Historically African Americans have had limited choices when it comes to makeup and cosmetics. Despite spending trillions of dollars a year on these products, major corporate brands have neglected this market. But things are changing. Now black entrepreneurs are seizing the opportunity. Black owned makeup brands catering to more richly pigmented skin are now disrupting the beauty industry. The following are some of the brands, legacy and new, featured in the ground-breaking docuseries, The Black Beauty Effect, which chronicles the evolution, revolution, and disruption African Americans are creating in the beauty industry. We at www.findablackdoctor.com are proud that the dermatologist interviewed were from our community- our founder. New York City dermatologist Dr. Dina Strachan and New Jersey dermatologist Dr. Jeanine Downie.
Shop these black owned makeup brands here
Black owned make up brands:
TLB formerly known as The Lip Bar
Vegan and cruelty-free, TLB (The Lip Bar) exemplifies the saying that rejection is protection and redirection! After a savage response on Shark Tank, the women of color founders of The Lip Bar quick found themselves heading in the direction of massive success. Huge contracts with Target and capital investors, TLB offers easy to use makeup to create bold looks on richly pigmented skin.
Ami Colé
Ami Colé is a Senegalese inspired brand, born in New York City, designed to celebrate deeply melanated skin. Non-toxic formulations packed with ingredients like baobab seed extract this brand nods at the motherland as it provides options to celebrate and serve black beauty globally.
Mented Cosmetics
This vegan, cruelty-free black owned makeup brand was inspired by solving the problem that there wasn’t nude lipstick for all. This full makeup line has now expanded beyond lipstick to include foundation, eye shadow palettes, and more.
Black Opal
It may surprise some that Black Opal was not originally a black owned makeup brand. This legacy brands was launched in 1994 was not black founded–but was certainly black inspired. Black Opal was created by a chemist of Greek ancestry who wanted to provide better makeup options for his Jamaican wife. In a recent acquisition, black women now own the brand. Its staying power has been it’s quality and attention to the wants of newer generations.
Fashion Fair
Named for the traveling fashion show, Ebony Fashion Fair, the 1970s brand has stood the test of time. It was one of the first to offer department store quality make up to women with darker skin.
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links.
