
Makeup guide
FOUNDATION FOR DARK SKIN
Payal Bhattacharya
Hey dusky skin girls, remember the days when you didn’t get a chance to hide your skin imperfections with foundation? And even if you did, you had to settle for a lighter shade because no one made foundation shades for dark-skinned girls. OMG! Didn’t we hate it when our faces looked more like a ghost than a woman? I knew It was embarrassing and most of us were laughed at as well. But makeup is evolving to suit every pretty woman’s needs. Gone are the days when there were only foundation shades for fair skin women. Today brands are expanding to include foundation for dark skin women as well. So you don’t need to compromise and choose a shade that doesn’t match your shade. Because foundation for dark skin tone is no more a myth.
Whether your skin tone is the color of coffee, chocolate, or rich mocha, dark skin tone foundation shades are up for grabs. Those pesky marks, spots, fine lines, under-eyes darkness, dullness, and patches can all be wiped away with a super swipe of these foundations. So that dark-skinned girls can also flaunt flawless, error-free, skin that is smooth like butter, bright, and glowing. So let’s buckle up and ride away to know more.
First that we have to know is matching foundation for dark skin tones is essential. A shade darker or lighter can spoil the whole look. So let’s learn this:
HOW TO CHOOSE FOUNDATION FOR DARK SKIN:
- Determine the right skin tone. All of us have two skin tones. One is called an undertone and the other is called an overtone. Overtone is also called a surface shade. It can vary with the way your skin gets affected. For example, if you get a scar, sunburn, or acne. However, your undertone remains the same. So it is always recommended that we choose our foundation shade according to the color of the undertone. Because if we attempt to choose it according to the overtone, it might look very artificial. There are 3 kinds of undertones. If your skin is the color of tan or lightish brown, you have a warm undertone. Or if the color ranges from medium to deep it’s probably a neutral undertone. Dark-skinned women do not normally have cool undertones however there are exceptions.
- Jewelry Test: Listen up dark skinned ladies, this piece of advice is golden to choose foundation for dark skin. Wear a golden bracelet in one hand and a silver in the other. If your skin looks glowing against the gold and dullish against silver then you have a warm undertone.
- Love sample test: This is easy. Just walk over to a beauty store. Ask for a sample. DRaw swatches near your jawline. Buff it off with a beauty blender and the color that disappears is your foundation for dark skin tone.
How to choose the right type of foundation for dark skin
- This one is not a rule set in gold, but normally it has been noticed that liquid foundation works better for dark-skinned ladies. It blends easily and gives them a nice smooth and bright look.
- Avoid formulations that inspire glow: Dark skin tone reflects light very naturally. So it’s always good for dark-skin women to choose semi-matte foundation. It can neutralize the natural glow and hence the skin won’t shine too much.
- Choose well-known brands: Never take a chance with your foundation. Always go for a name that’s known for quality products and has rave reviews
- Concealer should be one shade lighter than foundation: This is a thumb rule that is important to remember while buying foundation for dark skin. The concealer should be one shade lighter. Never a shade darker.
Now that you know all the rules to choose a good foundation for dark skin tone, let’s zip to shop for the best on purplle.com.
Best Foundation for Dark Skin
1. Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte Poreless Liquid Foundation

Customer Rating: 4.3 / 5
Net Volume: 30ml
The world is now a stage for all dusky beauties. The superstar foundation for dark skin is here. It’s light, poreless, and matte that gives a smooth, perfect look to your dark skin.
Pro:
- Natural Finish
- Full Coverage
- Easy blending
- Wide range of shades
- Protects from sun damage
- Suitable for all skin types
Explore: Maybelline Foundation
2. Lakme Perfecting Liquid Foundation

Customer Rating: 4.1 / 5
Net Volume: 27ml
This one is gonna make you go OMG! It is Vitamin E-enriched, Silicon infused long-lasting formula that cares for the skin, while blending evenly to give a poreless, perfect, soft, glowing, feather finish
Pro:
- Blends Easily
- Moisturizes soothes & nourishes the skin
- Waterproof
- Easy to carry a bottle
- Wide range of shades
- Suitable for all skin types
Explore: Lakme Foundation
3. Lotus Herbals Pure Radiance Matte Glow Daily Foundation

Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5
Net Volume: 30ml
Radiant moisturized skin - that’s what you’ll get with this feather-light, easily blendable, perfect finish foundation for dark skin
Pros:
- Moisturizes
- Protects from Sun
- Easy Application
- Easy Layering
- High color payoff
- Suitable for all skin types
Explore: Lotus Herbals Foundation
4. NY-Bae-Foundation-Concealer-Contour-Color-Corrector

Customer Rating: 3.8 / 5
Net Volume: 4.2g
No smudges, no creases. Simply creamy, matte, velvety perfect skin is what you are gonna get with this lightweight, easily blendable foundation for dark skin.
Pros:
- Full coverage
- Enriched with Vitamin E
- Natural Finish
- Nourishes skin
- Available in lots of shades
- Suitable for all skin types
Explore: Ny Bae Concealer
5. Purplle Secret Keeper Foundation Concealer Color Corrector Stick

Customer Rating: 3.8 / 5
Net Volume: 3.5g
Look like a million dollars with this long-lasting, natural finish foundation. It hides all skin imperfections and gives a smooth, soft look that’s picture-perfect.
Pros:
- Matte Finish
- Rich in emollients
- Highly pigmented
- Hydrating Power
- Darl Skin tone shade
- Suitable for all skin types
Explore: Purplle Concealer
6. Faces Canada All-Day Hydra Matte Foundation

Customer Rating: 4.1 / 5
Net Volume: 25ml
Enriched with Vitamin C and Aloe Vera, this foundation blends easily stays long, moisturizes skin, and also acts as a UV protector.
Pros:
- Silky Texture
- Natural Matte Finish
- Brightens skin
- Dewy Finish
- Available in all shades
- Suitable for all skin types
Explore: Faces Canada Foundation
7. Blue Heaven Hyper Matte Foundation

Customer Rating: 4.2 / 5
Net Volume: 30ml
This lightweight formula works well as a hydrating base that blurs off all skin flaws and leaves behind a wonderful matte, smooth, velvety texture
Pros:
- Buildable Coverage
- Non-Pore Clogging
- Easy to blend
- Transfer Proof
- Available in various shades
- Suitable for all skin types
Explore: Blue Heaven Foundations
A few Frequently Asked Questions Answered
FAQs
Q1. Will a dark foundation make me look darker
Ans. You have to buy one that matches your skin tone. Not lighter. Not darker
Q2. Do dark skin foundation hide acne as well?
Ans. Buy foundation for dark skin that’s made for hiding acne as well and you’ll be good
Q3. Can I wear a foundation for dark skin tone for the whole day? Won’t it affect my skin?
Ans. Yes you can. Take it off before the day end and nothing will happen to your skin
Go, go, go..Shop from purplle.com and look like the dusky diva that you are.
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About Payal Bhattacharya
Payal is an editor at Purplle.com. She believes that the world will be a much better place if everyone owns a cat, it’s bizarre but true. She’s very sensitive and particular about her skincare routines and never skips it even for a single day. She loves to read about intimate hygiene and educate herself about female and male personal care which clearly reflects in her writings.









