Finding the right foundation for Black or Brown skin can be a challenge. Although many brands have followed in the footsteps of Fenty Beauty by dramatically expanding their shade ranges, skin of color can often have a mix of undertones that makes it tough to find a perfect match. Luckily, I can offer a bit of help in this department since I’m Brown and fall into this category. Although I mostly have warm undertones, occasionally, some warm foundations will look too orange on me, and neutral shades make me look too pale. I’m also not one to have the patience for buying and mixing two foundation shades all the time—it’s just too much work.
Due to my role as a beauty editor, though, I’ve gotten the chance to try so many options and shade ranges. Formulas just keep getting better by the day, but the ones below are the favorites I always find myself reaching for. Keep scrolling and discover the one for you. The best foundations for dark skin tones are ahead, and there are picks for every skin type.
Pros: Budget-friendly, hypoallergenic formula, shade ID technology uses multicolored chromatic pigments to adjust to your unique skin tone. Cons: Can leave a slightly greasy finish without the right primer. This foundation stick is beloved by editors and makeup artists alike for its creamy formula and fantastic shade range for darker skin tones. As a bonus, it also contains SPF 15. Customer Review: “I didn’t expect to love this product this much. I’ve only tried Blk/Opl concealer once before but decided on this last minute. Such a great purchase! It almost looks like full coverage but it’s [light] weight and buildable.”
Pros: Provides a soft matte finish, great shade range, climate-adaptive technology fights heat and sweat. Cons: May be too matte for some. The incredible shade range is what makes it great for darker skin tones, but it’s also fantastic for combination and oilier skin types since it offers a soft matte finish and climate-adaptive technology to counteract humidity, heat, and sweat. Customer Review: “After using this product for the past 2 months I am in love with it. It would have lasted me 4 months or 3 but I broke it and I had to get one fast I am just astonished by the full coverage and the way it blends into my skin is shocking!!”
Pros: Oil-free formula, noncomedogenic, offers a great amount of coverage using only a little product. Cons: Expensive. Almost every makeup artist I’ve spoken to loves this foundation, especially for acne-prone skin. It’s oil-free and noncomedogenic and delivers beautiful coverage. It’s been a favorite of mine for years since it doesn’t irritate my sensitive, acne-prone skin. Customer Review: “I’ve been using this brand for many years and I must say that no other foundation that I’ve ever tried came close to this one. It’s the perfect match for my skin and it also gives an incredible dewy glow. The foundation doesn’t highlight your imperfections or make them more obvious, but takes attention away from them. There’s certainly no cakiness whatsoever and the coverage is buildable if need be. I love it as it is and hope to god they never reformulate the foundation, it’s sincerely the holy grail of foundations. We try others, but always come back!”
Pros: Contains redness and sensitivity-calming ingredients, has a serum-like texture, . Cons: Formula is runny. Another one of my favorite formulas is Rare Beauty’s Liquid Touch Foundation. It isn’t super expensive and was one of the only foundations my sensitive skin could tolerate for a minute if I’m being honest. It’s really breathable and contains a skin-calming botanical blend. My only gripe is that the formula is a bit runny at first, you have to work quickly and really blend it out before it gets everywhere. Customer Review: “Not too thick of a consistently but definitely not thin either. It’s just perfect enough to be full coverage and stays on my face very well with the Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer as my base.”
Pros: Gel-cream formula infused with 89% skincare ingredients, blends seamlessly, lasts up to 12 hours. Cons: Only provides light to medium coverage. This is one of my favorite new formulas. Glossier’s Stretch Concealer is a fan favorite, and I can say with confidence that the foundation is equally good. It is a bit of a lighter-coverage formula, but I think Glossier nailed the shades for tan and Black skin tones. My shade matches perfectly—a rare feat since I tend to have both warm and neutral tones. Customer Review: “All around excellent coverage, exactly what I would expect after using the skin tint for so long.”
Pros: Provides a luminous finish, hydrates skin for up to 24 hours, medium to full coverage. Cons: Expensive. This foundation offers a bit of a luminous finish and hydrates skin for up to 24 hours. The light-adjusting technology refines, lifts, and smooths while microcrystals also correct the look of shadows created by fine lines or wrinkles. Customer Review: “Love Shiseido, always the best quality. The color is true to my skin.”
Pros: Budget-friendly, provides medium coverage and a natural finish. Cons: Can be drying on dehydrated skin types after a while. I reviewed this foundation a while back and still think it’s one of the best drugstore options around. It leaves a soft, natural finish; offers great shades for darker skin tones; and won’t break the bank. My only complaint is that it does tend to dry you out after a while if you have dehydrated skin. Customer Review: “It still looks great at the end of the day. It applies smooth and easy. This is my new favorite.”
Pros: Lightweight and breathable, long-wearing formula. Cons: Powder formula may be too drying for skin. This viral TikTok foundation is waterproof, heatproof, and sweatproof and lasts up to 24 hours. Customer Review: “I use this over my CC cream makeup and it is excellent!”
This Haus Labs foundation is another favorite formula of mine that stays matte all day and blends beautifully. The impressive 51-shade range is also perfect for tan, olive, Brown, and Black skin tones.
I tried this new formula from Polite Society recently, and it’s now my most reached-for foundation. It dries down matte but doesn’t dry my skin out, which is my complaint with almost every other matte formula. It’s also noncomedogenic and silicone-free, so it’s great for my acne-prone folks out there. The shade I bought also matches my skin tone perfectly.
Uoma’s classic matte foundation is infused with biomimicry pigments that function like your skin to give it a flawless finish and blurred effect.
