Benefit Cosmetics is one of my top five makeup/beauty brands. I’d been wanting to sample their new Big Easy multi-balancing complexion perfector (think BB/CC cream), and when one of the three free sample options from Sephora happened to be all the shades, I thought, PERFECT!

Then I got it and read, ‘find your shade,’ but none of the options looked even remotely close to my complexion.

I have darker skin, but would be typically considered ‘dark’ more so than ‘deep’. Shade 06-deep/beige, the darkest shade, looked like I could maybe get away with it, maybe…

But, no, not unless I wanted to look really, really washed out. So, instead I will continue using my current go-to BB cream and call it a day. While I was a little disappointed, I was extremely grateful that I hadn’t shelled out the $40 like I’d wanted to, and encourage you to find sample sizes when trying new products so you don’t invest in something that may not work for you. I came up with a list of other products that are good alternatives for dark skin.

Alternatives for Dark Skin:
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
Becca Ultimate Coverage Complexion Creme
bareMinerals Foundation
Maybelline BB Cream
Smashbox BB Kit

What do you use?