These cult-favorite labels are rewriting the rules of beauty — and your complexion deserves nothing less.

For decades, the beauty industry handed women with deeper skin tones a frustrating reality: limited shade ranges, ashy finishes, and foundations that oxidized into something unrecognizable by noon. That era is fading fast. Today, a new generation of brands — some legacy, some freshly Black-founded — is building inclusive lineups that don’t just include melanin-rich skin as an afterthought. They’re centering it.

Whether you’re hunting for a foundation that locks in seamlessly, a lip color that actually shows up, or a highlighter that radiates instead of disappears, these are the labels earning their place in vanity drawers everywhere.

Fenty Beauty: The Foundation Standard-Bearer

When Rihanna launched Fenty Beauty in 2017, the beauty world felt the disruption immediately. Forty foundation shades at launch sent a clear message — and the brand has only expanded since. What makes Fenty exceptional isn’t just the numbers; it’s the nuance. The Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation accounts for warm, cool, and neutral undertones within deep shade categories, meaning you’re not forced to mix and blend just to find your match. The Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer remains a community staple for its sheer, amplifying glow that translates beautifully across all complexions.

Best Picks: Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer

MAC Cosmetics: The Pro Artist’s Go-To

MAC has been a fixture in Black beauty communities long before inclusivity became a marketing buzzword. Professional makeup artists have reached for MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid Foundation for its richly pigmented, camera-ready finish that holds on deeper tones without fading. Its legendary lipstick range — including the iconic Ruby Woo — delivers color that photographs true and stays put. MAC’s broad concealer and foundation spectrum, particularly in warm and deep undertones, keeps it relevant across generations of beauty lovers.

Best Picks: Studio Fix Fluid Foundation, Ruby Woo Lipstick

Melanin-Made: Black Opal and Uoma Beauty

Two brands sit at the intersection of cultural pride and product excellence — and both deserve more recognition.

Black Opal was created specifically for women of color at a time when that mission was genuinely radical. Decades later, it remains one of the most dependable options for rich and deep undertones, with everyday formulas that stay accessible in price without compromising on performance. The True Color Foundation and Color Perfect Oil-Free Stick Foundation are cornerstones of the brand’s devoted following.

Uoma Beauty — whose name translates to “beautiful” in Igbo — brings that same spirit of representation to a bolder, trendier aesthetic. Founded by Sharon Chuter, the brand champions an ultra-inclusive shade range with pigments built to pop on deeper complexions. The Say What?! Ultra Creamy Concealer and I Am Lip Bar are standout products that reflect the brand’s commitment to doing melanin-rich beauty with intention.

Best Picks (Black Opal): True Color Foundation, Color Perfect Oil-Free Stick Foundation Best Picks (Uoma Beauty): Say What?! Ultra Creamy Concealer, I Am Lip Bar

Maybelline: The Drugstore Answer

Not every beauty moment calls for a splurge — and Maybelline proves that accessible doesn’t mean limited. The Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation has quietly become one of the most recommended drugstore options for deeper skin tones, offering a legitimate range and a breathable, pore-minimizing finish that holds up across the day. The Lifter Gloss adds a plumping shine that complements a wide range of lip shades without going chalky or dull. For a quick beauty run where quality still matters, Maybelline delivers.

Best Picks: Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation, Lifter Gloss

Pat McGrath Labs: The Luxury Glow-Up

If you’re ready to invest, Pat McGrath Labs is the destination. The British makeup artist turned mogul built a brand on unapologetically rich pigmentation — and it shows in every product. The Skin Fetish Highlighter was practically designed to glow on deeper complexions, while the MatteTrance Lipstick delivers the kind of saturated, velvety finish that turns heads. McGrath’s vision has always centered bold, dramatic beauty that refuses to go unnoticed.

Best Picks: Skin Fetish Highlighter, MatteTrance Lipstick

Tips for Choosing Melanin-Friendly Makeup

Shopping smarter starts with knowing a few fundamentals:

Know Your Undertone

• Warm undertones: golden, amber, or yellow hues
• Cool undertones: red, blue, or purple hues
• Neutral undertones: a balance of both

A quick trick: If veins on your wrist look more green, you might be warm. If they look blue or purple — cool. If you can’t distinguish — neutral.

Test in Natural Light Always try foundation swatches under daylight — indoor lighting can be misleading.

Sample First If possible, visit a makeup counter or order small samples online — many brands offer this.

The beauty industry still has work to do — but the options available right now for melanin-rich skin are better than they’ve ever been. The brands above aren’t just popular. They’re proven, praised, and built with the understanding that deep, rich, gorgeous skin deserves makeup that rises to meet it.