We all have very different opinions about what makes the perfect foundation, whether you prefer a sheer skin tint or something high-coverage, or a dewy or matte finish. And for me, as someone with a deeper skin tone, making sure the formula I opt for has a wide shade range is at the top of my criteria for what makes a truly good foundation.

I mean, as a beauty writer, I’ve tested a lot of different formulas, all claiming to have amazing coverage and longevity. However, finding a base product with an extensive shade range that won’t leave me looking ashy has been a challenge over the years. But never fear, as I come bearing good news—2026’s foundation selection has more choices than ever for those of us with dark skin. And whether you have dry or oily skin, are looking for an affordable buy or planning to splurge that bit of extra cash on a luxury formula, I've endured years of testing, swatching, and comparing the most popular foundations so that you don’t have to.

Keep scrolling below; I’ve rounded up the nine best foundations to shop in 2026, all of which come approved by a beauty writer with dark skin.

The Best Foundations for Dark Skin

• Best Overall: Fenty Soft'lit Naturally Luminous Foundation, £35
• Best Luxury: Gucci Éternité De Beauté Spf15 Foundation, £51
• Best Affordable: L'Oréal Paris True Match Liquid Foundation, £12
• Best for Dry Skin: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation, £54
• Best for Oily Skin: Dior Forever Skin Wear Foundation, £52

The 9 Best Foundations for Dark Skin, According to a Beauty Writer

1. Fenty Beauty Soft'lit Naturally Luminous Longwear Foundation

2. Gucci Éternité De Beauté Spf15 Foundation

3. L'Oréal Paris True Match Liquid Foundation

4. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation

4. Dior Forever Skin Wear Foundation

5. Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Foundation

6. Clinique Even Better™ Makeup SPF15 Foundation

7. Refy Skin Base Skin Tint

8. ILIA Beauty Skin Rewind Complexion Stick

9. MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation

Loyal fans of Fenty Beauty might remember a certain body shimmer that launched back in 2018. It was called Body Lava, and it gave the skin a sun-kissed sheen and a subtle, skin-perfecting tint. I don't know anyone who doesn't want a post-holiday look like that, so it's no surprise that it earned a lot of hype. Like, a lot. The only problem was that it was released in limited runs. If you didn't get your hands on a bottle before it sold out, well, you had to go without it entirely.

The good news is that Fenty Beauty just rereleased the iconic Body Lava Body Luminizer (£46). The great news is that it's now available in four new shades. But I wouldn't wait around to snag a bottle (or four) for yourself, because it's a limited-edition drop and it's bound to sell out again. Trust me, you won't want to miss out on this. It's glowing, beach-goddess skin, bottled. Keep scrolling!

Rihanna is known for her red carpet glow. It seems this is the exact product she uses to achieve it. "I'm all about head-to-toe radiance," she said in a press release. "Body Lava is that post-vacay glow in a bottle that you can have year-round."

Fenty Beauty Body Lava Body Luminizer

Summer is (almost) here— which means sandals, straw bags, and sunglasses are back—and so are summer makeup looks. 'Tis the season to break out the bronzers, highlighters, peachy-toned blushers, and dewy skin tints, and I'm more excited than ever. Mostly because, in anticipation of a new season (and therefore the opportunity to shake up my go-to makeup looks), I've been busy stalking my Instagram feed, saving celebrity summer makeup looks to my 'makeup ideas' folder for inspiration.

As much as I wish I was an experimental makeup kinda gal, it always helps me to have a visual reference, especially when trying a new look for the first time. From Em Ratajowski's sunkissed cheeks to Zoe Kravitz's smudged cat-eye liner, these celebrity-approved summer makeup looks are certain to inspire your creativity this year. Plus, I've pulled together some on-trend product recommendations to help you pull these looks together.

From fresh takes on glowing skin to the coolest new ways to wear blusher, scroll on for the best celebrity summer makeup looks I've spotted this year.

1. Lilac Liner

Bright, colourful eyeliner has long since been one of my favourite ways to express my makeup creativity—especially for summer. Paired with bronzed skin and a neutral lip, it really is *chef's kiss*. However, if the idea of using a coloured liner is not really within your comfort zone, take your cue from Ms Bieber and experiment with the trend using a muted shade, such as lilac or baby pink. This pale shimmering purple is super subtle but instantly eye brightening. 

Keep the rest of your makeup fairly muted and neutral to allow the liner to take centrestage—a tinted lip balm, just a touch of blusher and bronzer, and a clear brow gel are all you need to complete this look.

Get the look:

2. Draped Blush

It's official, 2023 really is the year of blusher—as proven here by Lizzo in a look that is all about the cheeks. You may have already heard of blush draping, a technique which sees blusher applied along the cheekbones rather than solely on the apples of the cheeks. Similarly to contouring, this helps to lift the cheekbones and elongate the face. It's easy to achieve and looks great on everyone.

Again, because this look is colour-heavy, try to keep the rest of your makeup neutral. Take a leaf from Lizzo's book and opt for natural-looking faux lashes, a brown toned matte lip, and immaculately groomed brows.

Get the look:

3. Fresh Faced

I'm every bit as obsessed with Sofia Richie's honeymoon makeup as I was with her wedding makeup. This fresh-faced natural look is exactly what I'll be wearing on hot summer's days, because layers of foundation and concealer is not it. To achieve this no makeup-makeup look, a subtly tinted base, a dewy lip balm, clear brow gel, and cream blusher is all you need.

Get the look:

4. Orange Pop

When it comes to glam, evening-appropriate makeup looks for summer, you can always count on the Kardashians for inspiration. I'm honestly obsessed with everything about this look—the lashes, the brows, the matte lip, the slicked back hair, and of course, the fun pop of orange pigment.

Again, this is a really great way to experiment with colourful makeup without needing a 16-pan eyeshadow palette and 15 different eyeshadow brushes. In fact it's so easy, you could even use your fingers to apply the pop of colour. Add lashes, a liquid lip, and a soft dusting of bronzer, and you're done.

Get the look:

5. Soft Cat-Eye

I've lost count of how many images of Zoe Kravitz's eyeliner looks I've saved on Instagram—she gets it right, every single time. The secret to pulling off this look is a super sharp pencil eyeliner, applied with a tightlining technique so as to appear as soft and natural as possible. To tightline, you'll want to angle your liner upwards into your lashline, applying pigment in amongst the roots of your lashes rather than above them.

Ensure that your entire lashline is covered, then extend downwards a little in your inner corners and upwards in the outer. This look isn't about precision, so don't worry if your flick isn't perfect. Finish by using a precision smudging brush to soften the liner and blend out the cat-eye.

Get the look:

6. Sunkissed Sheen

If summer could be summed up in one makeup look, it would be this one. Glowing skin, bronzed cheeks, and strategically placed highlighter really are the holy trifecta of summer makeup.

Although Hilary's sunkissed skin looks totally natural, this look is heavy on the bronzer. Use a matte product to sculpt, followed by a shimmery formula to add warmth where the sun hits, and finally, a cream highlighter to add sheen to the high points of the face.

Get the look:

7. Faux Glow

Whilst we'd certainly never advocate sunburned skin, it has to be said that a skin faux sunkissed effect is majorly trending in makeup this summer. Whether you use a blusher or a bronzer, all else you need is a large fluffy brush to recreate this look—just dust the pigment loosely over your cheeks and nose.

Get the look:

8. Peachy Bronze

Speaking of peach, when it comes to blusher and bronzer, we're seeing warm, orange-toned products taking centre stage in so many celebrity makeup looks this year. The great thing about a peachy cheek product is that you can also use it as eyeshadow, which is a great way to tie your look together. Throw a matching lipstick into the look à la Rochelle Humes, and your look is complete.

Get the look:

Next Up: I Tried Hailey Bieber's Exact Blusher, and My Skin Has Never Looked So Glowy

There’s one thing that nearly everyone wants: skin that looks like it’s been under the hands of a skincare professional every week. But the fact is as much as we love a facial or spa day, good skincare starts with our everyday skincare routine. The good news? From the order of applying products to how to cleanse properly, no matter what your maintenance level, there are some easy skincare rules we can all put into practice that will instantly improve our routines and skin.

Whether you consider yourself a skincare pro or you’re a total newbie, you can always benefit from some expert advice, and who better to ask than a dermatologist? Quite literally the world’s skincare experts, dermatologists have devoted their lives to the study of skin. They know the products and ingredients that are best suited to your particular skin type and concerns, and they can also take one look at your skin and know exactly which skincare mistakes you’re making and how to fix them.

Since it’s not always easy to get face time with the experts, we’ve done the hard work for you and spoken to some leading dermatologists in order to discover their top skincare rules. The following tips and tricks will help you score clear, healthy skin with just a few tiny tweaks. You're welcome!

1. Less Is More

Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. In fact, sometimes it means the opposite. Overly elaborate skincare routines can mean ingredient contraindications, which can render your products ineffective or worse cause unpleasant skin reactions.

"You don’t need to have a 10-step skincare routine to get a benefit from your skincare regime,” says dermatologist Sonia Khorana. "Streamlining your routine by using fewer but smarter products is definitely the way forward.” So what ingredients are essential to your daily skincare routine? According to Khorana, a broad-spectrum sunscreen, an antioxidant (such as vitamin C) in the morning and a retinoid in your evening routine. "These three ingredients are the absolute bare-bones essentials for any skincare routine,” she advises.

Shop the products:

2. Never Skip Your Evening Cleanse

"Always cleanse at night,” says consultant dermatologist Zainab Laftah. "Dead skin cells, sebum, pollution and impurities accumulate on the skin during the day, which can lead to blocked pores and comedones.” If you wear makeup, then it’s especially important to follow this rule since makeup that’s left on skin will further clog pores and in doing so reduces the efficacy of any skincare products you apply.

When you do wash your face, Khorana recommends using lukewarm water, not hot water. "Hot water can do more harm than good,” she advises. "It strips the skin of sebum, healthy fats and oils (cholesterol, fatty acids, ceramides), which are necessary for skin health, and this compromises the skin barrier function.” 

To wash off a day’s worth of makeup, sweat and dirt, remove the bulk of makeup with a micellar water before beginning your cleanse proper. Try adopting the double-cleansing technique, which sees an oil-based cleanser used first to break down any oily substances on the skin, then a gel or foaming face wash to remove any remaining residue.

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3. SPF Is for Life, Not Just for Summer

Ask any dermatologist for their top skincare tip, and the importance of wearing SPF daily will be the first thing they say. "I recommend daily sunscreen use all year round to my patients to help protect against skin cancer, treat uneven pigmentation and for its anti-ageing benefits,” says Khorana. "You should wear it regardless of the weather because UV rays can still pass through cloud cover. UVA rays are present all year round. As long as there’s daylight, there’s UVA.”

According to Laftah, wearing SPF daily will significantly help to achieve more even-toned skin. "The longer UVA wavelength, which penetrates through glass and clouds, can damage the skin and result in pigmentation and redness,” she says. But of course, consistent application and the quality of the product used make all the difference. To really see results, she recommends daily application of a broad-spectrum SPF 50 with five-star rating throughout the year, not just in summer.

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4. Don't Forget Your Neck

It’s all too easy to focus on the face, but your skin has the same needs all over, and your neck is often one of the first areas of your body where you’ll notice those telltale signs of skin ageing: fine lines and loose skin. According to Khorana, this is because the skin on our neck is thinner and has fewer sebaceous glands. "It is often also a neglected area, which is why it's prone to showing those early signs of ageing and sun damage,” she adds. 

Of course, the beauty industry has delivered an entire category of serums and creams specifically designed to be used on the neck, but if you don’t want to add an extra step to your routine, then simply make sure you’re applying the same products you use on your face to the neck and décolletage. Hydrating serums and moisturisers will help to counteract extra dryness in this area, and antioxidant serums will help to stimulate collagen and elastin production to keep skin smooth and prevent it from creasing. It goes without saying that SPF is also an essential one, especially if you’re focussed on targeting ageing skin. 

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5. Change Your Skincare Routine Seasonally

Yes, consistency is key, but it’s important to listen to your skin and adapt your routine when you notice changes such as increased dryness or oiliness, which suggest that skin is becoming imbalanced. Most people will witness this when temperatures drop in the winter months. "Rapid fluctuations in temperature can take a toll on our skin,” says Khorana. "As it gets colder and the humidity levels drop, loss of hydration kicks in.”

Laftah agrees, "The harsh cold weather and wind can cause havoc on the skin during the winter months. This escalates water loss thus compromising the skin barrier function leading to skin dryness, itchiness and scaling.” The solution to winter skin dryness? According to Khorana, gentler cleansers, extra care for dry areas like the hands and lips, and thicker moisturisers. "Look for ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid as key ingredients,” she advises. "And stay away from exfoliating too often.”

Shop the products:

Up Next: Dermatologists Say These Products Are Not Worth Splashing On—But These 3 Are

Trending makeup looks can sometimes be so divisive—what works for someone else doesn't always work for you, and vice versa. But this year, some of the biggest and best makeup trends are trending precisely because they're so wearable, so easy to achieve, and because they look great on everyone. So don't be put off if you're used to lists of makeup trends that require 53683 products and a 20-step tutorial to achieve. This year's trending makeup looks are some of the most low maintenance and universally flattering we've seen in a while.

If you're in a bit of a makeup rut or looking for quick and easy ways to upgrade and elevate your everyday makeup look, now's the time to hit refresh and try something different.

From wearable takes on eyeliner to trending lip looks that are seriously low maintenance, scroll down for major makeup inspiration. 

1. Soft Eyeliner

Brown is the new black when it comes to eyeliner—offering a softer and more subtle alternative to harsh wings. It's still a great way to subtly enhance your eye shape and define your lash line, but has a more delicate effect, perfect for day time wear or no makeup-makeup looks.

Get the look:

2. One-Wash Eyeshadow

If you're still using five different shades of eyeshadow and a cut crease technique, put down your brushes. These days, eyeshadow looks are much more low maintenance. Think: fun, creative, messy, apply-with-your-fingertips eyeshadow that doesn't require hours spent blending and buffing.

Get the look:

3. Radiant Skin

Glowing skin will always be in, because who doesn't want their complexion to look fresh and healthy? Sofia Richie's wedding makeup looks were goals in so many ways, but her skin really was the star of the show. The secret? Cream-based makeup products, which meld seamlessly with skin for a 'your skin but better' effect.

Get the look:

4. Bold Lips

Minimal makeup looks are certainly trending, which means that when it comes to pulling a look together, a good strategy to have is to keep either the eyes or the lips as the focus—never both. If you opt for a bold lip, keep eye makeup minimal—brushed up brows and brown mascara will let a strong red lip take centrestage.

Get the look:

5. Stand-Out Lashes

Likewise, if you prefer the focus of your look to be on the eyes, opt for a nude lip which subtly enhances your natural lip colour and doesn't detract from your eye makeup. This look is all about the lashes—apply your eyeliner in a cat-eye shape in order to emphasise them and don't forget to apply mascara to the lower lashline to bring the final look together.

Get the look:

7. Glossy Lips

Since lip oils are undoubtedly the trending lip product of the moment, it makes sense that glossy, dewy lips are a major makeup trend right now. As well as being the perfect accompaniment to a fresh-faced, natural-looking makeup look, we love this trend because it's so low maintenance.

Get the look:

8. Pastel Eyeliner

If you want to lean into and embrace your creative side while still keeping your makeup in-line with the more minimal trend, consider a slick of bold pastel eyeliner. It's a fun way to elevate your everyday makeup for date night or a party.

Get the look:

8. Extended Eyeliner

Extending your eyeliner at the outer corner of your eye is a classic makeup artist-approved trick for creating the appearance of wider eyes—but did you know that extending liner in the inner corner too has the same effect? Whether you use a bright coloured liner or opt for a classic brown or black, this technique works every time.

Get the look:

9. Stained Lips

Gone are the days of perfectly applied matte lipstick and lip liner. Stained lips are another popular makeup trend right now—mostly because this effect is easy to achieve, doesn't require constant top-ups, and looks good on everyone, no matter what your lip size or shape.

Get the look:

Next Up: 8 Celebrity-Approved Makeup Looks I'll Be Trying Out This Summer

When daily commutes to the office were more of a regular thing, the best part of my morning routine was easily putting on my makeup. Beyond the transformational aspect, for me, applying it is also downright therapeutic. But, as working from home became the new norm, my makeup collection understandably started to collect dust. Until very recently, it's been almost a year since I picked up a blending brush and thoroughly dove into my eye shadow palettes. I used to relish experimenting with different colours and glittery textures, but admittedly my skills have become a little rusty. To ease into the full swing of vibrant eye shadow looks I decided to turn to something a little more beginner-friendly. 

Colourful eyeliner has all of the fun of eye shadow, yet significantly easier to put together than blending five different types of shadows. I found that I could let my imagination run wild and create spontaneous, playful looks without closely following a tutorial. Basically, a colourful eyeliner is a foolproof way to do something creative with fewer tools. I turned to Instagram for some inspiration to jumpstart my own creativity and dream up a few different looks. Below, I'm outlining the five go-to liner looks I've been loving to wear lately. They range from experimental to more subdued and wearable, but nonetheless, all are 100% fun. 

1. Aquamarine Dream

Shades of blue and green really just do it for me, so when I spotted this shade from Too Faced's Killer Liner collection I knew it would be a product I'd use to the last bit. Along with claims of being waterproof, this liner boasts 36-hour wear. While I didn't keep it on for that long (I can't stand not washing my face at night), it never budged after a full day outside in the blistering heat. The matte aqua colour is so striking, so I settled for a more nuanced look playing with negative space lines. 

Get the look:

2. Painterly Lids

Sourcing makeup inspo from Instagram is one of my favourite hobbies. My saved folder features dozens of looks I intend on recreating later—including this image from Who What Wear favourite fashion girl Imani Rudolph. After seeing it, I just knew I had to give it a go for myself. For this, I applied Glossier's Skywash in a chartreusy green called Lawn. And while not a liner per se, it's definitely more so a product that works best alone versus layered with shadow. With a few tweaks, I was able to get the abstract effect I wanted. 

Get the look:

3. Glistening Glitter

When a muted look is the goal, a simple shimmering swatch of liner really saves the day. It's more amped up than a solid black liner but also subtle enough that is not immediately the first thing people will notice. Marc Jacobs' gel liners are a great candidate for this type of look because the formula isn't harsh with the level of glitter, and the shades are super flattering for any skin tone. Consider it a little highlight for the eyes. 

Get the look:

4. Layered Liner

It should be clear by now that I can't resist graphic liner. I put my own twist on this layered cat-eye look by moving it above the crease for added drama. By chance I combined this orange shade from Ciate London with Fenty Beauty's Cute Ting matte pink liner and it was a gamble I think that paid off. The colour payoff from the Fenty Beauty liners were especially impressive—once I started applying it, I really didn't want to stop.

Get the look:

5. Blue Spectrum 

You know the feeling of when a product you absolutely love gets discontinued out of the blue? Yeah, that was me when Dior discontinued its Dior Addict It-Liner. I have worn the hell out of the blue shade for years, to the point where not a single drop can further be extracted. For this look, I leaned on my old favourite and added a few more complementary hues for a full spectrum of blues. This look lies more on the experimental side, but when I tell you it's a compliment magnetic, it's the truth.

Get the look:

Next: I Just Tried the 10 Most Popular Beauty Products on TikTok.

When Rihanna launched Fenty Beauty in September 2017, it made a huge impact on the beauty industry. In its first 40 days, the brand reportedly made $100 million (around £80 million) in sales and it has since enjoyed continued global success, hardly surprising since none of us can get enough of the wide range of products. Not only that, but it also changed the face of the industry as we knew it, raising standards of inclusivity with its 40 shades of foundation and challenging its competitors to make this the new normal. 

Now, almost three years on, we’re being spoilt by RiRi with another launch today— Fenty Skin—and we are so ready. Here’s everything we know about it so far…

The singer’s expansion into skincare may not come as a huge surprise to some hardcore fans out there. Rumours have been circulating since Rihanna applied for a trademark early last year which gave us the first clues as to what might be involved. The application cited "medicated and non-medicated skincare, soap, bodycare and personal care products… and related accessories such as kits, tools and applicators.” But now, the wait is finally over.

Rihanna said in a post to the brand’s Instagram page, "‪I’ve been working on @fentyskin for over two years, perfecting formulas and creating packaging that is kind to our planet!! Formulas that work, and work well with makeup!!! Everything starts with the foundation that is your skin and we all know how obsessed I am with beautiful, healthy skin—so whether you want to wear makeup or no makeup at all, there’s always glowing skin underneath” which sounds like she’s sticking to her formula-led, no-nonsense style. Plus sustainable packaging? We’re sold. 

From recent videos posted on social media, it looks likely there will at least be a foamy cleanser, serum and moisturiser in the mix. The other big piece of news we know, although it shouldn’t come as a surprise, is that Rihanna is planning on shaking up the game again with her products being aimed at both women and men.

She’s even got ASAP Rocky and Lil Nas X starring in the launch campaign. Replying to a fan on Twitter, she said: "Whoever told you skincare has a gender, lied to you!” Those shared-bathroom cabinets are about to get a lot more streamlined and we are absolutely okay with it. Right now, you can get hold of the Fenty Skin cleanser, toner, and SPF, and for those of us outside of the U.S., don’t worry—the brand ships to the UK.

Keep scrolling to shop the current available Fenty Skin products and then keep going for our favourite makeup picks. 

Shop Fenty Beauty

Up next, everyone I know with amazing skin uses this one scientific product. 

Opening Image: Getty Images

Lipstick can make you feel a lot of positive things—powerful, polished, put-together. But one negative thing it can make you feel is self-conscious over the brightness of your teeth. (Just me? Okay.) Why is it that some lip colours make your teeth feel sparkling white and some make your teeth feel less than their best? To get to the bottom of this, I reached out to my dentist, Dustin Cohen of The Practice of Beverly Hills, to find out why. His explanation was actually quite simple: The key to making your teeth look whiter is all in the colour's undertones. "All makeup colours are really based off three colours: blue, yellow, and red," Cohen explains. "Lipsticks that have more of a blue base will appear cooler in colour, which is best for making your teeth look whiter. Blue will contrast and counteract the natural yellow tones of the teeth."

So what does the opposite and make your teeth look more yellow? "Lipsticks with a yellow component will appear warmer, and lipsticks with red undertones will be the warmest—not exactly what you want to reflect on your teeth. Teeth generally have colours like yellow in them already, so when you use a lipstick with a warm undertone, it will accentuate the yellow of your teeth."

Sounds easy enough, right? But how can you tell which products have a blue undertone? Just follow Cohen's advice: "In order to figure out whether the shades of lipstick you are trying to choose between have a cool blue undertone or a warmer undertone, rub some lipstick on the back of your hand or on a white tissue. If you compare the two shades side by side, you will be able to see which one is cooler in colour. The one that is cooler is your winner! You can also compare the lipstick to something that is a true blue colour and a true yellow colour. If the lipstick blends better with the blue, then it will help to make your teeth appear brighter and whiter.”

Well, there you have it. The key to red lipstick that makes your teeth look whitest is actually blue. To make life a bit easier, I did the research for you on some of my favourite makeup brands and found the 15 best red lipsticks with cool undertones, each of which I've shopped out below for you. Here's to brighter teeth all around!

Shop red lipsticks with blue undertones:

Related: We've All Noticed This Is the Fashion-Girl Way to Wear Red Lipstick

Related: It's Unanimous: These Are Officially the Best Red Lipsticks That Money Can Buy

Next up, Victoria Beckham just revealed the £9 toothpaste she always uses.