The Best Black-Owned Beauty Brands You Need to Know
Celebrate the innovation and impact of Black-owned beauty brands across makeup, skincare, hair, and wellness.
The beauty industry has seen a transformative surge in inclusivity, transparency, and product excellence, much of which has been spearheaded by trailblazing Black-owned beauty brands. Across makeup, skincare, haircare, and wellness, these brands and their visionary founders have carved out spaces of representation, resilience, and inspiration. This list celebrates standout Black-owned beauty brands, their signature products, and the positive impact they’re making for all beauty lovers.
Why Black-Owned Beauty Brands Matter
Historically, beauty shelves lacked diversity, often sidelining the needs and narratives of Black consumers. Today, Black-owned beauty brands not only create inclusive products tailored for a range of skin tones and hair textures, but also set industry standards in innovation, entrepreneurship, and ethical practices. Supporting these brands means championing creativity, equity, and true inclusivity within the beauty community.
- Representation matters: Authentic solutions for all skin tones and hair types.
- Innovation: Unique product formulas and approaches born out of necessity and creativity.
- Community impact: These brands often invest in their communities and spark dialogue about equity and access.
Makeup Marvels: Black-Owned Brands Changing the Game
From pigment-rich cosmetics made for every complexion to viral launches sweeping social media, these makeup brands are driving beauty trends while honoring representation.
Fenty Beauty
Founder: Rihanna
Launched in 2017, Fenty Beauty set a new standard with its foundation range of 50 shades, catering to underrepresented skin tones. The brand’s ethos—Beauty For All—became an industry blueprint, and their products like Pro Filt’r Foundation and Gloss Bomb quickly became cult favorites.
Pat McGrath Labs
Founder: Pat McGrath
Known as the “Mother” of makeup artistry, Pat McGrath’s eponymous brand is synonymous with opulent pigment, high-fashion launches, and runway innovation. Star products include Mothership Eyeshadow Palettes with extraordinary payoff and versatility.
UOMA Beauty
Founder: Sharon Chuter
UOMA Beauty champions self-expression and celebrates African heritage, boasting an inclusive range of foundations and show-stopping color products. Their Say What?! Foundation line and colorful, pigmented eye and lip products have reshaped what inclusive beauty looks like.
Ami Colé
Founder: Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye
Inspired by Senegalese heritage, Ami Colé focuses on sheer, dewy makeup essentials for melanin-rich skin. Their Lip Treatment Oil and Skin Tint are known for lightweight textures that accentuate natural beauty.
Mented Cosmetics
Founders: KJ Miller & Amanda E. Johnson
Mented started with the idea that every woman should find her perfect nude, and delivers lipstick, gloss, and complexion products engineered for all skin tones—especially deep hues.
Range Beauty
Founder: Alicia Scott
What others are reading
Offering clean formulas tailored to sensitive and acne-prone skin, Range Beauty provides affordable, inclusive foundations and powders for a spectrum of undertones.
Skincare Stars: Glowing With Purpose
Black-owned skincare brands deliver targeted results using both ancestral wisdom and modern innovation. These founders inspire confidence through products addressing hyperpigmentation, sensitivity, and more.
Topicals
Co-Founders: Olamide Olowe & Claudia Teng
Topicals focuses on transformative solutions for dark spots, eczema, and hyperpigmentation, using evidence-based formulations. The Faded Gel, in particular, is a bestseller for evening skin tone.
Hyper Skin
Founder: Desiree Verdejo
After her personal struggle with dark spots post-pregnancy, Verdejo created Hyper Skin to address melanin-rich skin’s needs. The Hyper Clear Brightening Clearing Vitamin C Serum is lauded for visible results on stubborn scars and uneven tone.
56th & World
Founder: Lindsey Farrar
This wellness-forward skincare brand emphasizes cultural celebration and holistic health in each potent formula. Their moisturizing oils and balms are infused with ingredients like baobab and moringa.
KINLÒ
Founder: Naomi Osaka (Tennis Champion)
KINLÒ brings much-needed attention to sun protection for darker skin, providing wearable, non-chalky SPF solutions that address an often-overlooked aspect of Black skincare.
Hair Care Trailblazers: Honoring Heritage, Inspiring Confidence
Hair is culture, identity, and self-love. These brands were founded to meet the unique needs of textured and coily hair, challenging norms and celebrating natural beauty.
Briogeo
Founder: Nancy Twine
Briogeo features naturally derived hair care for all curl patterns. The Don’t Despair, Repair! Mask and Curl Charisma line are favorites among those seeking moisture, strength, and definition.
Mielle Organics
Founder: Monique Rodriguez
Starting as a DIY kitchen experiment, Mielle Organics now provides affordable, nutrient-rich hair care staples like their Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil, celebrated for stimulating growth and maintaining health.
Melanin Haircare
Founder: Whitney White (Naptural85)
Melanin Haircare specializes in multi-use, natural styling products that honor natural hair journeys. The Multi-Use Pure Oil Blend and Twist-Elongating Styling Cream have become essentials in hair routines worldwide.
CurlMix
Founders: Kim & Tim Lewis
CurlMix transformed the wash-and-go into a science with their customizable flaxseed gel kits, formulated for curly and kinky hair to maximize definition, moisture, and manageability.
Nail and Body Brands: Expression from Head to Toe
Beyond face and hair, these brands deliver stand-out color, care, and creativity for nails and body care.
JINsoon
Founder: Jin Soon Choi
While not Black-owned, the nail care space has seen a surge in inclusivity championed by Black founders, focusing on nude lacquers that flatter deeper skin, vibrant colors, and non-toxic formulas.
Joanna Vargas Skincare
Innovative body treatments and masks cater to all skin types, and an increasing number of Black-owned spa and body lines are leading this segment with handcrafted, natural ingredients that nourish and pamper the skin.
Emerging, Indie, and Must-Know Brands
The spirit of entrepreneurship never stops. These rising stars are disrupting the industry with fresh perspectives, community-first values, and signature offerings.
- TRU SKN (Elizabeth Ola): Building a community through feedback-driven, inclusive skincare.
- The Lip Bar (Melissa Butler): Vibrant, vegan-friendly color for all skin tones—its products are now available in major retailers.
- Beauty Bakerie (Cashmere Nicole): Baked-goods-themed cosmetics with a cult following. Bestsellers include lip whips and highlighters.
- Jacq’s (Barbara Jacques): Plant-powered skincare crafted with sensitive skin in mind, combining Caribbean botanicals and science.
- Bolden: Skincare essentials with a mission to nurture Black women’s beauty, led by a team of Black female founders.
Spotlight: Social Impact and Community Initiatives
Many Black-owned beauty brands don’t just sell products—they actively advocate for wellness, education, and empowerment in their communities. Initiatives like Glossier’s Black Beauty Grant Programme, the Elevate Program, and enterprise competitions have provided funding and mentorship to ensure that businesses can overcome historic inequities and achieve lasting growth.
| Brand | Founder(s) | Signature Product | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fenty Beauty | Rihanna | Pro Filt’r Foundation | Makeup |
| Pat McGrath Labs | Pat McGrath | Mothership Palette | Makeup |
| UOMA Beauty | Sharon Chuter | Say What?! Foundation | Makeup |
| Topicals | Olamide Olowe, Claudia Teng | Faded Gel | Skincare |
| Mielle Organics | Monique Rodriguez | Rosemary Mint Oil | Hair Care |
| CurlMix | Kim & Tim Lewis | Flaxseed Gel Kit | Hair Care |
How to Support Black-Owned Beauty Brands
- Purchase directly from brand websites or official retail partners to maximize the impact.
- Amplify on social media by sharing favorite finds and tagging brands.
- Advocate for greater shelf space at major beauty retailers and local stores.
- Encourage transparency from retailers about which brands are Black-owned and how they are supported.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What makes a beauty brand Black-owned?
A: Black-owned beauty brands are majority owned, operated, or founded by individuals who identify as Black. Their leadership often guides not just product creation but the company’s mission and cultural impact.
Q: Are products from Black-owned brands only meant for Black consumers?
A: Not at all. While these brands often address needs that have historically been overlooked in mainstream beauty, they create high-quality, effective products for all skin tones, hair types, and preferences.
Q: How do Black-owned beauty brands differ from others?
A: Beyond representation, many champion innovative formulas, community engagement, and a focus on diverse skin tones and hair textures. They are also more likely to donate to social causes or fund advocacy programs.
Q: Are these brands easy to find?
A: Increasingly so! Major retailers like Sephora, Ulta, and Target stock a growing number, but always check the brand’s own website for the complete range and latest releases.
Q: What are some trending products from Black-owned brands?
A: Look for products like Fenty’s Pro Filt’r Foundation, Topicals Faded Gel, Mielle Organics’ scalp oils, and Pat McGrath’s eye palettes—all highly rated and often viral on social media.
Final Thoughts: The Ongoing Revolution
The movement to support and spotlight Black-owned beauty brands isn’t a fleeting trend—it’s a permanent shift in how the beauty industry approaches inclusivity, innovation, and accountability. By championing these brands, consumers can be part of a brighter, more representative future for beauty—one where everyone is seen, celebrated, and empowered.
References
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/beauty-hair/g65674568/black-owned-brands-glossier/
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a65450243/open-letter-to-beauty-industry-black-owned-brands/
- https://www.westminster.ac.uk/news/cosmopolitan-names-westminster-alumnas-company-as-one-of-17-black-owned-beauty-brands-everyone-should-know-about
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymAnhp6nPRw
- https://www.cosmopolitanme.com/gallery/black-owned-beauty-brands-to-empower
- https://www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/g61159480/black-owned-makeup-brands/
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