Make-up tips: Dark skin complexion

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Renowned make-up artist, Bobbi Brown shares her tips for Dark complexions.

Skin: Finding the right shade of foundation has been tricky for darker-skinned women, but these days many companies have broadened their ranges. One thing many dark-skinned women find is that their skin is lighter over the cheeks and forehead, which can mean they need to blend two foundations for a perfect match. Make sure you use a deep, warm shade of powder, with a hint of yellow, to prevent the skin looking dull and ashen. Don’t be afraid to not cover your entire face with foundation; just use it where the complexion needs some evening out.

Cheeks: “Some very dark skin looks best with no blush or just a hint of bronzing powder,” says Bobbi. For a medium skin tone, try a deep bronzing powder or a currant-toned blush. For a lighter tone, opt for plum, rose or even pink.

Eyes: Avoid colours that ‘fight’ your skin tone. Lining the eyes with blue or green will bring them out. On lids, stick with deep, rich shades that blend easily into your skin tone. Chocolate, caramel and gold are great shades for a natural look.

Lips: “I love the look of pink lips with dark skin,” says Bobbi. There are no rules here, but her tip is to line the lips with a dark pencil (plum would work well), blend it into the lips and cover with a sheer gloss in pink, white, silver or gold. 

Check out some beauty product ideas here

Photography: Corrie Bond.   Make-up: Chris Coonrod