The demand for cruelty-free and vegan beauty products is higher than ever before, and a growing number of skin-care, makeup, and hair-care brands are listening. Leading the charge to offer products that don’t test on animals or include animal-byproduct ingredients are Black-owned beauty brands, which are largely independent. We’ve rounded up seven of the very best to add to your collection.
Nude Sugar
R&B legend, Toni Braxton, has started her own vegan beauty brand, Nude Sugar. Sold exclusively at Ulta Beauty, the body care line includes nine introductory products including two body creams sold at $45 each, which features Nude Sugar’s signature scent of Peruvian lime, which includes orange blossom, creamy vanilla, tonka milk, honeyed musk, and golden amber. Both creams are also sold in a travel size for $18 each. “I’ve been trying to find something, particularly for my skin type, for women of color. It hasn’t been easy just finding that right potion or the right lotion or the right cream for your skin to make it luminous and supple” said Braxton in an interview with WWD. “I wanted to do something that represented me. I wanted something that I knew really worked.”
Jacq’s
Jacq’s founder and CEO Barbara Jacques is a cancer survivor who focuses on tropical ingredients, sourced locally in southern Florida to deliver pure and healing products, free from harmful synthetic ingredients. “When faced with adversity, nature led us to create Jacq’s,” says Jacques on their website. “Jacq’s is passionate about creating products that work for women of all ages, a myriad of skin types, and a multitude of concerns.” From revitalizing face toner and cleaners to their beta-acid acne treatment and probiotic face mask, all the vegan skincare products are made from the purest ingredients.
Dehiya Beauty
This brand was founded by Dr. Mia Chae Reddy, who, after living abroad and studying under a fourth-generation Moroccan herbalist, was inspired to launch a skincare brand celebrating global and timeless beauty traditions. Named for Queen Dehiya, one of the most powerful warriors in Northern Africa, Dr. Reddy established Dehiya Beauty—a luxurious, all-natural, vegan, and organic skincare line made in small batches. “We are champions of diverse & inclusive beauty; passionate about creating highly-effective, plant-based skincare,” the brand explains on their website. “Through the combination of modern skincare practices and time-honored beauty rituals, our goal is to uncomplicate skincare routines for women everywhere.”
Sacha Cosmetics
Although it may not be a skincare brand, Sacha Cosmetics is one of the few Black-owned makeup brands that are is 100% cruelty-free. This internationally known beauty brand began operations in 1979 in Trinidad and Tobago and has now expanded to 500 retail stores in 45 countries. They have products in nearly every category of makeup and in a multitude of shades to match every skin color. Sacha Cosmetics was the Official Cosmetics of the Miss Universe and Miss USA Pageants, and the founder Kama Maharaj was adjudged the “2017 Caribbean Entrepreneur of the Year”. The most popular product in the line is their world-famous Buttercup Powder, which solves the decades-old problem of darker women looking ashy in bright lighting and photos.
Foxie
Handmade by a vegan of over 12 years and hardcore musician Kayla Phillips, this brand was created as Phillips sought products that would ease her chronic pain after touring in bands. The products are all handmade by Phillips, who has since expanded into fragrances, home goods, and hair care. “I started in April of 2015 with bath bombs, soaps, skin, body and hair Care, and have continued to expand greatly in all 5 categories, as well as adding perfumes and home decor to the line,” says Phillips on the website. “My bath products aim to soothe aches and pains because I’m a part of the chronic illnesses community, and as a touring musician, you’d bet I take a lot of baths after a long tour run. I wanted products that did something, so Foxie Cosmetics was born through that reason!”
Kaike
Kaike calls itself a “fun, plant-based skin-care brand,” but it’s more than just plant-based — it’s vegan and cruelty-free. This brand’s founder Keli Smith first got the idea for the line while watching the movie “Good Hair” with Chris Rock, where she saw him melt a Coke can with a relaxer, which made her realize that in a similar way, her recurring migraines were likely triggered by the chemicals in the body products she used. Choose between moisturizing creams that work for both body and hair, detoxifying facial masks that double as scrubs, and hydrating chapsticks.
Joséphine Cosmetics
Another makeup brand on the list that’s 100% cruelty-free is Joséphine Cosmetics. Sholayide Otugalu’s passion for makeup first sparked at about age 13, and as she got older, she worked for established beauty brands and learned about the industry, gearing up in her goal to create a her own brand that was natural and chemical-free, yet still catered to those seeking luxury and glamour. She eventually started her own brand of luxury organic skincare and mineral makeup. “We believe beauty is measured not by society’s standards but by each individual,” says Otugalu. “Joséphine chooses to bottle authenticity in our ingredients with the simple use of natural oils & minerals.”
Source
Boitumelo Masihleho is a South African digital content creator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes University in Journalism and Media Studies and Politics and International Studies. She’s an experienced multimedia journalist who is committed to writing balanced, informative and interesting stories on a number of topics. Boitumelo has her own YouTube channel where she shares her love for affordable beauty and lifestyle content.
