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Stephanie Barnes has been writing about technology for almost a decade. She fell in love with tech after building her first PC as a little girl. She later followed that passion to become a front-end/iOS engineer before switching to writing full-time. Stephanie’s writing on technology, health and wellness, movies, television, and much more can be found all over the internet. When she isn’t writing, Stephanie can be found reading a good book, baking, obsessing over creating the perfect desk setup, or literally anything that’ll help her avoid going outside.
Robin Mosley Former CNET writer
Robin Mosley (she/her) formerly wrote commerce deals for CNET about beauty, fashion and other essential gear. Before that, she freelanced for Healthline, Simply Recipes and Nerd Street. She is a Chicago native living on the East Coast who is a fan of all things beauty, food, gaming and tech. When she isn’t writing, she’s at a restaurant, shopping online or making YouTube gaming videos.
You don’t need to wait for a specific month to support Black-owned businesses. Black-owned beauty brands should be celebrated, supported and promoted year-round. Many of the biggest beauty industry trends (nail art, acrylic nails, and hair color and extensions, to name a few) have been a staple of Black beauty for years.
If you’re on the lookout for the best Black-owned beauty brands to buy from, whether it’s skin care or an update to your makeup stash, you’ve come to the right place.
Black-owned beauty brands tend to be overlooked in the beauty industry, which is why I’ve compiled a list highlighting notable Black-owned hair care, skin care and cosmetic brands. Don’t think of this list as a comprehensive history, but a starting point.
Read more: 8 Ways to Get Involved During Black History Month and Beyond
Black-owned hair care
Nancy Twine, the founder of Briogeo, started this hair care company with beauty recipes from her grandmother and a chemist team. Now, it caters to all hair types to help you look great while using fun ingredients.
This celebrity-owned hair care line from Tracee Ellis Ross is designed with curly and coily hair in mind. Using oil blends such as Jojoba and argan oils, as well as leave-in conditioners and other products, this brand defines hair.
Cecred is Beyoncé’s hair care line, and the products are worth the hype. “It’s been my lifelong dream to create these hair products and bring some of my mother’s teachings to life,“ Beyoncé writes on the website. The products were created specifically for Black women and our uniquely beautiful hair. The clarifying shampoo scalp scrub is one of my favorites.
Camille Rose founder Janell Stephens is all about using gourmet food-grade ingredients like honey, aloe and ginger to enrich hair. Founded in 2011, this hair care company is one of the few that’s still going strong from the early days of the natural hair movement.
Another foundational brand, TGIN (Thank God It’s Natural) is the brainchild of Chris-Tia Donaldson, a Harvard Law grad who was trying to figure out how she’d wear her hair to work. You’ll find many products with ingredients like shea butter and vitamin E that soften and moisturize hair. The Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer is one of the brand’s bestsellers, and it helps keep your hair soft, shiny and manageable without weighing it down.
Like many entrepreneurs, Taliah Waajid started early — at age 14, in fact. Since then, she and her family members have been making products that strengthen and soften curly hair types using bamboo, apple and shea butter along with other ingredients.
This hair care brand has always been ahead of the curve. Alikay Naturals is dedicated to creating products that nourish your hair over time. And if you’re familiar with and love the LOC (liquid, oil, cream) method, you have founder Rochelle Graham-Campbell to thank. You can’t go wrong with the Honey and Sage Deep Conditioner.
Mielle Organics was founded in 2014 by Monique Rodriguez, and it hit the ground running. Rodriguez took her years of experience as a registered nurse and used it to put science behind her organic products, which are designed to support your roots and then some. The brand recently went viral with its rosemary mint scalp and hair oil, in case you were wondering what to get first. The oil smells amazing, and it works. Mielle Organics was acquired by P&G, but Rodriguez still helms the company.
This brand was started by one of the OG YouTube hair care influencers, Whitney White, and her sister, Taffeta. These products are simple, stable and all non-toxic.
Black-owned skin care
The mission of Topicals is to transform the way people feel about their skin through effective and science-backed products and mental health advocacy. The brand was founded by entrepreneur Olamide Olowe, who grew up with chronic skin conditions. Her lived experience inspired her decision to start the company in hopes to remove the focus on needing to have “perfect” skin to be beautiful. If you’re looking for something to brighten and hydrate your face and under-eyes, the Faded cream and eye mask bundle is the place to start.
The skin care game is huge, and celebrity brands are all the rage right now. This brand from Alicia Keys brightens dull skin with ingredients such as manuka honey and lactic acid.
Say goodbye to pesky dark spots and hello to clearer skin — and thank founder Desiree Verdejo, who started this company by delivering formulas to help fade hyperpigmentation.
Ixora Botanical Beauty is another popular brand and one I adore. It was founded by Mercedes Edney in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands and later relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina. The brand was inspired by the founder’s struggles with dry skin and eczema. Ixora Botanical Beauty has a host of incredible products, but one of its bestsellers is its donkey milk and chamomile hydrating facial cleanser. This one is a staple in my own routine.
Jamika Martin started Rosen as a skin-care line that would give people everything she didn’t have for her skin when she was 12. This company has products specifically focused on eliminating breakouts.
Plant Apothecary Beauty was launched in 2012. The brand takes pride in producing natural, plant-based beauty products to contribute to a higher standard of skincare. The products are free of petroleum, parabens, phthalates, sulfates and silicones. Not only are they good for your skin, they also come in cute packaging with short inspirational notes. Plant Apothecary Beauty was founded by Holly McWhorter and her husband.
Épanouie Skincare is TLC for skincare, according to the company’s site. The brand offers personal consultations to help you find exactly what you need for your skin concerns. These products are good for sensitive skin, because they’re gentle yet effective.
Sun care is serious business, especially for Shontay Lundy, the founder of Black Girl Sunscreen. Good sunscreen can help reduce scarring and protect skin from the sun. (Yes, Black people need that protection, too.) The problem is that most mineral sunscreens will give anyone with darker skin a visible white cast. Enter Black Girl Sunscreen, which not only moisturizes and protects dark skin, but does so without the discoloration.
Oui the People was founded by Karen Young and launched with a single product in 2014. The brand has grown significantly over the years and now has several amazing products, including its melting body balm, which is a plant-based retinol alternative. The brand also has a beautiful rose gold single-blade razor for sensitive skin. If you want to ditch disposable blades, then this is an option worth considering.
Dorion Renaud created this brand to target dryness, discoloration and more for melanin-rich skin. With products formulated with shea butter, rosewater, CocoShea and other protective ingredients, all skin types can get healthy and glowing skin.
Jane Ormon, the founder of Nola Skinsentials, wanted to deliver plant-based ingredients to improve everyone’s skin care routine. The company’s products can reduce acne and help hydrate the skin, too.
Most people already know about Fenty Beauty thanks to its creator, Rihanna. In addition to the typical facial skin care products to cleanse, hydrate and lock in moisture, Fenty Skin offers body care options, too.
Black-owned makeup
You absolutely can’t talk about Black-owned makeup brands without mentioning the legendary Pat McGrath. Pat McGrath Labs was founded in 2006 and has been producing high-quality products since. There’s also so much to choose from here. You can start prepping your skin, and then create a full makeup routine with foundation, concealer and mascara before topping it all off with one of the brand’s signature lip colors.