I’ve always loved experimenting with makeup. I have my favorite foundation, lipgloss, and mascara, but I am always ready to try something new. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I recently did a makeup collab with an Atlanta based makeup artist – Huma. Make sure you check her out on Instagram because she is seriously AH-ma-zing.
I learned several tips and tricks from our collab as well as discovered products perfect for my Indian olive skin tone, that I now want to incorporate into my makeup routine.
Are you one of those ladies who’s always on the lookout for the perfect makeup for brown skin? If so, you’re in the right spot! Sometimes, it is really hard to find the right products for us brown skin gals, that does not make us look grey and dead, but instead just enhances the undertone of our skin.
What I truly learned from my collab with a makeup artist, is that- You don’t always have to rely on a branded product to make your makeup last or perform 100%. So, I have included 5 must-have affordable drug store makeup products along with their high-end counterparts from Sephora, that you should totally consider having in your collection.
Bobbi Brown Color Corrector/ LA. Girl HD Pro Color Corrector:
Color corrector will be your best friend if you have brown skin. There is not a single day when I leave my house without using a color corrector under my eyes, before applying concealer. You can totally skip foundation and just use a peach based color corrector to counteract those dark purple tones of your under-eye or cover hyperpigmentation on your face, with concealer on top. Using a corrector first will prevent your under eyes from looking grey and ashy.
I have my personal favorite peach based cream corrector that I have been using for years now. It is Bobbi Brown’s dark peach corrector. I cannot even tell you how many pans of this I have gone through. But, if you do not want to spend that money, you can totally use this LA girl color corrector. When my makeup artist used it on me, I was in love with how natural it looked. I am going to buy it myself because I would love to keep it in my makeup bag, and since it is so affordable you should totally try it out.
If you want to cover your purplely dark circles, try using a peach based corrector.
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer/ Maybelline Fit me concealer:
Again, I have been using the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer for years. I use it on top of the dark peach corrector. This concealer is sooo lightweight, creamy and does not crease at all. It is also very hydrating. The shade range is great and you can even use a darker shade to contour your face or use a shade that is similar to your skin tone to cover up the hyperpigmentation.
A great, almost exact dupe to this is the Maybelline Fit me concealer. I have used this personally so many times. It is in my makeup bag in a darker shade, so that I can use it to contour. I have even used in on the beach in summer to even out my skin tone. This is such a good one, and what my makeup artist Huma, used on me during my shoot.
Laura Mercier translucent powder/ Coty Airspun Loose face powder:
Now that we have gone over the corrector and concealer, I wanted to talk to you about powder. I know out of the five products, three products are for the under eyes, but brown skin is prone to pigmentation and under-eye circles. I know this because I have dark circles under my eyes, and once those are covered I do not need much coverage anywhere else. Once my circles are covered and my under eyes are bright and awake, I feel confident.
I love the Laura Mercier powder product because it works like magic on my skin and brightens under the eyes. I always use this with my concealer and color corrector. It does not make my eyes look grey and prevents creasing.
Another great drugstore powder for covering the under eyes is- the Coty Airspun loose powder. The great thing about this is, it is also great for sculpting your cheekbones. Layer it right under the contour and bake for about 2 minutes and you will instantly have lifted cheekbones.
The Coty air spun powder has a slight fragrance to it, but it does not bother me at all, and for the price, you just can’t beat it.
Nars Radiant Foundation/ Makeup forever HD foundation / Maybelline Fit me Foundation in Dewy Smooth finish :
If you are looking for a foundation to wear on days that you just need a little bit more coverage, but you still want a natural finish, the Nars Radiant foundation, as well as the Makeup forever foundation, is great.
I do not have much to say about it, other than its lightweight, not cakey and gives you a natural finish. There are so many shade ranges too and I am pretty sure you will find the shade that goes perfect with your skin’s undertone.
If you are looking for a great drugstore foundation, that is a perfect dupe for the Nars Radiant foundation than the Maybelline Fit me foundation in the dewy smooth finish is amazing. It basically wears exactly like the Nars one. It is also long-wearing and lasts all day.
Becca Highlighter/ Maybelline Master Chrome Highlighter:
I am all for highlighters and bronzers. The champagne pop by Becca gives a soft golden glow to olive-Indian skin. I wear this during the day as well as in the evenings. Maybelline master chrome highlight is such a good one and is such a good affordable dupe to the Becca highlight. If you have not tried it, definitely try one.
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You can read all about my must-have skincare products here. I would love to know about some of your favorite drugstore makeup products below.
