Makeup for your features
Makeup for dark skin
On dark skin, pale and chalky products show their white base, and rich, high-pigment colour shows true. Start with undertone. Deep skin can be red, golden, neutral or cool, and a foundation in the right depth but the wrong undertone looks grey or orange. Then choose blush, highlight and lipstick with enough pigment to show.
Every picture below is one of our looks on women with deep skin and brown eyes. Old Hollywood Glam pairs a black wing with a cherry-red lip, and Full Glam puts a strong golden highlight on the cheekbones. Try one on your own selfie to see its shades on your skin.
Looks on dark skin
23 looks
Soft Glam
Latina Glam
Korean Makeup
Classic Smokey Eye
Indian Bridal Makeup
Bridesmaid Makeup
Full Glam
Goth Makeup
Cut Crease
Fox Eye Makeup
Old Hollywood Glam
90s Makeup
70s Makeup
Prom Glam
Doe Eye Makeup
Euphoria Makeup
Witch Makeup
Vampire Makeup
New Year's Eve Makeup
1920s Makeup
Emo Makeup
Editorial Makeup
Graphic Eyeliner
Tips for dark skin
- Match foundation on your jaw in daylight, and check undertone as well as depth. A shade that looks ashy is too light or too cool, and one that looks orange needs a more neutral or red base.
- Colour correct dark circles before concealer. An orange or red corrector cancels the blue-grey, so you need less concealer and the area doesn't turn ashy.
- Skip white setting powders if you'll be photographed with flash, since they can show as a white cast. Use a tinted powder close to your shade, or a translucent one made for deep skin.
- Choose blush with strong pigment, like brick, berry, plum, deep coral or fuchsia. Pale pastels often turn chalky and barely show.
- Use gold, bronze, copper or deep rose highlighter rather than icy silver or white. Full Glam puts a golden highlight on the cheekbones and the tip of the nose.
- Prime the lid with a concealer or primer close to your skin tone before bright or pastel shadow. The colour then shows true instead of muted.
Questions
- What blush colours work on dark skin?
- Shades with strong pigment show best, such as brick red, berry, deep plum, warm orange, fuchsia and deep coral. Cream and liquid blushes blend into the skin without the chalky finish some powders leave.
- How do I avoid flashback in photos?
- Flashback comes from white or high-silica powders, and from sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, reflecting camera flash. Set with a tinted powder close to your shade, use a light hand, and test with your phone's flash before you leave.
- Will the try-on change my skin tone?
- No. TryOnMyLook keeps your face, eyes and skin as they are and adds only the makeup. You see each look's shades on your own skin tone before you buy or apply anything.