A Beginner’s Guide: For Black Girls Who Have Considered Makeup When The Girl At The Counter Got You F*#ked Up

Let’s see a show of hands. How many of you have tried to get into makeup by going to a local makeup counter or store only to walk away looking worse than before you got there? 

I know I’ve been there, and rest assured, every black girl has been there, which is why I’ve created this handy guide. Nobody knows your face better than you do, so before leaving your home in the hopes that an “in-store expert” can get you together, it’s important that you go armed with as much useful information as possible. In this guide, you’ll find everything every makeup beginner needs to know.

 

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1. Skincare

Before we even get into makeup, you better make sure you are drinking plenty of water and staying on top of your skincare routine. Check out this HERE, for a listing of 13 must-have skincare products for women of color.

2. Primer

Before applying a foundation or a powder you need to apply a primer to your skin to make sure your foundation and/or powder goes on smoothly. You will have to decide if you need a primer for oily skin or a primer for dry skin.

If you have oily skin there are only two primers on the market that actually work. They aren’t cheap, but they do the job.

Becca Ever Matte Poreless Priming Perfector

Makeup Forever Step One Mattifying Primer

If you have have dry skin, you’re in better shape, as most primers are best suited for dry skin. Lather on your moisturizer and SPF then follow with one of the primers listed in this post HERE.

3. Eyebrows

Filling in your brows is best completed with  mechanical eyebrow pencils as they have more staying power than a traditional eyebrow pencil, and are easier to work with. Gels and brow pomades should be left to those who have mastered their eyebrow technique.

My recommended pencils include:

L.A. Girl Shady Slim Brow Pencil (I use the color blackest brown). Buy HERE or HERE.And Colourpop Brow Pencil. $5 Buy HERE

If you have oily skin, consider using an eyebrow primer like NYX Professional Makeup Proof It Waterproof Eyebrow Primer. Purchase it HERE or HERE.

4. Foundation

Choosing your foundation can be tricky, especially if you want to go the drugstore route where you won’t have access to foundation testers. If you are going to go the drugstore route, I recommend that you search for youtube reviews featuring women who have your skin color, and then purchase according to the colors they use. The four drugstore brands that I know make foundations for varying skintones include Maybelline, L’oreal, NYX, and Revlon.

Personally, I prefer going the more expensive route. I’m bougie when it comes to foundation and I’m not sorry about it! By the way, check out this list HERE of 31 brands that make foundation for dark skin, and this post HERE for 11 black-owned brands that make foundation for dark skin.

To find your perfect foundation match. I recommend that you go to your local Sephora Store and ask to be color matched using their Color IQ Device. This device will provide you with a color IQ code which you can then use to find foundations within the store that are guaranteed to match your skintone. What’s better is that Sephora provides foundations samples without purchasing. It’s a great way to test and find your perfect shade without a commitment. Find your local store HERE.

My favorite foundation brand you can find in Sephora for women of color include Becca Cosmetics, CoverFX, MakeupForever, Lancome,  and Estee Lauder.

5. Blush/Bronzer

Blush and/or bronzer can really work to warm up your face. Once you apply your foundation, you may find your face to  look “flat.” To avoid it this flat look, apply warm brown or berry colored blush to the tops of your cheeks, brushing back towards the top of your ears.

My favs for women of color include:

MAC Cosmetics  Raizin Blush $23. Buy HERE

 

Fashion Fair Cosmetics  Blush in Chocolate Chip: $18. Buy HERE

Covergirl Queen Collection Bronzer in Ebony Bronze. $7  Buy HERE.

6. Eyeshadow

Keep it simple. My favorite beginner-friendly eyeshadow palette is none other than The Nubian by Juvia’s Place. The colors are rich, and pigmented and go on like a dream.  See HERE for swatches. Buy Juvia’s Place Nubian Palette HERE, and use code LISA to save 10%

Start by using an eyeshadow primer, like this  NYX Eyeshadow Primer, and then follow with your eyeshadow color or colors of choice. For beginners, I say go with one color, and apply with your finger. For more black-girl friendly eyeshadows click HERE. 

7. Eyeliner

Again, keep it simple. Go for a felt-tip eyeliner. They last longer and are easier to apply than traditional pencils. My favorites are:

Aesthetica Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner Pen $10. Buy HERE

Or Makeup Forever AQUA XL INK LINER . $24 Buy HERE

8. Mascara

I’m a false lashes kind of girl, so when I look for a mascara I look for something that will give me the effect of falsies without the falsies.

My mascaras of choice are:

Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real. Buy HERE

 

 

Too Faced Cosmetics Better Than Sex. Buy HERE

9. Lipsticks and Lipglosses

I encourage going the drugstore route when it comes to choosing your lip colors. There is so much to consider in terms of formula, so I recommend going to your local Ulta Beauty Store to test out the various options.

Maybelline, Black Radiance,  Wet n Wild (check out my most recent review HERE), and NYX  (see reviews HERE and HERE) have some of the most pigmented  drugstore brand lip products on the market.

10. If you’re looking for some glow action, you can’t go wrong with Maybelline. The Maybelline Master Chrome highlighter looks glorious on all skin tones.

Buy it HERE

See here:

11. Makeup Brushes

For beginners, I recommend getting a brush set from Real Techniques  or Morphe Brushes. Both brands are affordable and make quality brushes.

RealTechniques. Buy HEREMorphe Brushes. Buy HERE

 

 

And there you have it, friends. A makeup beginner’s guide for black girls who have considered makeup when the girl at the counter has got you f*cked up!  I think this list is the perfect guide for those who have been nervous about getting into makeup, especially if you have had a less than pleasant experience at a makeup counter.

Feel free to ask questions, and share your tips and tricks below!