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Black Up Cosmetics: What’s the Real Deal?

By on February 22, 2011 in Archive

Image Courtesy of Black Up Cosmetics

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Black Up Cosmetics. The “mystery” brand.  Back in 2003, my then beau and I took a trip to NYC for my first ever makeup class.  The only 2 stops that I had to hit were the MAC Pro store, and Macy’s Herald Square to see Black Up Cosmetics.  I was broke as hell, but I intended to swatch and play with almost every product.  I don’t remember much about the brand except it was way out of my price range [ah, the days of making $7 an hour].

Fast forward to today.  I’ve received 4 messages over the last week alone asking if this is a real brand.  They’ve got ads up on Youtube and through ad networks. The closest we get to a review is by the lovely Yinka of Vex in the City. I found a couple of vague posts on message boards. A few bloggers have news on their blogs saying that Black Up would be available in the US this year. If you’re in the US, you can order from their new site, blackupcosmetics.com.

The brand is so great because it’s available to the countries that are often neglected by other brands.  You can find it in Ghana, Martanique, England, Angola, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Madagascar, all over France…seriously, it’s very, very great to read that. I know the US can’t win ‘em all…but…what about us?! I’m dying to give this brand another shot! I’m a spoiled girl. In fact, many of us are.  How many of us search for swatches and reviews before we purchase? Until some legit info arises, I guess I’ll twiddle my thumbs and hope for the best. If you’ve tried the brand and have product recommendations, please share with us below!

Edit: I found this article by Mylah Morales on the brand.  

About Scandalousbeauty

Erin Bailey has been beauty blogging for 6 years. She also creates makeup guides and tutorials on Youtube. She also hosts a podcast show, Creative Colony. Be sure to follow her on twitter (@erinscandalous and @erinjbailey) and facebook!
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  • Cassyee

    Well, I wrote to them asking them what Cake Foundation would suit me since I am NW43 in MAC. They requested to see a photo of me (through email) in order to reply. I sent it to them but am still waiting on a response. So, we’ll see.

  • http://twitter.com/StyleNBeautyDoc Danielle

    LMAO @ does this company exist!

    I reached out to them and their PR emailed me saying they would send product for my review but they never sent it. The PR person kept emailing me saying she would send, but I never got it. Not that I was so pressed to get free product, but just as you mentioned, no one other than Vex in the City has a mention of the product (and the people at her counter were total cows towards her). I figured no one (me included) would want to buy from a brand that you can only buy online that you can’t find many reviews and swatches for. If they still had counters here in NYC, I would just go to the counter and get swatches and share, but they don’t so I can’t…lol.

    I also remember passing by their counter back in ’03/’04 but never really stopped to check them out because I was already spending enough on MAC and NARS back then…lol.

  • MrsDay

    I’ve been wondering about this brand myself. Guess I’ll just sit and wait along with everyone else.

  • Anonymous

    Understood! I wrote them too, no response. Good grief…

  • Anonymous

    Crazy! I can imagine they get a lot of inquiries, but still…

  • Soniacim

    hi I’m living in Paris and I use Black up liquid foundation. The brand is a High end one and very popular but expensive here. I’m Mac NC 50 and I use the N°6 liquid oil free foundation I really like it!

  • Howardu87

    There is a discussion thread on Specktra.net about this and Rubysubi has ordered from them. I would suggest that people read her post. Black Up is also on Facebook and it looks like they have responded to questions on Facebook. I am interested in this line. The current Essence magazine with Angela Bassett on the cover has praised their loose powder. I just need to know more about them.

  • http://twitter.com/Reviyve Michelle Howard

    Thanks for sharing. I never heard of Black Up.

  • Lisa E G

    I remember that counter in Macy’s Herald Square! Loved Black Up! I was a big fan of their eyeshadow palettes and stick foundation(shed tears singing “It’s So Hard To Say To Goodbye” when I scrap the last bit of it). Viva La Black Up!

  • http://fastforwardacademy.com/index-page-irs-enrolled-agent-exam-course.htm enrolled agent course

    I’ve heard about the brand from my sister. She was asking the same thing, if this is a legit brand and where to purchase them. Thanks, for providing some information.

  • http://twitter.com/AceYourFaceUK Kadian P.

    I actually own one of their blushes and will do a brief review on my blog soon. I bought it two years ago at the infamous the Galeries Lafayette in Paris. I had a positive experience at the counter. Fortunately, I the sales person did not throw any shade or funky attitude like in Yinka’s post.

  • Pingback: Black Up Cosmetics: Thoughts + Blush Review « Ace Your Face UK

  • http://www.heraldtowers.com Herald Towers

    I’ve passed by their location in Herald Square in NYC before, but I’ve never tried their makeup. Most people know MAC and Estee Lauder to be household names, but Black Up is fairly unheard of locally. I’m definitely going to stop and give them a try next time I’m in Macy’s.

  • Kamilah

    Its now being sold in Barbados as well!!

  • mona

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  • http://chaidiaries.blogspot.com rubysubi

    Hey Erin (and fellow commenters)!

    I just about died at the “is this a real brand” comment.

    After reading Yinka’s review I was terrified, but it was great to see her pics of the products. That encouraged me to purchase a couple of things, but I really would like to see some more swatches and reviews before making my purchase. Or see the products in person.

    I did a little almost review of their foundation on my blog @ http://chaidiaries.blogspot.com/2011/02/blackup-cosmetics-almost-review.html <—includes an update on the refund and slow customer service.

    Thanks so much for providing a forum for us to track this, as personally the search for a good matte yellow-based foundation has eluded me for a long time (since the discontinuation of Prescriptives and MAC's sheer/virtual Matte foundation)

  • rubysubi

    Hey (again), found youtube reviews by user btcmmctc <–she got FM02, and per her other reviews she's about an NC42-ish color in MAC Studio Tech.

  • http://www.vivicosmetics.cm ViVi Cosmetics

    ViVi Cosmetics – this fabulous brand  for the Dark and Ethnic skin has been in the market for 20 yrs. can you believe it go to: http://www.vivicosmetics.com

  • nic

    I love Black Up cosmetics Two Way Cake in TW15. The website’s foundation finder matched me with TW15. I usually wear MAC Studiofix powder in NW45, and the TW15 was a perfect match. Black Up cosmetics is on Facebook. If you have any questions about what color foundation, concealer, and powder to wear, their makeup artists will match you accordingly. Just send them picture of yourself(preferably without makeup). The Two Way Cake is very natural and it is not heavy and masky like the Studiofix powder. It is expensive, but so is MAC, Estee Lauder, Fashion Fair, Chanel, etc. But the colors were carefully chosen for black skin, so you do not end up looking ashy or too yellow or too red. Give Black Up a try. We as black women are always giving our money to these white cosmetics companies that have ignored our beauty needs for years, and the colors are always off and too ashy. We need to support black cosmetics companies. BTW, I also love Black Opal cosmetics too.

  • https://www.facebook.com/Not.fair.still.lovely KissOfDanger

    I’ve been dying to try their lipstick and their blush.