The Best Black-Owned Beauty and Skin Care Businesses in America
While it may be highlighted now more than ever, but there’s one thing you must never forget – every day is a good day to celebrate Black culture. There are so many Black artists, entrepreneurs, and even regular people that have made enormous contributions to the society in which we live today.
The Black culture has and continues to influence multiple industries throughout the world, including the beauty industry.
"No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.”? Michelle Obama, lawyer and former First Lady of the United States
Black-owned beauty and skin care businesses in America often stand out for several key characteristics:
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Innovative Products: Many of these businesses are known for their innovative approach to beauty and skincare. They frequently introduce unique products that cater to a wide range of skin types and tones, particularly focusing on those that are often underrepresented in the mainstream beauty industry.
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Inclusivity and Diversity: Inclusivity is a major focus. These businesses typically offer products that cater to a diverse customer base, with shades and formulations that suit a variety of skin tones and types. This includes a wide range of foundations, concealers, and other makeup products that match darker skin tones, which are often overlooked by larger beauty brands.
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Natural and Organic Ingredients: There's a strong emphasis on using natural and organic ingredients. Many Black-owned beauty brands formulate their products with high-quality, natural ingredients that are less likely to irritate sensitive skin and are environmentally friendly.
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Cultural Representation: These businesses often celebrate and represent Black culture in their branding, marketing, and product development. This can include the use of African-inspired ingredients, traditional herbal remedies, and packaging that reflects Black art and culture.
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Community Focus: Black-owned beauty businesses frequently have a strong community focus. They often engage in social initiatives, support local communities, and address social issues within their marketing and business practices.
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Education and Awareness: They tend to place a significant emphasis on educating their consumers about skincare and beauty, particularly regarding the unique needs of Black skin and hair. This includes providing resources and content that help consumers make informed choices about the products they use.
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Empowerment and Representation: These businesses often aim to empower their customers and provide representation in an industry where Black individuals have historically been underrepresented. This is evident in their marketing campaigns, choice of brand ambassadors, and company leadership.
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Economic Impact: By supporting Black-owned businesses, consumers help to foster economic growth within Black communities. This can have a broader positive impact on economic disparity and empowerment.
Each Black-owned beauty and skincare business brings its unique flair and focus to the industry, contributing to a more diverse and inclusive beauty landscape.
Even though black females have been setting some amazing beauty and fashion trends for ages, there’s no denying that for decades or even centuries, deeper skin tones have been ignored and treated as inferior. A great instance to support this claim is that various beauty brands have only introduced a single ‘deep’ shade foundation, thinking it was more than enough.
Anyhow, considering all the systemic racism rooted in the society and the uprising of the black movement, it is only fair that everyone supports the Black community now more than ever.
In this article, we are going to cover some amazing black-owned beauty and skincare businesses in America that have taken the industry by storm!
Base Butter
Founded by She’Neil Johnson, Base Butter is the ultimate go-to brand for women of color who are looking for simple and pure ingredients in their skincare products. Base Butter commenced its full-blown operations in 2015, gaining instant popularity in the skincare and beauty industry. Moreover, Base Butter now offers the best aloe vera gel-based moisturizes that provide perfectly hydrated and pH-balanced skin.
Epara Skincare
Epara skincare is founded by Ozohu Adoh’s Kitchen. This luxury skincare line is even available at Barney’s now! With a line of skincare products with complex formulas and pure African botanical ingredients, this brand has surely made an impeccable mark on its audience.
Black Girl Sunscreen
Well, this probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but a major portion of the sunscreens available in the market don’t even consider women of color. Using a white-base sunscreen often leaves a white caste on deep complexions. Keeping this in mind, Black Girl Sunscreen took the amazing initiative of transforming this. The company launched a special sunscreen meant solely for women of color.
“It is pure mythology that women cannot perform as well as men in science, engineering and mathematics. In my experience, the opposite is true: Women are often more adept and patient at untangling complex problems, multitasking, seeing the possibilities in new solutions and winning team support for collaborative action.” ― Weili Dai
Buttah Skincare
Launched by model and actor Dorion Renaud, Buttah skincare took the skincare industry by storm. The failure to find helpful products for his skincare problems pushed the actor to create his own. All products launched by the company contain organic shea butter that is specially imported from Africa. This shea butter helps bring out the natural radiance of the user’s skin.
Aba Love Apothecary
If you’re sick and tired of using products with chemicals, then you are definitely going fall in love with Aba Love Apothecary’s products. Their incredible skincare product range doesn’t contain any parabens, synthetic fragrances or petrochemicals. They rather contain pure botanical ingredients and antioxidants.
Your skin has a memory. In ten, twenty, thirty years from now, your skin will show the results of how it was treated today. So, treat it kindly and with respect. - Jana Elston
The founder of the company, Aba Gyepi-Garbrah held a serious passion for plant medicine. This eventually went on to become her inspiration behind infusing a variety of healthy ingredients in her products. Moreover, Aba also proceeded to admit herself to the New York Institute of Aromatherapy for professional training to ensure that she provides her customers with nothing, but the best skin care products with healing properties.
Beneath Your Mask
Beneath Your Mask was founded by Dana Jackson who, after defeating Lupus, wanted to build a brand that meant something to her. So, the name ‘Beneath Your Mask’ actually reflects her willingness and determination to pull off her mask with the help of some amazing luxury skincare products that are meticulously sourced from clean ingredients. All skincare products by Beneath Your Mask aims to serve women who are adamant about investing in feeling good.
Fenty Beauty
Fenty Beauty probably doesn’t even require an introduction. Ever since the launch of the brand, famous singer and founded, Rihanna has made sure to deliver only top-of-line products keeping all skin complexions and tones in mind. Fenty launched an entire stunning line of beautiful foundations in every single skin tone, leaving the beauty industry in awe!
"I just love bossy women. I could be around them all day. To me, bossy is not a pejorative term at all. It means somebody's passionate and engaged and ambitious and doesn't mind learning." ? Amy Poehler
Mented Cosmetics
The truth is, for decades, women of color have been excluded from ‘nude’ makeup. It’s important to acknowledge that a single shade of beige isn’t going to complement all deep skin shades. Keeping this in mind, the founders of Mented Cosmetics set out to redefine the true meaning of nude for women of color. With time, they ended up launching a variety of nude lip products and eye-shadow palettes that are available in a massive range extending from soft taupe to deep chocolate.
Pat McGrath Labs
Pat Mcgrath is recognized as the ‘Mother of Makeup,’ so it’s but natural that she doesn’t need any introduction. Pat McGrath Labs have introduced a range of unparalleled beauty products. This iconic makeup brand has turned Pat McGrath into a Black Woman who runs a company that is worth over a billion dollars! So, the hype surrounding this black-owned skincare and beauty business is truly real!
The Lip Bar
Vegan and cruelty-free products are seen to be on the up-rise right now. However, way before this trend, the Lip Bar blessed us with a range of clean products. After quitting her Wall Street job, the founder of the Lip Bar, Melissa Butler started cooking up uber-clean formulas that were completely free of any chemicals. Eventually, she ended up introducing a massive range of lip shades for all skin tones.
Invest in your skin. It is going to represent you for a very long time. - Linden Tyler
Lauren Napier Beauty
We all know how important it is to remove your makeup properly. Keeping this in mind, Lauren Napier Beauty launched a line that makes removing your makeup look cool. If this wasn’t enough, these epic skincare products are distributed in the chicest and coolest packaging ever. The founder of the brand, Lauren Napier, introduced makeup wipes that help remove your makeup completely without causing any sort of harm to your skin. This epic product comes in the most practical package that helps women on-to-go to manage their skin within a limited time.
"Leadership is not about men in suits. It is a way of life for those who know who they are and are willing to be their best to create the life they want to live." ? Kathleen Schafer, Founder of Leadership Connection
Hanahana Beauty
If there’s a black-owned beauty business you can fall in love with, it’s definitely Hanahana Beauty. Hearing the special story of this amazing brand and just how much thought has gone into it directly from the founder, Abena Boamah, will leave you amazed. Hanahana beauty aims to offers women of color with hand-tailored shea butter that is sourced right from Ghana. This stunning product helps soothe and hydrate your skin like no other!
Epi.Logic
Another one of the black-owned beauty and skincare businesses in America includes Epi.Logic. The company was founded by Dr. Jeanniton who spent years researching and practicing with various skin tones to find well-tailored solutions, discovering what actually works. This eventually led her to launch her own skincare line that incorporates science with skincare.
Golde
Another one of the great black-owned beauty and skincare businesses is Golde. Launched in Brooklyn by CEO and co-founded Trinity Wofford in 2017, the company took a new approach towards the skincare industry. These skincare and wellness brands incorporate a variety of superfoods in their products to create powerful and effective skincare products. Moreover, all the ingredients used in their skincare products are completely pure and natural that aim to give you clear, glowing, and healthy skin.
Beautiful skin requires commitment, not a miracle. - Erno Laszlo
All in all, these were some of the best black-owned beauty and skincare businesses in America that everyone should know about. We, ML Delicate Beauty, fully support and stand by such amazing businesses!
Do you buy products from any of these black-owned beauty and skincare businesses? Let us know in the comments below!
About Author:
Christine Wright is a trusted beauty expert and an esthetician who is loved by editors and bloggers. She is a prolific writer on the topics of natural, chemical-free skin and body care. She also does reviews on store brand beauty products, with fairness and a real point-of-view. She is well-known of creating products for specific skin types, especially to those with ultra-sensitive faces.
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