READER BEAUTY QUESTION - TINTED MOISTURIZER FOR DARK SKIN

My fabulous Fashion Stylist friend, Kalyn Johnson of the style blog "Possess Your Style" recently emailed me with a makeup emergency.  The tinted moisturizer that she loved and used for years has been discontinued so she needs recommendations for her deeper skin tone.  Her questions seemed liked a great "Reader Beauty Question" to feature on my blog since alot of women of color don't like to wear foundation but want some coverage. Tinted moisturizer gives women the moisture that their skin needs along with a sheer wash of color that blends beautifully.  See below for my top picks of tinted moisturizer for women with deeper skin tones.

PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS:

Alison Raffaele - Tinted Moisturizer in "Dark"  ($35)

Perfect for daytime, the minerals in this lightweight, oil-free moisturizer provide a natural, physical barrier against harmful UVA / UVB rays. Medium coverage with a matte finish.

Bobbi Brown - SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer  in "Dark Tint" & "Deep Tint"  ($40.00)
The perfect alternative to foundation for a more casual look. This tint of natural-looking color combined with sun protection blends smoothly over skin, and moisturizes while providing lightweight, comfortable, sheer coverage. Best for Normal to Dry skin types.

Laura Mercier - Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer Deeper shades: "Almond", "Caramel", "Tan", "Walnut" & "Mocha"  ($42)
This lightweight foundation that can be reapplied as necessary, offers sun protection for sensitive or acne prone skin, oil control, and provides hydration to prevent dryness.

Stila - Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15   Deeper shades: "Bronze", "Warm" "Deep" & "Dark" ($34) 
Reveal the true you with flawless, even-looking skin, with this light, barely-there coverage.  Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer is an instant skin illuminator, combining a tinted moisturizer with SPF 15, and provides barely-there coverage.

Smashbox - Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer  Deeper shades: "Medium" & "Dark"  ($30)
A lightweight, oil-free tinted moisturizer packed with vitamins and anti-aging peptides for naturally radiant skin. The formula nourishes as it absorbs excess oil throughout the day, and UVA/UVB SPF 15 guards against future damage so skin stays flawless and protected.

Boots No7 - Soft & Sheer Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15 in "Medium" & "Dark"  ($11.99)
The sheer wash of barely there color will give you a radiant natural glow and even out your skin tone. It contains SPF 15 sunscreen to help protect your skin from the aging effects of the sun and moisturizes for up to 12 hours.

mark - Get A Tint Tinted Moisturizer Lotion SPF 15  in "Almond/Mocha"  ($9)
A lightweight, oil-free moisturizer with just enough color to even out your skin tone and give the appearance of a healthy glow. The unique skin-balancing formula hydrates while it helps prevent shine in those spots prone to excess oil.


I hope this post helps not only Kalyn but other "Karen's World of Beauty Readers."  Please let me know if you have any beauty questions you'd like answered.  Feel free to email me directly or you can leave your question as a Comment to this post. Who knows...you might be featured in the next blog post featuring a "Reader Beauty Question!"

READER BEAUTY QUESTION - PURPLE LIPS

In this new installment of "Reader's Beauty Questions" my lovely friend and model muse, Shauna emailed me that she needed my professional guidance on purple lips.  She loved the look but wanted some direction on what colors to pick. Below are my "cream of the crop" choices when it comes to wearing purple on the lips - whether in gloss or lipstick.

(FYI: Purple lips "ruled the runway" at the Vena Cava spring 2010 show).

DEEP - use for dramaticly dark and seductive pout

Lipstick:

MAC "Cyber" - Intense blackish-purple (satin)

Victoria's Secret - Perfect Lipstick in "Vixen" - plum ($12)

Gloss:
Three Custom Color -  "Drifter" Lip Gloss for Rescue Beauty Lounge - a modern and sexy deep plum gloss. ($22.50)

Urban Decay - Pocket Rocket Gloss in "Jesse" -  blackberry with warm sparkle. ($19)

MEDIUM - bright/vibrant yet wearable level of color

Lipstick:
Tarte - Lipstick in "Zinfandel" - plummy wine ($16)

Givenchy - Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick in "10 Paradise Pink" - pink mauve  ($28)

Gloss:

Kat Von D. - Lightning Sheer Lip Gloss in "Bam" - sheer grape with pink and gold glitter (sale - $9)

 Estee Lauder - (Limited Edition) Bronze Goddess Exotic Lip Gloss in "Wild Orchid" ($18)

LIGHT - soft dose of color that's perfect for daytime

Lipstick:

MAC - Amplified Creme Lipstick in "Up The Amp" - Lavender violet ($14)

Benefit - Silky-Finish Lipstick in "Swoonderful" - pearl/ silver mauve  ($18)

Gloss:

Victoria's Secret - Limited Edition Spring 2010 Lip Gloss ($10)

Benefit - Lip Goss in "Kiss You" - clear fuchsia  ($18)

NEW FEATURE: READER BEAUTY QUESTION

I was recently on photo shoot with my talented photographer friend, Christine Austin, when she asked me a beauty question. I thought it was an interesting question that would make a good blog post. I also thought that if she had this question, possibly other Karen's World of Beauty Readers would benefit from the answer too.  Christine wanted to know all about lip stains so here's some brief info on what they are and what they do:

Lip stains are a cosmetic product designed to stain the lips with long-lasting color which will resist wear. Unlike lipstick, a stain does not contain wax -  it  temporarily stains and saturates the lips with color like a dye, rather than applying colored wax to the lips like with lipstick. Lip stains are usually created to be waterproof so that the color will be long lasting, smear resistant, wear unevenly, or not come off on your teeth.

There are generally two types of lip stains; the kind that come in a bottle or tube with an applicator to brush the color onto the lips or in a jar and you use your fingers or makeup brush to apply the stain. Most stains are matte so you can apply gloss or blam on top to provide sheen or moisture to the lips. Some cosmetic companies now create sets that include a stain paired with a gloss or lip plumper.

Christine is not much of a makeup wearer and she told me going into Sephora is overwhelming.  With so many cosmetic lines and various types of products it's easy to be confused. Christine has fair skin with a cool undertone and brown hair so the products listed below are ones I suggest for her coloring but note that all these brands offer a variety of shades. Choose a lip stain color that will best suit your own skintone and look most natural.

PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS:

Stila - Lip & Cheek Stain  ($24) - Yumberry Crush (sheer pearlized pink)
A multi-tasking lip and cheek stain, packaged in Stila's iconic clickable pen, that reacts to pH levels to create a perfectly personalized hue.

Benefit - Posietint  ($28)
Benefit's Posietint is a petal-pink stain that plants a kiss of see-through tint on cheeks and lips that last for hours.

 

Laura Mercier - Lip Stain ($20) - Shy Pink (light natural pink)

Laura Mercier Lip Stain provides the visual effect of a stain with the comfort and sheen of a lip gloss.

 

NARS - Lip Stain Gloss  ($24)  Rage (rose coral)
Soft shine and sheer color that gently stains the lips. Shades can be layered for added intensity.  

Tarte - Natural Lip Stain with LipSurgence™ Technology  ($24)  Enchanted (rose)
The old meets the new with LipSurgence™ technology which is clinically proven to increase moisture content so your lips appear naturally fuller and healthier. Like the cheek stains, each shade of these natural lip stains leaves a natural hint of tint that will last throughout the day.

 

Pixie - Lip Blush  ($18)  Purity (a natural pink tone)

This feather-light water stain tints and tones your lips, creating a blushing healthy hue.

Hope you all enjoyed this new Karen's World of Beauty Feature and please let me know if you have any beauty questions you'd like answered.  You can email me or leave your questions as a Comment to this post. If you do, you just might be featured in the next blog post of "Reader Beauty Question."