25 amazing black-owned beauty brands to check out

If the Black Lives Matter movement has taught us anything, it’s that we need to be active in our support for the black community. As I mentioned in my June goals, I’m going to buy more from black-owned businesses, share helpful resources on my blog and ensure I keep signing petitions and donating to the Black Lives Matter cause.

Although I already have products from some of the biggest black-owned beauty brands – like Fenty Beauty, Pat McGrath and Juvia’s Place – I’m going to ensure I buy from some of the smaller brands too. If, like me, you also want to support more black-owned beauty brands, then this is the perfect post for you.

In this post, I’m sharing 25 amazing black-owned beauty brands that you should check out and buy from, including big brands and smaller brands. I find that black-owned beauty brands push out some stunning, bright and bold colours that look phenomenal on all skin tones.

It’s important to say this: you should be supporting these brands now and always.

So, here are the 25 black-owned beauty brands that you need to check out!

*This post contains some affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page*

1. Fenty Beauty

Availability: International

One of the biggest names on this list – if not, the biggest – is Fenty Beauty. Created by the queen herself, Rihanna, Fenty Beauty was revolutionary in the makeup world when it launched an inclusive range of foundation shades, which had a shade for ALL skin tones.

It shouldn’t have been ground-breaking to have a foundation range that caters for every skin tone, but it was. And we have Rihanna to thank for that. Thankfully, other brands since have been following suit and creating much more inclusive foundation ranges. However, some big brands still fail to cater properly for deeper skin tones and it’s simply unacceptable. Come on guys, it’s 2020!

Since its conception, Fenty Beauty has made waves in the makeup industry with stunning lip glosses, colourful highlighters and bright blushers. I’m obsessed with Fenty Beauty!

2. Essentials by Temi

Availability: International

Essentials by Temi does a range of delicious skincare and body care products, from cedar & vanilla butter scrubs to radiance elixir oils.

Temi Shobowale established her beauty career at a young age as a beauty advisor to her friends and family.

Essentials by Temi

Temi’s products are plant-based and I love the luxe packaging. I’d love to try some products from the skincare range, in particular.

3. Unsun Cosmetics

Availability: International

Founded by Katonya Breaux in 2016, Unsun Cosmetics was created because of the gap in the market for SPFs for people with deeper skin tones, as most other SPFs would leave a noticeable chalky cast on melanin-rich skin.

Unsun Cosmetics’ products – which include hand creams and body lotions as well as SPFs – are suitable for all skin tones and promise to leave the skin residue-free.

4. Pat McGrath Labs

Availability: International

I couldn’t create this black-owned beauty brands list and not include Pat McGrath Labs. This iconic makeup brand is adored by many people across the globe and is known for its high-quality products that deliver serious results.

Created by legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath, the makeup range has the most stunning eyeshadow palettes, unique lipstick shades and outstanding packaging.

It’s undeniable: Pat McGrath is the most influential and sought-after makeup artist in the world.

Pat McGrath Labs

I own the LuxeTrance Lipstick in Beautiful Creature and it’s simply divine. The lipstick is pigmented, long-lasting and comfortable to wear. It’s definitely one of my favourite lipstick formulas ever.

Although I don’t own one of the legendary eyeshadow palettes (yet), I swatched the Mothership VII: Divine Rose Palette in Selfridges last year and the colour payoff was insane. It blew my goddamn mind. In my lifetime, I have to get one of these eyeshadow palettes – even if they’re over £100!

5. Mented Cosmetics

Availability: USA, Canada and UK

Founded by KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson, Mented Cosmetics began after a conversation about why it was so difficult for black people to find the perfect nude lipstick. Ever since then, the brand has created a beautiful range of makeup products that cater to each and every skin tone.

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. 

Mented Cosmetics

I wish this brand was available in the UK because the new Sangria Liquid Lipstick Collection is seriously speaking to me.

6. Nola Skinsentials

Availability: UK, USA and Canada

When I was putting together this list of black-owned beauty brands, I came across Nola Skinsentials – a vegan skincare brand that not only caters for black people but also promotes skincare for men too. Skincare is not only for women and I’m happy to see Nola Skinsentials promoting this!

Being an African American woman, I realized how challenging it was to find a brand that created all plant-based products for skin with melanin. 

Nola Skinsentials

The prices are extremely affordable, meaning you can buy multiple skincare goodies without breaking the bank.

7. Dizziak London

Availability: International

Created by Loretta De Feo after struggling to find a truly rich, deep conditioner for afro hair, Dizziak is an award-winning hair care range for all hair types. The line consists of a hydration wash and conditioner, and has glowing reviews from its many fans. I think my boyfriend would love this range and I’ve told him to check it out.

8. Juvia’s Place

Availability: International

One of the most recognisable brands on this black-owned beauty list is Juvia’s Place, which is known for its extremely pigmented eyeshadow palettes. Inspired by African beauty, expect colourful eyeshadow palettes, bright tribal looks on the Instagram feed and extreme pigment from Juvia’s Place.

I have the Magic Mini Palette and the pigment and blendability are UNREAL. I’d love to try some of the other stunning eyeshadow palettes from the brand.

9. Bouclème

Availability: International

Designed specifically for people with curly hair, Bouclème is a cruelty-free haircare brand that helps nourish, strengthen and hydrate curly locks. The brand’s Instagram feed is full of beautiful curly hair from people of all skin tones and I love a diverse feed.

10. Epara Skincare

Availability: International

Nigerian-born Ozohu Adoh founded Epara Skincare out of her passion for authentic skincare.

One woman’s quest to discover luxury skincare that caters to the unique issues affecting women of colour led to a bespoke beauty brand created especially to nourish and protect.

Epara Skincare

Epara means “to cocoon oneself” in the Nigerian dialect of Ebira and I adore the name of this luxe skincare brand; it sounds high-end and unique. As a skincare junkie, I’d absolutely love to try out the entire range, especially because the packaging is so sleek.

11. Beauty Bakerie

Availability: International

Another well-known black-owned beauty brand on this list is Beauty Bakerie. I adore this brand’s bakery theme and packaging: it’s instantly recognisable, playful and feminine.

The Crème Lip Whips look divine and I’m definitely going to get one (probably along with a load of other products from Beauty Bakerie) in the near future!

The founder, Cashmere Nicole, has a very inspirational story, which includes hard work, being a cancer survivor and giving back to the community with the Sugar Homes initiative. This means that with every purchase, donations are given to orphanages across the world, whether it’s toys, clothes or money. What a beautiful idea.

12. DWIRA

Availability: International

DWIRA is a vegan and sustainable holistic skincare and wellness brand, providing pure West African products without compromise, crafted to rejuvenate, nourish and feed the skin.

Adwoa, the founder, (who is lovely) fuses Ghanian tradition with British GMP standards to create the unique skincare and wellness range.

DWIRA is an Akan word meaning ‘To Purify & Cleanse’. 

DWIRA

There is a fantastic range of products available from DWIRA, with some of the most eye-catching packaging I’ve seen yet. From the Hemp Superfood Face Oil through to the African Shea Butter, I want to try it all.

13. LIHA Beauty

Availability: International

We create beauty products that are, like us, a mixture of natural African roots and a quintessentially British attitude.

LIHA Beauty

LIHA Beauty creates luxe, innovative and vegan skincare products that blends the rich botanical life of West Africa with traditional English aromatherapy. The products are affordable and the Gold Shea Butter, in particular, sounds amazing because it’s unique and versatile.

14. OPV Beauty

Availability: International

East London-based sisters Bukola and Opeyemi Adeyemo launched OPV Beauty, a cruelty-free makeup brand to suit people of all skin tones.

We started OPV Beauty to finally provide a brand that would be inclusive of all skin tones.

OPV Beauty

Expect dazzling loose pigments, fun lipstick shades and even some hair extensions too. The Oshun Palette, in particular, has caught my attention because I love the gorgeous golden and bronze shimmers.

15. The Mane Choice

Availability: International

As Founder of The Mane Choice, Courtney Adeleye built her hair empire from the ground up by incorporating her specialized knowledge base with her own curiosity.

The Mane Choice

The Mane Choice is a popular multi-cultural healthy hair growth and retention company, suitable for black women. The company offers a range of hair care products with vitamins and essential nutrients such as Biotin, Vitamin A, B, C, D, & E.

16. Danessa Myricks Beauty

Availability: International

Founded by popular makeup artist Danessa Myricks, Danessa Myricks Beauty is a customisable makeup range designed for all skin tones and experience levels, from makeup artists to everyday makeup wearers.

Danessa Myricks beauty is an artisanal brand developed with the notion that makeup is art and that the world of beauty should be inclusive of every woman. 

Danessa Myricks Beauty

Before compiling this list of black-owned beauty brands, I hadn’t heard of Danessa Myricks. However, after visiting her Instagram feed, I’m now obsessed with the different looks she creates. Striking. Varied. Colourful. I’m going to try recreating some of her makeup looks very soon.

17. Bolden Skincare

Availability: International

Founded by two black women, Bolden Skincare is a USA-based skincare brand that empowers women of colour to embrace their natural beauty.

The brand aims to help shape a global conversation about inclusive standards of beauty, so brown girls everywhere feel empowered to celebrate the natural beauty of the skin they’re in.

Bolden Skincare offers a range of skincare products, such as the Brightening Glycolic Acid Toner, Clear Skin Clay Mask and Sweet Vanilla Shea Butter Oil.

18. AVOCURL

Availability: International

AVOCURL was created out of a dorm room by Jasmine Curtis, who was tired of products that left her hair dry and contained harmful ingredients.

AVOCURL

Designed specifically for coily, curly and wavy hair, as well as locks, AVOCURL is an avocado-based haircare range for the black community. Honestly, the products look and sound so delicious that I wish I had an afro just to try them out.

19. The Lip Bar

Availability: International

One of the first things that stands out when you go on The Lip Bar’s website is the ethos of creating a diverse, inclusive brand. I’m 1000% here for that and love that this makeup brand wants to include all skin types, skin tones and ages.

In 2012, I launched The Lip Bar because everywhere I looked, the media was telling women that beauty looked a certain way. 

The Lip Bar

The other thing that stands out is the funky packaging. That lipstick packaging above is so eye-catching and fun! I definitely don’t own anything like that in my makeup collection. I’m determined to get my hands on one of the awesome lipsticks from The Lip Bar.

20. Buttah Skin

Availability: International

Designed for melanin-rich skin, Buttah Skincare was founded by Dorion Renaud after struggling to find skincare products that worked for his skin. The skincare line boasts attractive, modern packaging and includes products containing shea butter, vitamin C and lavender flower extract.

This is a very cohesive brand and I love the look of Buttah Skincare’s Instagram feed. It’s great to see a brand really uplift and promote the black community.

21. Charlotte Mensah

Availability: International

Charlotte Mensah is an award-winning hairstylist and has used her tremendous knowledge of maintaining natural afro, mixed and curly textures to create a high-end haircare range for black people.

She was recently crowned ‘Afro Hairdresser of the Year’ for the 3rd time at the British Hairdressing Awards and now enters their Hall of Fame and rightly takes her place in the most exclusive club in British Hairdressing. 

Charlotte Mensah

I love the tribalesque patterns on Charlotte’s products and knowing her experience in styling afro hair, I can only imagine that her products will be just as excellent.

22. Propa Beauty

Availability: International

Propa Beauty is another black-owned makeup brand, which offers a range of beautiful nude lipstick shades for people with deeper skin tones.

The Luminous Satin Lipstick collection from Propa Beauty features 12-shades lipsticks carefully crafted for those of us with dark skin tones.

Propa Beauty

Expect rich, caramel, rose and warm-toned hues with gorgeous satin finishes, which won’t leave people feeling like they can’t find the right nude lipstick for their skin tone.

23. Range Beauty

Availability: International

Born out of the desire to create an inclusive foundation range, Range Beauty is known for its base makeup products. It’s specifically designed for people of colour, who often find themselves unable to get a foundation that matches their skin tone.

Fenty Beauty addressed this issue and a lot of other brands have followed suit with much more inclusive shade ranges, but with so many brands still only catering for fairer skin tones, it’s important that makeup brands create shade ranges specifically for people with melanin-rich skin.

It is a brand that encourages you to express yourself, while still allowing your true skin to shine through.

Range Beauty

24. Beneath Your Mask

Availability: International

Beneath Your Mask is a skincare, haircare and body care brand designed to restore, repair and reverse the toxic effects of environmental hazards, health challenges and stress from our lifestyles.

I like the natural vibes that this brand emits and the idea of an all-healing skincare range that’s good for our mind and body. I’d love to try the Illuminate Clarifying Face Mask and Remedy Conditioning Lip Balm.

25. Briogeo

Availability: International

Founded by Nancy Twine, Brigeo promises high-performance and natural haircare products for every hair type, from straight hair to afro curls.

Briogeo is 6-free hair care; meaning our formulas are free of harsh sulfates (SLS/SLES), silicones, parabens, phthalates, DEA and synthetic color. 

Briogeo

I love that the website makes it super easy for you to shop for your hair type/concern. This means I don’t have to spend ages looking at a tonne of different haircare products to find out which ones are suitable for my hair type. I just know I need the range that adds volume to fine, thin hair!

A helpful resource

I found this comprehensive resource of black-owned beauty brands on Twitter. It’s also an opensource document, so you can add black-owned beauty brands that you know of onto the document if you can’t see them listed, which means it’s helpful for everyone.

Sarah Sarsby is the owner of A Woman's Confidence. With over 6 years' experience of writing in the fields of beauty and lifestyle, Sarah is passionate about all things content, makeup, skincare, wellness, and lifestyle. She has oily skin, is obsessed with lip gloss, and loves cookie dough.