Do you have tried-and-true beauty brands, or do you like to experiment with new offerings? What's a beauty find you love telling your friends about? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
It’s an exciting time—especially for those of us who remember when there was only one last name in Black beauty…. Johnson. We honor George and Joan Johnson who created the iconic Afro Sheen haircare and cosmetics line and John and Eunice Johnson who defined Black glamor with Fashion Fair Cosmetics. By the way, both brands are still going strong and are in Black hands.
Today there is a plethora of haircare, skincare and makeup lines that dedicate themselves to inclusivity for all skin tones, skin types, and hair types and textures. Highlighted below are the Black-owned brands you should know and the hero products you won’t want to be without! All prices are subject to change.
Glam Slam
Fenty
Why focus on the hair, makeup or skincare space when you can enjoy world domination in all three? Singer and style mogul Robin Rihanna Fenty embodied the beauty space with cool-girl inclusivity and an unmatched offering of shades and colors for all women. She then stunned with her foray into haircare for all textures with a tightly edited line of 11 products. All of this while she was dominating summer talk with her Fenty Skin entry, a new sun protectant. Bases loaded, she knocks it out the park. All I can say is have fun shopping! Fenty Beauty The Gelly Type Strong Hold Gel, is great for polished ponytails, sleek buns and tight top knots, $25. Sun protection year-round is a must. Reach for Hydra Vizor Huez Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Mineral SPF30 Refillable Tinted Moisturizer Set, a tinted SPF moisturizer that fades dark marks and boosts skin's elasticity with good-for-your-skin ingredients like niacinamide. Choose from 10 flexible shades, $48. Shadowstix Longwear Eyeshadow Stick, 16 intense pigmented, blendable shadow sticks to define and highlight your gaze. $25, available at Fentybeauty.com.
HAIR
Pattern
Created by actress and producer Tracee Ellis Ross. Girlfriend has bodied the haircare space with a 50+ piece line of shampoo, conditioner and stylers, and her tools are next level. Bring the heat with the Interchangeable Curling Iron which includes three different sized curling barrels, heat protective glove to wear while changing the barrels and a luxe storage pouch. $249. Available at Ulta.com.
Cecred
Let’s cut to the chase. Queen Bey with help from Mama Tina Knowles produced a sumptuous line of cleansers, conditioners and treatments that delivers what your mane craves: fortifying protein, rich conditioning and science melded with ancient global remedies. The eight-piece line is lightly scented with Oud, a woody, warm and musky fragrance that is among the world’s most expensive. When you need a heavenly strand saver, try Fermented Rice & Rose Protein Ritual. The ancient Asian hair treatment combines fermented rice and rose powder, which is mixed with water and used as a rinse to reduce breakage and encourage length retention. $52, available at Cecred.com.
4U by Tia
Created by sitcom icon and fab twin Tia Mowrey, this line offers an affordable eight-piece line for juicy curls. Keep yours popping with Leave-In-Curl Cream, a versatile treatment that moisturizes and fights frizz, $11 and Curl Refresher Mist, a light spray that revives curls and refreshes scalp in between wash days, $11. Available at Walmart.com.
TPH By Taraji
Created by Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson. Two formulas to deep cleanse the scalp: TPH Master Cleanse, a targeted scalp wash, $15 and Never Salty, $14 a sugar-based scalp and hair scrub that exfoliates scalp and promotes hair growth. Available at Target.com.
Flawless by Gabrielle Union
Cofounded by the ageless actress and celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims. Gabby offers a comprehensive haircare line at affordable prices. Bathe strands and go with 5 Butter Miracle Leave-In Conditioner. Infused with shea and mango butter, it primes hair for easy detangling and locks in moisture. $11. Available at Amazon.com.
Lobie
Model Anastasia MacKay set out to create an elevated hair mask for textured hair. Peptide Leave-In Mask is packed with 123 amino acids to restore damaged hair, $40. Available at Lobie.com.
Kinky Curly
Founded more than 20 years ago by Shelly Davis, this old-school brand still looms large with its classic Knot Today Natural Leave In Detangler infused with botanicals to smooth the cuticle and remove tangles. $15 (not shown). Available at Target.com.
Fresh by Houston White
Straight outta the barbershop of Camdentown, North Minneapolis barber Houston White serves up Curly Hair Pomade, a strong hold, medium shine oil-based styler for sculpted 'dos and enhanced waves. A plus: The scent is gender neutral. $12. Available at Target.com.
TGIN
The beloved staple of the natural hair care community honors their late founder Chris-Tia Donaldson with nurturing stylers that encourage healthy hair. Two to cherish from The Miracle Styling Collection: Ayurvedic Hair and Scalp Oil caresses scalp and hair with shine and locks in moisture, $12 and Water Activated Curl Elongating Hair Gel, which sidesteps shrinkage for longer defined coils, $16, available at Ulta.com.
SKIN
Keys Soulcare
Winner of 16 Grammys, and composer and co-producer of the hit 2-time Tony winning Broadway musical, Hell’s Kitchen, singer Alicia Keys creates harmony between skincare and wellness. Soothe your body and soul with Mind Clearing Body Polish with Glycolic and Lactic Acids, a body scrub that helps improve the look of dull, dry skin. $25. Available at Keyssoulcare.com.
TRNR Skin
In-demand New York City dermatologist Ryan Turner partnered with Aimee Bailey and longtime patient Carrie Pickett to create a trio of elegant skincare. The cleanser, moisturizer and serum formulas are rooted in science and plant-based. The rave: The Niacinamide 5% Restorative Serum which improves tone and texture of the skin (not shown), $55. Available at Trnrskin.com.
S’Able Labs
Founded by Sabrina Dhowre Elba and her actor hubby Idris, the Elbas (Sable backwards!) are fighting the good fight against hyperpigmentation with science and African botanicals. Get clear with the Essential Discovery Kit, which includes mini sizes of the Qasil Cleanser that purifies skin and packs it with antioxidants to prevent excess melanin production. Black Seed Toner refines skin texture and Baobab Moisturizer suppresses melanin growth while providing moisture. $48. Available at Sablelabs.co.
Beurre Shea Butter Skincare
Born from a need to deliver natural solutions to a myriad of skincare challenges, Shirley Menard, a Haitian-born, Ivy League educated lawyer turned entrepreneur played with shea butter and added the medicinal botanicals of her culture to create a highly moisturizing cream. Dry and itchy skin cries out for the Eczema Body Cream, which includes marshmallow root, babassu and aloe vera oils along with shea butter. We also like the line's other highly moisturizing Body Cream options lavender and vanilla. $25 each, or $60 for the trio. Available at Getbeurre.com.
Jasi Skin
Founder of Ginille Beauty Aesthetics in Los Angeles, Ginille Brown has entered the suncare category with her Crystal Clear Mineral SPF 45 Broad Spectrum Sunscreen. Micronized zinc oxide keeps sunscreen from leaving a white cast on our skin. Potent antioxidants help smooth the texture of blemishes and stretch marks. $64. Available at Jasiskin.com.
Makeup
WYN Beauty by Serena Williams
The GOAT, Serena Williams, came to conquer the beauty space with a line of high-performance, good-for-you makeup. Make it a match with Featuring You Hydrating Skin Enhancing Tint SPF 30: The gel-like formula comes in 36 flexible shades with buildable coverage, sun protection and up to 72 hours of hydration, $29. And MVP Most Versatile Pigment Multifunction Lip & Cheek Colors in 8 colors gives a wash of color that lasts all day and is smudge and sweat proof. $21. Available at Ulta.com.
Pat McGrath Labs
Mother is the most influential makeup artist of our time. McGrath conceptualizes and creates otherworldly beauty looks for ready-to-wear and couture fashion shows. The line is a celebration of stunning shades and luxurious textures for eyes, lips and skin. For us, no one handles shimmer better. Makeup mavens reach for Mothership V: Bronze Seduction, a decadent eye shadow palette of naughty neutral metallics (not shown). $128. Available at Patmcgrath.com.
TLB
The Lip Bar‘s Founder and CEO Melissa Butler pioneered a vegan, cruelty free collection of lipsticks. She has grown her line into 26 products from lips to skin and tools. What’s great for us is the Next To Skin Blurring Primer which provides the perfect canvas for your skin tint or foundation and works to hydrate the skin and minimize the appearance of fine line and pores, $16. Pretty that pout with The Prototype Lip Oil, a soothing botanical oil blend that provides a pop of color. Choose among four shades. $14. Available at Target.com.
D’Lashes
A-list celebrity eyelash expert Dionne Phillips serves all things lashes at her Beverly Hills salon. You can give them the eyes with D’Lashes Lash Kit (not shown). The mesh clutch contains her Best Friend applicator and a dual-action D’Adhesive Eyeliner Pen, a genius liner that takes the guesswork out of the glue. Plus, you’ll find three styles of lashes: D’Sexy, a fluttery half strip, D’ Delicate, the “me only better” lash strip and D’ Wispy for a full-on Lola Falana lash moment, $60. Available at Dlashes.com.
Ashunta Sheriff Beauty
Emmy-nominated makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff Kendricks is on a mission to celebrate everyone’s beauty with her highly individual line of lashes, lips, base, eye colors, highlighters and tools. Create a seductive signature lip look with Vegan Matte Crème, a long wear formula in 12 saucy hues that stay put after hours of eating and drinking. $20. Apply your new makeup finds with the Black Diamond Makeup Sponge. The unique design helps makeup go on smoothly for an airbrushed effect, and makes it easier to apply and blend in tough-to reach spaces, $20. Available at Ashuntabeauty.com.
Lys Beauty
A 20-year industry vet and former makeup artist, Lys Beauty founder Tisha Thompson’s inclusive makeup made her the first Black-owned brand to enter the clean makeup category at Sephora. Although she’s the name to drop on TikTok, don’t sleep on her cult-status sticks. Bronzer and contour dolls will love the No Limits Cream Bronzer Stick in seven shades. It’s a great way to create a sculpted look. $20. Available at Sephora.com.
Do you have tried-and-true beauty brands, or do you like to experiment with new offerings? What's a beauty find you love telling your friends about? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
