Tip-full Tuesday: Makeup for Dark Complexions

Hello Lovelies,
I cannot tell you how many times I have worked with women with dark complexions and have them tell me horror stories of makeup artists who have turned their skin ashy/grey looking because they don't use the proper products.
I have also had many girls and young women just entering into the makeup world ask me for tips because they just don't know - most recently from Denika, who sent this note:

 "Hi SaRa, 
     I m 13 and a mocha diva as mu friends say. I hav tried some makeups but they dont work for me ~~make me loook sik or just weird. hhow do i pik guud makeup for mee? Thnx."

*Choose foundation that has undertones of yellow and red. Dark complexions on the lighter end generally have more yellow where as on the darker end of the spectrum they tend to have more red. Always be sure to see how the color looks in natural daylight - store lights distort colors.

*Since dark skin has more pigment than fair skin, choose blushes on the darker end of the spectrum of berries, peaches and pinks. To apply, start with less - it's always easier to add more color than take it away. This is true for all skin tones.

*Lip colors that will work well are plums, pinks and purples that have a hint of gold, deep berries, and browns that have a hint of red to them.

*When looking for eyeshadow colors, the options are pretty much endless. You can use browns, blues, red, deep purples... If you don't know where to start, below you will find a list of MAC suggestions. (Anything starred is a personal favorite)

Neutrals
Bisque
Bronze
Brown Down
Brown Script*
Embark
Espresso
Handwritten*
Naked Lunch*
Satin Taupe*
Vanilla*

Blacks, Greys and Silvers
Black Tied
Carbon*
Electra
Print
Silvering*
Smut*


Reds and Pinks
Hepcat
Paradisco
Sushi flower*

Oranges
Antique
Coppering*
Kid
Mythology*

Golds
Amber Lights*
Dreammaker
Gorgeous Gold
Woodwinked*

Greens
Club*
Green Smoke
Lucky Green*
Velvet Moss

Blues
Aquavert
Deep Truth*
Electric Eel*
Freshwater
Moon's Reflection
Plumage*

Purples
Beautiful Iris
Beauty Marked*
Contrast
Vibrant Grape*
Sketch*

Thanks again for your wonderful question Denika - have fun & stay beautiful.

                                        Sara