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There’s no doubt about it: The last few years have ushered in a whole new standard of diversity and inclusivity within the beauty industry in what many call the Fenty effect. Rihanna’s first baby, Fenty Beauty, pushed the boundaries of inclusivity in makeup, sparking a wave of Black-owned beauty brands that are dominating the hair care, skin care, and personal products space. Game changers like Tracee Ellis Ross's hair care line, Pattern Beauty, and Topicals, Gen Z’s favorite skin care line, are among the few whose products you’ll want to keep on steady rotation. Legacy brands are growing, while new indie names are popping up, expanding their product offerings (and finding new ones) to accommodate women of color and Black women in particular.
We love the industry wide growth but it’s important to remember that Black folks provided for their communities long before mega-retailers and their accelerator programs came along—and continue to do so to this very day. More Black-owned beauty brands than ever before are taking on a niche, addressing the specific needs of women of color at a scale beyond makeup. They're crafting products and formulas for luxury fragrances, body care, hair removal, hygiene products, and sunscreen too. Ahead are 36 to keep on rotation.
Thirteen Lune
Thirteen Lune is a treasure trove of Black-and-brown-owned brands to discover, and the site serves as a one-stop shop for skin, hair, and makeup essentials you may not find elsewhere. With allyship at the center of the company, Thirteen Lune celebrates beauty and community with its dynamic team of industry experts, promoting luxurious and efficacious BIPOC products. The company is gearing up for its first brick-and-mortar in Los Angeles, following the launch of its first in-house brand, Relevant: Your Skin Seen. Created for all skin tones and types, Relevant is the brainchild of cofounder Nyakio Grieco, with the goal of championing inclusivity for all in the world of beauty.
Uoma Beauty
Uoma Beauty, founded by industry veteran Sharon Chuter, is all about creating a makeup range that is “forward-thinking, radical, and uncompromising.” The range, inspired by Chuter’s African heritage, is fun, vibrant, and inclusive for every skin tone out there. Not only does its full-coverage Say What?! Foundation come in 51 shades, but 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. Don’t sleep on the brand’s mascara, either, which was engineered with women of color’s unique lashes in mind.
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Pat McGrath Labs
We would expect nothing less than pure opulence and fantasy from Pat McGrath, one of the most influential makeup artists in the world (and a true self-made billionaire). Pat McGrath Labs is where stunning packaging and editorial finishes meet high-coverage formulas that truly deliver. While the shimmering eye shadow palettes are worth the splurge, the brand’s more everyday complexion blush offerings and trademark lip products are equally impressive like the smudge-proof red that Taylor Swift keeps in rotation.
Ami Colé
It's hard to believe that Ami Colé, founded by Senegalese American Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye in 2018, is a newcomer to the beauty space. Having started with just a skin tint, highlighter, and lip oil, Ami Colé has shot to mainstay status with its now expansive line formulated for melanin-rich skin. Check out its newer key categories like mascara and concealer, which come in sheer hues and clean formulas for the ultimate no-makeup makeup look.
KNC Beauty
The brand behind Instagram’s favorite all-natural collagen-infused lip mask—and newly added retinol-infused eye mask—is brought to you by the multihyphenate (beauty columnist, designer, entrepreneur) Kristen Noel Crawley. The brand is stocked at luxe beauty destinations like Net-a-Porter and Violet Grey, and it's no wonder: The line will keep your lips and skin soft and plump and, as a bonus, make for a pretty delightful selfie.
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Pattern Beauty
Actor and hair icon Tracee Ellis Ross gave the girls just what they needed: a hair-care line dedicated to embracing your natural texture and meeting your curl pattern where it’s at. Leave tips to tame, control, or stifle your hair at the door, because Ross’s collection of styling and wash-day essentials is all about letting your curls be free in all their gorgeous (and healthy!) glory.
Mented Cosmetics
Mented (its name is short for pigmented) understands that nude means more than beige and is here to help you find the perfect nude for your lips. Since launching its incredibly creamy and pigmented lipsticks, the brand expanded to include brow pencils, foundation, and blushes. Although the brand caters to a range of skin tones, Mented promises to put women of color first, and it shows.
Oui the People
From a candle that lets you burn the patriarchy (literally) to a bikini sheet mask and PHA toner for ingrown-hair relief, Oui the People (founded by Karen Young) makes a range of self-care products for a smooth, serene transition into spring—and the chic bath and shaving products are just asking to be photographed.
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Briogeo
Founder Nancy Twine was fed up with all the big-name natural hair-care brands on the market, so she quit her finance brand and started Briogeo in her kitchen. Inspired by food-grade ingredients and her grandma’s homemade recipes, the brand aims to treat your hair how you treat your skin with nourishing, detoxifying, and protective ingredients. The Scalp Revival Scrub has a cult following, or try the Curl Charisma Defining Créme for weightless hydration.
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Hyper Skin
Struggling to fade stubborn dark spots? When Desiree Verdejo couldn’t find a skin care line dedicated to combating hyperpigmentation after a bad hormonal acne outbreak, she set out to create one, and Hyper Skin was born. Its debut product, Hyper Clear Brightening Clearing Vitamin C Serum, has hundreds of reviews and plenty of customer before-and-afters that put the hardworking serum’s powers on full display.
Mielle
Ask around for the most effective natural hair-care products, and Mielle Organics will likely come up. Created and formulated by registered nurse Monique Rodriguez, the brand is sold in hundreds of retailers around the US. Its Babassu Oil Mint Deep Conditioner is a fan favorite (seriously—the site reviews are glowing) for its cooling mint properties on irritated scalps, the moisturizing strength it provides, and the fact that it’s made with certified organic ingredients.
Topicals
Founded by two Gen Z women of color, Topicals has a huge fan base among the younger crowd—and a refreshingly edited selection of beauty products that cater to specific needs. There are four products total in the line: a dark-spot corrector, a nourishing mask, a hydrating mist, and the latest drop, an ingrown hair toner.
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Black Girl Sunscreen
Sunscreen has long left Black women out of the conversation, with chalky-white tones that left a telltale cast on skin. Enter Black Girl Sunscreen, which set out to create SPF formulas without the typical drawbacks. Sheer, lightweight, and actually nice to use, the brand has made daily sunscreen use—dare we say it?—easy.
Eadem
Calling all minimalists: Eadem is known for its singular product, which incidentally keeps selling out. Powered by niacinamide and vitamin C and intended to even out discoloration—which disproportionately affects women of color—the formula made quick work of acne scars for one Glamour writer too.
TGIN
Thank God It’s Natural (a.k.a. TGIN) was first founded by Chris-Tia Donaldson in 2009 in the early days of the natural hair movement when there were slim pickings of textured hair care. Today you can find TGIN’s hair masks and deep conditioners in Ulta, Target, Walmart, and more. The hair care line is all about healing your curls through natural ingredients like shea butter, biotin, and a handful of oils like jojoba and coconut.
54 Thrones
Named for the 54 countries in Africa, 54 Thrones got its start with an edited line of luxurious body butters, blended with botanical oils and shea butter sourced from Ghana, Uganda, Egypt, and other African countries. Better yet, they're available in a range of refreshing scents too—good luck trying to decide on just one.
Danessa Myricks Beauty
You know a makeup artist's line is really good when other makeup artists can't stop talking about it—and that's been the case with Danessa Myricks's makeup collection. Her Colorfix Eye, Cheek, and Lip Cream Pigment (which, as the name implies, can be applied pretty much everywhere) is what made her a household name and eventually put the brand on Sephora's shelves.
BeautyStat
Created by cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson—the brains behind countless skin care products for big-time brands—this line is all about no-frills, results-driven formulations. It's best known for its initial product, the Universal C Skin Refiner, which contains an encapsulated (and thus super-stable) form of vitamin C.
Bread Beauty Supply
If you're embracing your natural texture, you'll want to add Bread Beauty Supply to your hair-care lineup. The brand is on a mission to simplify wash day, with delicious-smelling formulas for your best curls yet. Bread Beauty Supply initially launched in 2020 with a trio of products (hair wash, mask, and oil)—and has since expanded to offer scalp treatments and an adorable giant silk scrunchie.
Melanin Haircare
Sisters Whitney White and Taffeta White founded Melanin Haircare in 2015, and in the near decade since its launch, the hair care brand has become a staple for many. Their multiuse softening conditioner is a particular favorite among naturalistas for its moisture-rich formula that repairs and reduces damage.
Rose Ingleton, MD
When board-certified dermatologist Rose Ingleton, MD, isn’t treating patients, she’s dreaming up new ideas for her skin care line, which is packed with active ingredients and botanical extracts sourced from her native Jamaica. You can find her namesake line carried in Violet Grey and Sephora—no small feat for a relatively new brand.
Shani Darden
As a celebrity esthetician, Shani Darden had the industry know-how to start her line, which, no surprise, is beloved by her many clients. (Kelly Rowland said that Retinol Reform, Darden's hero product, changed her life.) Now with a cleanser, essence, eye cream, and moisturizer to round out the mix, her formulations can be found at Violet Grey, Sephora, and Net-a-Porter—pretty much the trifecta of luxury retail.
Afropick
Whether you have a curly shag or a ’fro, a great pick can do wonders when refreshing your look and keeping the volume popping. The Walker Boys of Afropick launched decorative salon-grade picks that stand out from the rest, with designs spanning traditional African prints and ’80s-inspired graphics—all of which will look great perched on your countertop.
Cay Skin by Winnie Harlow
Winnie Harlow sought out to make sunscreen more melanin-friendly after a sun tan went wrong, and—boom—Cay Skin was born. The sun-care line has an SPF 50 body mist, UVA/UVB hydrating lip balms, dewy lip masks, and more to protect deep and dark skin tones from sun exposure. All products are packed with gentle derm-approved ingredients like niacinamide and sea moss, and packaged sustainably to treat your skin the best way possible without compromising the earth.
Epara
Founder Ozohu Adoh first created the UK-based line in 2017 to treat a skin-care concern for herself after not being able to find any top-tier products that would work. It now has 10 products focusing on two major concerns for women of color: hydration and dissolving pigmentation. With Epara's collection now available in the US, treat yourself to its best-selling and ultra-hydrating Comforting Body Cream.
The Lip Bar
Melissa Butler left the world of finance to start The Lip Bar, a vegan, cruelty-free beauty brand, out of her kitchen in 2012. Today? You can find the brand in more than 400 Target locations, with a wide selection of gorgeous nondrying lipstick, lip gloss, and matte liquid formulas. Or buy online—the company’s website makes it easy to browse by skin tone, from fair tones to the deepest complexions.
Beauty Bakerie
Chances are you’ve seen Beauty Bakerie’s Lip Whip liquid lipsticks on your Instagram feed. The lipsticks’ ability to stand up to smudging of any kind put the brand, and founder Cashmere Nicole, on the map back in 2014, and since then her baked-goods-inspired brand has been praised by everyone from Cardi B to Gabby Douglas. The brand made headlines again in 2018 for numbering its foundations and powder from darkest to lightest (Glossier followed its lead), but all of the products are just as cute as they are pigmented.
The Honey Pot
Joining the (small) ranks of today’s revolutionized vaginal-health-care brands, The Honey Pot offers a range of products made to cleanse, protect, and balance. Its products are 100% natural, made only with ingredients from the earth. As a feel-good bonus, the brand has a number of ongoing social impact programs that give back 2% of its annual sales.
Buttah
It’s time melanin-rich skin got the attention it deserves, and Buttah is here to give it. Founded in 2018, the skin care brand set out to unite nature and science to develop rich creams, serums, masks, and more that will leave your skin nurtured and glowing. Customize your own skin kit to address your unique needs, and let these formulas work their magic.
Ourside
Ourside was founded by Keta Burke-Williams after she realized there was a major gap in the market for a Black-owned luxury fragrance brand. The company is built upon the idea of a scent's ability to transport you—even to a place you've never been. Ourside is one of eight BIPOC brands included in the MUSE Accelerator program at Ulta Beauty, and you can shop all three of its dreamy unisex fragrances in the below kit.
BLK + GRN
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a marketplace made with the purpose of discovering and supporting Black women artisans in the beauty and wellness space? Professor Kristian Henderson thought so, so she founded BLK + GRN. Launched just last year, the e-commerce site stocks an impressive lineup of natural products across multiple categories—from hair and skin to wellness and home—all crafted to meet the specific needs of Black women. Log on, and you’re guaranteed to add dozens of new brands to your radar.
TPH by Taraji P Henson
For the girlies who struggle with cleansing their braids and weaves, might we suggest TPH by Taraji? Taraji P. Henson's hair care line focuses on scalp care for protective styles like braids, twists, and locs, though their products work for every hair type and texture. The brand’s breakthrough product is its scalp treatments, which feature a tri-touch applicator that applies the conditioner directly onto your scalp. Pretty neat, eh?
Curls
Twenty-two years old and Curls still has a grip on the natural hair community. Its Blueberry Bliss collection is a particular favorite of many including Glamour freelancer Melanie Curry. “I use the Curls blueberry bliss leave-in after taking down a protective style because my 4a curls are so brittle after wearing braids or weaves,” she says. “It’s so rich in hydration that my dry-prone hair won’t need moisture until five days later.”
Sugardoh
Ditch the razors and use TikTok’s favorite hair-removal brand Sugardoh. Founded by Aliyah Marandiz, it has revolutionized DIY waxing with their sugaring kit that comes with a sugar paste, applicator, body powder, and soothing gel. Sugaring has never been easier or kinder on your skin with this all-natural and eco-friendly sugar paste.
On a Mission by Ciara
There is no shortage of celebrity skin care lines, but On a Mission by Ciara (OAM) is worth a try, especially if you’re concerned about hyperpigmentation and dark circles. OAM specifically focuses on brightening. All its products contain different forms of vitamin C to boost collagen production and reduce dark spots. Don’t just take our word for it—the reviews including a Glamour freelancer say the vitamin C serum is a must-buy if you want radiant and glowy skin.
BLK/OPL
BLK/OPL has been making affordable makeup products for deep skin tones for nearly 30 years. They're known best for their foundation stick, a go-to foundation (or contour) popular among for Gen Z and millennials. But while the foundation stick is its household item, don’t sleep on the brand’s lippies or setting powders.
