I am always in eager anticipation of the InStyle Best Beauty Buys supplement. Now in its 12th year it has served as a bible to beauty enthusiasts like myself!
The winning products are selected by the great and the good of the British and international hair and beauty industries, including eyebrow queen Vaishaly Patel, fragrance king Roja Dove, makeup mavens Mary Greenwell and Ruby Hammer and hair connoisseurs Philip Kinglsey and Daniel Hersheson.
Many of the winning products have stood the test of time and have made multiple appearences on the hallowed pages of the supplement – yet every year there are a number of new products and brands to tantilise and excite!
This year I thought that I would give my opinion on the winning products that I think are the best buys for dark skin.
Best Under-Eye Concealer
Touche Elcat, YSL.
Now that the one of the most coveted premium beauty produts is available in 7 shades, it can be enjoyed by women of all (or most) skin tones.
Topping the poll once again, GHDs are great for smoothing out kinks in relaxed hair or your weave! Make sure you use a heat protecting product too! I LOVE Frizz Ease Thermal Serum – it is not too greasy and perfect for my hair extensions! GHD also make a flat iron for thicker hair, with wider plates. These work well with natural hair.
Best Lipgloss and Best Compact
Lipglass and Studio Fix by MAC
When I first moved to London some 12 years ago, I discovered the MAC counter in Selfridges and a long standing relationship was formed.
I am a gloss junkie! The glossier, the sticker, the better! I have tried umpteen brands – both mass and premium – and none really come close to the Lipglass collection …although Stila Lipglazes are a close second :-).
My top shades are ‘Wet, Wild, Wonderful’ and ‘Oh Baby’. Last year, MAC USA collaborated with several leading US beauty bloggers to create a limited edition collection of glosses. Afrobella (who is dubbed the ‘godmother’ of brown beauty blogging) created the most incredible purple Lipglass for women of colour called ‘All of My Purple Life’.
The shade was so popular that it sold out one week after the launch!! Unfortunately the collection was not launched internationally….
And what can I say about Studio Fix?? Studio Fix NW45... it been a part of my life for oh so long!! MAC dosen’t work for every woman of colour -so I am really pleased to see that more and more brands are launching products for dark skin – but Studio Fix has been a staple in my makeup bag…and will continue to be so!
Best for Pigmentation
Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Remover
For many people of colour , hyper pigmentation is a real challenge. The over production of menalin as a result of trauma to the skin leave dark marks and an uneven skintone that can be quite distressing. I did try this product when it first launched, but to be honest, I didn’t really give it a chance…products such as these really need time for you to see a result.
Even Better has won many awards and was even voted as the best ‘Prestige Hyperpigmentation Treatment’ by readers of the US African American women’s magazine, Essence.
Remember! SPF is critical when treating pigmentation – so use a moisturiser with additional sun and UVA protection!
Best Powder Blusher
Blush in Orgasm – NARS
This blusher is a cult beauty classic and it really does suit everyone. If you are more of a caramel skintone it will look deligtful on you.
Personally I think NARS have THE best blusher range in the industry! The shades that I own that are just sublime on my skin tone are Exhibit A , Angelica, Cactus Flower and Taj Mahal.
So there you have it! My round up of the Best Beauty Buys for Dark Skin!
I have ‘All my Purple Life’ – still haven’t got round to wearing it, let alone swatching it yet!! I MUST blog about it this month!
You have it!!! #jel#
Do blog soon!
I loved the little booklet that came with the magazine. I barely ever read InStyle, it’s not my kinda newspaper but I had to buy this months issue just for that and I’ll be using it for so many of my next beauty purchases!
It’s a nifty little guide!
Really helpful thanks. Will def try the Nars blusher.
Thanks for the comment! Give them a try… Taj Mahal is a rich orange shade that looks fabulous in the summer!
I love love Touche Eclat by YSL, I swear by it, I’ve been using it since it came out and I noticed we use the same colour Studio Fix… What would I do without it?? Lovely post.
Hey is All My Purple Life now in UK? I when I checked summer last year the MAC store checked in London didn’t have it :0(