Top 9 True-To-Tone Drugstore Foundations For Darker Skin Tones

1. Best For Buildable Coverage: Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer – Cool Cocoa

The multi-tasking Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer gives you medium to full coverage that lasts all day. It conceals under-eye circles, redness, and blemishes to highlight your best facial features. The waterproof formula blends evenly to create a flawless canvas on all skin types, leaving a natural, weightless finish. This Cool Cocoa shade is suitable for dusky to dark skin with cool undertones. If you are an absolute beginner, this video review might be useful. Pros

Cruelty-free Buildable coverage Long-lasting Water-resistant Lightweight Blends seamlessly

Cons None

2. Best For Oily Skin: Maybelline Super Stay Active Wear Foundation – 340 Cappuccino

The Maybelline Super Stay Active Wear Foundation features high-impact pigments that provide long-lasting full coverage. This drugstore foundation glides smoothly on your skin, blends in seamlessly, and doesn’t fade up to 30 hours. Its oil-free and lightweight formula is buildable and leaves a clean, matte, and luminous finish. The 340 Cappuccino shade covers all spots and blemishes on dark skin tones and provides an ultra-smooth effect. Check out this review for a detailed understanding about the product. Pros

Dermatologist-tested Full coverage Long-lasting Oil-free Non-comedogenic Fade-proof

Cons None

3. Best For Full Coverage: e.l.f. Cosmetics Flawless Finish Foundation – Nutmeg

The oil-free e.l.f. Cosmetics Flawless Finish Foundation offers medium-to-full coverage for dark and dusky skin tones. This liquid foundation blends seamlessly while its skin-loving ingredients like glycerin deeply hydrate and soften your skin. Its lightweight formula conceals blemishes and uneven skin tone and gives a semi-matte finish. This deep Nutmeg shade suits dark skin with peach undertones (a mix of yellow undertones and red surface tones) and is perfect for all skin types. This video review will help you understand more about the product. Pros

Lightweight Blends seamlessly Matte finish Oil-free Buildable coverage Vegan Paraben-free Cruelty-free Phthalate-free Sulfate-free

Cons

May look flaky

4. Best For Waterproof: L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation – 520 Sienna

The L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation offers waterproof medium coverage on dark skin tones. It has a breathable, buildable, and transfer-proof formula that lasts for 24 hours on most skin types. The foundation contains a trio of oil absorbers that increases its staying power, leaving a second-skin-like feeling. Its matte texture glides evenly onto your skin for a healthy-looking complexion. This 520 Sienna shade stays true to color and suits dark skin with yellow undertones. Pros

Easy to apply Long-lasting Sweat-proof Transfer-resistant Lightweight

Cons

May cause a burning sensation

5. Best For Oil-Control: Covergirl Trublend Matte Made Foundation – Cappuccino

The Covergirl TruBlend Matte Made Foundation has fine, mattifying powders that absorb excess oil off your face. This drugstore formula minimizes the appearance of pores and offers a smooth, soft-matte, and polished look that lasts up to 12 hours. It features the Flexi-hold technology that creates a sheer, long-lasting, flexible, and comfortable film on your skin to seal the look without looking dry or cakey. The shade cappuccino perfectly complements deeper skin tones with yellow undertones. Pros

Long-lasting Cruelty-free Matte finish Oil control Transfer-resistant Buildable coverage Easy application

Cons

Not sweat proof

6. Best Multipurpose: Black Radiance Color Perfect Foundation Stick- Cocoa Bean

The Black Radiance Color Perfect Foundation Stick has a pigment-rich foundation stick with a soft brush applicator on the other side. It can be used to contour your face. The brush applicator seamlessly blends the breathable pigments into all skin types to provide buildable and lasting medium coverage. Pros

Smooth application Buildable coverage Long-lasting User-friendly applicator Lightweight

Cons None

7. Best Hydrating: BLK OPL True Color Pore Perfecting Liquid Foundation – Nutmeg

The BLK OPL True Color Pore Perfecting Liquid Foundation has a weightless formula that gives a flawless, dewy finish to dark skin tones. This foundation provides light to medium coverage with a mattifying effect on most skin types. Its Shade ID™ technology and pore-perfecting formula use multi-colored chromatic pigments that adjust to your unique skin tone and neutralize uneven patches and blemishes. This oil-free foundation also contains lentil extracts, shea butter, vitamins C, and E that refine, hydrate, nourish, and protect your skin all day long. Pros

Lightweight Oil-free Long-lasting Blendable

Cons

Not transfer-resistant

8. Best For Sensitive Skin: Ruby Kisses Matte Powder Foundation- Honey Brown

The Ruby Kisses Powder Foundation offers medium to high coverage. Its allergen-free formula suits oily skin and is lightweight, blendable, and buildable. The foundation goes on smoothly and blends effortlessly into your skin, leaving a velvety smooth finish that stays for long! Pros

Matte finish Full coverage Fragrance-free Hypoallergenic Non-comedogenic

Cons

May leave an ashy effect

9. Best For Non-Comedogenic: Veil Cosmetics Sunset Skin Liquid Foundation 5P

The Veil Cosmetics Sunset Skin Liquid Foundation in 5P shade gives a sheer to medium, weightless coverage. It is made with skin-smoothing conditioners, humectants, and hydrators. The water lily and cinnamon bark extracts in this formula polish and refresh your complexion. This water-based foundation sits evenly on most skin types and doesn’t require a setting powder. Its silky texture blends in without clogging the pores and lasts long. Pros

Comfortable wear Oil-free Vegan Lightweight Buildable coverage Cruelty-free Long-lasting Hypoallergenic

Cons

May crease

If you have been struggling to find a true shade match to your skin, take a close look at these options. All the cost-effective drugstore foundations in our list give results that are comparable to high-end boutique-bought makeup. In addition, their intuitive pigments match your undertone while giving a long-lasting buildable coverage. So, order your favorite foundation right away and see how it enhances your gorgeous dark-toned skin!

Why Trust StyleCraze?

Baishali Bhattacharya is certified in makeup techniques and loves reviewing makeup products. She has carefully selected the best drugstore foundations for dark skin based on user reviews and feedback on multiple forums and brand websites. These products minimize the appearance of pores and offer a smooth, matte, and polished finish that lasts up to 12 hours. Should the foundation be lighter or darker than your skin? Opt for a foundation one or two shades lighter than your skin tone. This allows the foundation to blend well with the contour shade and deliver a natural look. However, if you are only using foundation, match the sade with your skin tone. How long does a foundation stay on your skin? Foundations usually last for three to four hours on the skin. But, some long-wearing formulas stay put all day long. How do you apply foundation on dark skin? •  Apply primer to your face. •  Apply concealer under your eyes and on uneven spots. •  Pour a few drops of foundation onto your damp sponge. •  Dab the sponge on the skin and spread the foundation evenly. •  Pat the face with some translucent powder to set the foundation. Which dark skin foundation does not oxidize? The L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation does not oxidize. Does mixing foundation with moisturizer make it lighter? Yes. A light-colored moisturizer lightens the pigmentation of the foundation and makes it more blendable.

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