Best Natural Foundation Makeup for Black Women & Darker Skin
Finding makeup, foundation in particular, can be quite difficult for black women and those with darker skin tones. Most makeup lines barely even acknowledge women of color which is why when most African-American women find a shade that matches their skin color, they usually become loyal for life. I recently received a request from a reader about wanting to know some natural makeup foundations for African-American women. So here’s a list of the best natural makeup for black women and women of color from other ethnicities with darker skin. All of the brands you will find listed are committed to the environment and using only safe, natural and organic ingredients throughout their entire product line, which means no nasty toxic chemicals in these makeup foundations. They disclose all of their ingredients so you get to determine how pure you want to go. Thank you to each of these companies for representing women of color in their natural makeup products!
- 100% Pure - Founded by Susie Wang, 100% produces high-quality fruit pigmented cosmetics. Provides photos of real women to make finding your shade extremely easy.Offers spf tinted moisturizer, liquid and pressed powder foundation ($26-32).
- Alima Pure - Kate O’Brien created Alima Pure for her daughter. Both Kate’s aunt and my mother had breast cancer, and she wanted to protect her daughter from potential cosmetic toxins and irritants. Provides a quick foundation selector tool that helps you find your perfect match. Offers a variety of loose mineral foundation shades ($25).
- b.la.c. minerals - Merced Manner created b.l.a.c. minerals from a vision she had to produce pure natural cosmetics for women of color. She found that she wasn’t able to find products that worked well with her skin type and complexion. She wanted high-quality healthy makeup made from the best ingredients. Provides clear swatch images to find your shade. Offers loose mineral foundation ($21.50).
- Jane Iredale - Jane Iredale founded her beauty line in 1994 and was one of the first to supply the aesthetic industry with makeup that was good for the skin. Provides clear swatch images to find your shade. Offers spf tinted moisturizer as well as loose, liquid and pressed mineral foundation ($44-$52).
- KmS Mineral Essentials - KmS is a family owned company that doesn’t believe in all of the mass advertising, hype and fancy packaging offered by most leading brands. They just want to make a better quality product at an affordable cost for their customers. Provides clear swatch images to find your shade. You can even have a custom shade created for your skin. Offers loose, pressed and liquid mineral foundation ($27-$29.50).
- Plain Jane Beauty - Lake Louise founded Plain Jane Beauty out of her passion for creating a makeup line that included foundations that would encompass all shades and skin tones—from porcelain to ebony. Provides swatch images to find your shade. Offers loose, creme and pressed mineral foundations ($24.50-$34.50).
- Vapour Organic Beauty - Founders Krysia Boinis, Kristine Keheley and Eric Sakes make their foundations with 70% certified organic ingredients and 30% natural mineral pigments and vitamins. Provides photos of real women to make finding your shade extremely easy.Offers liquid and creme stick foundation ($40-48).
mangomadness
February 27, 2013 at 7:41 am //
I use Valana Mineral Stardust Luxury Foundation in ‘Fire Goddess’.
It’s a natural, non-toxic mineral powder foundation that comes in 20 shades designed by a woman of color (an African American woman) with women of color in mind.
Website: valanaminerals.com
Organic Beauty Talk
February 27, 2013 at 10:37 am //
Thanks! Going to research them.
M
March 28, 2013 at 8:03 pm //
Will you also be doing a post on natural concealers that work well to cover like dark circles? They seem so hard to find
M
February 28, 2013 at 1:12 am //
OMG! Thank you for this post! I was just looking at Jane Iredale wondering which shade to purchase but was a little dismayed that I could not find too many women of color reviewing her stuff although she seems to have a nice range for us. I hope if more ladies are using JI that they do reviews with pictures! Actually the maker of Valana Minerals used premade Essential Wholesale products as bases and them adds other things. Plus others say her foundations have a metallic finish to it. I’m saying this not to be negative but to worn those that prefer not to use products from premade bases or do not want to sport that metallic sheen. http://voices.yahoo.com/valana-minerals-foundation-review-poor-quality-and-11311830.html?cat=69
mangomadness
February 28, 2013 at 3:10 pm //
Thank you for the additional information on Valana Minerals!
I use the powder foundation NOT the liquid/cream so I don’t have to worry about the use of a pre-made base.
For the powder foundation, I get a natural finish (people think it’s my naked skin) and great coverage for my hyperpigmentation (w/ the use of a concealer brush). I’ll be using this foundation for a long time.
Valerie
March 6, 2013 at 11:33 pm //
I had a heck of a time finding a good natural foundation for my dark skin but I did (and posted before/afters. I love Jane Iredale liquid minerals but I had to use a certain brush to get it evenly applied http://charmedvalerie.com/2012/11/jane-iredale-liquid-minerals-foundation-and-facial-primer-product-review/
Let me know if you have any questions.
bellaj2000
March 26, 2013 at 2:07 pm //
This article is right on time. I’ve been systematically replacing my make-up and skincare products with natural versions but was stuck when it came to foundation. I would like to add DeVita to your list. They have whipped and mineral foundations in a spectrum of shades. Another plus, they have the only face moisturizer with natural sunscreen I’ve tried that blends decently with darker skin tones.
Sophia Warren
April 25, 2013 at 3:56 pm //
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this article and it comes at the right time for me!
I have just bought a sample pot of Hello Beautiful natural mineral powder from anitagrant.com
This company does a lot of natural skin care products so when they launched their mineral foundation range I was over the moon! I used to use MAC but I’m on a budget plus I didn’t much like my skin tone described as NW50, I am more than 2 letters & 2 numbers. I’m not a varchar!
Anyway, I got 3 samples from Anita Grant’s Hello Beautiful foundation line – Chocolate Ricotta, Hot Fudge & Chocolate Velvet Cupcake. Hot Fudge is great for my oily skin! I put it on after my shower with only a drop of face oil underneath and jumped on the tube to work.
Let me tell you the London underground was like a pressure cooker today but my makeup stayed put! Usually, the oily patches on my nose is the first to shine but not today, not with my Hello Beautiful foundation.
Very impressed!
They have 29 shades and the samples last a good while.
Only 5 ingredients in the foundation which includes zinc & titanium something.. which I read are natural spf sun blocker ingredients.
Going to buy the regular size when my sample pot runs out.