18 Black-Owned Beauty Brands to Add to Your Makeup Bag

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As Black women, it's sometimes difficult to trust the array of beauty products on the market. While there are some definite wins (pigmented eyeshadows, nude lipsticks, sunscreen, and satin hair bonnets anyone?), when it comes to truly knowing what's best for the varied textures of our hair and our diverse skin shades, it's normal to have questions.

So when in doubt, consider trying products created by those who know exactly what you're going through. Yes, we're talking about beauty products for Black women, made by Black women. This is a practice to keep in mind all year round, but seeing as February is Black History Month, it's an especially pertinent time to put your money where your heart is. If you need an idea of where to start, we've got an assortment of Black-owned makeup brand suggestions that market high-quality (often natural, vegan, and organic) items. And the best part? They're easily accessible. Many are available at your go-to retailers—online and in-store—like Sephora, Target, Ulta, Walmart, and even your neighborhood drugstore.

Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream

Founder Tisha Thompson had a goal of diversifying the clean beauty space. So, she created a clean beauty brand with formulas that contained skin-benefiting ingredients and included people of all skin tones. LYS Beauty became "the first Black-owned Sephora Clean Makeup brand," according to its website and now offers a range of vegan, cruelty-free, and affordable products that are 100% gluten free, talc free, fragrance free, mineral oil free and SLS free.

Hydrating Lip Treatment Oil

CEO and founder of Ami Colé, Diarrha N'diaye, worked in the beauty industry at L’Oréal, Teen Vogue, and Glossier long before starting her own brand. Now, the clean beauty brand that celebrates melanin-rich skin has a devoted group of followers and success. The lip treatment oil is one of the most popular products for its cushiony texture that hydrates lips along with the Desert Date Cream Multistick which one Oprah's Favorite Things last year.

Flour Finishing Setting Powder

This 100 percent cruelty-free, vegan makeup brand was founded by Cashmere Nicole in 2011. She fought to grow the line for five years, even as she battled breast cancer in 2012.

Now, Beauty Bakerie is a multimillion-dollar business, with makeup product names inspired by Nicole's love of sweets. It's signature item? The"lip whip" no-smudge liquid lipsticks. We also love the Flour Finishing Powder, which comes in shades for fair, medium, and deep skin.

Iconic Lipstick

"Founded in 1973 by the incomparable Eunice Johnson, Fashion Fair was the first international prestige cosmetics brand for darker skin tones sold globally in stores from Neiman Marcus to Printemps," the website reads. "The brand broke racial barriers in business, and boldly established a new affirmation of Black beauty." Fashion Fair CEO and co-owner Desiree Rogers even shared some of her favorite items, including this richly pigmented lipstick, the priming serum, and setting powder.

Sublime Perfection Foundation

Pat Mcgrath is one of the most influential and soughtafter makeup artists in the beauty industry. In 2015, she debuted Pat McGrath Labs, which now offers an array of beautifully pigmented makeup. You can't go wrong with any of her offerings, whether it's the long-wearing foundation, ultra-pigmented eyeshadow palettes, or radiant blushes.

The Abstract Sponge

We're Even Hydrating Longwear Waterproof Concealer

Rihanna's Fenty Beauty came on the market with a bang in 2017 when it offered 40 different shades of foundation, debuting at Sephora. Now, much like its A-list founder, the makeup brand is a dominant force, which includes a plethora of other products, and helped Rih earn her reported $1.7 billion fortune, making her the richest female musician in the business, according to Forbes. The brand recently launched a hydrating and lightweight concealer that offers a natural real-skin finish that's just beautiful.

Vegan Liquid Matte Lipstick

Founder Melissa Butler started Lip Bar in 2012 after becoming "frustrated" with how few lipstick options worked for women of color. But despite being rejected on Shark Tank in 2016, Butler's business flourished and the natural lipstick line brought in nearly half a million in 2018, according to Forbes. It's now expanded its line beyond lipsticks and offers a mix of face, eye, and lip products.

Skin by Mented Foundation

Mented was founded by two Harvard graduates who were looking for the perfect nude lipstick for darker skin tones. Now, in addition to lipsticks, they manufacture everything from blush to eyeshadow palettes. In fact, Oprah selected the holiday lip trio as one of her favorite things in 2020. All the brand's products, which are sold at Ulta, are free of parabens and animal byproduct.

Tinted Setting Powder

Owner Jasmine Rose founded Laws of Nature after a long search for beauty products that didn't contain parabens, talc, and lead. She now makes her own organic, natural mineral foundation and powders for women of all skin tones.

The Zulu Eyeshadow Palette

According to the website, Juvia's Place was "created to celebrate the rebels, rulers, and queens of the African kingdoms who honored beauty through their innovative and soulful techniques that we still use today." The brand offers super-pigmented makeup (including eyeshadows and highlighters) to pop against the deepest of skin tones.

TRUE COLOR Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15

Despite serving Black women with their diverse shades for more than 25 years, the time-tested brand wasn't Black-owned until 2019, when businesswomen and co-owners Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack took over as CEO and president, respectively. The full-coverage creamy foundation sticks are one of the brand's best-sellers and is suitable for all skin types.

Lolo PM Lashes

Not only does this makeup brand deliver bold, pigmented eyeshadow palettes, but it has an array of budget-friendly faux-mink lashes.

True Complexion Contour Palette

In June 2020, the brand launched its #MyShadeIsEverything campaign. “Our consumers of color are always top of mind,” Black Radiance Beauty told Essence. "And the brand wants to show up for the Black community during this time by highlighting the importance of staffing Black models, makeup artists and hairstylists for beauty campaigns." Shop a diverse selection of complexion, eyes, lips, and even skincare products.

UOMA Beauty Hydroblast Finishing Powder

The CEO of the company behind these inclusive products, Sharon Chuter, worked as an executive at brands like Revlon, L'Oréal, and Benefit Cosmetics before launching Uoma. She told Forbes in 2019 that the company was inspired by her Nigerian roots. You can shop a variety of makeup products, including this cooling setting powder, which won Oprah's Favorite Things in 2023.

Infinite Chrome Flakes Multichrome Gel

The brand is named after its founder, esteemed makeup artist Danessa Myricks, who thrived in roles at brands like Benefit Cosmetics and KISS. "All products by Danessa Myricks Beauty are multi-functional and created to work in multiple places and on all faces," the website reads. One thing about this beauty brand? You'll never be disappointed by its effortless application, pigmentation, and wear.

Watch Me Blush Palette

Coming in lively, nostalgic packaging that mimics marble notebooks and Sharpies, The Crayon Case offers an array of creative products. Founded by social media star Raynell "Wuzzam Supa" Steward, the brand is most known for its vibrant “Box of Crayons” eyeshadow palette and its versatile blush palette.

True Intentions Hydrating Primer

While working in the fashion industry, founder and CEO Alicia Scott noticed that at both runway shows and photoshoots, there was a severe lack of options for various skin tones. Additionally, many products contributed to flare ups of her eczema and acne. That's when Range Beauty was born, a clean makeup brand with diverse options.

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