How to Apply Makeup on Black Women

Black women often find it challenging to wear makeup that can be seen. This is because black women's skin tends to require stronger colors and most makeup companies don't put enough pigment in their makeup for it to show up on their skin properly. Oftentimes, the makeup fades pretty quickly but it is very possible for black women to take full advantage of all of the possibilities that wearing makeup can bring.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Good cleanser
• Eye makeup primer
• Face primer
• Time

1. Go shopping. The best makeup for black women to wear are the brands that have strong color pigments. MAC and Bare Escentuals are good brands that will work well on black women. However, if you're doing this on a budget Black Radiance is a good drugstore brand.

2. Wash your face. Before you apply any type of makeup, your face must be thoroughly cleaned. It's easier to work with clean skin than dirty skin. This is why makeup artists typically clean your face before they begin applying makeup.

3. Apply light moisturizer. Properly moisturized skin will feel better with the makeup on it. Makeup shouldn't be uncomfortable, especially if you're wearing it all day.

4. Apply face primer. Face primer is just like paint primer but for your face rather than your wall. Face primer sets your skin and makes your makeup last all day. It drastically reduces the need for touch ups and cuts down on the colors fading. You may or may not be able to find a good face primer at the drugstore, but if you invest in it, your other makeup purchases will last longer. Bare Escentuals, Smashbox and Sephora make good face makeup primers.

5. Apply eye makeup primer. Since your eyelids tend to move more, you should get a separate primer just for the eyes. Bare Escentuals makes a good eye makeup primer. It serves the same purpose as face primer but it works wonders on keeping your eye makeup bright all day.

6. Apply concealer and/or foundation. Since you used the face primer, you may not need foundation or concealer but if you still want to use it, now's the time to put it on.

7. Apply eye makeup. Regardless if you wear multiple colors or just one color, your eye makeup primer will help this color go on strong and last for a long time.

8. Apply blush. Black women tend to have to wear strong blush colors but not everyone looks good in bright red. Wearing bronzer as blush is another great way to play up your cheeks with a strong color without looking like a weird doll.

9. Apply lip color. This can be lip gloss, lip stick or even a lip stain. Lip color is the one thing that may need to be reapplied throughout the day. There are extended wear lip colors like Revlon ColorStay and Clinique Stay the Day that promise all day wear but if you wear lip gloss, those aren't an option since they are lipsticks. However, reapplying lip color may not be as much of a hassle since the rest of your makeup will now last all day.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be afraid to try new colors
• If you don't know how to apply something, visit a makeup counter
• Always use makeup remover to take off your makeup
• Don't sleep in your makeup

Resources

• The Wonders of Eye Shadow
• TotalBeauty.com

[sonni57]

on 8/31/2009 Great makeup tips.