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Drugstore foundation for deep skin tones

For deep skin tones, many drugstore ranges stop too early. We counted how early in our catalogue.

The drugstore foundations in the catalogue

Counted are affordable ranges sold at shops like Boots, Superdrug, Ulta or Target. “Deep” here means anything below a lightness (L*) of 50 on a scale from 0 to 100. Shade ranges can differ between the UK, the US and Europe, so check the shop for your shade.

  • NYX Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop Foundation (US): 39 shades, 14 of them deep; the deepest is Walnut.
  • NYX Professional Makeup Make 'EM Wonder Foundation (UK): 44 shades, 14 of them deep; the deepest is 44 Rich Espresso.
  • e.l.f. Cosmetics Soft Glam Satin Foundation (UK): 30 shades, 13 of them deep; the deepest is 65 Rich Neutral.
  • Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Foundation (UK · US): 41 shades, 9 of them deep; the deepest is F17.5.
  • Makeup Revolution Superfix Blur Longwear Foundation (UK): 39 shades, 9 of them deep; the deepest is F19NW.
  • e.l.f. Cosmetics Flawless Finish Foundation (UK · US): 26 shades, 9 of them deep; the deepest is Ebony.
  • Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless (UK · US): 40 shades, 8 of them deep; the deepest is 380 Espresso.
  • Milani Conceal + Perfect Blur Out Skin Tint Stick (UK): 20 shades, 8 of them deep; the deepest is Shade 24: Rich with Golden Undertone.
  • e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Skin Tint SPF 50 (UK): 17 shades, 7 of them deep; the deepest is 18 Rich Neutral.
  • Catrice Skin Like Tinted Moisturizer (UK): 15 shades, 6 of them deep; the deepest is 092C.
  • ColourPop Pretty Fresh Hydrating Foundation (US): 42 shades, 5 of them deep; the deepest is Deep Dark 215N.
  • L'Oréal Paris True Match Foundation (UK): 23 shades, 5 of them deep; the deepest is 10.N.
  • Makeup Revolution Skin Silk Serum Foundation (UK): 19 shades, 5 of them deep; the deepest is F20.
  • Milani Conceal + Perfect Cream-to-Powder Foundation (US): 22 shades, 5 of them deep; the deepest is Cool Cocoa.
  • e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter (UK): 15 shades, 5 of them deep; the deepest is 8 Rich.
  • Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation (UK · US): 25 shades, 4 of them deep; the deepest is 098 Deep Mocha.
  • Max Factor Miracle Pure Skin Reset Serum Foundation (UK): 14 shades, 4 of them deep; the deepest is 110-120 Deep Cool.
  • Makeup Revolution Skin Silk Glow Tint Sheer Foundation Stick (UK): 10 shades, 3 of them deep; the deepest is Deep Neutral.
  • NYX Professional Makeup Buttermelt Glaze Soft Glow Skin Tint + SPF/FPS 30 (UK): 5 shades, 3 of them deep; the deepest is Hazelnut Butta.
  • essence Foundation Stick (UK · US): 8 shades, 3 of them deep; the deepest is 340.
  • wet n wild Photo Focus Foundation (UK): 18 shades, 3 of them deep; the deepest is Mahogany.
  • Makeup Revolution IRL Filter Longwear Foundation (UK): 4 shades, 2 of them deep; the deepest is F20.
  • Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation (UK): 9 shades, 2 of them deep; the deepest is 150 Espresso.
  • Maybelline Super Stay up to 24H Skin Tint Foundation + Vitamin C (UK): 13 shades, 2 of them deep; the deepest is 78.
  • Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer (UK · US): 24 shades, 2 of them deep; the deepest is Golden Toffee.
  • e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Powder Filter (UK): 5 shades, 2 of them deep; the deepest is Rich Warm.
  • L'Oréal Paris Infaillible 24H Fresh Wear Cushion Foundation (UK · US): 13 shades, one of them deep; the deepest is 384 Neutral.
  • Makeup Revolution Superdewy Cushion Foundation (UK): 8 shades, one of them deep; the deepest is Dark Neutral Warm.
  • Makeup Revolution Superdewy Skin Tint SPF 30 (UK): 8 shades, one of them deep; the deepest is Dark Neutral Warm.
  • Max Factor Miracle Pure Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 30 (UK): 16 shades, one of them deep; the deepest is 100 Cocoa.
  • Maybelline Lifter Plump & Glow Foundation (UK): 14 shades, one of them deep; the deepest is 368.
  • NYX Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop Mattifying Lightweight Powder (UK): 6 shades, one of them deep; the deepest is 09.
  • NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Snatch Powder (UK): 7 shades, one of them deep; the deepest is Cacao Craze.
  • Catrice Skin Like Luminous Foundation (UK): 9 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 053 Nude.
  • Catrice Soft Blur Matte Airbrush Powder (UK · US): 7 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 040W.
  • Catrice Soft Glam Filter Fluid (UK): 3 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 030 Medium.
  • L'Oréal Paris Infaillible 32H Fresh Wear Foundation (UK · US): 12 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 300 Amber.
  • L'Oréal Paris True Match Compact Powder (UK): 6 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 7D.
  • L'Oréal Paris True Match Nude Serum Foundation (UK · US): 6 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 6-7 Dunkel.
  • L'Oréal Paris True Match Pressed Powder Foundation (UK): 4 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 7W.
  • Max Factor Facefinity All Day Flawless Foundation SPF 20 (UK): 12 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 80 Bronze.
  • Max Factor Miracle Touch Foundation SPF 30 (UK): 12 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 097 Toasted Almond.
  • Maybelline Dream Radiant Liquid Foundation (UK · US): 6 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 60 Caramel.
  • Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder (UK · US): 5 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 130 Buff Beige.
  • Maybelline Fit Me Nude BB Cream LSF 50 (UK): 7 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 70.
  • Maybelline Instant Perfector Glow 4-in-1 (UK · US): 6 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 03 Medium-Deep.
  • Maybelline Super Stay 24H Hybrid Powder Foundation (UK · US): 5 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 48.
  • Maybelline Super Stay Lumi-Matte Foundation (UK · US): 15 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 337.
  • Milani Conceal + Perfect Shine-Proof Powder (UK): 3 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is Natural Light.
  • essence Silky Blur Hydrating Longwear Foundation (UK): 14 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is 185.
  • wet n wild Bare Focus Clarifying Finishing Powder (UK): 3 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is medium tan.
  • wet n wild Bare Focus Niacinamide Skin Tint (UK): 8 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is Deep.
  • wet n wild Bare Focus Tinted Skin Perfector (UK): 4 shades, none of them deep; the deepest is Medium Tan.

This is our catalogue, not the whole shelf: it keeps growing. Missing a brand? Tell me on Instagram.

When the drugstore range stops too early

  • Use a shade that fits you from another range as your starting point in the shade finder and filter by “Drugstore” there.
  • Look closely at “just fits”: often it’s only off in one direction, for example a touch lighter, and a little bronzer evens that out.
  • Watch the undertone. Deep skin isn’t automatically warm; many deep shades are neutral or olive.

Try it with your foundation

Type in the foundation and shade you wear. The shade finder shows you the closest shade at other brands, with an honest number. Free, no sign-up.

Open the shade finder