Something a Little Different

I never thought the day would come when I would be talking about makeup- and not just talking about it, giving tips on it. It really is a new year, ladies and gentlemen.

I only really started to buy makeup last year- I would usually just get lipstick or eyeliner and mascara but nothing more. This year, I went a bit ham. I had never really thought to buy base products like BB creams and foundation because I never saw shades in the drugstore that would anywhere near match me.

I found out earlier this year, through Youtuber Jackie Aina, about Black Opal Cosmetics, a drugstore brand for Women of Colour. On a routine trip there, I noticed my local Rite Aid carried it so I figured why not. When I first got it, I went straight to the darkest shade they had, I guess because the sentiment that brands wouldn’t think of a shade like mine as nominal was pretty rooted in my mind, and not really challenged by other drugstore brands. It turned out the shade I got was two shades too dark for me, but now I use It to contour so no harm no foul.

After I found that, I started to mess around with it and all of that good stuff; I have seen so many makeup tutorials by WoC on Youtube, it’s alarming- Jackie Aina is a major fave.

I thought then, that maybe there are other women who might be interested in makeup but haven’t dabbled in it because of the same reasons I hadn’t and that this post might be useful. On that note, I’m going to share some products I think are good to start with, what you could probably do without, and some brand suggestions too.

 

1. Foundation

I would have started with primer, but I figured I could just mention that quickly. Depending on your skin type, you can get pore filling primers, mattifying or illuminating primers. Your foundation, from then, you will want to work with your skin type. If you’re oily, you might want mattifying foundation so you don’t look like someone fried yam on your face, and if you’re dry, something more moisturizing so you don’t end up cracking. It is, though, all a matter of choice. Primer is more optional than not, but that all depends on your skin type.

For WoC, Black Opal has a pretty good colour range and gives a skin like finish, Maybelline does not have the best colour range but has different textures, and Cover Girl’s Queen Collection has a really good colour range and looks like skin.

Beauty Supply Stores are amazing for foundation with a good shade range. My favourite foundation is by a brand called Zuri, that I found in a beauty supply store. It looks like skin but it’s matte and it’s an incredible colour match.

In addition to working as your base, a foundation a few shades darker can work as a contour so you put some dimension back onto your face after foundation.

2. Concealer

You don’t always need this, but if you like to highlight the inner bits of your face, concealer will do that for you. Usually, a concealer one shade lighter is good for a natural look, and two or more for a glammed out night out type of thing. I have only ever used LA Girl Pro Concealer and one by Ruby Kisses, so that’s all I can really recommend, but Maybelline makes a pretty popular one too.

3. Powder

I use this one by Black Opal. I don’t really think it stops oil like it says it will, but that might just be on my skin. I have the L’Oreal True Match Powder and I think that works a bit better. Powder will just keep your face from sliding around, and control oil when it’s on.

4. Liners

Eyeliner can make the difference between looking photoshoot ready, and just looking incomplete somehow. I always wear eyeliner when I wear makeup. I like this felt tip one by L’Oreal, but there’s a kohl one by Black Radiance I really like also.

Lip liner- Okay, so in my humble opinion, lipliner is everything. It makes a nude lip for WoC, it makes brighter colours last longer, you can just wear it as a matte lip, it’s great. I have a dark brown one from a beauty supply brand, NK. It matches my skin perfectly, and for nude lips make them look really seamless. If you’ve been wondering why nudes wash you out, try a flesh toned lip liner.

5. Highlighter and Blush

This is more optional than most, but I love it. When my cheekbones are catching the sunlight, I feel like a flower princess, I’m not ashamed to admit it. I use this pot one that’s actually a cream eyeshadow, but it gives a beautiful bronze highlight. There are a ton in the drugstore from practically every brand so you’ll definitely find one you like. Blush, I love also, because it puts colour back in your face. I love this purple one I got in a gift box from Walgreens.

6. Tools

The last thing I’ll talk about are application tools. I have a beauty blender and these brushes, and tbh I prefer the brushes. You can find them in a pack at Walgreens or any other drugstore. Mine are the Real Techniques Foundation brush and Powder brush.

 

It’s been a long post, thank you for staying with me. I hope it was helpful, and if you have any questions, let me know!

I’m trying to be more regular with my Instagram, so if you want to see what all this looks like on my face, you can follow me on there.

 

Peace, love and funk,

 

What are your favourite makeup brands, and products?

 

Amoafoa.