Do you have a hard time choosing the right colors of makeup for your dark skin tone? You’ve probably noticed that many drug store brands only feature a few brown or very dark brown shades of foundation, making it extremely difficult to find a flawless color for your unique complexion. But foundation aside, completing your makeup look with the perfect shades of blush, eyeshadow and lipstick is another problem altogether! How do you know if a color will suit you and create a flawless look?
As a makeup artist, you’ll undoubtedly work with many faces. You’ll need to know which accents will complement one another on the client’s cheeks, eyes and lips—and what shades will work with your client! So whether you’re looking for application tips for yourself, or for your future clients, here are five colorful, fabulous, and totally doable looks for dark skin.
1. Cheeks of Gold
If you have dark skin, gold is one of the most beautiful colors you can wear! Easy to blend and mix with your foundation and eyeshadow, gold is a go-to for a fabulous finish.
Mix your favourite shade of foundation with a gold blush—a powder blush will work, but for a true goddess shine, use a cream-based blush. Apply the blush to the center of the apple on one side of your face, blending the color along your cheekbone. Using a clean brush, make strokes from your cheek (towards your nose) to the side of your face (towards your ears). Repeat on other cheek and blend well.
2. Powerful Purple
Purple is an incredibly flattering color for dark skin, and where better to use this rich tone than on your lips?
You choose how dramatic you want the look to be! Choose a light or dark purple for your lips—both tones work beautifully with dark skin. Be sure to keep the rest of your makeup minimal with a purple lip—a soft, neutral blush and a neutral eyeshadow will allow your pout to stand out.
3. Oranges & Tangerines
Oranges and tangerines aren’t just fruit—they’re also the perfect shades for adding bright accents to dark skin!
Don’t be intimidated by bold shades of orange and coral. These colors will brighten up your skin and make your eyes pop (especially if they’re brown), while still staying subtle.
Play up your cheeks and eyes by choosing an orange eyeshadow and a soft coral blush, while keeping your lips a nude color. Apply the shadow on your eyelid and blend a medium-brown shade on the crease. Finish this look with a few coats of black or brown mascara.
4. Jewel Tones—Blue
A rich blue eyeshadow stands out boldly on a dark skin tone, and it’s a deceptively easy look to achieve.
Brown is a mix of all the primary colors, so a jewel tone, especially blue, is stunning for brown eyes! If you’ve never used blue eyeshadow before, check out our step-by-step tutorial on how to rock a metallic blue smokey eye.
Try finishing this look off with dark mascara and eyeliner, then add a final touch of drama with a dark lipstick.
5. Nude Lip and Dramatic Eyeliner
Is your dark skin paired with brown eyes? Playing them up with either a black or brown eyeliner, while minimizing lips, will make your eyes stand out! This is an easy, basic look for work and can be adjusted for the evening as well. Holding your eyelid taut, blend eyeliner from your upper lashline’s outer corner and work your way in. You choose the thickness of the liner for your desired effect.
