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5 Best Foundations for Black Women 50

Expanded color palettes and new formulations worth exploring

Mariusz Szczawinski / Alamy Stock Photo Gone are the days when Black women had fewer options at the makeup counter. While some brands back in the day carried a plethora of shades, with Fashion Fair and Mac Cosmetics being among the first, most failed to offer the variety that’s available today.
Now more than ever, makeup brands are meeting the new standards of inclusivity, offering a greater range of hues for darker skin. From classics to current favorites, we’re filling you in on some of the best foundations on the market today. Plus, professional makeup artists let you in on a few tips and tricks. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Stick with cream and liquid formulas

According to Shawntay Fisher, celebrity makeup artist whose client list includes , Robin Roberts and Jasmine Guy, cream and liquid formulas work better on mature skin, as they don’t settle into creases and fine lines as much. “With these particular formulas, you have the option to make them as full coverage as you’d like, or you can thin them out with a moisturizer for lighter wear,” she says. Good to know: Less product is more, especially on mature skin.

Determine your undertone

Finding the right shade starts with knowing your undertone, aka the hue underneath the surface of your skin, which never changes. Selecting a foundation with the wrong undertone can make you appear pale, red, orange or even gray. One way to find your undertone is to look at the veins on the underside of your wrist. If they appear blue, your undertone is cool. If they appear green, your undertone is warm. Can’t tell? You may be neutral. However, this method doesn’t work for all Black women. If this is the case for you, try holding a piece of gold and silver jewelry against your skin. If the gold looks better, you probably have a warm undertone. If you wear silver better, you most likely have a cool undertone. If you wear both equally well, you may have a neutral undertone. Standing in front of a white background can also make your undertone more apparent.

Find your shade

and chest are good areas to test). To ensure the right match, step out in natural lighting to get a true sense of how the foundation appears on your . Finding the right shade still poses some challenges for Black women. For this reason, mixing two or more shades of foundation is common, especially for women who have vast differences in pigmentation on their face, or deal with hyperpigmentation. “Some brands offer a free trial or a deluxe sample, and even blister cards with different shades for you to try before you buy,” says Mindy Green, licensed cosmetologist and owner of MG Beauty. “Even then, the brands can end up reformulating, discontinuing or using a different manufacturer, and the color is off.” Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > Pro tip: If your closest match still isn’t the perfect one, Green suggests using color-adjusting drops to cool off or warm up your foundation.

Perfect your technique

Start by giving your face a good cleanse. Go in with an SPF moisturizer to protect your skin from , and let it absorb into your skin for a few minutes. Then, put on a primer to extend the wear of your foundation. Next, apply small dots of foundation on all areas of your face. On your forehead and cheeks, blend outward from the center using a brush or a sponge. Blend down on your nose and chin, and be sure to blend into your hairline and neck as well. Set with a finely milled powder. Here are some foundation options to try: (Left to right) Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation; Fashion Fair SkinFlex Stick Foundation; Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation; Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation; Mac Cosmetics Studio Radiance Face and Body Radiant Sheer Foundation Sephora (4); Ulta Beauty 1. Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation ($68, Sephora.com)
If you’re looking for a natural finish, consider making room on the shelf for this foundation. Long-lasting, yet hydrating, this liquid formula promises to help combat fine lines and wrinkles. Don’t need much coverage? Applying a few light dots of foundation onto your face and blending with your fingertips may do the trick. For medium coverage, start with thin layers of product and gradually build using a foundation brush. 2. Fashion Fair SkinFlex Stick Foundation ($37, Sephora.com) AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe More on entertainment AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS