Traditions founded in native ancestry are sometimes repackaged into the newest trends– beauty rituals included. Nonetheless, most Indigenous-owned beauty brands– and founders– don’t get the visibility or credit they deserve for being the trendsetters they’re. 

For one, Moskehtu Consulting preserves their cultural heritage with offerings like their beauty box crammed with herbal medicines. As for Prados Beauty? The founder collaborates with other Indigenous artists– like Lauren Good Day and Steven Paul Judd– along with her important line of cosmetics which include eyeshadows, lashes, and lipsticks. Whereas Cheekbone Beauty is thought for his or her Courage Cream Duo cheek and lip tint.

Below, in honor of Indigenous Heritage month, learn more about 5 Indigenous-owned beauty brands impacting the industry. 

Prados Beauty

Founder Cece Meadows calls the lands of the Piro-Manso-Tiwa Peoples in Las Cruces, Latest Mexico her home. Since 2019, she’s been working to amplify her roots by collaborating with other Indigenous people on her cosmetics brand, Prados Beauty. From an Indigenous marketplace– including body care– to her important line of lashes and skincare products, the sweetness brand has been making their mark ever since. 

Ah-Shi Beauty

Ah-Shí Beauty (meaning “This Is My Beauty”) founder, Ahsaki Báá LaFrance-Chacher, made history on her Navajo Nation Reserve through a partnership with Macy’s. LaFrance-Chacher celebrates her peoples’ beauty rituals through foundations, powders, and bb creams. 

Moskehtu

Moskehtu Consulting is greater than only a beauty brand. Founded by Chenae Bullock, the Montauk tribe descendent began her cultural and heritage preservation firm, Moskehtu, in 2019. Along with the academic impact of the firm, additionally they offer a possibility to buy traditional beauty products through their beauty box. Filled with herbal medicines to heal the respiratory system, boost immunity, and reduce stress, amongst other properties, the Moskehtu box is a cornerstone in ancestral health and wellness.

Cheekbone Beauty

Cheekbone Beauty is a dream come true– literally. Jenn Harper founded the sweetness brand in 2015 after a dream of young Indigenous girls covered in lip gloss. As an actualization of her vivid dream, the Harmony Lip Gloss was her first launch, which sits nicely amongst other fan favorites just like the Courage Cream Duo.

Skwalen Botanicals

Skwalen Botanicals represents the great thing about the land. Reclaiming Indigenous skincare techniques, the sweetness brand takes back what’s theirs. Before green, clean products went mainstream, founder Leigh Joseph, PhD, known ancestrally as Styawat, has all the time had an ancient connection to cultivating and foraging plants for food, medicine, and skincare. For this reason, her brand honors the Squamish plant to balance, repair, and protect the skin.