For greater than 50 years, ESSENCE has been a pacesetter in promoting Black-Owned beauty brands. Continuing in our tradition, we’re introducing you to the masterminds behind a number of the hottest products on the multi-billion-dollar market that ensures our Black never cracks.
From kitchen chemists to beauty industry insiders, meet the business owners who used their passion (and private experiences) to create products that commemorate our melanin from the within out!
Just in time for the vacations, most of those beauty brands are offering great deals to your shopping needs. From head to toe, they got you covered.
Editor’s Note: There are countless Black-owned beauty brands and we regret that we couldn’t include all of them, and their founders, on this list. Nonetheless, ESSENCE will proceed to advertise Black-owned beauty brands and entrepreneurs creating quality products year-round, including our monthly Launch List.
01
Blair Armstrong of Gilded
Dermatology PA Blair Armstrong created Gilded after “noting the inordinate period of time, and singular focus people have with face care often to the detriment of body care.” She combined a team of clinicians to create a phenomenal and powerful yet easy luxe skincare range that focuses on improving skin texture and appearance.
02
Robyn Atwater of CurlDaze
Robyn Atwater, the founding father of CURLDAZE, acquired her passion for natural hair care via her own trials and tribulations. She awoke one morning to seek out a considerable amount of hair on her pillow. Her hair continued to fall out throughout the day, and he or she realized she needed to take motion with products that will help her retain the health of all-natural hair.
03
Dr. Anne Beal of AbsoluteJoi
Clean, effective and straightforward is how Dr. Anne and her team at AbsoluteJoi describes the brand. Originally inspired to create products for her teenage daughters to assist them take higher care of their skin, she was sitting on a melanin girl’s dream regimen. Now, her rigorously crafted concoctions can be found for all of us.
04
Jamyla Bennu of OYIN Handmade
A lifelong naturalista, Jamyla Bennu decided to be the answer when she had a challenge finding commercially available natural and organic products for her highly textured, natural hair. OYIN Handmade was born. Today, the brand carries natural deodorants, ash busters, and junk-free men’s grooming products.
05
Dr. Lorraine Beraho of GlowRx Skincare
Founder and board-certified Pediatrician, Dr. Lorraine Beraho created the primary GlowRx skincare line specifically designed for teenagers and millennials. The goal: less products, more efficacy. “We consider that every day use of key products with quality ingredients can show you how to achieve a glowing complexion year-round,” says the great doc.
06
Danika Berry of Glam Body
Danika Berry is a media maven who’s recognized for assisting celebrities and businesses to make their mark of their various industries. Berry founded Glam Body in 2017 after learning about coffee’s ability to clear pimples, smooth skin, eliminate blackheads, cure hyperpigmentation, treat cellulite, and soothe eczema
07
Aisha Besson of Chloe and Chad
Began as an experiment to supply her family with natural body care products, Chloe and Chad developed right into a full-on brand for Aisha Besson. Her line of organic and natural soaps, balms, lotions and body butters are made to order in small batches to maintain the integrity of the formulas.
08
Nafeesa Bilal of Crave Beauty
Nafeesa Bilal, founded Crave Beauty with a desire to assist women tackle their scalp and hair issues, especially people who shared her slow-growing hair experience. When the Philadelphia native open her first salon, she began to experiment with fruits, vegetables, herbs, essential oils, and vitamins in hopes of treating and curing scalp issues with great success. Today, Crave Beauty is the go-to brand for all-natural treatments and healthy hair care.
09
Shirley Billot of Kadalys
Launched in France in 2012, Kadalys Founder Shirley Billot’s diverse background and knowledge of the French-Caribbean culture has allowed her to rigorously consider the event of Kadalys products to make sure effectiveness for a various global consumer. Through Kadalys, Shirley desired to create inclusive, ethical skincare products with no compromise between high performance, naturalness, and citizen engagement.
10
Abena Boamah-Acheampong of Hanahana Beauty
“Hanahana began from a straightforward want to actually feel confident in my very own skin,” says founder Abena Boamah-Acheampong. With shea butter as a go-to in her household, she turned to it when she was moved to start out her own all natural skincare and wellness brand. Now it, and her products, are go-tos for girls throughout.
11
Merced S. Boyce of BLAC Minerals
Merced S. Boyce, founding father of BLAC minerals longed for inclusive, toxic free makeup products. So she created them. “The mission behind BLAC has at all times been to showcase the range of ladies of color,” she says. “We are available a myriad of shades and that should be reflected.”
12
Katonya Breaux of Unsun
An advocate for girls of color and protecting that color, Katonya Breaux created Unsun to reply to the shortage of fresh sunscreen options for us. Her products are kind to each consumers and the environment.
13
Kristen Elise Brown of Gold Label Cosmetics
When Kristen Elise Brown first began her brand she was all about putting glitter all over the place. But after working with women from all walks of life, she had a renewed purpose. “I desired to speak positivity and grandeur into everyone’s life,” she says. And a recent Gold Label Cosmetics was born.
14
Melissa Butler of The Lip Bar
Melissa Butler was told on national television that her idea was garbage when she took her brand, The Lip Bar, to Shark Tank. Now the savvy businesswoman is laughing all of the strategy to the bank along with her custom cosmetics, that are sold in Goal amongst other retailers.
15
Chrissy Cabrera of Naturally London
Chrissy Cabrera, an authorized aromatherapist, has at all times experienced dryness and callous issues along with her feet, especially while she was pregnant and her feet swelled. After discovering pleasure and delight from foot soaking, the wife and mother founded Natually London to deliver results for individuals who are uninterested in being let down by pedicures experiences.
16
Sharon Chuter of UOMA Beauty
Sharon Cuter is a pistol who isn’t to be reigned in. A former executive for LVMH beauty, she founded UOMA with the intent of disrupting a market that lacked diversity. Everyone is an element of her tribe as she rewrites the foundations of inclusivity.
17
Ebony Clay of Kayaire
After dealing along with her own skin conditions and flare ups on account of stress, Ebony Clay was on the hunt for an efficient solution. Soon after, she launched Kayaire, a skincare line that uses the advantages of CBD to treat ailments for people of all skin tones.
18
Nexus Cook of twenty fifth & June Nail Elixir
“I’ve at all times had big hair, an enormous heart, and massive ideas,” says twenty fifth & June founder Nexus Cook. “So once I began twenty fifth & June Nail Elixir on my bedroom floor, I did it with nothing but a passion for all things pretty, my pure obsession with nail polish, and a desire to create something larger than myself.”
19
AJ Crimson of AJ Crimson Beauty
Should you don’t know AJ Crimson’s face you surely know the faces he’s touched, including Brandy, Christina Milian, Keyshia Cole, and Lauren London. As a makeup artist, he saw the necessity for nice products for Black women, and his namesake line was created. “I felt like there was an absolute have to bring products to women of color that really worked and didn’t oxidize or change,” he explains.
20
Ranay Daye of Glow by Daye
As a self-proclaimed “lazy natural” Ranay Daye was inspired to create Glow by Daye to offer natural hair higher quality products to fulfill our hair needs in the case of deep conditioning more effectively, maintaining moisture, preserving a current hairstyle, or helping with styling.
21
Adiya Dixon Wiggins of Yubi
Adiya Dixon Wiggins created Yubi the way in which lots of the very best products come to market—out of necessity. A busy mom and dealing lawyer, she came upon just how helpful a finger brush may very well be in saving time and energy in a makeup routine.
22
Lorraine R. Dowdy of Colored Raine
Brooklyn-born Lorraine R. Dowdy infuses her Caribbean roots into her makeup brand Colored Raine. The mission behind the brand “has at all times been to spread awareness of diversity through beauty and to embrace all points of color through unity.” And he or she continues to keep up an all Black team.
23
Aishetu Fatima Dozie of Bossy Cosmetics
A self-proclaimed lipstick junkie, Aishetu (Aisha) Dozie was an investment banker with a “serious” job when she ventured into the world of beauty. Equipped with a mission to empower women to look, feel, and do good while using cruelty-free products, she’s also fueling her passion to offer back through her brand.
24
Chichi Eburu of Juvia’s Place
Nigerian-born Chichi Eburu absolutely disrupted the market when her Juvia’s Place eyeshadow palettes and wealthy color pigment lipsticks debuted. Her roots are felt through the richness and vibrancy of each collection the brand drops.
25
Danielle Edmond of Stay Golden Cosmetics
Founder Danielle ‘Danz’ Edmond was born and raised in Jamaica by her mom and grandmother. She’s a model, and athlete, and an entrepreneur. While modeling in South Africa she became intrigued by the artistry surrounding beauty and fashion, and Stay Golden Cosmetics was born.
26
Christine Grant of Brown Butter Beauty
“Making women feel beautiful and assured is my passion,” says Brown Butter Beauty founder Christine Grant. “When women be ok with themselves they’ll do anything.” Her products range from 90-100% naturally derived ingredients and sustainability is on the forefront of what she does.
27
Makeba Lloyd Guilan of Butter by Keba
Keba Guilan isn’t only a skin and fragrance savior along with her brand Butter by Keba, she is herself, a word. “Our goal and mission is to bring people together through fragrance,” she says. The Harlem-based innovator is doing exactly that along with her unique and inventive blends.
28
Aba Gyepi-Garbrah of Aba Love Apothecary
Certified Aromatherapist Aba Gyepi-Garbrah is a lover of plant medicine who parlayed that affection right into a brand full of lush, hand-crafted botanical skincare. She’s also an authority in olfactory art, and it shows through her healing and therapeutic products.
29
Kimberly Hairston-Hicks of Good Beauté
Before starting Good Beauté, Kimberly Hairston-Hicks (center) held leadership roles in the sweetness industry. She brought her insider knowledge to the brand and the standard of its products. She lives by the motto: It is gorgeous to be good. “I feel that Black women deserve meaningful research and product development in the sweetness industry,” she says.
30
Paula Hayes of Hue Noir
Paula Hayes is a product chemist inspired by the challenge of finding quality cosmetics that complement her complexion. For her brand Hue Noir, she uses science to design textures and shades guaranteed to work for all women of color.
31
Camara Aunique Helps of Camara AUnique Beauty
The lash guru to your favorite celebrities, your mama, your aunties, and your best friend, Camara AUnique offers an experience when she brings her treasured hands to your project. Her brand, Camara AUnique Beauty, gives the identical experience at home with lush luxury lashes inspired by great women locally.
32
Tosca Hillman of GlōGirl Cosmetics
Tosca Hillman of GlōGirl Cosmetics is difficult to seek out on social media. It’s because she’s busy empowering women through diverse and inclusive beauty on a worldwide scale. “That is the brand new age of beauty where the probabilities are limitless,” says Hillman.
33
Dr. Rose Ingleton of Rose MD Skincare
When your favorite dermatologist launches a line of products made up of her coveted skin saving concoctions, your rejoice. That’s what Dr. Rose Ingleton’s clients did when the busy doc finally packaged her signature Jamaican SuperFruit mix. The products are potent and effective; you’ll be able to’t expect anything less from Ingleton MD.
34
Barbara Jacques of Jacq’s
It’s all about self-care and self love for Jacq’s co-founder and CEO Barbara Jacques. It’s no wonder the brand was created out of affection, and a direct need for non-toxic products. “Your skin tells the story of who you might be,” she says on the brand’s website. And we’re unapologetically beautiful.
35
Dana Jackson of Beneath Your Mask
Just after her thirtieth birthday Dana Jackson was diagnosed with a severe type of Lupus, and it modified her entire existence. After a humbling relearning of herself she met a recent Dana, and Beneath Your Mask was born. The primary product, Heal: Whipped Skin Soufflé, was created as an expression of self-acceptance and the brand has been on a roll since.
36
Michael James of Frederick Benjamin
Frederick Benjamin is here to disrupt the skincare industry standard for men of color and founder Michael James is leading their charge. Using natural oils and clinical ingredients, the brand is creating effective skincare regimens that yield long lasting results.
37
Rachel James of Pear Nova
Rachel James, founding father of Pear Nova, found herself surrounded by artists, musicians, and a crew of good Chicago scene stars who looked more like potential collaborators than employers when she made the choice to work for herself. She created the posh nail lacquer brand soon after and that i’ts now a go-to for girls across the country.
38
Dr. Chaneve Jeanniton of epi.logic
Dr. Chaneve Jeanniton of epi.logic believes that beauty isn’t nearly looking good, but about feeling your best. She’s a board certified oculofacial plastic surgeon trained in reconstructive surgery. She says of her brand, “My goal is to supply skin logic for all by simplifying the ingredients and taking a benefits-based approach.”
39
Amanda E. Johnson and KJ Miller of Mented Cosmetics
Finding nude lipsticks that flatter Black women shouldn’t be difficult. But Mented founders Amanda E. Johnson and KJ Miller understood just how hard it truly was until they launched their brand, made for girls for color. “We consider every woman should have the opportunity to seek out herself on the earth of beauty, irrespective of her skin tone,” they are saying on their brand’s website.
40
LaVonndra Elle Johnson of Elle Johnson Co.
LaVonndra “Elle” Johnson became a skincare creator after her own battle with extremely oily skin led her to hunt viable options for skincare. Chemical based products couldn’t cut it. With a proper background in branding, she decided to place her skill set to make use of and launch her own natural brand. That’s how Elle Johnson Co. bloomed.
41
Malaika Jones Kebede, Nia Jones and Tai Beauchamp of Brown Girl Jane
“Community and sisterhood are each at the middle of every part we do and why we do it.” That’s how the check-in on the Brown Girl Jane website begins. It’s right under the tab: You Good Sis? Founders Malaika Jones Kebede, Nia Jones and Tai Beachamp are influential Black women who’re using their reach to uplift Black women.
42
Kitiya King of Mischo Beauty
Kitiya King understood the importance of 10-free nail lacquer long before her competitors got on board. Her clean, luxury, vegan brand Mischo Beauty offers high-performance hues without the toxic junk all of us need to avoid.
43
Monique Little of You Go Natural (YGN) Headwraps
Monique Little is a mother and wife with a busy schedule, so she was in need of a strategy to style her hair quickly with no fuss. YGN Headwraps are the reply to men and ladies who’re on the lookout for each functionality and wonder while protecting and styling your hair effortless and stylish each time.
44
Sparkle Lockett of Makeup by Sparkle
Sparkle Lockett beat the faces of countless celebrities, including the late legend Prince, before she decided to launch Makeup by Sparkle. While she believes that lovely cared for skin is the actual foundation for any makeup, she still makes unbelievable makeup.
45
Shontay Lundy of Black Girl Sunscreen
In 2016, Shontay Lundy launched Black Girl Sunscreen, equipped with the knowledge that our melanin must be shielded from the sun identical to everyone else’s. Her formulations keep skin from looking ashy and filmy, letting our beautiful color glow.
46
Joelle Lynn of Pleased Girl Products
Joelle Lynn strives to make your “girl” blissful, and we’re here for it. Her feminine care brand carries every part from gentle cleansers to bump serum and vagina facial masks. And to think it began in her kitchen.
47
Jamika Martin of Rosen Skincare
After a lifetime of pimples with no effective products to cope with it, Jamika Martin founded ROSEN Skincare and never looked back. “We formulate fun stuff to your face to assist the 85 percent of us who cope with pimples see results, naturally,” she says.
48
Cheryl Mayberry McKissack and Desiree Rogers of Blk Opl
When Black Opal announced that the 25-year-old global beauty brand had been acquired by Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack last fall, Black people rejoiced. “As we proceed to grow the corporate and convey top quality products to the market, we also plan to give attention to making a positive impact in our communities,” says Mayberry McKissack.
49
Chloé Mortaud of Mademoiselle Provence
Founder Chloé Mortaud was raised in Southern France and traveled to the U.S. to attach along with her mother’s African-American roots, while also working to construct the American dream for her son, Matis. By combining quality, pleasure, and affordability, Chloé created Mademoiselle Provence to move consumers to Provence’s very heart with indulgent beauty products.
50
Danessa Myricks of Danessa Myricks Beauty
If you see a Danessa Myricks glow it. The famed makeup artist turned makeup mogul launched her eponymous brand to permit all of us the possibility to indicate our artistic expression. “My vision was to create a brand where there have been limitless possibilities for girls from all walks of life to create,” she says. Beauty with no boundaries? We’ll take it!
51
Cashmere Nicole of Beauty Bakerie
Beauty Bakerie founder and CEO Cashmere Nicole (left) has been an entrepreneur since she was a baby. By the point she was a youngster, she was more advanced in grow a business, she also had her daughter Jasmyn (right) around the identical time. Each have been an enormous a part of her journey of getting her cake and eating it too.
52
Ndidi Obidoa and Chinelo Chidozie of Bolden
For Ndidi Obidoa and Chinelo Chidozie, founders of Bolden, creating global conversations around inclusive beauty “where brown women and girls all over the place feel empowered to rejoice the natural great thing about the skin they’re in,” is true entrepreneurship. Their brand is an element of those conversations as much as their voices are.
53
Jane Ormon of Nolaskinsentials
“Nolaskinsentials was created once I noticed my very own skin issues not being catered to,” says Nolaskinsentials founder Jane Ormon. “I tapped into my Black Girl Magic and said, High-quality! I’ll do it myself!” She created an inexpensive, vegan-friendly cruelty-free skincare line inspired by millennials and Mother Nature.
54
Sholayide Otugalu of Joséphine Cosmetics
Sholayide Otugalu isn’t here for the essential. With the icon Josephine Baker as her inspiration she began her cosmetics brand Joséphine Cosmetics for the untamed, opulent and radical. Natural beauty would never be the identical, or basic, ever again.
55
Calvin Quallis of Scotch Porter
Calvin Quallis’ men’s grooming brand Scotch Porter is a gem amongst gems. When Quallis quit his “cushy” corporate job to follow his passion to make people feel their best, he took an enormous leap of religion. Now, men all over the place are benefitting greatly from his decision.
56
Jerri Reid of The Snobb Collection
Former blogger, Jerri Reid took a risk and created a platform of over 500K “Snobb” followers without revealing who she was for a few years. Today, she is visible to the world and using her platform popularity to create a beauty brand that offers everyone who wears it a confidence boost!
57
Marla Rene of Marla Rene Skincare
Marla Rene Skincare founder Marla Rene is a mother, a candle lover, and a DIYer. In the case of beauty, her approach is to assist women feel good as their authentic selves. “Hopefully, our line will help with any skincare insecurities that hinders us from feeling fierce, whether it’s pimples scarring, uneven skin tone or fantastic lines and wrinkles,” she says.
58
Britni Ricard of Cota Skin
The previous Dillard University Psychology major took a leap of religion and quit her job to start out her passion. Britni Ricard learned form her own LLC within the local Recent Orleans library with none real money or perhaps a laptop. She founded COTA in 2019 in an try to recreate the skincare routine her late brother shared along with her. COTA, named after her brother, is devoted to providing the best skincare program for all skin types.
59
Andres Roban of Ounce of Nature
Andres Roban, President and CEO of Ounce of Nature, is a walking commercial for his products. The forty-something will make you do a double take. Formulated in a lab downstairs from the brand’s full-service spa in Brooklyn, the serums, cleansers, masks and more are a melanin dream.
60
Makeda Robinson of Makeda K Beauty
Makeda Robinson began making eyelash stripes with one goal—create lash extensions that adapt to the natural lash hair of Black women. With a modest savings and guidance from an incubator she launched Makeda K beauty with immense success.
61
Ron Robinson of BeautyStat Cosmetics
Ron Robinson, cosmetic chemist and founding father of BeautyStat Cosmetics, has been within the industry for 20 years on the product development side. He says, “I began BeautyStat with the goal of helping consumers cut through the clutter and understand what forms of beauty products are working and what’s not.” Eventually, he got here up along with his own effective beauty tech and a brand was born.
62
Raquel Roxanne of Matrescence
Matrescence is the means of becoming a mother. So Raquel Roxanne gave this name to her brand since it is rooted in caring for moms. She says the mission is to “refine motherhood by making mothers more empowered, confident and delightful.” Amen!
63
Kim Roxie of Lamik Beauty
Kim Roxie loved helping women discover their beauty since she was young. However the ingredients were often questionable. Her answer? Make her own. She opened LAMIK as a brick and mortar store in Houston, Texas with organic, vegan beauty products and never looked back.
64
Alicia Scott of Range Beauty
Alicia Scott began her profession in the style world. It didn’t take long for her to note the shortage of shade ranges available at runway shows and photoshoots. Frustrated that there weren’t higher options for us, she decided to create them herself and launched Range Beauty.
65
Yandy Smith-Harris of Yelle Skincare
Love & Hip Hop star Yandy Smith-Harris has at all times proven herself to be a mover, shaker, and straight-up money maker. She puts just as much hustle into her skincare brand Yelle as she does all her other business ventures. She believes great skincare ought to be luxe and reasonably priced.
66
Karen Stallings of Color U Cosmetics
A lover of all things beauty and makeup, Karen Stallings founded Color U Cosmetics to create a line of smart cosmetics that may easily take you from day to nighttime. She strives to create makeup for the fashionable woman: sophisticated and with no bounds.
67
Raynell Steward “Supa Cent” of The Crayon Case
Wuzzam Supa isn’t only a beauty brand owner who made $1 million in 90 minutes. She’s the rationale why her brand, The Crayon Case, is the immense success it’s. While her fun array of products are superior and want no selling, her open-book personality and vibrant spirit make you wish to be a component of the Crayon Cutie community.
68
Desiree Verdejo of Hyper Skin
Desiree Verdejo has been on the lips of each beauty editor since launching her brand Hyper last fall. A former lawyer turned beauty boutique owner and entrepreneur, she understands that ladies of color often have their needs unmet in the case of their unique skincare concerns.
69
Tristan Walker of Bevel
One other brand with the goal of creating health and wonder easy for people of color, Bevel has been a go-to for all things shaving for Black men. While there’s been much speculation about whether Bevel remains to be a Black-owned brand, founder, CEO, father, brother, husband and leader Tristan Walker remains to be on the helm of the brand. We Stan.
70
Brianna Walton of Noire Beauté
Brianna Walton created Noire Beauté in 2018 when she found herself cruising the skincare aisles at shops in quest of natural products that will suit her needs. Then she thought, perhaps I could make my very own. So she did. “Who says natural skincare needs to be boring, why can’t or not it’s fun, and healthy all at the identical time,” says Walton.
71
Crystal Waters of Boyface
You would possibly love Waters for her house music hits but you’ll love her much more for her revolutionary skincare. Her brand Boyface offers easy-to-use products to assist him appear and feel his best.
72
Symantha Wechie-Onyechi of Triple O Polish
Many of the photos you discover of Symantha Wechie-Onyechi, creator of Triple O Polish, feature her with dozens of packages. She doesn’t get a break day from sending out orders as her nail lacquer brand continues to rise in popularity. “[In 2016] I began mixing and pouring, and fell in love with creating unique colours that radiate on every skin tone,” she says.
73
Gloria L. Williams of Footnanny
After watching her mother give the sick and elderly people of her community a superb quaint “Rub Down!” Williams knew that she desired to follow in her mother’s footsteps which became the catalyst to creating Footnanny, a line of Aromatherapy foot care products that individuals love, especially Oprah.
74
Quon Wilson of Quon’s Eyes
Quon Wilson will teach you put your false lashes on properly to avoid damage to your natural hair. She may teach you lift your head and command the room, which is on the core of her brand Quon’s Eyes. She’s an advocate for girls shattering ceilings, period!
75
Rahama Wright of Shea Yeleen
Born in Ghana but raised within the U.S., Rahama Wright had dreams of being a diplomat but things modified after serving within the Peace Corps. On the age of 23, with no business experience, she began the social impact company Shea Yeleen, which provides living wages for girls producers of shea butter in West Africa through the creation of high-quality skincare products.
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