Many of us are looking for ways to make a meaningful contribution after the painful events this past week; one way to invest in Black communities and culture is to shop from Black-run businesses. Here’s a list of emerging and established Black-founded beauty brands that cater to POC and all ethnicities with the common goal of making us feel as good as we look. And at the end of the post, we’ve included more resources for you to continue your education and activism.
1/20
Essentials By Temi
This line of organic ingredient mists, oils, scrubs and butters is based in Toronto’s east end.
2/20
MFMG
Makeup For Melanin Girls founder Tomi Gbeleyi got the idea for her brand after dealing with unprepared makeup artists during her modelling career.
3/20
Gold Label Cosmetics
Launched in 2012, this New York-based line boasts products that are paraben and cruelty-free.
4/20
Himistry Naturals
Shop a range of products including specialized ‘systems’ to address aging, ingrown hair growth and hydration.
5/20
Serumize
Elizabeth Shabi, who moved to Canada from Nigeria, launched this small-batch skincare line that focuses on the power of serums.
6/20
Okoko Cosmétiques
This Vancouver-based brand offers a range of products including face oils, a detoxifying mask and smoothing body scrub.
7/20
Organic Botanical Skinbar
Created by a mother-daughter duo, this collection of botanical remedies uses ingredients like jasmine, rose and bergamot.
8/20
Jeln
Level up your self-care stash with the handmade-to-order oils, masks and more from this Toronto brand.
9/20
UnSun Cosmetics
Katonya Breaux founded this brand of tinted, ‘no residue’ sunscreens in 2016.
10/20
The Lip Bar
Launched in 2011, this Detroit-based brand launched by former financial analyst Melissa Butler has products crafted with vegan formulations.
11/20
Laws Of Nature Cosmetics
Founder Jasmine Rose was inspired to start her line of safely-formulated cosmetics after her mother passed away from breast cancer in 2007.
12/20
Black Radiance Beauty
This makeup and skincare brand recently released a new range of colours in its much-loved Eye Appeal Lid Glitz eyeshadow offering.
13/20
Iman Cosmetics
Not only a pioneer in the modelling world, Iman made waves in the beauty industry when she founded this POC-focused brand in 1994.
14/20
Black Opal
With over 25 years’ experience celebrating ‘the nuances of black skin’, this brand was founded by Cheryl Mayberry McKissack and Desiree Rogers.
15/20
Solo Noir For Men
Certified aesthetician and MBA graduate Andrea Polk is behind this brand, which offers shaving kits, a beard wash and more.
16/20
Bevel
Tristan Walker created this revolutionary brand that now counts products that address needs ‘from top to toe’.
17/20
Pat McGrath Labs
Created by one of the world’s most renowned makeup artists, this luxe line has an assortment of single products and kits.
18/20
Fenty Beauty
In only two years, Rihanna has taken her inclusivity-focused cosmetic line to new heights; it’s most recent product is a chocolate-hued lip colour infused with pomegranate oil.
19/20
Apprenti Ôr’ganik
This Montreal-based body care line features natural ingredients including certified organic canadian Hemp seed oil.
20/20
Ka’oir Cosmetics
Model and actress Keyshia Ka’oir’s eponymous brand offers richly pigmented, high-impact cosmetics
Looking for more? See our round-up of 57 racism awareness books, movies, resources and more here.
