High-end cosmetics

    There’s definitely a greater recognition in beauty these days that there’s obviously a need for products that suit a variety of skin tones. The Black|Up, a luxurious cosmetics line aimed at women of color, and it is a Paris-based brand that’s been around for ten years, is now available in the cosmetics market. Women have embraced the brand in native France, though they did have a bit of resistance from retailers in the UK, the name is not inherently about skin color, but about the makeup. So let’s talk about the makeup. They are aiming high with this brand, and want to be stocked next to the likes of Chanel at posh makeup counters. There aren’t really any brands that do high-end color for this group; Cosmetics is a drugstore brand. So there’s definitely an unfilled niche. Right now MAC is probably one of its biggest competitors, mostly because of the huge range of foundation colors the Canadian brand offers. The line is pigment-rich, contains a bit of sparkle, and focuses on mattifying products, and oilier skin is often a complaint of darker-skinned women. There are powders and foundations in a variety of textures from powder foundations, and more traditional liquid foundations in shades. The waterproof smoky kohl eye pencils are a standout–the color is rich and it stays put. The lipsticks are absolutely gorgeous, in rich colors like berry, purple, and fuchsia. If you have no patience for soft washes of color and want shades that really pop, this is the brand for you.