Makeup for Different Skin Tones: How Laka, Mistine, and Unleashia Cater to Diversity

The Challenge of Finding Inclusive Makeup

Walking down the beauty aisle or scrolling through online makeup stores should be an exciting experience, but for many people with diverse skin tones, it often becomes an exercise in frustration. The beauty industry has long struggled with inclusivity, leaving countless individuals unable to find products that truly match their complexion. This problem stems from several factors, including limited research and development focused primarily on lighter skin tones, outdated manufacturing processes, and a historical market focus that prioritized certain demographics over others. When brands don't consider the full spectrum of human skin colors, they're not just missing business opportunities—they're sending a message that some people don't matter as much in the world of beauty.

The consequences of this exclusion are both practical and emotional. People with deeper skin tones frequently settle for foundations that appear ashy or too light, while those with olive or golden undertones struggle to find products that don't make them look washed out or unnatural. This lack of proper representation in makeup ranges can negatively impact self-esteem and reinforce feelings of being overlooked or undervalued. Fortunately, the landscape is gradually changing as consumers demand better options and forward-thinking brands begin to recognize the importance of true inclusivity.

Laka: Subtle and Buildable Colors for Everyone

Among the brands leading the charge toward true makeup inclusivity, Laka stands out with its thoughtful approach to product development. This Korean beauty brand has built its philosophy around creating subtle, buildable colors that work harmoniously across various skin tones. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, Laka focuses on developing versatile formulas that adapt to different complexions while maintaining their integrity and beauty. Their lip products, cheek colors, and eye shadows are designed with translucency and blendability in mind, allowing users to customize intensity according to their preferences and skin tone needs.

What makes Laka particularly noteworthy is their commitment to undertone consideration across their entire range. While many brands only think about depth (how light or dark a shade is), Laka pays equal attention to whether a person's skin has warm, cool, or neutral undertones—a crucial factor in creating makeup that looks natural and flattering. Their blushes, for instance, come in shades that complement rather than compete with the wearer's natural coloring. The buildable nature of Laka products means that someone with lighter skin can apply a light layer for a subtle wash of color, while someone with deeper skin can build up the product for more noticeable impact without it appearing cakey or unnatural.

Laka's approach demonstrates that inclusivity isn't just about having more shades—it's about creating formulas that perform well across different skin types and tones. Their multi-use products further enhance accessibility, allowing consumers to get more value from each item while experimenting with different applications. This thoughtful methodology shows how brands can successfully cater to diversity without compromising on quality or aesthetic appeal.

Mistine: Expanding Ranges with Room for Growth

Mistine, as a prominent Thai beauty brand with significant market presence across Southeast Asia and beyond, has made notable efforts to expand its shade ranges in response to growing demands for inclusivity. Historically known for products suited to lighter complexions common in Asian markets, the brand has gradually introduced darker foundation shades and more diverse color cosmetics. Their recent foundation launches show increased consideration for medium to tan skin tones, representing progress in the right direction. However, despite these improvements, Mistine's range still leans noticeably toward lighter shades, with limited options for those with deeper complexions.

The brand's strength lies in its understanding of humid climates and their effect on makeup wear. Many Mistine products feature impressive staying power and oil-control properties that benefit consumers in tropical regions. Their cushion foundations and powders have gained loyal followings for their practical performance in challenging weather conditions. This technical expertise presents a strong foundation from which Mistine could expand its inclusive offerings. If the brand applied the same research and development resources to creating deeper shades with the same performance qualities, they could significantly improve their standing as an inclusive option.

Mistine's journey toward true inclusivity reflects the broader challenges faced by established brands that are recalibrating their approach to shade ranges. While their expansion efforts are commendable, there remains a noticeable gap between their current offerings and true spectrum-wide inclusion. Consumers with deeper skin tones often find that Mistine's darkest shades still skew medium at best, leaving those with rich complexions without suitable matches. The brand's position in the market gives them both the platform and responsibility to accelerate their inclusivity initiatives, potentially making a substantial impact given their widespread availability and affordability.

Unleashia: Universal Glitters with Base Product Potential

Unleashia has carved out a distinctive space in the beauty world with its dazzling glitter products that seem to transcend skin tone boundaries. The brand's glitter gels, eyeshadows, and highlighting products contain shimmer particles that catch and reflect light in ways that flatter virtually every complexion. Unlike pigmented products that must precisely match skin tones to look natural, Unleashia's sparkly offerings work through light reflection rather than color coverage, making them remarkably universal. Someone with fair porcelain skin and someone with deep ebony skin can both wear the same Unleashia glitter shade and look equally stunning—a rare quality in the beauty industry.

The science behind Unleashia's appeal across skin tones lies in their particle size selection and multidimensional reflectivity. Their glitters often combine multiple sizes and colors of reflective particles that create depth and dimension regardless of the wearer's complexion. The transparent or lightly tinted bases in many Unleashia products allow the wearer's natural skin tone to show through while adding sparkle, eliminating the need for exact shade matching that plagues traditional color cosmetics. This innovative approach has earned the brand a diverse following and demonstrates how thinking differently about product formulation can lead to more inclusive beauty solutions.

Where Unleashia has room for improvement is in their base products like foundations and concealers. While their color-free glitter products work for everyone, their tinted complexion products currently cater to a more limited range of skin tones. Expanding these ranges would allow Unleashia to offer the same inclusivity across their entire product lineup that they've achieved with their glitter selections. Given their proven ability to create products that celebrate rather than conceal individual beauty, there's significant potential for Unleashia to develop base products that truly serve diverse consumers. Their established philosophy of enhancement rather than coverage provides a strong foundation for such expansion.

The Power of Consumer Choice in Driving Change

As beauty enthusiasts and everyday makeup wearers, we collectively hold significant power to influence industry standards through our purchasing decisions. When we consciously support brands like Laka that demonstrate genuine commitment to inclusivity across their product development and marketing, we send a clear message about market expectations. Conversely, when we identify limitations in brands like Mistine's shade ranges or Unleashia's base products, we can use our voices—through social media, reviews, and direct feedback—to encourage positive change. This consumer activism has already driven remarkable progress in the beauty industry, pushing once-resistant brands to expand their offerings and reconsider their approach to diversity.

The growing demand for inclusive products benefits everyone, not just those previously excluded. When brands develop wider shade ranges, they often improve their formulas to work better across different skin types and tones, resulting in higher quality products for all consumers. The research invested in creating foundations that don't appear ashy on deeper skin tones or blushes that show up vibrantly on various complexions frequently leads to technological advancements that enhance product performance across the board. In this way, the push for inclusivity elevates the entire beauty industry rather than simply addressing a gap in the market.

Supporting brands that prioritize diversity also encourages healthier beauty standards that celebrate rather than homogenize our differences. When people see themselves represented in beauty campaigns and can easily find products that work for their unique coloring, it reinforces the message that beauty comes in many forms. This representation matters beyond mere cosmetics—it contributes to a broader cultural shift toward acceptance and appreciation of human diversity. By aligning our beauty purchases with our values, we participate in creating a more inclusive world where everyone can find products that make them feel seen and celebrated.

Finding Your Perfect Match: A Practical Approach

Navigating the evolving landscape of inclusive makeup requires a strategic approach to finding what works for your individual skin tone and preferences. Start by testing samples whenever possible—many brands now offer sample sizes or tester units in stores that allow you to try products before committing to full sizes. When testing foundations and concealers, apply swatches to your jawline rather than your hand or wrist, and observe how they look in different lighting conditions throughout the day. The perfect match should disappear into your skin rather than sitting visibly on top of it.

Don't limit yourself to traditional categories when exploring options. Sometimes a product marketed for one purpose might work beautifully for another skin tone—a lip color that appears too light on deeper lips might make a perfect cream blush, for instance. Brands like Laka often design their products with this versatility in mind, while Unleashia's glitter products can frequently be used on eyes, face, and body regardless of skin tone. Being open to experimentation can lead to discovering unexpected favorites that work perfectly for your unique coloring.

When exploring brands with more limited ranges like Mistine, consider how you might make their products work through techniques like mixing or sheering out. While this shouldn't replace advocating for better options, it can provide temporary solutions while the industry continues to evolve. Similarly, with brands like Unleashia that excel in universal categories but have room for improvement in base products, you might combine their standout items with base products from more inclusive brands. The goal is to curate a collection that makes you feel beautiful and confident, using the growing range of options now available from brands at various stages of their inclusivity journey.