10 Black-Owned Brands You Need to Try
There is nothing more disappointing than hearing about a hot new makeup brand or skincare line and trying it out only to find out the color doesn’t show well on your skin or the formula doesn’t work well with your skin, or they just don’t have your color or a product for your skin at all… For many years the beauty industry only catered more toward women with paler skin tones, leaving women of color little to no options.
African-American’s not only in the beauty industry but across the board, have taken enormous strides in making sure people of color are not an afterthought. Brands like these have worked hard to make sure we are confident in our melanin skin. That is why we should continue to support these brands.
A+X Puzzles
Created by Amanda Wilson, A+X Puzzles depict black and brown children experiencing new and exciting things including Race Car driving, Exploring Space, and going to school. Amanda began sketching puzzle designs using her children as inspiration when she noticed a lack of diversity in other puzzles and games. A+X puzzles can be found on their website and on Amazon.
Ridefrsh
FRSH was founded in 2018 when the creators realized that the options for air fresheners in cars didn’t stretch far past the old-timey “pine trees”. They wanted to create a more stylish and convenient option for consumers. FRSH is an air freshener subscription service that allows you to receive 2 air freshers a month and never worry about keeping your car smelling fresh. For only $5 + shipping each month, you can choose between 10+ enticing scents or you can opt to get 2 random scents so you can try them all. The Peach and Strawberry Scents are my favorite. Try them out and ride around filling like a thousand bucks.
Oasis Soul
One of my favorite brands that I have recently discovered is Oasis Soul Scent Co. They have all the accessories to treat yourself to a day of self-care. You can find everything from candles to body products on their website. I have tried out the shower steamers, the body spray, the candles, and the body scrub and they did not disappoint. Owner, Lola Pyne, created the company to share self-care products that will “soothe the senses”. And they succeeded. Oasis Soul Scents have over 30 different scents but “Love Song” is by far my favorite. Give them a try and upgrade your self-care day.
Ginger & Liz/Ginger Beauty Lab
Nothing ruins a great look like having a banging outfit, face beat to the gods, hair is done perfectly…..then having chipped fingernail polish. Nobody wants that right. Ginger + Liz, also known as GInger beauty Lab, is a black-owned nail lacquer line. They feature long-lasting, chip-resistant polish that is vegan and toxin-free. They have everything from darker shades like black, purple, and forest green to the more vivid hot pinks and sky blues. And of course everything in between.
Mented
If there is one thing every woman should have in her makeup stash it’s a good nude lipstick. Mented is a nude lipstick line for women of color. Founders KJ Miller & Amanda Johnson decided one night, over a glass of wine, to end the time-consuming battle for W.O.C to find the perfect nude lipstick. Their lipstick and lip glosses are non-toxic, vegan, & paraben free and are the perfect shades to complement darker skin tones. The also have highlighters, stick foundation, and a very cute eyeshadow palettes.
Lyrically Correct
Lyrically Correct is a music trivia card game that tests how well you know the lyrics to some of the hottest songs. This card game can be found on Amazon or Target. They have a collection of different editions including 80’s mixtape, Gospel, Oldies but Goodies, and my personal favorite, 90’s & 2000’s Hip Hop and R&B. Get a team of 2 or more players and go head-to-head to see who can finish the most lyrics. And make sure you have or microphone ready because it can very quickly turn into karaoke.
Urban Hydration
Urban Hydration was created by new mom and dad, Psyche and Vontoba Terry, who wanted to create natural products for their family. They partnered with the nonprofit WATERisLIFE to give a gallon of water to families in need with every product purchased. They have collections of different products including hair care, skin care, and Bath products. I currently use and love their Moisturizers, Shampoos, & Conditioners. You can also find these products at your local Target.
The Lip Bar
There is no better come up than being rejected on Shark Tank and now being in thousands of stores across the USA. That is the story behind Melissa Butler and the Lip Bar Brand. The Lip Bar started by focusing on more of the vibrant colors of lipsticks instead of the nude shades that most black women are forced to wear. Now, the Lip Bar features Vegan, Non-Toxic Lip and Face Products for women of color including Lipsticks, Blushes, Tinted Moisturizers, and Concealers.
Elle Olivia
Only in the last couple of years have young black girls been able to see themselves depicted in clothing. But now one of the people we can thank is the founder of Elle Olivia, Marty McDonald. She designed clothing for little girls to see themselves as strong, powerful & confident from a young age. They are made with organic bamboo fabric with stylish designs and uplifting messages for young girls to embrace their uniqueness. If you have little girls, this is a must-have for uplifting your little princesses.
Cocotique
If you want to try and support numerous Black Brands, try Cocotique. Founder Dana Hill founded Cocotique when she couldn’t find products made for our skin and hair. Cocotique helps you discover the best products with healthy ingredients and gives you an affordable way to treat yourself. Cocotiques’s Monthly box sends you 5 – 8 travel and full-size beauty products for you to try and fall in love with. You can choose 3, 6, or 12-month subscriptions or order boxes and products la carte. This is a great way to discover and try new products without breaking the bank.
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With up-and-coming black-owned brands like these, we moving towards becoming more inclusive in more ways than one. More and more are we able to see ourselves in different aspects including more beauty choices and toys and products that show our faces and lives in an inspirational way. We you slowly having some of the best products in the industry. And remember, we don’t just support Black-Owned brands in February. This is a 24/7/365 practice that we must take on. So I will be dedicating at least one post a month to highlighting Black entrepreneurs, Artists, Authors, etc. Be sure to check them out. Also, check out my Styles for Black Women Pinterest page for more brands and products to support. Let me know what Black-Owned Brands you love. Let me know in the comments.
