Mattes, Metallics, and Other Fall 2013 Makeup Trends (for Brown-Skinned Folk)
Are you tired of flipping through fashion magazines and reading through makeup trends posts only to find that the looks are designed for white women? Not to worry. I’ve arranged some kickass, beautiful brown-skinned BAMFs to show y’all some fall makeup looks designed for darker skinned women. (But don’t worry; I’ve included ways to wear the look if you’re light-skinned.)
Photo credit Ev Evnen
Ready? Onward!
Oxblood Lip
Oxblood is the color of the season. If you’re wondering what the fuck oxblood is, it’s a dark mix of fuchsia and red. More purple than burgundy, but more darker and redder than berry. Did I mention it’s dark?
Photo credit Ev Evnen
What better to usher in the fall than a deep, dark, vampy lip? Go easy on the rest of the makeup here. Lightly lined eyes with a sweep of matte shadow are enough to balance the lip without looking too intense. Skip the blush for day. Wear a pink or dusty rose blush for night, if you want more depth.
Sasanka is wearing Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Bourbon, UD Matte Eyeshadow in Naked (for lighter skin try Foxy, for darker skin try Buck), UD 24/7 Lip Liner in Venom, and UD Revolution Lipstick in Shame.
If you’re looking for a more undone look, I’d recommend skipping the eye makeup altogether. Maybe a swipe of mascara if your eyelashes are light-colored. Also keep in mind that darker colors make lips look smaller, so if that’s not your thing, beware. Or fuck the patriarchy that says you need to have thick lips, and rock the color anyway.
Graphic Cat Eye
Meow. This year’s cat eye is large and dangerous. Think panther, not house cat. The line thickens in the middle of the eye and extends out a half-inch past the outer corners. A swipe of matte or satin eyeshadow in a color that matches your skin keeps the focus on the liner.
Photo credit Ev Evnen
This look goes great with bold colors and light makeup. Liquid liner takes practice and patience. Keep going over the line and thickening it until it’s symmetrical.
Payal is wearing Urban Decay Liquid Liner in Perversion and MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork on her eyes (for lighter skin try Painterly, for darker skin try Quite Natural), NARS Blush in Lovejoy (if you’re darker skinned try Taos), and MAC Cremesheen Lipglass in Richer, Lusher.
Purple Grungy Eye
Punk is back, baby! And I’m so fucking excited!
Photo credit Ev Evnen
The best thing about purple is that it suits pretty much every skin color. Adjust accordingly. There are warm-toned purples, cool-toned purples, dark purples, light purples, bright purples. Even mauves count. Mix some pink or blue into the look to give it an extra edge. If you’re lighter-skinned or have darker skin with a cool undertone, purples that lean toward blue look great on you. If the cosmetic industry thinks your skin tone is edible (caramel, honey, mocha, etc.), it probably means you have a warm undertone, and pinkish purples look more natural on you. The lighter the skin, the lighter and icier the purple can be. The darker the skin, the less jarring bright purples are. That said, I’ve worn cool, icy purples and I’ve known some light, cool-skinned people to rock some bright ass purple. These guidelines are meant to be broken.
Sarah is wearing Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Perversion, UD Eyeshadow in Fishnet, Ransom, Psychedelic Sister and Blackout (used around lashline), and NARS Blush in Amour and Desire (mixed together).