There is no shortage of make-up tutorials and tips for women of colour. However, some advice is outdated, for example it is often suggested that women of colour should fill their eyebrows in black (a shade of brown could work better!).
If you are looking for up to date make-up tips to add to your make-up regimen, then look no further. I have picked up some surprising tricks over the last 20 years in my previous career as a make-up artist.
Prepare your skin for a long lasting make-up finish
Gently exfoliate your skin once a week to remove dead skin cells and impurities like white and blackheads. Regular exfoliation will help create a smooth skin surface for make-up to be applied.
Next moisturise your face, then apply a skin primer. Primers help to combat oiliness and some offer sun protection to prevent hyperpigmentation (uneven skin tone), a common problem for women of colour. New on the market are banana-coloured primers which are ideal for women of colour as they bounce off light and give the appearance of an even skin tone. Primers also help make-up last longer.
Get a few good quality make-up brushes
You will need a foundation brush, two eyeshadow brushes (one to apply and one to blend colour), a blusher brush and a powder brush.
Depending on whether you prefer to use an eyebrow pencil or powder, you may also need a small angled brush to fill in your eyebrows. No matter what you choose for your eyebrows, do fill them in. Eyebrows frame the eyes and bring balance to the face. A good brush is worth the investment and should last a lifetime. I have the same angled brush from MAC since 2004. With proper care, this brush is still working well, and the brush fibres are in the correct shape needed to fill in my eyebrows.
Choosing the right colours
Here at pan-African, help is at hand to find right the foundation shade . In addition Black Opal, MAC (with over 100 shades to date), and IMAN offer excellent foundation shades for women of colour.
Keep your make-up options open. Be adventurous and try vibrant lip and eye colours. For a subtle fun look, apply a nude or copper eyeshadow and complete the look with a teal, purple, or sea blue eyeliner to the lower lash line. The key to making vibrant make-up work on women of colour is to tie it all together with balanced contouring. Contouring underneath the length of the cheekbone, the jaw to chin area, and the forehead hairline area will bring the entire look together.
Pastel colours work just as well as deep tones. Nothing beats the look of a woman of colour wearing peach-kissed cheeks and translucent pastel-toned lips. Done right this can look classy and fun.
Women of colour 2021 make-up focus
Most of us will be wearing masks for some months to come and may not be able to wear a full face of make-up. Instead, focus on your eye area. Whether you choose a soft or strong eye look, blend, blend, blend is your friend!
With or without a mask, don’t forget to wear sunscreen underneath your make-up. The sun penetrates through clouds and some face masks. Protecting your skin is an essential part of your make up routine.
Have any of these tips made a difference to your look ? Do you have some tips of your own to share ?