Brown Girl–Approved Beauty Products for All Skin Tones

There are many, many more—but this list will get you started.

new york, new york february 08 a model poses backstage for christopher john rogers during new york fashion week the shows at gallery i at spring studios on february 08, 2020 in new york city photo by dominik bindlgetty images for nyfw the shows
(Image credit: Dominik Bindl)

Fun fact: The world isn't comprised of only light-to-medium skin tones. Also, nude is way more then just a one-color-fits-all, blush, or tan tone. And though makeup brands are starting to expand their shades to suit a wider range of ethnicities, it doesn't mean they were made with all the hues and pigments needed to match the richness of deep skin tones. The carelessness and disregard for dark skin tones when formulating makeup products inherently leads to a chalky, ashy-looking mess for consumers. It's 2020—shopping for beauty products shouldn't be a dreadful process for anyone. It's about time we normalize leaving the beauty counter satisfied with makeup purchases, no matter our skin tone.

So to cut through the noise, we're here to highlight brands that are housing the best of the best beauty products made with dark skin tones in mind. From the perfect red lipstick to a wide range of foundation shades, these brown-girl friendly products need to be acknowledged. The best part about it? They're here to stay. Ahead, 14 makeup staples to add to your arsenal.

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Chloe Metzger
Beauty Editor

Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing the editorial content and growth strategy of the hair, makeup, and skin space on digital, while also obsessively writing about the best hair products for every hair type (curly girl here; whattup), and the skincare routines that really, truly work (follow her on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes pics of that magazine life). She brings nearly a decade of writing and editing expertise, and her work has appeared in AllureHealthFitnessMarie ClaireStyleCaster, and Parents. She also has an unhealthy adoration for Tom Hanks and would like to please meet him one day, if you could arrange that. Thanks.