[Makeup For Everyone]
[Multicultural Cosmetics]
[Vegan/Vegetarian Cosmetics]
[Your websites]
[Smart Shopping]
[Acne]
[Random Stuff]

 

Multicultural Cosmetics

(Scroll to the bottom if you just want the discount webshop links) First you need to find out if you have a warm or cool skintone. The easiest way to do this is to look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If they are green then you’re probably warm, if they are blue then you are probably cool. If you have warm skintones then you are more likely to find a product in the high street, as they tend to have red or pink undertones that blend in with your skin.

Ok, now you need to work out your skintype. Don’t assume that you have oily skin just because it is shiny. Asian and Black skin tends to be shinier simply because of the way the skincells lie. You will know if your skin is oily if, 2 hours after cleaning, you rub your finger across your nose and chin and find it is greasy. Alternatively put a thin piece of tracing paper on your face and see if any oil is absorbed. If only the forehead, chin and nose area are oily but your cheeks are normal or dry then you have combination skin. If you have skin that feels tight after cleaning but eventually feels ok then you have normal skin. If the tightness is still there after an hour and is only relieved with moisturiser then you have dry skin. Any of these skintypes can also be classed as sensitive if you experience redness and inflamation from most cleansers and other beauty products.

With this knowledge you can now choose a suitable foundation:

Oily/Combination skin: Steer clear of any creamy foundations or those that contain oil. They will slide right off. Ideal foundations for ethnic women with oily or combination skin are cream to powder, mineral foundation, long lasting non-transfer foundations and mousses.

Dry skin: Avoid long-lasting foundations as they tend to flake off. If you want to use mineral foundation then make sure you either moisturise well first or mix the mineral foundation with some moisturiser first. Some mineral foundations are already in a moisture base especially for dry skin.

Normal skin: You can pretty much try any type of foundation, but take care in the summer. Increased sweating means increased oil production so you may need to adjust your foundation application.

Sensitive or problem skin: If you suffer from acne, eczema or any type of complaint that causes broken skin on the face then make sure you keep your application tools scrupulously clean, including washing your hands before application. You are better off using mineral foundation as it is inert and will not aggravate your problem. In fact it’s safe enough to use after cosmetic surgery.

Many mainstream beauty ranges such as Clinique and Revlon carry more choice of shades in the US. Discount websites in the UK sometimes have these shades so it is well worth having a good look. Buying cosmetics for darker skin is tough in the UK so it’s far better to just go to US sites, which are cheaper and have a better range. Also, you can buy 2 or 3 different shades to see which is right for you and still not break the bank. These websites do have shade charts, which may or may not be accurate, but you can usually work out if they are cool or warm shades. Also, if you end up with a foundation that is slightly too light or too dark you can ‘correct’ it with a finishing powder to lighten or darken.

Brands that have cosmetics specifically for darker or ethnic skin include:

Iman
Milani (sold in UK)
Sleek (sold in UK)
Flori Roberts
Fashion Fair (sold in UK)
Black Opal (sold in UK)
Black Radiance (sold in UK)
Gale Hayman (sold in UK)
Elessia
Constance Carroll
Adrien Arpel
Alexandra de Markoff
Real Cosmetics
Zalia
Zhen
Sacha (Not recommended. Parcel never arrived and they didn’t refund me!)
Universal Colors (really nice!)
Posner
Juicy Cosmetics
Profaces

Brands in the UK that include good quality darker shades include (but are not limited to):

Prestige
Maybelline
Max Factor
Rimmel
Revlon
Prescriptives
MAC
Becca
Avon
Ben Nye
Bobbi Brown
Christian Dior
YSL
Chanel
Cover Girl
Kanebo (getting hard to track down)
L’Oreal
Shiseido
Custom Foundation at the Elizabeth Arden counter at Selfridges.

Ultra Cheap Shopping Links

http://www.jolair.com/ BEST! This site carries Color Me Beautiful, Iman, Flora and standard brands like Revlon but with more darker shades. Cheap, UK based and they take Paypal as well as credit cards.

Makeupmadness They have Constance Carroll, which is specifically for darker skins.