Joys of buying from black owned cosmetics brands – I always am sure to find the right shade if I buy foundation from a black owned brand. I switched from MAC’s foundation studio tech (which broke me out horribly and wasn’t exactly a great match) to Iman’s second to none cream to powder foundation a couple of years ago. I was thrilled to find my exact foundation match (no breakouts either)! The company understands that all lighter skinned women are not just a flat “tan” color. We are different hues folks! Even when the summer came, I was able to easily find another color to match my sun kissed tone. I also love the fact that black owned brands get the blotting powder color right. I asked for blotting powder at an Estee Lauder counter and I looked like Casper, but Iman’s blot powder keeps me oil free and BROWN.
In addition to always finding my hue, I receive great customer services and the owners are quite accessible. I was given great advice about a foundation match my celebrity makeup artist, AJ Crimson via Instagram. I think that may be because the companies are smaller, therefore they can really focus on their customers.
Struggles of buying from black owned cosmetic brands- I can’t always find black owned makeup brands in stores. Once I started buying Iman’s products (mascara, foundations, powder, eye shadows), her items were yanked from the store. So if I run out of something, I can’t just run and pick it up. I have to order my items in advance so I don’t every run out of my favorite foundation and powder combo.
