The Power of Pink
I used to think pink makeup didn’t work so well on women of color. Too pale, too subtle, too washed out = pointless, I assumed. I’d see these new high end department store makeup collections coming out featuring rose, coral, and ballerina pink makeup, and never even consider buying any of it, because the colors didn’t seem meant for me. Well ever since Damone Roberts and Patrece Williams preached the gospel, I’ve become a convert.
Pink makeup can look amazing on brown skin of all shades. You just gotta find the right product. Let me share some new favorites and celebrity makeup artist must-haves!
For lip color, I already told you that Damone swears by Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect Clutch Pink 517, and Rose Satin 657
.
But I just teased this earlier, so now here’s the product that Patrece Williams swears “every woman of color needs to have” — Clinique Full Potential duo gloss in Luscious Lilac/Bloom Berry.
For the life of me, I can’t find that *exact* product as a duo gloss. It must have been a limited edition holiday thing, because all I can find is Clinique’s Kissable Six lipgloss set, a limited edition set reviewed by Makeup and Beauty Blog a while back. But fret not, bellas! Clinique’s full potential glosses come seperately, so you can get Luscious Lilac and a similar shade, Blackberry Bloom, online for just $17.50.
So what are Patrece’s other pink recommendations? For cheeks she loves MAC fleur power (a bright pinkish-coral), MAC mocha (a soft, matte plum-pink), and NARS Oasis. Love. This. Color!
The other lippie she loves is Chanel Equinoxe, and for eyes she recommended a product I gushed about a while back — Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact.
The original compact in bronze already had rosy elements to it, but Bobbi Brown’s upped the ante of late with the blushed pink collection, and the platinum pink shimmer brick, which might look scary if you’re a makeup newbie, but if you try it out, you’ll realize it could actually be your best friend.
These five strips of shimmery shades swirl together and are so pretty when lightly swooshed over areas you may want to highlight. I tend to use it on my cheekbones, decolletage, and I use the individual strips as eyeshadows. I heart Bobbi Brown for products like these — truly multi use, multi talented beauty in one package for $40. And it’s not too sheer/unpigmented/flat to show up on your beautiful brown skin, AND it’ll last you forever. Trust!
So I told you Damone’s pink recommendations, and Patrece’s.
Me? I’m head over heels for Benefit’s pinks. I love the soft, pretty barely there Benefit Dandelion blush, or CORALista, which gives my cheeks
that I’m-having-a-beautiful-day glow.
And I noticed that nobody mentioned the prospect of pink on your eyelids — yes indeed, that can be very pretty for spring. But on darker skin sometimes it doesn’t show up. If you have oily eyelids (like I do), use a dab of primer before you apply. I love Benefit’s spring collection of creaseless cream eyeshadows — very blendable, shimmery, and stunning. AND versatile – I use them like fingerpaints. Samba-dy Loves Me is a soft golden-pink, and <Flying Down To…
is described as orchid purple, but has a slightly silvery shimmer when I use it on my lids. Both very pretty when by themselves for day, or layered with darker shadows for a smokey eye in the evening.
Other pink eye options? Wow, that sounds awful! But to give my eyelids a rosier hue, I’ve got my eye on Dior’s fresh, feminine 5-Colour Eyeshadow kit in Spring Bouquet. I figure this recession can’t last forever. I’m willing to wait until Fall for it, it’s that pretty!
If you’re not yet swayed by my enthusiastic recommendations, do yourself a favor and head out to the mall this weekend! Hit up Macy’s or Nordie’s, and beeline for the makeup counter. Check out the latest spring releases, and try swatches on the back of your hand. Or even better, get a makeover and ask about their prettiest seasonal shades. You’re bound to find a color that’ll put you right in the pink of things.
Got any favorites of your own, bellas? Do you feel pretty in pink? Let me know what works for you — or if you need any drugstore-chic recommendations for my bellas on a budget!
Category: Beauty, Product Reviews, Skin
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The colours look great…
I do agree that all shades of brown skin can wear pink it just depends on what shade of pink you wear.
Thanks Afrobella for this post. I love pink but can’t find the right hue for my dark skin. The model above is my complexion. This will help when hitting the makeup counters.
Definitely need some drugstore recs! I’m still pink-shy, and if I can dabble in the drugstore first, it will be easier on my wallet.
I love Benefit Cosmetics but wasn’t sure about Coralista thanks for the tip.
FYI- Benefits Posie Tint and Laura Merciers Lipgloss in Rose is great for us brown skin ladies too!!!!
For the bellas on a budget, I’ve had success with Revlon Colorstay eyeshadow quad in Berry Bloom – the colors really pop on my skin and they last all day.
Hi Bella!
For eyes, MAC’s shadow in Swish and Bare Escentuals shadow in Cupcake both look very nice on brown skin. They are bubblegum pinks with warm gold undertones.
I’m happy to see this post. Pink is my color for spring. I have been experimenting with different shades of pink on me. With your recommendations, I have more makeup to play with you. Hugs to you, Bella.
I love Pinks and I’m brown-skinned! I really want to get my hands on that Bobbi Brown pink shimmer brick
Other than the love affair I had with a pink blush in high school, I had pretty much kept pink out of my make-up kit. I do have a nice pink lip gloss and a eyeshadow that is rose. That picture you posted is beautiful…and she has a great coloring for pink.
Im not a huge make up chick, but I always wear lip stuff.. my sigature color is ANY shade of coral, or golden peaches.. I love it…back in the day I used to always wear a shimmery shellpink or shimmery oranges- color looks good on every shade of us! its about finding the right shade or tone of a specific color that flatters the under tone
Afrobella, this is the first time you have failed to convince me. I still love you, but I’ll steer clear of pink, especially if the model is anything to go by!
pink lipgloss always looks lovely. a bit of brown liner and then a nice pink goes well. I have 2 tones lips pink and brown so pink gloss just does it. pink eyeshadow depends which shade looks good 2
Yay! I’ve been trying to find pink makeup for spring forEVER. You’ve offered so many great suggestions. thanks!!
Those colors look amazing on that model. I use YSL’s Golden Gloss which has flecks of gold in it. It’s a pale pink and is wonderful alone or over other colors to make them *pop*.
X
Girl, I am still so scared of pink on my dark skin! But I do love a slamming lipgloss, so I will try the above and see what I come across.
Thanks for the heads up!!
I am a dark chocolate who loves pink lipsticks. My favorites are Maybelline’s ‘ruby luster’ (number E200) and Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick ‘cherries in the snow’ (number 440). ‘Ruby luster’ is a satiny rose pink and ‘cherries in the snow’ is a creme hot pink. I also have a rose pink eyeshadow that I sometimes wear with a nude lip.
I found a pink that works for me, Cover Girl Plum splash is subtle but pretty pink.