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7 Stellar Makeup Brands for Dark Skin

Still searching for the perfect match? These beauty brands have the widest range of shades that look gorge on darker skin tones
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Make Up For Ever
"They have amazing cheek and eye colors in everything from bright jewel-tones to neons," says Denno. For a bold, jewel-toned shadow, try Make Up For Ever Iridescent Eye Shadow in Metallic Navy Blue or Peacock Green, $21.

For a neon look, try Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in a bright shade like Turquoise, $23. The formula works especially well on darker skin tones because of the soft, moisture-infused texture. "Anything too powdery can look dry and ashy," Denno explains on the benefits of using a creamy formula.

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Fashion Fair
In addition to playing with bold lipsticks, Denno says, "glosses with a lot of deep pigment are great as well." Fashion Fair, which was created in 1973 specifically for dark skin tones, has a line of long-lasting lip tints called Capsule Lip Teasers, $18, in punchy shades like Chocolate Raspberry. They're perfect for days when you don't want to commit to reapplying lipstick every hour.

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Becca
When you want a more natural look, these sheer formulas are blendable and work to flatter darker skin tones in a subtle way, rather than appearing painted on. "A cheek color in an intense but sheer purple, magenta, hot pink, orange or even red can look amazing," Denno says. "But always [use] a cream or gel formula, otherwise it will look ashy."

Becca Beach Tint, $42, comes in a range of red and pink shades like Papaya, Lychee and Raspberry that can be blended onto cheeks and lips with fingers or a brush.

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NARS
"I always like something with a little shimmer or sparkle around the eye in a deep blue, brown or black liner," Denno says of creating the perfect natural smoky eye on dark skin tones. Try smudging NARS Night Series Eyeliner, $24, into the lashes. These pencils have micro-pearls for a hint of shimmer in navy and black shades like Night Bird and Night Clubbing.

Denno's go-to tip: Dip your eye shadow brush in water and apply wet shadows onto lids -- you'll get saturated color that really stands out.

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L'Oreal Paris
The True Match foundation gets Queen Bey's stamp of approval, but the brand also has an impressive line of options for eyes, cheeks and lips. Try the Visible Lift Blur Blush, $12.99 -- it's a double-duty formula that adds a hint of creamy, blendable color, while erasing the appearance of fine lines.

Plus, the Makeup Genius app lets you test out the colors virtually to find your favorite shade before you buy.

BY MARISSA DESANTIS | AUG 4, 2014 | SHARES
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