Nationwide — There are so many makeup brands out there that claim to have the best foundation for dark skin—but do they really? You go to the store to pick something up only to find out a certain brand has just ten different shades. It’s frustrating, but you pick what’s closest to your tone, and you head home to try it on. In most cases, your choice is either too runny or cakey, or it don’t absorb and mesh with your skin.
15 Best Foundations for Dark Skin Tones:
1. NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation
$49 | 20 Shades
Promising to stay put for 16 hours, this is a full-coverage foundation with a weightless feel.
2. Black Up Matifying Fluid Foundation
$42 | 18 Shades
This foundation provides medium coverage with a natural finish. The formula immediately takes on the matte effect, rebalancing oily skin.
3. Cover FX Custom Cover Drops
$44 | 25 Shades
Revolutionary drops of pure pigment allow you to transform your makeup products to your taste. Add Cover FX Custom Cover Drops to moisturizer to make it tinted or create your ideal foundation.
4. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
$64 | 34 Shades
This award-winning product is an oil-free liquid foundation that blurs imperfections. It’s definitely on the pricier side, but it’s worth it for its full coverage and stunning finish.
5. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r
$34 | 40 Shades
Rihanna’s brand makes our list for its diverse shades and moderate price. This one can be too dry for some but allows for a buildable coverage level.
6. Becca Ever-Matte Shine Proof Foundation
$42 | 20 Shades
Made with microfine powder particles to soak up excess oil, this foundation will keep your skin in check and leave you with a shine-free matte finish.
7. Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Wear Foundation
$47 | 40 Shades
It took Lancôme 8 years to develop this foundation. Made for long days where you don’t have time to retouch, this product maintains your skin’s pH level without creasing or caking.
8. Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation
$43 | 40 Shades
Originally created for women in the TV and film industry, this foundation will make your skin look flawless.
9. L’Oréal True Match Super-blendable Foundation
$11 | 43 Shades
An innovator in bringing shade-matching technology to foundation makeup, L’Oréal wanted to develop shades that match unique skin tones—and this is the result.
10. Urban Decay Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup
$40 | 26 Shades
You’ll feel like you’re wearing nothing despite having a full-coverage finish.
11. Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation
$40 | 40 Shades
This is an ultra-buildable foundation to give you either a glow or a high-coverage finish.
12. Iman Cosmetics Second to None Luminous Foundation
$16 | 14 Shades
Formulated with moisturizing jojoba ester, this foundation nourishes and leaves you with a long-lasting matte finish.
13. ElcíE Micro Silque Foundation
$45 | 12 Shades
Gluten-free and vegan, this is a buildable lightweight foundation that works for any skin type. It’s made to leave your face feeling flawless, hydrated, and smooth.
14. Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation
$50 | 30 Shades
Water-based and oil-free, Bobbi Brown’s foundation delivers undetectable coverage for a fresh, hydrated glow.
15. Black/Opal True Color Pore Perfecting Foundation
$11 | 12 Shades
Formulated with shea butter to help soothe and hydrate skin, this foundation provides light to medium coverage.
A lot of these brands have a custom shade matcher on their website. You can tell them what products and shades you’ve used in the past, and the tool will match it to a shade the company offers.