Once upon a time, it was a struggle beating your face as a Black woman. Finding foundations, concealers and other beauty products that perfectly fit your skin tone was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Over the years, things have changed as a whole new standard of diversity and inclusivity within the beauty industry has been introduced. Some call this the Fenty effect. Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty pushed the boundaries of inclusivity in makeup, sparking a wave of Black-owned beauty brands that are dominating the hair care, skincare, and other personal products space.
More Black-owned beauty brands than ever before are shaking things up as they address the specific needs of women of color at a scale beyond makeup. These brands are offering inclusive shades that truly match deep skin tones, high-quality formulas, and a whole lot of melanin magic while showing the world that representation in the beauty industry isn’t just a trend—it’s a necessity.
Everyone deserves access to beauty products that work for them and these brands are doing just that, providing a wide range of makeup shades to enhance the beauty of all brown skin tones.
When shopping for beauty products and you are unsure what to go for, consider products created by those who understand. We’re talking about beauty products made by women of color for women of color. Not only will you be giving your skin what fits it but you will also be supporting businesses that understand and prioritize the needs of Black consumers.
To help you make a wise choice, we’ve compiled a list of some Black-owned cosmetic brands that deserve a spot in your makeup bag.
Pat McGrath Labs
Pat McGrath, a self-made billionaire and veteran beauty visionary is one of the most influential makeup artists in demand. In 2015, she debuted Pat McGrath Labs, which quickly grew to become valued at $1 billion, and now offers an array of beautifully pigmented makeup. She has worked with Giorgio Armani, CoverGirl, and Max Factor, and has been painting the faces of high fashion models for over 25 years, so you can bet that her products are the real deal.
Her line has some of the most stunning packaging ever created. You can’t go wrong with any of her offerings, as every swipe of lipstick, eye shadow, and radiant blush is a guarantee for a gorgeous look. Her ultra-pigmented eyeshadow palettes are a must-have. The Mothership V Eyeshadow Palette-Bronze Seduction even won a beauty award, thanks to its 10 rich and easy-to-use pigmented shades. Pat McGrath Labs has the right lipstick for every mood, style, personality, and occasion.
Some of her best products include Pat McGrath Labs FetishEyes Long-wear Liquid Eye Shadow, Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation, and Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Concealer.
Photo Source: Pat McGrath Labs
UOMA Beauty
Founded by Nigerian-born Sharon Chuter, UOMA Beauty is all about creating a makeup range that celebrates Black beauty and culture. Uoma, which means “beautiful” in Igbo (one of the main Nigerian languages) is inspired by the rich ethnic diversity of Africa.
Chuter, a former LVMH executive and all-around beauty veteran, founded UOMA Beauty as an inclusive movement with 51 shades of foundation to cater to women of all skin colors. Each shade group (Dark Brown Skin, Brown Skin, Rich Tan Skin, Olive Skin, Fair Skin, and Very Fair Skin) is formulated specifically for the major concerns of that skin tone. In addition to its robust range of foundation, the brand also has concealer in 18 shades, eyeliner, eye shadows, a contour-and-highlight stick, lip gloss, and lipsticks that cater to a variety of skin tones and undertones to match.
Photo source: Facebook / UOMA Beauty
Don’t miss out on the brand’s Trippin Smooth Powder and Hydroblast Finishing Powder which leaves your complexion looking flawless. The mascara is another product you should have in your makeup bag. It was engineered with women of color’s unique lashes in mind.
BLK/OPL
The first time I heard about Black Opal was in 2005 during my sister’s wedding. She was on a quest for the perfect makeup that would match her skin tone and someone suggested this brand. Did it match up to the hype? It sure did and she did not regret her choice.
For over 25 years, this global brand has been dedicated to offering high-quality, high-performance beauty and skincare products specifically designed for women of color, especially Black women. It wasn’t Black-owned until 2019, when businesswomen and co-owners Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack took over as CEO and president, respectively.
Photo source: Instagram / blackopalbeauty
BLK/OPL knows a thing or two about matching skin tones, hiding blemishes, minimizing pores, and enhancing the glow, and this can be achieved with their foundation and concealers. The full-coverage creamy foundation sticks are one of the brand’s bestsellers and are suitable for all skin types. Customers also love the brand’s lippies and True Color Soft Velvet Finishing Powder.
You can supplement your existing routine by adding some of these affordable goodies to your makeup purse.
Ami Colé
In 2019, Senegalese-American beauty expert Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye founded Ami Colé, a clean beauty brand that specializes in creating makeup for melanin-rich skin. This relatively new Black-owned brand officially launched in May 2021, with three hero products including a skin tint, lip treatment oil, and a highlighter, and has shot to mainstay status with its now expansive line formulated for darker skin tones.
Photo source: Instagram / diarrhaxo and byamicole
The founder, who worked in the beauty industry at L’Oréal, Teen Vogue, and Glossier long before starting her brand, wanted to create something that prioritizes natural ingredients and tends to the undertones of even the deepest shades of brown. Her debut product, the Skin-Enhancing Tint, was immediately a crowd favorite. She also launched other products like the Skin-Enhancing Concealer, the Skin Melt Loose Powder, and the Lash-Amplifying Mascara, which won a 2022 Best of Beauty Award for best dramatic mascara. The lip treatment oil is one of the most popular products and is known for its cushiony texture that hydrates lips.
For those who want to glow from the inside out and want makeup that looks like skin, Ami Cole has just the thing for you. Customers who have tried it have testified that it met their expectations, noting that the products lived up to their hype.
The Lip Bar
Photo source: Instagram / The Lip Bar
After noticing the lack of options in the beauty market for women of color, especially Black women, Melissa Butler decided to take matters into her own hands. To change the beauty industry’s lack of diversity, inclusion, and use of chemicals, she started creating her vegan lipsticks from scratch in her Brooklyn kitchen in 2012. Despite being rejected on Shark Tank in 2016, Butler’s business flourished and the natural lipstick line brought in nearly half a million in 2018, according to Forbes.
The Lip Bar has over 20 nude lip products to choose from. The line has now moved beyond lipsticks and offers a mix of face, eye, and lip products. From serum foundation to face palette, brow pen, eyeliner, and mascara, these products help moms, entrepreneurs, and everyday women achieve a beautiful beat in no time. The serum foundation formula comes in 26 luminous shades, and is equipped with a built-in blending brush for easy application and, Hyaluronic Acid and Irish Sea Moss Extract, for plump and hydrated skin.
