Long before South Asian women (and men!) dominated YouTube, Instagram, and the entertainment industry, brown girls like myself were all on their own to navigate makeup aisles. You guys know the struggle of trying to find the perfect foundation to match your skin color—I remember having to mix two different foundations to get the right shade. Don’t even get me started on finding an appropriate lip color to match my bronze skin. Today, more and more cosmetic brands are expanding their lines to celebrate South Asian skin—brands like Fenty Beauty, Morphe and more are diversifying their color palettes and I am here for it. But, a perfect foundation match isn’t the secret to a flawless face…color correcting is.
What is color correcting? Color correcting is a makeup technique where you use specific colored concealers on particular problem areas. The most common characteristics on South Asian skin are darker pigmentation under our eyes, our mouths, and also a darker forehead area. With color correcting, say goodbye to all of these skin discolorations!
You’re now probably wondering what color goes where on your face, and for that, we have to go back to art class and take a look at the color wheel.
Complementary colors cancel each other out and neutralize the skin. Take a look at your skin, and pick out the concerns you have—is it purple bags under your eye? Redness? Do you want to brighten something?
Once you’ve pinpointed what you’d like to cover up, here’s some tips on what color to use where.
Green
When looking at the color wheel, green is right across from the color red. This means a green color corrector is great to counterbalance redness. Redness generally includes blemishes, pimple scars, rashes or any other skin sensitivity.
Where is it generally applied?: apples of the cheeks, tips of the nose and chin.
Say goodbye to stubborn dark circles, bruises and tattoos. The red color corrector is a MUST for South Asians because it cancels out dark spots on dark skin tones. Deepica Mutyala’s Live Tinted recently released three multi sticks for eyes, lips, and cheeks that also balance out dark circles, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation, and it’s magical.
Where is it generally applied?: Under the eye region and any dark spots/discoloration areas.
Purple color correctors can help brighten dull skin, it’s great for people who want to revive their skin or conceal acne scars. The purple counteracts the yellow and creates a glowy effect.
Where is it generally applied?: Forehead, side of the face, jawline.
Other colors that people can correct with are yellows and pinks, but being the Indian bronze skin color that I am, those colors don’t work on my face and I tend to go for darker color correctors.
When it comes to application, that will depend on how big of an area you’ll need to cover. For smaller areas, I use my fingers or a small concealer brush, for larger areas, I use a beauty blender. Make sure to apply after the primer so you can create a seamless transition before applying foundation.
Holistic beauty trends are more prevalent than ever — that makes ayurvedic beauty brands incredibly sought-after, as well. Do you find yourself asking what your beauty products are actually made of? A lot of us even resort to food products for a skincare routine such as honey for face wash.
The term “Ayurvedic Beauty” is getting more recognition outside the South Asian world as well.
Ayurvedic beauty is coined upon the term “Ayurveda,” which originated in Hindu culture as the basis of utilizing the five life forms — air, water, ether, fire, and earth — to heal the human body.
Ayurvedic beauty brands focus on using herbs and natural ingredients to create their skincare range and consumers around the world are attracted to these natural products.
Scroll down to see some Ayurvedic beauty brands founded by South Asians.
Is your skin feeling a little dry this winter? Nourishing your skin with body oil will lend it the right amount of moisture — Soma Ayurvedic’s jasmine body oil can do that trick! Shop the oil, and their full line of products, here.
If you’re familiar with author and podcast Host, Jay Shetty, then you may have heard of his tea line, Sama Tea. Herbal teas provide many natural benefits. Has it been a stressful week? Try their lavender rose chamomile tea for some TLC. Check them out here.
Know the Netflix show “Ginny & Georgia?” Loved the actress’ fresh-looking skin? Sahajan Skincare is behind that glow! They’re a must-try, featured in both Vogue and Elle India. See their full range of products here.
This unique company showcases its brand with an emphasis on ‘holistic.’ Whether it’s bad hair days or excessive shedding, not only do Shaz and Kiks provide the products to help but also break down the science behind the problem. Go on your very own shopping spree by clicking here!
Looking for accessible ayurvedic beauty products? Look no further! Ranavat is now in Sephora. With a beauty line that covers both hair and skin, there’s something here for everyone. See for yourself here.
UMM Skincare is known for its brown sugar body scrub, made with natural ingredients, and Bakuchi oil known to improve signs of aging and hyperpigmentation. Try it for yourself by shopping here!
Are you looking for brown skin-friendly sunscreen filled with nutrients? Look no further. Inde Wild has its very own SPF 50, with natural substances such as liquorice extract and cica, and it’s a mineral SPF suitable for all skin types. See what the brand is all about and shop it here.
I’m always in the market for brown girl-friendly lipsticks, and ones that are made of natural ingredients are a huge plus. Mango People does just this with their unique lipstick colors that suit all brown skin tones. Try them out here!
Need to swap out your shampoo for something better? Try Kama Ayurveda’s Ayurvedic Hair cleaner, infused with a variety of herbs and pulses with key ingredients like vetiver, tulsi, rose, moong beans, and shikakai. They have a variety of products to choose from so start with your hair and keep shopping for more here!
According to Forest Essentials, night time is the best time for hydration. Check out their night cream, filled with nutrients to enrich your skin. You can shop their wide variety of products here.
Looking for a new face mask to try? AAVRANI has a variety of face masks and explains in detail when you should apply the mask during the week depending on your skin type. Take a look here!
Just getting into skincare and don’t know where to start? PRATIMA skincare has starter sets, with basics, that every woman can use such as vitamin C serum, essential oils, and collagen creams. Grab yours now by shopping here!
Struggling with hair care recently? Fable & Mane includes various hair oils in their collection that help grow and nourish your hair. Not only that, they have a scalp detox line as well — definitely worth checking out. See their full range of products here.
In a world that’s becoming more conscious of holistic living, embracing Ayurvedic beauty in your day-to-day is a step in the right direction, and these brands are here to help you get started.
