, House of GlamDolls, and make-up school of the same name. Horne is a perfectionist, so his own product line is small, but exciting.
Top buy: The GlamBase Wheel 2, £25, is worth every penny. It contains six face-sculpting shades (one is a golden highlighter) which allow you do everything from perfectly conceal your skin, to ultra-technical contouring.
Brand: Lit
Of course, everyone can wear glitter. But, there’s just something about the way glitter catches light on darker skins that’s truly mesmerising in my opinion. While most brands dabble in glitter, nobody embraces it like Lit does. These are super finely milled, so they’re easy to apply and less irritable around the eyes (the bigger the chunks of glitter, the scratchier they tend to be.) You can use them on top of lipsticks, or on the eyelid, but if you want to start off slowly, just use a little in the corner of the eyes to bring light and add a flash of brilliance. If you need a little colour inspiration, their Instagram (@litcosmetics) will make you feel like a kid in a (glittery) candy store.
Top buy: You’ll need the Lit Cosmetics Glitter Liquid Base, £6.50, to get them to adhere – and the glitters themselves are just £8.50.
Brand: Jeffree Star Cosmetics
Be still my beating heart, for I truly love a liquid lipstick. These completely matte, long-wearing shades are exactly what you’d expect from the American pink-haired DJ-turned-make-up mogul (he has the fiercest eyebrows ever, fact.) These killer lipsticks stay put until you remove them, and also eradicate the need for a lip liner because they’re so precise. But a word of warning: liquid lipsticks are drying. That said, a little chapped lip is a small price to pay.
Best buy: I’m Royalty, £13, looks like you’ve gone third base with Barney the Dinosaur, in a really good, and rather chic way.
Brand: MDM Flow
There’s so much buzz about this brand right now, partly because the golden lipstick bullets look so darn cool. MDM Flow is the brainchild of cosmetic scientist Florence Adepoju, who wanted to bring a bigger variety of lipstick shades to the world. One of Adepoju’s biggest influences is hip-hop, and the shades are inspired by the likes of Nicki Minaj, and other hip-hop stars who push the boundaries of make-up. It’s hard to pick a standout shade, but the best seller is Milkshake, £18, a pale pink, which contains encapsulated pigments that cause the lipstick colour to get brighter and bolder every time you rub your lips together. Genius.
Best buy: Aside from Milkshake, I wear Mas Marina, £18, a Smurf-esque mega blue, regularly.
