I know what you are thinking, pale pink lipstick and you are a black girl? This lipstick is a sumptuous choice for women who want to achieve that pale look but you have dark skin. It also looks good on lighter skin tones. You guys are probably noticing a pattern with my posts so far right? I always go for lipsticks that go the distance and this is one of my ultimate favourites by a mile.

It is matte yet creamy and it doesn’t have a drying effect. One of the biggest issues though with Tom Ford products in general is that they are small in terms of the product that you receive. These lipsticks are small and you don’t get that much pigment considering the money. Is this on purpose? I think Tom Ford as a brand is always pushing customers to see what is the breaking point. People keep buying though.

I wouldn’t say Tom Ford is value for money however it is kind of like a Picasso of beauty – you can get one, have it in your beauty bag and it will invigorate your beauty looks but you will definitely remember how much you paid for the pleasure.

This is one of the best softer pink lipsticks on the market for women of colour if you are going for that 1960s look.

Price: $54 – Tom is always crazy with his pricing – no exception here!

Faux Cils has been around for a few years but it is still one of the most popular options in the market. I put this down to a few reasons:

• There isn’t a lot of innovation in the mascara segment of makeup
• YSL has always had a good repuation for eye products like eyeliner
• It’s promoted in a luxury way

I have Faux Cils in blue – you see these spectres of blue that come out of the formula. This mascara does last for a long time and the colour is rich and dense. It definitely attracts lots of compliments from people like wow you are wearing blue mascara, what brand is it? Another thing I like about this mascara is how it elongates your lashes.

The mascara is EXPENSIVE. Just know that because you have to get ready to part with some cash to get it.

I think it’s worth if you like neutral, subtle makeup but if you are always doing high end looks that are vibrant, it is probably a better idea to get a cheaper mascara.

Price: $32 in the US.

MAC Lipstick in Photo – ideal for black women, African women, African-American women and Afro-Caribbean women

Advantages of MAC Photo Lipstick

Guys – I am obsessed with this lipstick. Photo is unique because it is one of the only affordable lipsticks that doesn’t just blend into chocolate skin. If you are dark-skinned, this colour will look gorgeous on you without looking staid or harsh. It has a beautiful hot chocolate colour and it literally gives you the finish that you have been looking for.

It is ideal if you want to do nude makeup but you don’t want dark burgundy colours on your lipstick palette.

You can also do the no-makeup look by using Photo because of how neutral it looks. This is a lippie that you can wear to work, but I do think it has the ability to be worn for dinner dates as well. Just watch out if your lips are flaky – you will need to scrub them before using it.

Price: $17.50 in the US, £18.50 in the UK

I love Photo for black women – this has to be in every black woman’s makeup bag if you want to go for polished and neutral looks. A must-have for sure!