Sam Fine Says Biggest Beauty Mistake Women of Color Make is Not Wearing Makeup
Sam Fine may ruffle a few feathers with his brutal honesty, but trust us, he means no harm.
Fashion Bomb Daily landed an exclusive interview with the celebrity makeup artist and Fashion Fair Creative Makeup Director and when they asked the beauty guru the one area where black women need to step their game up he didn’t hold his tongue:
“I think the biggest beauty mistake is really not wearing makeup.”
Let him explain. “I think the biggest beauty mistake is not understanding how to enhance your beauty,” Sam added. “And I think a lot of [women of color] are scared that makeup is going to make [them] look fake, ‘It’s not gonna look like me, they’re not going to have my color.’ I think that they just tend to step away from the category when a brand like Fashion Fair, is releasing a liquid foundation in July to add to the range of colors. Nineteen shades! There will be 17 shades in liquid! And if you look at that, that’s not a range that’s broken up for general market vs. African Americans. So you really are getting a wealth of coverage options and colors. I think the biggest mistake is not participating in the game at all.”
That’s a good point. With it being so hard to find your perfect shade in an industry catering to white beauty without spending big bucks, most black women do opt to forgo makeup altogether. They also tend to think they’re going to look too made up or overdone and if their mother’s don’t wear makeup, they’re usually slow to dabble into it later down the line.
The good thing is Sam doesn’t believe it takes a face full of makeup to enhance your natural beauty. In fact, he can narrow down just five key things women should have in their makeup bags to put their best face forward, and they’re not overpowering.
“Pressed powder, mascara, and lip gloss, because I think those things aren’t intimidating,” he said. “Once you get past the shade of powder, I think that becomes easy to apply. But if I had to go two steps further, I always start out with some kind of a coverage product. A concealer, or a foundation that you can use as a concealer. Underneath the eyes is the thinnest area of skin, so you really want to make sure that any redness or discoloration can be covered. Also powder. Powder’s going to set the foundation or the concealer so it can stay on longer. I always say powder is to foundation what topcoat is to nail polish. It really holds it in place and keeps it from rubbing off and settling in fine lines.”
That doesn’t sound so bad, does it?
Do you think black women are too hesitant to experiment with makeup?
What’s he talking about? Most black women I know don’t even look like they need makeup. Aren’t we kind of looked at as having nice, even toned skin even as we age?Don’t most non-melinated people wish they had skin like us which is why they harm their skin with tanning. A lot of times we look at women on tv and think that’s how we should look on a daily basis or even when we go out but if I was on tv I’d be weariing makeup too because of the lighting. We need to put natural products on our skin. How about he tell us to drink more water and exercise? Or learn to increase our self esteem so we can feel much better about ourselves which carries over into the way we carry ourselves and look. I find his statements to be another veiled attempt to explain how we can make our selves more desirable to men because media’s been telling us lately that we aren’t desirable at all. Feathers ruffled, lol. SMH@Sam Fine right now.
+1.
@GeordieEnds Cuz the “machine” sucks…but do you! Seriously, though GE, I’m sure you are beautiful with makeup on or not. That is really the point I am trying to make and doesn’t it get old hearing about all of our “mistakes.” It’s all in the context. If Tim just merely labeled his advice something like: “really awesome beauty tips for black women who don’t know much about makeup or want to do better applying it” then that’s different. I never said I didn’t wear makeup. I’m pretty low maintenance but I swear by my lip gloss, though I forget to reapply it once it rubs off, lol. Not against powders and concealers, though I don’t use them too much unless it’s a super special occasion. Mascara and liners irritate my eyes but I really do try to take care of my skin. And I really don’t feel superior to non-less melinated women, but dang, can’t a Sista feel good about something?– like her skin au natural and how she watched many of the women in her family age gracefully? I feel proud certainly but not superior, life is much too humbling for that.
I’ve seen too many black women that have foundation/powder that makes them look…dusty. I don’t know if it is the product they are using, the color, or that they applied too much- but that has scared me away from using any type of foundation or concealer. That and my face is too sensitive. If we could educate our ladies on how to better apply these products, more women may be interested in using them.
I don’t even read Essence, and even I know that they have good makeup tips. Folks need to stop being so lazy.
I bet he does say that is our biggest mistake. He’s in the business of cosmetics! Don’t put anything on your face that you would put in your mouth. Other than that it’s toxic chemicals that harm you
i agree.
i’m one of those natural girls. i first emphasize a good diet, exercise and skin care regimen. with that, you are almost 100% there with great skin.
otherwise, i mainly use a natural lipstick or gloss. i sometimes mix my bare minerals foundation with a moisturizer for interviews or special occasions. but, i don’t even know if it makes a difference. ha ha. my skin is really good.
I haven’t worn makeup since 2008? I think it actually works for my benefit- since I’m bare-faced all the time, it forces me to take great care of my skin and rid myself of any blemishes or acne that pop up b/c I can’t simply cover it up with liquid foundation or concealer. If I’ve been mistreating my skin, I get an early constant daily reminder and then work to fix my wrongdoings right away.Too many people are so busy covering up their flaws with the makeup, fake hair, body shaping clothes, etc. that their real skin, hair, and bodies are in horrible shape.
BUT women can wear makeup, fake hair, etc. from time to time (or everyday) for fun- I just hope that no one ever gets to the point where they feel they can’t look beautiful without it (and they should be sure to take care of their real body, as well, just in case they find themselves strapped for cash).
+1
I totally agree.
I used to have really bad skin, but once i started exercising and eating right, it changed right away.
Also, I’m 19 and still wary of using makeup (foundation/concealer).
the most I’ll use is lipstick/gloss and mascara. and that’s only on special occasions.
“Too many people are so busy covering up their flaws with the makeup, fake hair, body shaping clothes, etc. that their real skin, hair, and bodies are in horrible shape.”
-I too have noticed this, more so in the past couple of weeks its been coming to my attention. I work in the DC area and see these women who physcially are horribly unhealthy/ disgusting looking yet their makeup is done in that MAC whore look and hair is done to the nines. Take away the fake nails, hair, girdle, push-up bra and wash off the make-up and you are left with the real you. More often than not I bet they won’t like what they see. I’m not personally against make up, I wear foundation and eye shadow with some liner nearly every day but I look fine without it and focus on taking care of myself from the inside out.
@Sasha LMAO “…that MAC whore look” #idied and being in the area as well, I’m quite done with the neon pink lipstick and the scary eyebrows. I would say that it’s just the younger girls wearing the wrong shades and textures of makeup, but grown women are pulling tips from Ms. Minaj and it doesn’t work for them either.
I don’t see the big deal with make-up, just go with what truly works for you. Find quality. I personally go for MAC and Mary Kay and after some research I throw some bargain items in the mix as well. I agree with Sam Fine because make-up is an enhancement…enhancing your beauty doesn’t mean cover your beauty. That’s like saying oh no I’m not going to buy a good bra for myself because my breasts sag, so I need to buy an ill fitting saggy bra, uhm no.
My mother didn’t wear makeup so I wasn’t exposed to it in the home. I did my thing with just getting my eyebrows done and lip gloss. I went to college and got tips from friends, and just simple tweaks with or without foundation makes a huge difference. It’s just a problem when you can’t see yourself without it. Like going to bed with your husband/boo, but he’s never seen you without makeup on…not healthy. Just like anything else, you have to be comfortable with you before you bring other things into your life.
when i wear makeup it just fades into my skin, so whats the point