So, I ran out of my Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Powder! Tragedy, I know! I love that stuff! However, I decided that I would try to find a drugstore brand pressed powder that I could love even half as much, simply for the sake of saving a couple bucks! Well, I have to say that not only did I not find anything comparable, I couldn't find anything to try at all because NONE of the colors were even close to right! For drugstore brand makeup I always go with the main four brands: Revlon, Maybelline, L'oreal, and CoverGirl. Out of all 4, not ONE had a color in their powder options that would match my skin tone. What gives?!
L'oreal came the closest and by far had more options than the rest with their True Match line. But even those options didn't cut it. The color options basically go from tan to dark with nothing really in between or they simply don't have anything darker at all. Then out of the colors they actually do have, they all have pinky undertones instead of yellow or olive, and seem to be colors that are more suited towards a white girl with a really nice tan, as opposed to someone who is actually a darker skinned person. Revlon's new Photo Ready Powder Foundation? Medium deep... That's how dark it goes... MEDIUM DEEP! And I even looked online for that one just to see if maybe the darker colors are only available on their website. NOPE! I know this problem comes up time and time again for us ladies with darker skin tones, but for goodness sakes I thought by now these companies would have learned a thing or two!!
The intriguing part about this though, is that it was just the powder that I was having this problem with. Liquid foundations have several more options available for a broader range of skin tones. Could it be that women with darker toned skin tend to be less likely to wear powder? What do you think???
9 comments:
This is really an interesting phenomenon. I can't opine on whether darker women prefer liquid over powder, but I can add the perspective of a woman on the opposite end of the spectrum.
Mac, along with most of the other fashion brands (i.e. brands with more than just neutral toned eyeshadows and mom-ish color palettes), does not make a liquid foundation color pale enough for my palest skin tone. NC-15 is the palest color they have, and that is my skin tone in November, when I still have a hint of color left from the summer. But, by mid-February, I'm like a ghost and NC-15 makes my face look orange.
And, in the more neutral palette brands, I have a hard time finding a pale color that doesn't make me look ill. Where does the warmth go? Yes, I'm a redhead, but that doesn't make my skin grayish!
So, I religiously stick with powders over light concealer now. I threw in the towel on liquids.
There must be a science to it... liquids have a darker spectrum, and powders are lighter. Maybe they are just easier to manufacture that way because of their respective mediums.
Love the blog, Khalia! I always did admire your glamour sense!
I believe that cosmetic companies are just starting to view WOC as consumers. I've always had trouble with drugstore foundation/powder shopping so I avoid them at all costs, even though I recently found a L'Oreal foundation that isn't that bad. And I agree while there are more liquid foundation shades available, they often do have a red/pink undertone that doesn't suit most WOC skintones.
@ Claire- That is so intriguing! I honestly wouldn't have guessed but that's interesting. How obnoxious to not be able to find an ivory shade that doesn't make you look orange or half dead! Super lame! I guess we find what works for us and go with it. Have you been able to find anything in the mineral makeup brands???
Oh and thanks for the blog love! Coming from YOU my dear, that actually means a lot!!!
@Mocha Mish Mash- I had though that the cosmetics companies had already started to view WOC's as consumers more so in our current day, but I guess we're still working on it! Ah well!
I've had the same problems with drug store products, so most of the time I stick with what works. Your blog is fab!
I am MAC NC40. I use a translucent powder over my foundation. And sometimes on a good skin day I just use MAC's blotting powder to take away the shine. I do alot of makeup work on my friends and its dang near impossible to find a foundation for a very dark skin woman. I wind up just using translucent powder on them.
great post! have you tried milani's powders? they are like powder foundation, but can be used with a fluffier powder brush for a sheerer coverage/to set your foundation. (i use it very often!)a lot of ladies also seem to like (find a color) within the revlon colorstay pressed powder..hth!
Omg I definitely agree! I sell Avon and I noticed their is only one really dark shade, probably called chocolate or something stupid like that, as if all dark skinned ppl have the same skintone lol..but my fav drugstore foundation is neutrogena and i wear the darkest shade! i think the reason why their arent drugstore powders in deep colors is because the pigmention and ingredients use is cheap, so it would make dark skin women look chalky..you are gorgeous and i love your blog ..keep in touch
xoxo jenna
@ Hillerie- Thanks, girl!
@ Geeky Dior Girl- I was just thinking I was probably going to have to just settle with a translucent powder when I was standing in the drugstore aisle. But then I was like, Forget that I'm just gonna spend the money and get my Mac Skinfinish!
@yummy411- The Revlon Colorstay colors were few and far between for me but I haven't tried the Milani yet. I'm gonna have to try it out this weekend!
@jalyssacakex- Thanks for the blog love girl!! I haven't tried Neutrogena. Their shades seem a bit to warm for my skin tone. But that's just me judging from the bottle so I'm gonna look again next time I'm at the store and really investigate!!
I totally agree. I can never find my shade in drug stores, so I don't even bother trying. When it comes to my foundation, I stick with Prestige brands-MAC in particular :)
Fab post and blog..
Check out mine at http://deliciousinpink.blogspot.com
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