Getting lost in beauty holes is what Im the best at, especially when the glossy doors of Sephora and Ulta are calling my name or Amazon Prime deals are just too good to resist and Im in a treat-yourself mood. Thats pretty much all the time because when you hustle 100% of the time, you must reward yourself, you feel me? As a proponent of the popular saying, "When you look good, you feel good," Im here to make all my fellow women of color feel their absolute best. There was once a time when offerings were severely scarce when it came to catering to our varying deep complexions and undertones. Thankfully, slowly but surely, thats become a thing of the past, and each day more and more brands are launching shade ranges and products that were practically made for us. Finally, because we deserve it.
All those colorful beauty aisles and never-ending online pages can feel overwhelming at times. Its gifting season, and you cant forget about yourself. I did all the scrolling for you and included the 15 best products from Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon women of color should certainly consider copping. Keep going for the goods.
@ryandestiny
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Killawatt Foil Freestyle Highlighter Palette
Killawatt Foil Freestyle Highlighter Palette
$79.00
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When Rihanna says mix the fire- and ice-colored highlighters, you follow suit. Get in the holiday spirit with these frosty shimmers thatll bling on brown skin like no other.
The Lip Bar Gloss in Vixen
Gloss in Vixen
$12.00
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This is one of those no-brainer lip gloss shades that you absolutely know will look stunning on deep skin tones. Black-owned vegan beauty brand The Lip Bar always gets it right. Layer this brick-red gloss on top of a matte texture, or wear it alone for a sultry, sheer effect.
Kindsells Pro Eyeshadow Palette
Pro Eyeshadow Palette
$30.00
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You can never own enough neutral eye shadows—and 40 shades of ambers, taupes, and smoky hues in one palette sounds like such a treat. Imagine how much use youll get out of this.
Covergirl Queen Natural Hue Mineral Bronzer in Ebony Bronze
Natural Hue Mineral Bronzer in Ebony Bronze
$30.00
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Brown girls and bronzer go together. Whether youre trying to enhance the radiance of your overall complexion or you want to amp up the depth of your contour, bronzer is your best friend. The Covergirl Queen line has remained a staple among women of color for decades because it has spoken to deep skin tones since its inception.
Smashbox Always On Mini Matte Duo
Always On Mini Matte Duo
$10.00
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These festive fall shades—one is warm and the other is more cool-toned—will suit an array of dark skin tones. Im devoted to the unmatched matte texture of this line. These shades will sink into your lips and youll forget theyre there. Plus, for $10 you can try both shades and pick which one you want to cop full-size.
Bad Habit Rose Highlight Palette
Rose Highlight Palette, 6-Shade Highlight Collection
$12.00
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Each champagne hue in this highlighter palette will simply dazzle on dark skin. Use the top, far-right shade if you want a holographic vibe and the bottom, far-left color if a sunset bronze is more your style.
Huda Beauty The Overachiever High Coverage Concealer
The Overachiever High Coverage Concealer
$15.00
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Huda Beauty is widely praised for delivering no-BS, full-coverage formulas. This concealer is for those who respect the fake-it-till-you-make-it approach. You know, when youre grinding all night but still aim to look like you woke up like this. Heres your secret weapon, available in a large spectrum of deep shades.
Laura Geller New York Nude Kisses Lip Hugging Lip Gloss
New York Nude Kisses Lip Hugging Lip Gloss
$15.00
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Toss your sticky glosses away and stock up on these, which will kiss your lips in moisture instead. Every brown girl knows how agonizing it is finding "nude" shades that complement dark complexions. Ladies, these are true nudes and will work on dark skin tones.
Pür Let the Good Times Roll
Let the Good Times Roll
$15.00
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Mark my words: Every eye shadow shade will look exceptional on dark skin tones. This compact palette from Pür has some extra-gorgeous hues that will make your eyes pop.
Tom Ford Radiant Perfecting Powder
Radiant Perfecting Powder
$63.00
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Meet the next best thing from Tom Ford: a creamy, glow-inducing powder that will add a touch of luminosity anywhere it lands. Brown girls, layer this on the high points of your face like highlighter and get ready for its light-reflecting powders to be practically blinding.
Nars Ignited Eyeshadow Palette
Ignited Eyeshadow Palette
$45.00
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How "holiday" is this palette (insert heart eyes). Nars is one of those legacy brands that have always catered to dark skin tones. I encourage you to pick up this limited-edition palette for any and all festive parties on your calendar before it sells out.
LOréal Infallible Fresh Wear 24HR Foundation
Infallible Fresh Wear 24HR Foundation
$16.00
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The latest from LOréal is a breathable foundation that feels light as a feather but offers buildable coverage. Fortunately, women of color are finally able to walk into their local drugstore and see foundation shades made for them. This oil-absorbing, SPF-packed formula is a star example.
ColourPop Crème de la Crème Highlighter Palette
Crème de la Crème Highlighter Palette
$18.00
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ColourPop gained a cult following on Instagram—relating to real women who wanted quality makeup at accessible prices. The cream-to-powder feel leaves a velvety strike of shimmer you can blend to perfection.
Dose of Colors Mickey Lip It Up Satin Lipstick
Mickey Lip It Up Satin Lipstick
$17.00
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Lets get this straight: Dose of Colors does not play around with pigment. One scroll through the brands breathtaking Instagram feed is all the proof youll need. This chocolate burgundy hue looks like it was made for women of color. It has a satin finish so itll feel ultra-soft on the lips.
Pat McGrath Labs Mthrshp Sublime Bronze Temptation Eyeshadow Palette
Mthrshp Sublime Bronze Temptation Eyeshadow Palette
$55.00
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You cant talk about makeup for brown girls without including the mother of makeup, aka the icon that is Pat McGrath, who has been singlehandedly putting on for women of color since she stepped on the scene. These dazzling matte, shimmer, and glitter eye shadow shades dont need much of an explanation. Theyre good, trust me.
Next: These are the absolute best red lipsticks for dark skin.