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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.
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 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. Think of this list as a starting point as you search for Black-owned beauty brands, not a comprehensive directory.
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. Briogeo has something for every hair concern but I’m a big fan of the
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. Pattern has
Cecred is Beyoncé’s haircare 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 such as honey, aloe and ginger to enrich hair. This hair care company is one of the few that’s still going strong from the early days of the natural hair care 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
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
Mielle Organics was founded in 2014 by Monique Rodriguez and it hit the ground running. Monique 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
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.
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Sephora
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 and 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
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.
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Keys Soulcare
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.
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Hyper Skin
Ixora Botanical Beauty is another popular skincare 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 best sellers is its donkey milk and chamomile hydrating facial cleanser. This one is a staple in my own skin-care 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.
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Rosen Skincare
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.