21 Black-Owned Makeup Brands You Should *Def* Have On Your Radar
Black-owned makeup brands have been revolutionizing the beauty industry for years, yet have failed to gain the recognition they deserve. These brands have innovated in shade ranges, pigment varieties, formulas, and more. Fenty Beauty, for example, changed the way beauty brands think about foundation shades and skin diversity. For many Black women, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty–which launched with 40 shades back in 2017–was revolutionary because it provided many a perfect-match foundation for the first time in their lives. Meanwhile, world-renowned makeup artist Pat McGrath has been an innovator of eyeshadow pigments since the launch of her cosmetics brand, Pat McGrath Labs, in 2016. Opaque pigments that work for brown skin are a must in an industry that has often left out people of color. These are just a couple of examples of why it’s important that we consistently support Black-owned makeup brands. They are making moves and changing the beauty industry for the better. Keep reading for some Black-owned highlighters, lipsticks, and more to add to your shopping cart.
317 W
beautybakerie.com
$34.00
Beauty Bakerie creates cruelty-free, paraben-free, smudge-proof and vegan products that have amassed a cult-like following. Founded by Cashmere Nicole in 2011 (while she was in the midst of a battle with breast cancer), the brand stands for creating quality products as well as giving back. The brand is almost entirely Black-led with Black folks making up 75 percent of the executive team. Make sure to check out their long-lasting Lip Whips.
mentedcosmetics.com
$16.50
Mented Cosmetics was started by duo KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson, who went on a mission to create the perfect nude lipstick for every skin tone after finding it so hard to find the perfect nude themselves. Miller and Johnson believe that, “every woman should be able to find herself in the world of beauty, no matter her skin tone,” which is a message we can definitely get behind here. All of Mented Cosmetics' lipsticks are vegan, paraben-free, non-toxic and cruelty-free. Go find your perfect nude here, and also check out their new Sunkissed Bronzer Collection which fans are already raving about!
patmcgrath.com
$125.00
Pat McGrath, the businesswoman behind her eponymous cosmetics brand, is the most celebrated and sought-after makeup artist in the fashion and beauty industry today. Britain’s own Queen Elizabeth II is a fan, honoring McGrath as a “Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to the fashion and beauty industry.” Whenever Pat McGrath Labs drops a new collection, beauty lovers immediately scramble to “Add to Cart.” Anything “Mother” touches is bound to be great, but her eyeshadow palettes are especially to die for. Check out the new Mothership VIII: Divine Rose II Palette, which is beauty-influencer-Jackie-Aina-approved.
FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna
sephora.com
$37.00
Don't want to risk trying to find the perfect foundation match? Try these Fenty highlighting sticks instead. She can wear them as eyeshadow, bronzer, contour, or blush, and they blend easily on all skin tones.
uomabeauty.com
$39.00
Talk about having range. UOMA Beauty launched in April 2019 with a whopping 51 foundation shades. The makeup brand was founded by beauty veteran and former LVMH executive, Sharon Chuter. UOMA, pronounced uh-mah, means “beautiful” in Igbo, which speaks to the brand’s mission of creating a truly inclusive beauty world. Chuter is also the brains behind the social movement, Pull Up for Change, which calls on various industries, including beauty, to take a stand to address workplace diversity.
juviasplace.com
$22.00
Juvia’s Place creates the most vibrant and pigmented products for eyes, lips, and face. The brand’s founder, Chichi Eburu, first started the cosmetics brand to create shadows pigmented enough to stand out against darker skin tones. The brand’s palettes are inspired by “the vibrancy of Africa” and the pigments are incredibly rich in color. Juvia’s Place eyeshadow palettes are some of beauty influencer NikkieTutorials’ favorites for creating bold eye looks. In addition to the palettes, also check out their recently launched Nudes Collection which features 19 new shades of lipsticks, liners, and glosses.
black opal
blackopalbeauty.com
$11.50
Black Opal has been serving women of color since 1994, and just last year the brand was acquired by entrepreneurs Desiree Rogers and Cherly Mayberry McKissack making it officially Black and women-owned after 25 years of existence. The brand created solutions for hyperpigmentation and shade-matching during a time when beauty product options for Black women were seriously lacking. Black Opal prides itself on creating high quality products for an affordable price. Some of their bestsellers include their True Color Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15 and Soft Velvet Finishing Powder.
thelipbar.com
$14.00
In 2012, Melissa Butler launched The Lip Bar with the goal of addressing the beauty industry’s “lack of diversity, lack of inclusion and excessive amounts of unnecessary chemicals.” All of the brand’s products are vegan and cruelty-free as well as fool-proof–products are easy to use and require minimum skill and effort. Their Fast Face Kits include six products for a full face of makeup, streamlining your routine. It’s perfect for the makeup newbie as well as professionals–it also makes a great gift. Also worth checking out is The Lip Bar’s Bawse Lady Liquid Matte lipstick––launched in 2015 and still the brand’s number one bestseller to-date, it’s the perfect everyday red.
raine
colouredraine.com
$20.00
Coloured Raine is the brainchild of Brooklyn-born Loraine R. Dowdy. Dowdy founded the brand in 2013, after leaving the finance industry, with the goal of encouraging self-expression and diversity, as well as creating shades that work for people of color. All products are cruelty-free, and the brand is 100 perecent Black-owned and led. Check out their best-selling Book of Shades Eyeshadow Organizer to store all your loose pigments, and maybe add a few more to your collection while you’re at it.
iman
imancosmetics.com
$16.00
As an OG Black-owned makeup brand, IMAN Cosmetics has been serving women of color since 1994. The brand was founded by legendary Somali fashion supermodel, Iman Abdulmajid, to meet the makeup needs of brown and Black women. In a recent Instagram post, the model recalls having makeup artists ask her to bring her own foundation to sets as they didn’t carry her color–an ask that unfortunately still happens today. The brand is entirely women-led, and 85 percent of the women who make up the brand are Black. Make sure to grab their best-selling Sheer Finish Bronzing Powder before it’s gone!
lipmatic.com
$17.00
American rapper Nas’ daughter, Destiny Jones, debuted her lip gloss line in 2014 at just 20 years old. The brand, which launched with four shades named after her father’s iconic debut album Illmatic, has since expanded to include liquid and matte lipsticks. The formulas are organic, and you can find anything from a sultry nude to a vibrant plum. If you buy one thing, make it the brand’s Lip Sets.
danessamyricksbeauty.com
$36.00
Danessa Myricks Beauty is an artisanal makeup brand founded by self-taught makeup artist and entrepreneur, Danessa Myricks. Myricks developed her eponymous brand with the notion that “makeup is art and that the world of beauty should be inclusive of every woman.” Myricks’ expertise has led her to co-create with beauty brands such as Kiss, Benefit Cosmetics, and Limelight By Alcone, and she now lends herself to training makeup artists as well as building her brand. The brand carries customizable colors and textures for the everyday consumer and the professional makeup artist. Check out her Colorfix 24-Hour Cream Colors that can be used on lips, eyes, and face here.
bsimonebeauty.com
$16.00
Popular YouTuber, B. Simone, launched her namesake brand in 2019 and it has since been climbing in sales and popularity. The brand mainly carries lip products–lip glosses, matte lipsticks, and lip liners–which are vegan and cruelty-free, as well as makeup bags and other accessories. Check out her Flirty 30 collection of lip glosses and liners which B.Simone launched in honor of her 30th birthday in April.
oceanic
acebeaute.com
$38.99
Ace Beaute launched in 2016 by founder Niya Aneikan-Attang after leaving the finance industry to pursue beauty full-time. The cruelty-free brand started as a selection of false lashes and has since expanded to include eyeshadows and makeup brushes. Their motto is, ‘Beauty for All,’ regardless of “age, sex, skin color, religion or socioeconomic status.” The brand is best known for their ultra-pigmented, vibrant eyeshadow colors which you can shop for on the Ace Beaute website. Check out their Paradise Fallen Palette from their Paradise Collection.
lamikbeauty.com
$21.00
LAMIK Beauty is a vegan makeup line made up of all natural and organic ingredients by founder Kim Roxie. As the brand’s Instagram bio puts it, it's “focused on the women who spend 80% more on cosmetics, but get 10% of shelf–women of color,” which perfectly encapsulates their mission and values. LAMIK first opened as a brick and mortar store in Houston, Texas before launching online for all to enjoy. LAMIK, which stands for “Love and Makeup in Kindness,” is empowering women of color to embrace their beautiful. Send an email to [email protected] to get your Custom Blend Foundation especially made for you.
rangebeauty.com
$21.00
While working in New York’s fashion industry, Alicia Scott noticed the lack of shades available to Black women during photoshoots and runway shows. Looking at her own makeup collection, Scott also noticed that numerous brands used ingredients that caused her eczema and acne to flare up. Range Beauty was her solution to both of these problems. The clean makeup line creates affordable products that cater to all skin colors and have high quality ingredients with added skincare benefits. Their True Intentions Hydrating Foundation comes in 21 shades and has calendula and cornflower extracts to treat as well as prevent eczema and acne.
thecrayoncase.com
$20.00
The Crayon Case is a fun, colorful makeup brand that takes inspiration from the classroom. Product packaging takes the shape of Sharpies, notebooks, pencils, calculators, and even art supplies such as oil pastels. The founder, social media influencer Raynell Seward, started the brand back in 2017. One of her first products, the Box of Crayons palette, went viral shortly after its release. Shop for the Box of Crayons palette with 18 shades of mattes and metallics straight out of a Crayola crayon box here.
ajcrimson.com
$31.99
Celebrity makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur, AJ Crimson, started his namesake makeup line with the intent of creating products for women of color that worked and didn’t oxidize. “So often, makeup has been designed with a one size fits all mentality, and with black women and women of color my cosmetic line contains shades for women of every ethnic background and skin tone,” Crimson writes on his website. Shop for Crimson’s best-selling hand poured Artist Kit - Warm/Deep, perfect for all skin types, here.
goldlabelcosmetics.com
$14.00
Founder, Kristen Elise Brown, launched Gold Label Cosmetics in 2012 for “the beauty enthusiast who seeks opulence and convenience.” The New York-made, cruelty-free, paraben-free makeup brand focuses on lipsticks and matte lip pens. Brown writes, “GLC provides the small luxuries through quality, yet practical packaging and satisfying formulas that match their affirmative lifestyle: ever growing!” Pre-order their Bogota Bundle of vampy matte lip pens here.
lunamagic.com
$16.00
Luna Magic Beauty is an indie makeup brand founded by Afro-Dominican sisters, Mabel and Shaira Frías. The two sisters created a vibrant brand that takes inspiration from their multicultural heritage, Latin culture, and music. “We're inspired by the rich cultures and music of the Caribbean and Latin America, the hustle and bustle of NYC and glamour of Los Angeles,” they write on their website. The colors of their eyeshadow palette and matte liquid lipsticks are as bold and colorful as their Dominican heritage. Check out their best-selling UNO Eyeshadow Palette here.
bossybeauty.com
$26.00
The cruelty-free cosmetics brand, Bossy Cosmetics, was founded by Aisha Fatima Dozie, a self-proclaimed ‘lipstick junkie’ and former investment banker. The brand’s mission is to “empower women to look, feel, and do good.” The purpose-driven brand donates a portion of all their proceeds to Girls Inc., Women at Risk International Foundation, and Women’s Link Worldwide. Shop for their best-selling Liquid Matte Genius Lipsticks here.
21 Black-Owned Makeup Brands You Should *Def* Have On Your Radar
Black-owned makeup brands have been revolutionizing the beauty industry for years, yet have failed to gain the recognition they deserve. These brands have innovated in shade ranges, pigment varieties, formulas, and more. Fenty Beauty, for example, changed the way beauty brands think about foundation shades and skin diversity. For many Black women, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty–which launched with 40 shades back in 2017–was revolutionary because it provided many a perfect-match foundation for the first time in their lives. Meanwhile, world-renowned makeup artist Pat McGrath has been an innovator of eyeshadow pigments since the launch of her cosmetics brand, Pat McGrath Labs, in 2016. Opaque pigments that work for brown skin are a must in an industry that has often left out people of color. These are just a couple of examples of why it’s important that we consistently support Black-owned makeup brands. They are making moves and changing the beauty industry for the better. Keep reading for some Black-owned highlighters, lipsticks, and more to add to your shopping cart.
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