This post is sponsored by CVS Beauty; all opinions are 100% my own. The post also contains affiliate links which means I’ll make a few cents when you shop through my links [at no cost to you]; thanks for supporting the blog!
Growing up, I was one of very, few dark skin gals in my private school classes. I rarely saw models, actresses, or other prominent social figures who looked like me. And then, we got to middle school. Acne began to run wild and the concept of makeup entered into all of our adolescent minds. It was really hard to feel beautiful when brands and color ranges wouldn’t include my skin tone. I mean, if these products were supposed to accentuate your natural beauty, then was I just not beautiful enough to be included? No one should ever be forced to internalize that question.
And, that’s a big reason why I’m partnering with CVS Beauty today to share more about their Beauty Unaltered campaign and share my favorite shades, brands, and products who have embraced a growing number of skin tones. And, they’re all available at CVS and CVS.com.
#BeautyUnaltered
The Beauty Unaltered campaign was started by CVS Beauty last year. Its main goal is “to create new standards for beauty imagery” They are doing this by increasing the transparency around their images. If an image has been altered, it will clearly say so on the image. This industry desperately needed a wake-up call and as a content creator, I am heavily aware of the pressure to look model perfect in all my images.
CVS is dedicated to making sure that all imagery advertising beauty products in the beauty aisles of CVS are totally transparent. Most of the beautiful images that line the makeup displays will have the “Beauty Unaltered” or “Digitally Altered” stamps to clearly indicate if the photo has been retouched or not. None of my photos have been altered because I 100% believe in the good that this campaign will do for how we individually view our own beauty. And yes, that means I put the presets aside and let the images shine on their own!
Building Your Fall Makeup Look + My Favorite Products for Darker Complexions!
Thanks to CVS, I was able to stock up on some new fall shades to create the warm tone makeup look that I love. As a graduate student living in New York City, a majority of my makeup routine can be found in the aisles of CVS. I highly recommend joining the CVS Beauty Club which is a super quick way to earn rewards on beauty products that you’re gonna buy anyway. You get $3 back for every $30 you spend which adds up so quick!
Step 1: Find the base that works for you.
One of my biggest tips for creating a makeup look that withstands the test of time is to utilize a face primer or base. I’ve been using the NYX Studio Perfect Photo Loving Primer for years. My skin looks so smooth even without my foundation which is a great way to go makeup-free and embrace the natural look. I love that it’s a clear formulation so that I don’t have to worry about the chalky white cast that some primers leave behind.
Step 2: Face Makeup That Fits You
Face makeup is probably the hardest to nail down. When you get that perfect combination, it’s truly like magic. I feel like I’ve talked about the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation [shade 355] since I started this blog. But, it is truly my favorite liquid foundation that I’ve ever tried. It comes in 40 shades and the formulation is full coverage without being chalky or drying. I’ve also seen people rave about L’oreal True Match which also has a ton of different shades.
I’ve also recently fell in love with the Revlon PhotoReady Candid Concealer [Shade 60]. It comes in several different shades and is full coverage and stays put all day long. I wasn’t a huge concealer person before moving to NYC, but the environment can be brutal on the skin. I love that this concealer also has anti-pollution and antioxidant ingredients that are perfect for bracing the elements.
To get that radiant and warm glow that I love, a baked bronzer or blush is the key. I always get loads of compliments when I use these products. My current favorite is the Milani Baked Bronzer in Soleil. It is that beautiful golden bronzer that looks like perfection. I don’t have a favorite blush at the moment, but I can say that any shade of plum with the same golden, radiant undertones will do the job wonderfully. You can try this one also from Milani.
Step 3: Eyes and Lips
So, when I think fall, I think warm tones. The great thing about darker skin tones is that we can rock pretty much every color of the rainbow. I’m a plain Jane and stick with neutrals. BUT, neutrals don’t have to be boring and I love playing with shimmer and bold lips. I think the key to finding your perfect eye look is to nail the everyday go-to neutral look and just switch up the colors. I loved trying out The Nudes Palette from Maybelline. It made trying different color combinations so easy. There’s a literal guide for the palette on the back that will walk you through 13 different color combinations.
Lips are probably my favorite part of my makeup routine and can be so much fun to take bold risks, especially with the deep shades of fall tones. I’m personally a big fan of the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Lip Colors in the shades Amazonian and Believer. Plums, deep browns, and nudes are quite frankly the prettiest looks and perfect for darker skin colors. My all-time favorite lip products are the Maybelline Color Sensational lip colors in Toasted Truffle, Touch of Spice, Crazy for Coffee, and Raging Raisin. These are the perfect fall and winter shades for pretty much any skin tone, but my dark skin gals will love them.
Step 4: Long and Plush Lashes
I’ve never had super, long lashes, but recently I’ve been trying an eyelash primer and I 10/10 would recommend trying one out. A ton of the beauty brands have one including this one from L’Oreal Paris and this one from Covergirl. My favorite drugstore mascaras to coat my lashes with are the Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara for volume [a blast from the past, am I right?] and Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara for Length.
Step 5: Nails, Nails, Nails
I am really bad at doing my own nails, but I picked up the perfect fall nudes and I can’t wait to try them out. I’m loving the Less is Aura and Exposed from Essie. I love having a go-to nude, pink with warm undertones in my nail polish collection and the fun olive green in the shade ‘exposed’ is just going to be a fun little touch of fall!
So, those are all my tips and product picks for building a warm-toned, golden fall LEWK. I personally love accentuating the natural colors and tones in my skin and eyes. It’s taken me years to find and pick my favorite products.
What are your favorite products to get at CVS? Any skincare that I should look out for?! I’m starting to really get into that niche and want some products to try! Also, let me know if you see the Beauty Mark on images in your local CVS! Sound off in the comments below and let me know!
keep on keepin’ on,
