Black Women Need A MODERN Beauty Book.

 A wise person once said “books can take you places”. Face Painting transported me to a world of glamour and self-care at the age of 15. I found the book at my local library. I loved reading and wanted to learn more about beauty. This motivated me to look for makeup books that featured Black women. Face Painting (and Reggie Walls) did not disappoint. The book captivated me. Black stars like Whitney Houston and Oprah graced the pages. The book oozed elegance and beauty. I had never read anything like this before. Face Painting provided crucial information about skincare and makeup for women of color. The book made me feel represented. I had never seen such an extravagant display of Black beauty. Typically, the makeup models were always white. The authors of those books were not seeking to alienate me. However, the fact that the “beautiful women” were always white made me question my attractiveness. Face Painting helped me see my skin in a positive light.  Moreover, it taught me how to cherish my skin using skincare and makeup products. 

Black women applying lip liner in mirror

After devouring Face Painting, I began looking for other makeup books. I noticed a troubling pattern. Most Black beauty books were over a decade old. Books like The Beauty of Color by Imán hadn’t been updated since the 1990s. The cosmetics industry has completely changed since then. General makeup books were also incredibly disappointing. The advice was completely inapplicable to Black skin. When it comes to makeup, one size does not fit all. People with darker skin need to learn about excellent products and flattering makeup trends. For example, I hated eyeshadow when I was younger. I noticed it often gave my skin a grey tint. Because of this, I refused to wear it. After learning more about Black beauty, I learned there was a reason for this. Makeup products must be highly pigmented to appear on deeper skin tones. If an eyeshadow lacked the right amount of pigment, it would look grey on my skin. This is only one example of crucial information that cannot be found in MOST beauty books. 

As Black women, we need a makeup book specifically for us. I have nothing against women of other races. I’m simply pointing out the obvious. When a makeup book is for “everyone”, the nuances of Black beauty get left out. Black women need (and deserve) a modern book about us. We need a book that includes a product hall of fame and details modern makeup looks. I know there are hundreds of YouTube tutorials about these topics. However, reading a book and watching a YouTube tutorial is not the same. Books are often more comprehensive and structured. An author will ensure a book covers all the nuances of a topic. In contrast, a YouTuber will not. For example, a book can include which makeup companies have the best shades of blush for melanin skin. It will also include color recommendations based on how deep your skin shade is. Few YouTube videos can go into that level of detail. Despite this, I understand why people love watching makeup tutorials on YouTube. There are pros and cons to each approach. As a bookworm, I simply prefer books 😊. 

I hope we get a modern beauty book that centers Black women soon. In the meantime, I guess I’ll have to keep watching YouTube videos.

Woman typing on her computer, looking bored.