With six more weeks until Christmas Day, now is prime time for holiday shopping. We know the sales haven’t kicked in for most things (argh, is it Black Friday yet?) but if you have a beauty girl on your list, you’re in luck, because holiday beauty shopping starts now.
As we shop for our beauty lovers, we’re reminded that not every lip kit and eye palette is for everyone. And if you’re in the market for beauty gifts for women of color, you’ll need to focus on the best pigments, shades and color payoffs. That’s why we rounded up a list of our favorite holiday items that celebrate and enhance darker skin tones. Take a look and grab a few musts to upgrade her beauty arsenal.
[ Next: 21 Fall Eyeshadow Palettes That Are Worth the Hype ]
Best Holiday Beauty Items for Women of Color
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BECCA
Light Waves Highlighter Palette, $34 at BECCA
This palette complements practically every beauty look and skin tone. It features three shades of the brand's best-selling highligher makeup: Moonstone (a pale, incandescent gold), Prismatic Amethyst (a lavender shade with a high-shine finish) and the new, limited-edition Pink Sapphire (a shimmering peach shade infused with pink duochrome pigments).
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Kevyn Aucoin
The Smokey Nude Eye Kit, $98 at Space.NK
This neutral-colored eye kit is perfect for the darkest of shades because it has bold pigments that look great alone or paired with each other.
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Lipstick Queen
Mini Transformative Trio, $25 at Space.NK
OK, we know what you’re thinking: How can you properly wear yellow, green and blue lipsticks without looking like a clown? But it’s not what you think. The sunny yellow lipstick works with your pH to create a unique shade of uplifting coral, the emerald green lipstick transforms into a subtle pink as soon as it touches your lips and the blue shade applies as blue, but transforms into a sheer plum. Now that’s some holiday magic we can get behind.
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Smith & Cult
Nailed Lacquer Trio, $50 at Space.NK
When choosing nail polishes for women of color, opaque colors are the name of the game. And if you’re looking for shades to take you from day to night, this trio from Smith & Cult is all you need.
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Lancôme
Le Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner Gift Set, $55 at Macy's
The holiday season is a prime time for attending festive parties with killer eye makeup. Opt for this set of creamy eyeliners in colors fit for a darker-skinned queen. Our favorites are Bronze Paradis (golden brown) and Ivy (deep green) that are certain to turn a few heads.
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Bobbi Brown
Luxe Classics Mini Lip Set, $150 at Bobbi Brown
It’s obvious that there’s sure to be a shade for everyone in this 10-piece set. But the real win is that the formulations reduce the appearance of lip lines and relieve lip flaking in just one swipe.
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NARS
Man Ray Impassioned Love Triangle Set, $24 at Nordstrom
Man Ray was an American painter and photographer who was inspired by bold colors and this set, which pays major homage to him, is sure to be a colorful hit this season for ladies of color. The dusty mauve color looks great on most darker shades and the pink-hued blush is the perfect complement. Grab it before it goes.
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Fresh
Sugar Lip Blooming Beauties Collection, $38 at Nordstrom
This Boston-born brand is known for transforming natural ingredients like rose, sugar and soy into the most moisturizing lippies. And this holiday kit doesn’t disappoint. Give the gift of hydration with a collection of the brand's best-selling sugar lip treatments that give a hint of color that looks amazing on darker skin tones.
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By Terry
Preciosity Eye Designer Palette Part-Pris Gift Set, $58 at Space.NK
You’ll want to mix or layer this eyeshadow palette of six nudes all winter long.
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Bloomsbury Sq.
The Haven Box, $65 at Bloomsbury Sq.
Looking to gently cleanse, tone and renew skin in one kit? Look to Bloomsbury Sq.’s The Haven Box that includes a face wash, face oil, a water-activated face scrub and a porcelain mixing bowl and mask brush. And the New Jersey-based store is owned by a woman of color, so she knows her stuff.
