Over the last few years, the beauty industry has made huge strides to be more inclusive and provide a diverse range of shades for all skin tones. One of the biggest reasons that we’ve seen progress is because of the black women who’ve stepped into the driver’s seat and established game changing beauty brands. Today, there are more beauty brands owned by black women than ever before and their products are seriously sensational.
Take a peek at 10 black-owned beauty brands you should keep an eye on in the gallery below, then let us know your thoughts on these brands in the comments section on social media.
Fenty Beauty
Rihanna created her first beauty brand in 2017 and made history with the incredibly expansive shade range—which prompted many other luxury beauty brands to step up their game.
Established: 2017
Founder: Rihanna
Bestsellers: PRO FILT’R SOFT MATTE LONGWEAR FOUNDATION, GLOSS BOMB UNIVERSAL
LIP LUMINIZER and GLOSS BOMB CREAM
COLOR DRIP LIP CREAM
New and Noteworthy: BODY SAUCE
BODY LUMINIZING TINT, SUN STALK’R INSTANT WARMTH BRONZER and KILLAWATT FREESTYLE HIGHLIGHTER
Black Opal Beauty
This beauty brand was created by a chemist over 25 years ago to give his wife more options and today, continues to offer beauty products for black women under $20.
Established: 1994
Owners: Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack
Bestsellers: BLK/OPL TRUE COLOR® Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15, TRUE COLOR® Pore Perfecting Liquid Foundation and TRUE COLOR® Soft Velvet Finishing Powder.
New and Noteworthy: BLK/OPL Precision Lip Definer, The BLK Bombshell – 6 Well Eyeshadow Palette and BLK/OPL Precision Eye Definer.
Mented Cosmetics
Created by two friends looking for the perfect nude lipstick, this brand makes pigment on a variety of skin tones one of their top priorities.
Established: 2017
Founders: KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson
Bestsellers: Semi-Matte Lipstick, Skin by Mented Foundation and Blush.
New and Noteworthy: Lip Gloss, Lip Liner and Balms Away Coconut Lip Treatment.
Uoma Beauty
Created by a Nigerian-born entrepreneur, this inclusive beauty brand has collaborated with “Coming 2 America” and honored history-making black women through a line of lipsticks.
Established: 2018
Founder: Sharon Chuter
Bestsellers: Say What?! Foundation, Stay Woke Luminous Brightening Concealer and BADASS ICON Matte Lipstick.
New and Noteworthy: Afro.Dis.Iac Cleopatra Ink Liquid Eyeliner, Badass MF Matte Filler Lip Liner and Drama Bomb Extreme Volume Nourishing Mascara.
Juvia’s Place
Juvia’s Place celebrates Africa through their vibrantly pigmented makeup collection and uses phrases from African dialects to name their colorful products.
Established: 2016
Founder: Chichi Eburu
Bestsellers: The Saharan Eyeshadow Palette, The Zulu Eyeshadow Palette and I Am Magic Foundation.
New and Noteworthy: Nubian Pencil Eyeliner, Vanessa Palette and Glass Lip Gloss.
Beauty Bakerie
After surviving breast cancer, founder Cashmere Nicole decided to create a baking inspired beauty brand with high quality and healthy ingredients.
Established: 2011
Founder: Cashmere Nicole
Bestsellers: Proof is in the Pudding Eyeshadow Palette, Lollipop Liner and Flour Setting Powder.
New and Noteworthy: The Butter HydraSilk Primer, Jello Goodbye Sugar Sticks Lip Liner and Brownie Bar Mini Palette.
Danessa Myricks Beauty
After many years of working as a self-taught makeup artist, Danessa Myricks has transferred her years of expertise into a beauty line.
Established: 2019
Founder: Danessa Myricks
Bestsellers: Colorfix 24-Hour Cream Color, Vision Cream Cover and Dew Wet Balm.
New and Noteworthy: Vision Flush Cheek, Eye, and Lip Color, Power Bronzer Cream Bronzer and Illuminating Veil Liquid Highlighter.
LYS Beauty
LYS Beauty became Sephora’s first black-owned clean beauty brand, as the line carries clean formulas and sustainable packaging.
Established: 2021
Founder: Tisha Thompson
Bestsellers: Triple Fix Serum Foundation, No Limits Matte Bronzer and Secure Skin Gripping Serum Primer.
New and Noteworthy: Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush, Triple Fix Setting Powder and Speak Love Glossy Lip Treatment Oil.
Pat McGrath Labs
Dame Pat McGrath DBE was deemed the most influential makeup artist in the world by Vogue and has a beauty line that brings makeup into the art realm.
Established: 2016
Founder: Pat McGrath
Bestsellers: Mothership VIII Eyeshadow Palette, Sublime Perfection Foundation and MatteTrance™ Lipstick.
New and Noteworthy: Dark Star Volumizing Mascara, LiquiLUST: Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick and Lip Fetish Balm Tin.
Coloured Raine Cosmetics
Created by a Caribbean entrepreneur in Brooklyn, this brand was inspired to spread awareness about beauty diversity.
Established: 2013
Founder: Loraine R. Dowdy
Bestsellers: Queen of Hearts™ Eyeshadow Palette, Lip Lacquer and Matte Liquid Lipstick.
New and Noteworthy: Juicy Boost Pressed Pigment Book Palette, Vivid Pigments and Shadows Palette and Focal Point GlowLighter.
