Makeup · United Kingdom
Sleek MakeUP
Founded by Dennis Tharratt
Sleek is the OG British high-street brand that treated deep skin as the default, not the afterthought. Sleek Makeup was created by Dennis Tharratt, a beauty wholesaler operating in East London, who identified a lack of products suited for some of his consumers, especially those of Afro-Caribbean heritage. Its mission was to fill a gap in the market after seeing women of color being under-represented in cosmetics. Reviewers consistently note its rarity at the price: a drugstore brand that has several shades deeper than mine. The Lifeproof foundation comes in 24 shades, with 8 available for darker skin tones, and the Face Contour Kit in shade Dark became a cult contouring staple. Caveat: founding-year sources conflict (the brand cites 1985; WWD says 1995), and Sleek is now owned by Walgreens Boots Alliance/No7 Beauty Company, so it's a corporate-backed legacy indie rather than a small operation. Some deep shades also oxidise and skew cool.
Who it matches
- Depth range
- Fair, Deep, Deepest
- Undertone
- Cool, Neutral, Warm
- Skin type
- All skin types
- Price
- Budget
- Finish
- Matte
- Coverage
- Medium, Full
Hero products
- Lifeproof 12 Hour Foundation
- Vitality Fresh Foundation
- Creme to Powder Compact
- Face Contour Kit
- i-Divine Eyeshadow Palettes
- Matte Me Ultra Matte Lipstick
Not sure this is your shade?
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