30 Black-Owned Makeup Brands Everyone Should Know and Love
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30 Black-Owned Makeup Brands Everyone Should Know and Love
Black-owned makeup brands are doing what the cosmetic industry has refused to do for decades — honor and acknowledge Black culture, Black communities, and the beauty and skincare needs of Black people. From providing a wide range of shades to satisfy a myriad of skin tones, to offering highly pigmented palettes, Black-owned makeup brands are not only doing what they can to fill a void in the market, they are giving people of all ethnicities more beauty and skincare options. Thanks to their tireless work, it’s less of an issue for Black people and people of color to find a nude lip gloss that actually compliments their tone, foundation that really does appear to melt into their skin, and makeup that won’t harm them with toxic chemicals. And many of them are doing it while catering to a wide range of budgets. Most importantly, these businesses are showing the world that you don't have to view beauty and wellness through a white-washed lens to be successful.
With the development of these Black-owned drug store, department store, and private-label brands, shopping for makeup is no longer a stressful and exclusive experience, but a welcoming one in which everyone, especially Black people and people of color, can celebrate the uniqueness of their beauty. Most importantly, they are truly making an effort to help everyone love the skin they are in as they recognize the power of acceptance, recognition, inclusivity, diversity, and self-advocacy. The Black-owned makeup and skincare brands included on this list are just the beginning of an impressive collection leaving their mark on the beauty industry.
Peathegee Inc/Blend Images - Getty Images - 2/31
1) Everyday Eye Shadow Palette
Mented
amazon.com
$28.00
Mented was created by Harvard grads KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson, who noticed there was a void in the market when it came to finding nude lip colors for Black women. So they decided to solve the problem themselves with lipsticks, nail polishes, eyeshadows and more, all pigmented to compliment the shades of all women.
Amazon - 3/31
2) Flyliner Longwear Liquid Eyeliner
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna
amazon.com
$11.68
Rihanna turned the beauty industry on its head when she launched Fenty Beauty in 2017 with the release of foundations in 40 different shades. The brand continues to be a major force as it pinpoints universal shades in the creation of new products. The lightweight formulas make them fun and easy to layer and experiment.
Amazon - 4/31
3) Liquid Matte Lipstick
The Lip Bar
amazon.com
$13.99
From “colorful cockroaches” on Shark Tank to the shelves of Target, The Lip Bar aims to create products that let consumers set their own beauty standard with 17 shades of lipsticks and glosses ranging from traditional reds to metallic blues. All lipsticks are made with shea butter, coconut oil, avocado oil and vitamin e for the ultimate moisturizing experience.
Amazon - 5/31
4) Color Splurge Patent Lips
BLK/OPL
amazon.com
$11.73
Black Opal has long been catering to the needs of Black women and women of color, but only recently became Black-owned in 2019. However, under new leadership, the goal of providing high quality yet affordable products while making an impact remains the same.
Amazon - 6/31
5) Shade Stick Foundation
Juvia's Place
amazon.com
$16.00
Juvia’s Place is a brand inspired by the vibrancy of Africa and is home to some of the most boldly colored and highly pigmented products. This is especially true of the company's eye palettes. Juvia's Place often collaborates with beauty influencers to create standout products that offer vibrant and dynamic makeup artistry.
Amazon - 7/31
6) Honey Hustle LipShine
Matic Cosmetics
maticcosmetics.com
$12.75
Matic's stunning lip gloss shades feature an organic formula. The highly pigmented colors make them a great choice for richer skin tones.
Matic Cosmetics - 8/31
7) Clear Brow Gel
Lamik Beauty
ulta.com
$21.00
With a goal of being kind to the planet while honoring women of color, Lamik Beauty aims to provide clean and vegan products that promote healthy communities.
Ulta - 9/31
8) Major Mini Lip Trios
Pat McGrath Labs
sephora.com
$25.00
Makeup artist Pat McGrath is the woman behind some of the most beautiful faces to grace high-profile runway shows and advertising campaigns. When creating her brand, Pat McGrath Labs, she channeled the power of transformation and beauty to create the gold standard of cosmetics.
Sephora - 10/31
9) Spent LipGloss
Baabs Beauty
baabsbeauty.myshopify.com
$16.99
A high sensitivity to topical products prompted Necia Boston to create her allergen-free product line, Blessed and Anointed Beauty Services (BAABS). From lash tools and enhancements, to foundation and eyeliner, BAABS Beauty has everything needed to enhance your natural beauty.
Baabs Beauty - 11/31
10) Infinite Chrome Flakes Multichrome Gel
Danessa Myricks
sephora.com
$25.00
Danessa Myricks Beauty provides users with “an inclusive world of beauty with no boundaries.” Makeup artist and founder, Danessa Myricks, consistently used makeup in unconventional ways and decided to create products that allowed others to do the same. The Colorfix products are versatile creams that can be blended, layered, or used as a base for concealers and can be applied to the face, eyes or lips.
Sephora - 12/31
11) Clear Skin Clay Mask
Bolden
amazon.com
$18.49
Chinelo and Ndidi and established Bolden as a way to empower women through beauty. The sisters create natural skincare that strives to meet the needs of women of color. The clay mask helps to provide a deep cleansing and clears breakouts for all skin types.
Amazon - 13/31
12) Pure Unrefined Shea Butter with Avocado Oil
Desalu Naturals
amazon.com
$14.99
Desalu Naturals is a skincare brand with ingredients sourced from around Africa, and is best known for its oils and body butters. As a company dedicated to giving back, the brand prioritizes aiding communities in need, primarily in Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Uganda.
Amazon - 14/31
13) Daily Hydrating Moisturizing Cream w/SPF 40
AbsoluteJOI
amazon.com
$42.00
Developed by physician-researcher, Dr. Anne Beal, AbsoluteJOI is an inclusive clean beauty brand that seeks to help care for everyone's tones and skin types. The brand's products have scientifically-based active ingredients along with soothing botanicals for a nourishing and balancing experience. This daily hydrating moisturizing cream features green tea and chamomile and is perfect for sensitive skin types.
Amazon - 15/31
14) Haitian Black Castor Oil for Skin and Hair
Kreyol Essentials
amazon.com
$18.00
Kreyol Essence was created with the intention of providing access to Haitian black castor oil while simultaneously stimulating the economy in Haiti. Reviewers rave about the positive outcomes of the product, including stimulating hair growth, diminishing stretch marks, lightening dark spots and easing eczema symptoms.
Amazon - 16/31
15) Queen of Tarts Bar Mini Makeup Palatte
Beauty Bakerie
amazon.com
$18.00
Cashmere Nicole founded Beauty Bakerie in 2011. While the brand has been around for over a decade, it took off in popularity recently on social media thanks to its clever products. Beauty Bakiere offers a range of lip, eye, face and skincare products that will enhance the beauty in everyone.
Amazon - 17/31
16) Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
Black Girl Sunscreen
ulta.com
$15.99
Ever gotten annoyed by the white film that sunscreen can leave on your skin? So did Shontay Lundy, who founded Black Girl Sunscreen in 2016. Essentially, the brand makes sunscreen that dries completely clear and protects melanin without the white-cast. The SPF 30 is a best-seller for Black Girl Sunscreen.
Ulta - 18/31
17) True Complexion Creme Contour Palette
Black Radiance
amazon.com
$6.89
The mission of Black Radiance is quite simple: to enable women of color around the world to be even more beautiful. Black Radiance offers products that celebrates self-acceptance and inner-strength amongst today's Black women. The brand sells makeup and skincare that fall in line with this ethos. The True Complexion Creme Contour Palette is perfect for highlighting and contour your face for a sculpted finish.
Amazon - 19/31
18) Isle Lip Balm with SPF 30
Cay Skin
sephora.com
$14.00
Combine the importance of "suncare" with skincare and you get Cay Skin. Founded by model and socialite Winnie Harlow, who has vitiligo, Cay Skin offers silicone-free, vegan, cruelty-free, reef-friendly and dermatologist-tested options. The Isle lip balm will keep your lips moisturized and protected.
Sephora - 20/31
19) Comforting Tinted Lip Balm
Keys Soulcare
ulta.com
$18.00
Did you know that Alicia Keys has her own skincare/beauty brand? Her Keys Soulcare line is all about using dermatologist-developed clean skincare formulas paired with skin-nourishing ingredients. The tinted lip balm is perfect for keeping your lips moisturized while adding a nice pop of color.
Ulta - 21/31
20) Say What?! Foundation
UOMA Beauty
ulta.com
$39.00
UOMA Beauty is about being resilient, innovative and inclusitive. Founded by Nigerian born, LA- and London-based former beauty executive Sharon Chuter, UOMA seeks to help customers recognize the beauty in being themselves. The Say What?! Foundation comes in 51 shades to help represent every woman.
ulta - 22/31
21) Skin-Enhancing Tinted Moisturizer
Ami Colé
sephora.com
$32.00
Made to unveil your inner excellence, Ami Colé offers natural products that will make you feel your best. Diarrha Ndiaye, the founder of the brand, used inspiration from her Senegal upbringing to create skin-caring and deep-understanding formulas. The skin-enhancing tinted moisturizer lives up to that reputation and is suitable for every skin type.
Sephora - 23/31
22) Skin Transforming Kit
buttah. by Dorion Renaud
amazon.com
$50.99
Founded in 2018, Buttah is Dorion Renaud's contribution to the beauty industry. The brand strives to create products that are perfect for women and men with melanated skin. This skin transforming kit includes a CocoShea Revitalizing Cream, Vitamin C Serum, and Buttah Cleanser for a full, effective skincare routine.
Amazon - 24/31
23) Rose SupaBalm
KNC Beauty
nordstrom.com
$22.00
After a trip to Japan, Kristen Noel Crawley became obsessed with lip gloss. Upon returning home, she realized that there weren't many natural glosses available, thus, KNC Beauty was born. The SupaBlam uses moringa, kukui, cotton oil and rose for a flavorful yet hydrating lip moisturizer.
Nordstrom - 25/31
24) Buttercup Setting Powder
Sacha
amazon.com
$24.55
Sacha began its operations in Trinidad and Tobago in 1979. The original idea was to create a beauty line that helped Caribbean women get representation, but now the brand has blossomed in a brand that's used by all women of color. The Buttercup Setting Powder helps to blur fine lines and pores while also making sure that there's no ashy flashback in pictures.
Amazon - 26/31
25) Luxury Radiance Liquid Makeup
Iman Cosmetics
amazon.com
$9.98
Fashion icon, Iman, created her cosmetics brand in 1994, and was dubbed the first makeup and skincare line catering to women of color. The mission isn’t solely to be a multicultural brand, but to allow all women to feel acknowledged, beautiful and to remind them that they deserve a seat at the table.
Amazon - 27/31
26) Crème Foundation
Laws of Nature Cosmetics®
lawsofnaturecosmetics.com
$35.00
After realizing a number of cosmetic products marketed to Black women have hazardous ingredients and are often linked to breast cancer, Jasmine Rose knew she had to do something. So, she created cruelty-free, healthy products. Laws of Nature is a line dedicated to allowing women the ability to have control over what is put on their bodies while feeling beautiful.
Laws of Nature - 28/31
27) True Intentions Hydrating Foundation
Range Beauty
rangebeauty.com
$28.00
True to its name, Range Beauty offers an extensive list of products that caters to a wide range of skin tones and their corresponding undertones. Each product was made with acne and eczema sufferers in mind to help avoid inflammation.
Range Beauty - 29/31
28) Body Butta
Carrie J HairCare
carriejhaircare.com
$10.99
Janet Gilbert, creator of Carrie J Haircare, made the jump from hair blogger to an at-home scientist, creating homemade hair products in her kitchen, to a bonafide entrepreneur. Having struggled to find products to properly care for her daughter's hair, Gilbert took matters into her own hands to create a line of hair care products with safe ingredients to promote healthy hair and safe practices.
Carrie J Haircare - 30/31
29) Radiate Face Jelly Gel Moisturizer
Base Butter
basebutter.com
$29.00
All-natural skincare line Base Butter is on a mission to make healthy skin available to all. The cofounders, She'Neil Spence and Nicolette Graves, were inspired to create their brand after their own struggles with acne and oily skin. Now their product line includes a moisturizing facial “jelly” and a whipped body cream.
BaseButter - 31/31
30) Eye Shadow
Vera Moore Cosmetics and Skincare
$18.00
Vera Moore is a soap opera actress turned President and CEO of the family owned Vera Moore Cosmetics. After recognizing the difficulty in finding natural looking foundation products for women of color that didn’t rub off on clothes, Vera Moore decided to create a solution. The result is a line of long-lasting cosmetics that keep skin tones and undertones in mind.
Vera Moore Cosmetics and Skincare
