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Add these standout products to your makeup bag, stat.
While it's important to support Black-owned businesses during Black Business Month in August and throughout the entire year, in the beauty space, Black-owned skincare brands have a lot to offer in terms of natural ingredients, hardworking products, and formulas that cater to melanated skin concerns. Many of these businesses make an impact far beyond their products, whether they give back to their community or support mental health initiatives.
From shea butter moisturizers and men’s shaving products formulated for coarse hair, Black creators are at the forefront of the industry, putting beauty products into the market that work for everyone, regardless of ethnicity. Black beauty founders are not just making moisturizers and serums: They also have developed high-end LED masks, exfoliating tools, and specialized razors.
Black celebrities like Rihanna and Venus Williams have invested time and effort into the skincare and beauty space by launching major companies with tried-and-true products. But there are also independent smaller brands that have made a large footprint in a short amount of time, with unique focuses on sustainability, science-backed formulas, and spirituality. To highlight some of these unique brands, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular Black-owned skincare lines, as well as a few you may not have heard of, that will quickly become an irreplaceable part of your self-care routines. Discover all of our picks here.
A post shared by Shani Darden (@shanidarden)
As an aesthetician to stars like Kelly Rowland and Jessica Alba, Shani Darden knows skincare. We love the brand's Intensive Eye Renewal Cream with Firming Peptides and Face Sculpting Wand. While the PRO LED Light Mask is more of an investment at $1,900, it will change your skincare routine in a major way.
Face Sculpting Wand Intensive Renewal Cream with Peptides PRO LED Light Mask
A post shared by The Tsuri Company™️ (@thetsuricompany)
Founded by certified formulator Ashli Goudelock, Tsuri’s mission is to merge luxury, clean beauty, sacred self-care, and natural home care products. Each product is all-natural, organic, and cruelty-free and helps create a spa-like experience right in your home. Their Tigernut Squalene Multi-Use Oil is a particular customer favorite, it'll lock in all that great moisture while you sleep. And as a bonus, for every 60 products sold, NoIssue plants trees on Tsuri’s behalf for reforestation efforts.
Bentonite Rose Clay Mask Cashmere Vanilla Bath Salts
A post shared by ROSE Ingleton MD (@rosemdskin)
Board-certified dermatologist Rosemarie Ingleton, MD, the Medical Director of Ingleton Dermatology in New York, created a popular natural line of skincare products. The formulas address common concerns, like aging, blemishes, dullness, redness, and dehydration. Each product uses a blend of natural fruit extracts native to her home island, Jamaica.
Signature Moisturizer Retexturizing Retinol Booster Serum
A post shared by Buttah Skin (@buttahskin)
Founded by skincare expert Dorian Renaud, Buttah Skin is a gender-inclusive brand built on the power of raw, natural, organic shea butter. Top products include the CocoShea Revitalizing Cream, which has hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E to hydrate and soothe your skin.
Try: Buttah Skin Charcoal Detox Face Mask Egyptian Coco Shea Body Wash Coco Shea Revitalizing CreamBlack Gold Skin Polishing Bar Soap
A post shared by buff experts (@buffexperts)
Keeping skin soft, supple, and oh-so touchable is the ultimate skincare goal. Buff Experts, founded by waxing expert Sina Zere, is dedicated to providing the products you need to achieve healthier skin. Our picks include Srsly Buffed Dry Brush In-Shower Exfoliating Gloves, which will perfect your exfoliating routine and treat body acne and hyperpigmentation, too.
In-Shower Exfoliating Gloves Carrot Intimate SalveJojoba Apricot Emollient Body Oil
A post shared by FENTY SKIN (@fentyskin)
Need we say more? Rihanna’s skincare line Fenty Skin has quickly become a favorite amongst the beauty-obsessed everywhere, thanks to Rihanna’s renowned attention to detail and commitment to servicing a diverse range of skin tones. With ingredients like AHAs and niacinamides, Fenty Beauty products help regenerate healthy fats the skin needs to stay moisturized and soft.
Fat Water Pore Refining Toner Instant reset Overnight Gel Cream Pre-Show Glow Instant Retexturing Treatment with Resusable Applicator
A post shared by TOPICALS (@topicals)
Melanated skin is more prone to eczema, and luckily Black-owned brand Topicals has products specifically for the condition. Did we mention that they also donate a portion of their profits to important mental health advocacy initiatives, including Therapy for Black Girls and Fearless Femmes 100
Butter Mask for Eczema Prone Skin High Roller Ingrown Hair Tonic Serum for Dark Spots and Discoloration
A post shared by Himistry Naturals Skincare (@himistry)
While serving in the U.S. Navy, Darnell Henderson realized there was a dire need for quality men’s skincare, especially since daily shaving was leaving his skin irritated. Thus, his line of skin and beard care H.I.M-istry Naturals was born, specifically formulated to treat men's skincare conditions, including adult acne and irritated skin.
Green Tea Lactic Toner Argan and Grapeseed Face/Beard Oil Alpha Arbutin Hydrating Correcting SerumVitamin K and Tumeric Firming Mask
A post shared by Naturally London ♡ Clean Beauty (@naturally.london)
Founded by Chris Cabrera, a Black skincare expert and certified aromatherapist, Naturally London handcrafts botanical-based foot and hand care products to add to your daily skincare regimen, and soften and moisturize your feet and hands.
Try: Calendula Infused Healing Foot Balm Rosehip Hydrating Cuticle Oil with Willow Bark
A post shared by EleVen by Venus Williams (@elevenbyvenus)
Few people know the struggle of caring for your skin in the sun better than Venus Williams, who has spent her entire career playing tennis and winning Grand Slam titles under the beaming rays. That’s why her sunscreen brand, EleVen, is such a revelation. Not only does this sunscreen protect the face and body, but it also has a lip balm with SPF, an oft-overlooked part of a sunscreen routine
Perfect Form Lip Balm SPF 15 Game. Set. Match. Body Lotion SPF 50
A post shared by BASE BUTTER ™ (@basebutter)
All-natural skincare line Base Butter is on a mission to make healthy skin available to all. The co-founders, She'Neil Spence, the brand's CEO, and Nicolette Graves, who is also VP of Product, 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.
Try: Radiate Face Jelly Aloe Vera Gel Moisturizer Body Love Cream
A post shared by 54 Thrones (@54thrones)
Christina Funke Tegbe created the luxurious skincare brand 54 Thrones in 2015 to highlight the beauty rituals of Africa. The brand partners with skilled artisans who handcraft the products, and each formula consists of high-quality, African-grown ingredients. The result is a powerhouse line of products that will reinvent your entire skincare routine.
Beldi Moroccan Body Mask Kahina Lava Cleansing MaskKenyan Hibiscus Moroccan Rose Beauty Butter
A post shared by HOMEBODY (@hey.homebody)
Founded by Rebecca Grammer-Ybarra, a mom and former pastry chef, Homebody is a fantastic line full of herbal bath products that soothe the body and mind. You’ll want to add their plant-powered bath essentials to your self-care nights.
I Rose Above It Pearlescent CBD Bath Soak For - Rest CBD Bath Soak
A post shared by ROSEN Skincare (@rosenskincare)
While many of us struggle with acne and breakouts, it’s also a hugely stigmatized topic. Jamika Martin set out to change that by founding ROSEN Skincare, a line of breakout and skincare solutions to help us prevent acne and repair hyperpigmentation. Try:
Break Out Spot Treatment Tropics Moisturizer
A post shared by Danessa Myricks Beauty Makeup (@danessa_myricks)
You’ll fall in love with Danessa Myrick’s serums, which are the perfect blend of makeup and skincare. The brand's Beauty Oil with Gold Leaf is particularly wonderful, giving your skin that golden glow while also providing key nutrients. Another must-have product is the Yummy Skin Serum Foundation, which provides coverage plus hyaluronic acid and antioxidants that keep skin soft and healthy.
Try: Beauty Oil with Gold Leaf Yummy Skin Serum Foundation
A post shared by Black Girl Sunscreen (@blackgirlsunscreen)
Shontay Lundy’s sunscreen line, Black Girl Sunscreen, is a game-changer for women of color, helping them protect themselves from harmful UV rays without having a white cast. The brand's formulas also provide needed nutrients with natural ingredients like avocado oil and jojoba oils, cacao, and carrot juice.
A post shared by BEVEL (@bevel)
Founded by CEO Tristan Walker, Bevel caters to the specific needs of people of color, especially men with coarse or curly hair who shave. Their safety razor and cleansing face wash help achieve smooth skin with no irritation or ingrown hairs.
Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil Safety Razor Blades
A post shared by hanahana beauty (@hanahana_beauty)
Hanahana Beauty is a consciously clean brand that sources its shea butter-based products from the Katariga Women's Shea Cooperative in Ghana. Abena Boamah, the founder and CEO of the company, was inspired to start the business to uplift women of color around the world and make an impact on the Katariga community through direct sourcing and support.
Shea Lip Balm Lemongrass Shea Body Butter
A post shared by KINLÒ (@kinloskin)
Founded by tennis star Naomi Osaka, Kinlò is a skincare brand designed to provide inclusive education about the dangers of sun damage to those with melanin-rich skin. The lineup of products includes the Golden Rays Sunscreen with SPF 50, available in three tinted shades for all skin types—light, medium, and deep. The Cooling Body Gel is another great addition to your skincare routine for its cooling and moisturizing formula.
Golden Rays Sunscreen with SPF 50 Cooling Body Gel
A post shared by OUI the People (@ouithepeople)
When Karen Young founded Oui the People, she wanted to ditch "antiquated" language that suggested those who didn't shave were far from perfect. She started the company with a stainless steel safety razor made to reduce the likelihood of razor burn or ingrown hairs. Young then expanded into other body care products, including the Cheat Sheet Resurfacing Body Serum, which is an overnight formula that works to unclog pores, smooth rough skin, and unveil a beautiful glow.
Rose Gold Sensitive Skin Razor Cheat Sheet Resurfacing Body Serum