Post-MLNNYC

According to the most recent Census data, there are over two million Black-owned beauty brands in the United States and this number continues to soar (1). Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean it’s always easy for prospective Black business owners to get started, especially in the beauty category. “The fantasy of beauty has often been constructed around a celebration of white bodies,” says Tiffany Gill, author of Beauty Shop Politics: African American Women’s Activism in the Beauty Industry. “And to even have makeup for darker-skinned women or to put them in campaigns in visible ways means to completely undermine the whole foundation of the industry.” (2) Over the past year and a half, more brands and retailers have been held accountable for this imbalance in representation. As a response to this, retailers like Sephora, Ulta, and Target have pledged to add more Black-owned beauty brands to their shelves in an effort to rectify this inequity. This effort has introduced beauty lovers to Black-owned brands such as Juvia’s Place, Lys Beauty, Beauty Bakerie, and more. We’re excited to see what other brands will be widely available to consumers in the future. But until then, there is still so much Black-owned beauty to be discovered and, you never know, you might just find your new staple product.

Beauty starts with the skin and these Black-owned skincare brands understand exactly how to prioritize that. Black Girl Sunscreen is a brand focused on breaking the myth that Black people don’t need sunscreen. If you’re melanated and you’ve attempted to wear most of the widely available sunscreens, that unappealing white cast left after applying those sunscreens is no stranger to you. This common barrier is nonexistent with Black Girl Sunscreen. Instead, the brand provides nourishing ingredients, like jojoba, avocado, and cacao in their products so you can protect and moisturize at the same time (3).

ROSEN Skincare is another brand with a mission to break the mold of what traditional acne care looks like. They offer their products in bundles to target specific skin concerns such as dark spots and textured skin. It’s important for ROSEN to formulate their products using modern research so that your skincare products are built with the most innovative solutions (4). Today, you can even pick up ROSEN Skincare products in select Target and Urban Outfitters locations across the country!

Photo Credit: The Crayon Case

After those skincare products give you that inner glow, it’s time to add some color with these Black-owned makeup brands. If you’re really into color then The Crayon Case is the perfect brand for you. Their colorful products immediately transport you back to the art classroom and inspire you to use your imagination when creating your next makeup look. They encourage makeup newcomers and veterans alike to experiment with all different shades to explore the unlimited possibilities (5). You can shop The Crayon Case in select Walmart stores.

Mented Cosmetics founders KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson

Photo Credit: Mented Cosmetics

On the other end of the spectrum, Mented Cosmetics is creating makeup for fans of the “no-makeup” makeup look. Founders KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson created the brand after realizing how difficult it was for them to find their perfect nude lip products. They stated, “We created Mented Cosmetics because we believe every woman should be able to find herself in the world of beauty, no matter her skin tone.” (6) To sweeten the deal, Mented Cosmetics’ lip products are vegan, non-toxic, and cruelty-free.

Photo Credit: Ancient Cosmetics

Now you’re ready with your glowing skin and beat face, but we still have to make sure the rest of our body care isn’t falling behind. If there’s one thing these Black-owned body care brands know how to do, it’s keeping our skin moisturized and soft to the touch. Ancient Cosmetics is a brand that is essential to have on hand during the cold, winter months. Their Double Butter Shea Butter + Cocoa Butter works wonders for dry skin and is liable to sell out in record time. They also offer body scrubs, body oils, soaps, and bath bombs to inject every part of your routine with some extra care.

Photo Credit: Hanahana Beauty

Last but certainly not least is Hanahana Beauty, a conscious, clean skincare brand with the goal of keeping their customers ash-free. This brand aims to disrupt the global beauty industry by centering accessibility and transparency as part of its company ethos. Hanahana Beauty began by selling their homemade shea butter and has now expanded to offering a natural face mask and exfoliating cleanser. When asked about her inspiration for creating the brand, founder Abena Boamah-Acheampong stated, “Four years ago, I decided that I was over buying skincare products without knowing what was actually in it. I went back to what I knew, shea butter!” Making the decision to return to her skincare roots has benefited more people than she may have imagined.

With the abundance of upcoming Black-owned beauty brands, we've only just scratched the surface with these six brands. There are still so many brands to be discovered. Let this collection of companies serve as your starting point to discover more Black-owned beauty brands to share with others. As we know, we won’t always have the same opportunities for exposure as non-Black-owned brands. Therefore, spreading the word about a product we love is always going to be a welcome helping hand.

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Black-Owned Beauty Breakdown

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