6 Makeup Artists Share Their Top Products For Brown Skin

There’s something magical about the way the summer sun shines on melanated skin – it just hits different!

One of the best parts about summer is gorgeous glowing sun-kissed skin! Throw your brown skin tone into the mix and the end result is nothing short of magic.

Of course, we all want to rock that summery glow all year around, and sometimes we want to take that summer glow up a notch or two. We’ve got you!

We caught up with six makeup artists to get their tips on the best makeup products to make your brown skin glow like melted chocolate.

“A perfect makeup application starts with how you prep your skin,” says makeup artist Emily Leungpew.

And the secret to skin prep lies in facial oils. Leungpew recommends using Nila Botanics Life Skin Illuminating Oil to create prep your skin and create a juicy base.

Makeup artist Natasha Sana swears by the Juno Face Oil by Sunday Riley and Ghada Nouh, makeup artist and founder of Ministry of Beautê, loves to use the Danessa Myricks Beauty Oil to prep the skin.

Pro tip: mix a little bit of face oil with foundation to take your glow to a whole other level – like a glazed doughnut, but better!

Meanwhile, makeup artist and hairstylist Xeneb Allen loves to use coconut oil on the face. “It’s a fuss free solution and great for bringing out darker skin tones natural glow, by adding sheen in the right places.”

Allen also uses Embryolisse moisturiser and Egyptian Magic to prep the skin.

Your brown skin glow is like a work of art, which means your canvas (aka your face) needs to start off with the right products.

The MAC Strobe Cream is a go-to base product for Sana and for makeup educator Rumbiie Mudzengi, because it’s lightweight, moisturising and highlighting. The end result? A delicious glow!

The NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation is a must use for Leungpew as it provides medium to full coverage and offers a beautiful luminous finish on the skin.

Nouh can’t resist the Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation. “It’s creamy and longwearing with a satin finish that makes your skin glow.”

For concealer, Allen loves to use the MAC Pro Concealer Palette to balance skin tones and the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer. “It’s not too heavy but conceals any discolouration and pigmentation on darker skin tones,” she says of the Fenty concealer.

Meanwhile, makeup artist Lirije Gashi swears by the Marc Jacobs Fantasy Dew Drops, which she mixes in with foundation for an ultimate glow.

You glow girl! Once you’ve got your base in place, it’s time to add some colour and warmth.

Mudzengi recommends the Juvia’s Place Saharan Blush Palette Volume 1. She notes that the orange blush really amplifies the glow on dark skin and wants you to “forget what you have been taught about blush” and play around with the colours.

The Kevyn Aucoin The Neo Blush in Sunset is a brown girl’s dream, according the Leungpew. For bronzer, she can’t go past the MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Gold Deposit. “The warmth compliments different tones of brown skin…”

No glowy makeup look is complete without highlighter, applied to the high points of your face. Nouh recommends the Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Highlighter & Duo Balm while Gashi loves the Laura Mercier Face illuminator in Indiscretion for darker skin tones.

You know the drill, set your makeup with a good dose of setting spray!

Sana recommends using the MAC Fix Plus to leave your skin refreshed and juicy. “It helps with your glow factor by hydrating the skin.”

As an alternative to setting spray, Gashi loves the Bobbi Brown Nude Finish Illuminating Powder. This translucent pressed powder has pearlescent pigments which sets your makeup and gives you a natural glow all in one. Need we say more?!

Finally, our experts have two key tips to enhance your glow that extend beyond makeup.

The first is to look after your skin by keeping it cleansed, hydrated and wear your sunscreen daily!

The second, and in the wise words of Mudzengi, is to “learn to love the skin you are in and wear it with confidence!”

Beauty Note

Skin prep: Embryolisse Lait-Créme Concentré Moisturiser and Egyptian Magic Cream. Base: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation in 490 and a dash of NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation in Khartoum. Concealer: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer in 420 and M.A.C Cosmetics Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palette in Dark where needed. Highlighter: Ilia Illuminator in Polka Dots and Moonbeams. Powder: Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder in Coffee dusted lightly and Fenty beauty Invisimatte Blotting Powder in Universal to maintain throughout the day on set. Eyes: Lash curler and clear mascara.