Doris Michaels Cosmetics

Doris Michaels is a British cosmetic company that caters for and celebrates dark skin. The brand is designed to give black (ethnic) women the best products to adorn their individual beauty without an expensive cost.

Doris Michaels Founder of Doris Michaels Cosmetics

Doris Michaels foundations and concealers come in a plethora of shades and tones for dark skin in various formulations: stick, liquid, cream to powder and mineral finishes so there really is something for every preference. The pigmentation is superb and the formula is very easy to blend (I have the foundations sticks). Each foundation stick contains 19.5 grams of product which is phenomenal especially considering that each stick only costs £13.99 online (& even less in some beauty stores). The foundation sticks are very smooth on the skin and a little goes a long way.

This is all I have left of Skin Tone 5 - my perfect shade match

Skin Tone 5: has an orange undertone. Doris Michaels has a Colourmatch Chart which matches Skin Tone 5 to Iman's Earth 2 foundation stick - since that was the shade I bought which matched me in Iman's stick foundations - I'd say it looks like the chart is pretty accurate. Doris Michaels foundations have a perfumed scent that I'd say is moderate as sometimes even when its on your face you may still smell it (I don't mind scented things myself). Their foundation sticks are really top notch (I've tried many various foundations) and when it comes to price, effectiveness, quantity, shade range esp. for dark skin Doris Michaels sits high up on the list.

Skin Tone 4: is a deep rich shade - I think it has neutral undertones. Its seriously pigmented and a lil goes a long way - when I need to rectify using a slightly lighter base or if I'm attempting to contour my face (which I only do when playing with makeup at home) skin tone 4 is what I often reach for. I think if I ever get to see the real sun again I could get away with using this as my base (te-he).

Skin Tone 6: has a strong yellow/golden undertone. Personally for me its too light and golden as my main base so if and when I use this I'd focus this shade on my lighter areas (upper cheeks, under eye, around my brows). Again like shade 4 if I'm playing around with the concept of contouring I'd use this but, that doesn't mean it can't be your prefect shade (its actually matches my sister perfectly). Just like Skin Tone 4 - Skin Tone 6 is pigmented and easy to blend.

From bare tired blemished skin to an even skin tone. I swatched Doris Michaels Stick Foundation in 4, 5 and 6 on my cheek and then I blended them altogether with my fingers, on the side of my face for the last picture.

Hopefully, you can see in the picture above that shade 5 is the best shade match out of the three for me. Number 4 is a tad too dark for my lighter areas and 6 is too light especially for my grey deeper toned jawline. Yet, in the last picture where I blended it altogether you would think that I just used one shade - usually I would but, I just wanted to show you that you can really make shades work for you even if their not a "perfect match".

Doris Michaels Light Concealer

Light: is a pigmented golden shade. For me its great to use under my eyes and around areas on my face that I want to highlight/brighten. Its super easy to blend and doesn't look ashy on. The concealer comes in a lipstick twist up container with a clear cap and mirror. Personally I find the lid annoying because it can easily come off (doesn't clip on firmly) but the product itself is so lightweight and effective that I don't mind too much. Similarly to the foundations, the concealers do have a perfumed scent that is sweet and moderate in strength.

Doris Michaels Medium Concealer

Medium: a pigmented cocoa brown with orange undertones. I can use medium as my base foundation to even my skin tone or just to cover up blemishes and or "contour" with. Its very pigmented but light weight in feel and a little goes a long way.

Using Doris Michaels Light + Medium Concealers on my face. I applied light around my eyes and Medium on my cheeks, then blended them with my fingers to achieve an even skin tone.

Ingredients for stick foundations: Beeswax, Ceresine Wax,Petrolatum, Propyl Paraben, Liquid Paraffin, Isopropyl Myristate, Squalane, Myristyl Myristate, Kaolin,Talc, Titanium Dioxide. May Contain [+/- CI 7749, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891].

Ingredients for concealers: Candelilla Wax, Ceresine, Carnauba Wax, Isopropyl Myristate, Myristate, Mineral Oil, Talc, Hexadecyl Dimethyl Siloxane, Hard Ester Base Dimethylsiloxane Jojoba Oil, Silica, Nylon-12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Mica, BH Propylparaben, Iron Oxide CI 77492, Iron Oxide CI 77491, Iron Oxide 77499, Titanium Dioxide CI 77891.

Expiration: I think its 12 months for both.

... lipstick for days

Doris Michaels lipsticks come in 30 shades with an array of finishes (from sheer and glossy, to shimmery metallic's, to pigmented bold mattes). I have 7 shades (costs £2.99 to £3.49 depending on the store). Here are my thoughts ...

Mauve: This is a sheer lilac shade that's great for pretty every day lips. The formula is moisturising and the slight shimmer gives this lipstick an almost glossy look. Its a real pretty cutesy girly shade which will work well on a variety of dark skin tones. Stumbling on this share from Doris Michaels instagram - I decided to try the "great nude shade for dark skin" and it really is pretty. Something I never would have tried without the heads up (so thanks!).

New Penny: A soft metallic red. This shade can be built up to full intensity or applied lightly for a copper-toned red hued metallic lip. Personally I prefer the latter. The formula is moisturising, soft and relatively sheer upon initial application with fine gold and red shimmers *swoons*. If you want to partake in the metallic lipstick trend (2016/2017) Doris Michaels have so many metallic shades for a great price so its worth at least a little look.

Berry Shimmer: A beautiful metallic berry shade. Very similar to penny but berry. I really like it and its a great shade for an everyday soft metallic lip as its very wearable when sheer or intense.

Espresso: A deep metallic brown with golden shimmers. I admit Espresso is not the most flattering shade on me overall esp. sans makeup as it blends my lips with my deep grey toned jaw line (aka shrinks me lips - oh no!) but, I still like it . Espresso is a really pigmented gorgeous metallic that I think has all the possibilities to look stunning (esp. on darker skin) - I just need to unlock that key for it to work on me *prays*.

Cabernet: A bright matte red. Its gorgeous - you already know I love it. Pftt pash posh (I'm just feeling in words because you think I should say more when in fact there's no need). Alright, listen to this "the look of love" and be happy because I wrote more than one line.

Pink Shocker: Oh my, have you entered a different world? I think you have. Pink Shocker is a super bright pink its almost cosmic. The formulation is matte hence no shimmers, no shine. I do find that the pigment can fill the lip lines but its nothing a finger or brush can't smooth out. Depending on the lighting Pink Shocker can look like a bright fuschia pink (yellow light) or slightly more purple toned (white/natural lighting/my camera) either way I adore the bright pigment and the matte look but, comfy feel.

LP02 - Browny Red: I've reviewed this before. Its a juicy hydrating red. Oh and speaking of Doris Michaels instagram - a picture from my previous post is actually on their page *link* - which is great! Although, I mistakenly called Browny Red LP03 eek never-mind. Anyway, thanks Doris Michaels for the Kudos! Oh and yeah I really like this shade ...

Hydrating Lipstick Ingredients: Beeswax, Carnuba Wax, Candellia Wax, Castor Oil, Shea Butter, Dissostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dimer Dilnoleate, Polyglycerol-2, Trisostterate, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Propylparaben, Iron Oxide Black C.I.77499, D&C Red 27, A.L. Lake, C.I. 45410, D&C Red Lake7, C.A. Lake, CI. 15850 FD & C Lake Yellow 5 A.L. Lake C.I. 19140.

Matte Lipsticks Ingredients: Beeswax, Microcrystalline Wax, Ceresin, Polyethylene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Mineral Oil, Polybutene, Mica, Silica, Dimethyl, Silylate, Propylparaben, Tocopherol, Acetate, Flavor, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide, Black Iron Oxide, Yellow, FD &C Blue No.1 Al Lake, FD&C, Yellow No.6 Al Lake , BA Lake, D&C Red Lake No.7 CA Lake D&C Red, No. 27 Al Lake.

Expiration: Very very small on packaging - I think it 6 or 9 months.

Summed Up Thoughts

I really like Doris Michaels products they're effective with a great price tag. The pigmentation is often superb (I swatched the eye shadows in store - umm their weren't too great) that I kinda feel like their almost the "safe" (nice guy) brand that I should run to for everything but, yet the rebel inside makes me feel like I'll get tied down too fast and quick and before I know it I'm popping out every shade of Doris Michaels lipstick, blush and foundation from my tired purse (commitment issues).

Plus I'll end up boring everyone around me senseless with the "Oh its from Doris Michaels". "Don't you know about them, well x-x- blah-blah.." everyone gets annoyed including my ears spiel "I don't work for them but, maybe I should ha ... ha" kinda chatter that I imagine will make everyone want to swing for me. Us makeup lovers need choice and variety and if I came on here every day typing away about one brand I'd smell fishy. Hence, why I decided to do my spiel now. You're welcome.

Seriously on the countless occasions when wearing Skin Tone 5 I was asked - what caused my "flawless" (blush) complexion and I had to answer the same thing "its my natural beauty" *buzzer noise* - I mean - "oh its Doris Michaels foundation ... you never heard of it? Its in the x-x queue spiel".

Doris Michaels actually contacted me ages ago about the launch of their Pro Setting Powder which I thanked them for but, since its only on their website (not in the stores I usually buy from) I held out on purchasing it and then soon came ideas of my diet/ban etc... What I'm trying to say is that there are so many things I still want to buy, try and test from the brand even though you can see I'm no stranger to the brand.

Alright Ok. so Doris Michaels is the equivalent of the nice guy you should marry well just like all lovely men, Doris Michaels (aka DM) has its faults - namely the packaging. If DM could update it (not have lids and clear view points that fell off/out) and updated some of their range (eyeshadows not chalky and easy to break - yes Mr Shop Man I did that) & maybe do a liquid to matte liquid lipstick *drools* I think we'd all be wearing DM's ring (the scoundrel!).

Have you tried Doris Michaels Cosmetics?

Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated!