Makeup 9e002

14 Black Women-Owned Beauty and Wellness Brands to Support Right Now (And Always)

by Aliza Pelto

In case you hadn’t heard, a ton of famous brands and companies are being exposed for sending millions of dollars to the GOP and Trump’s re-election campaign, and your favorite beauty brands are no different. Company board member and family heir of Estee Lauder, Ronald Lauder, was found to have donated hundreds of thousants of dollars to pro-Trump groups. It’s important to note that Estée Lauder is actually an umbrella company, so while some of these individual brands support Democratic causes, Estee Lauder still still runs the show. These companies include M.A.C Cosmetics, Too Faced, Bumble and bumble., Smashbox, and more. Estée Lauder has put out a statement calling for the removal of Lauder from the company board. “Ronald Lauder’s involvement with the Estée Lauder Companies is damaging to our corporate values, our relationship with the Black community, our relationship with this company’s Black employees, and this company’s legacy,” the letter stated.

Although Estee Lauder released this letter and pledged to donate $1 million to support Black communities (employees rightfully requested the donation figure be raised to $5 million), there isn’t a great reason to support big name buisnesses that donate money to organizations that don’t align with your values when there are so many better alternatives. Influencers and brands on Instagram, such as CoCo Kind, have begun to compile lists of beauty and wellness brands founded by Black women that we should all be supporting.

While singing petitions, donating to various organizations, calling your reps, and showing up to fight racial injustice is extremely important at this time, supporting BIPoC and Black women-owned businesses at this time — and moving forward — is extremely important to do, too. Here are just a few Black womxn-owned brands you should start supporting now if you aren’t already:

1. Hanahana Beauty

This all natural skincare brand, founded by Abena Boamah-Acheampong, is on a mission to disrupt the global beauty industry with transparency, sustainability, and accessibility.

2. Mielle Organics LLC

Monique Rodriguez, a registered nurse with a background in science and health, founded this growth and moisture-focused haircare brand which can be found online or at Sally, Target, Walgreens, and a number of other stores.

3. Briogeo Hair

Inspired by New York’s vibrant culture, Biogeo and founder Nancy Twine are serving clean and conscious hair care products, easily located online or at your local Sephora.

4. The Honey Pot Company

Honey Pot is made by people with vaginas for people with vaginas, what more reason to support do you need? Founder Bea Dixon is one of only 40 women of color to raise $1 million in venture capital. Let’s support Honey Pot and WoC-owned companies to keep that number rising. 

5. Pat McGrath Labs

 

 
 
 
 
 
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ROSE PERFECTION ⚡⚡⚡ @alexandra_anele devours her lids in the shimmering perfection of #MothershipVII: Divine Rose, Mother’s legendary creation–available for a limited time only. Prepare your gaze for major divinity. ⚡⚡⚡ Shop now at PATMcGRATH.COM. ⁣ ⁣ #PMGHowTo⁣ 一 Diffuse ‘VELOURIA’ eye shadow through the crease & along the lower lash line⁣ 一 Define the crease with ‘ROSE DUSK’ eye shadow & ‘LOVE LACE’ eye shadow⁣ 一 Apply PermaGel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil in ‘BLK COFFEE’ through the waterline⁣ 一 Highlight the inner corner with ‘IRIDESCENT PINK 003’ pigment⁣ 一 Apply FetishEYES Mascara & false lashes

A post shared by Pat McGrath (@patmcgrathreal) on

 

Pat McGrath’s collection of colorful matte lipsticks, eyeshadows, and more will excite any makeup enthusiast. Available in stores across the globe and also online.

6. Martous Naturals

 
 
 
 
 
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SELF CARE! . I had a special request for a self care package from one of my customers and being that I like to accommodate I created this customer order for them. I hope you enjoy @shanalovecoaching . #selfcare #selfcarefirst #selfcarematters #selfcareday #selfcareroutine #selfcaredaily #selfcarelove #selfcareisntselfish #selfcareisnotselfish #selfcareissacred #selfcareishealthcare #selfcaresis #selfcareeveryday #selfcarecoach #selfcarecommunity #selfcareposts #selfcareideas #selfcaretime #selfcarepost #selfcarechallenge #selfcarelover #selfcarefam #selfcareisimportant #selfcare101 #selfcareproducts #selfcareritual #selfcareobsessed #selfcareclub #selfcareformoms #selfcarejourney

A post shared by Natural soaps, lotions, & more (@martousnaturals) on

This family-owned company led by Diana Marcelin and located out of Atlanta, Georgia crafts beautiful, natural, handmade bar soaps and bath products that are a wonderful alternative to any big-name soap and lotion brands.

7. UOMA Beauty

Founded by Sharon Chuter and with core values like empowerment, inclusivity, beauty rebellion, African pride, self expression, and colorful living, UOMA creates exciting and fun face, lip, and eye products that every makeup lover would be obsessed with.

8. Golde

Golde has been supplying good vibes and wellness since 2017. Co-founded with her partner, CEO Trinity Mouzon Wofford is creating superfood-based skin products that can be found online as well as at Sephora stores.

9. nyakio

Available online and at Target, Nyakio Kamoche Grieco curates a collection of restorative oils, cleansers and moisturizers to help you nourish your skin.

10. Anita Grant

Anita Grant’s health and wellness company provides all-natural skin and body care, as well as all natural hair products for curls.

11. Oui The People

Founder and CEO Karen was inspired to create this thoughtful brand in order to change the way razors are marketed. OUI the People sells razors, ingrown hair products, and moisturizers to all people who need it.

12. OOO Polish

Don’t forget about the nail polish! Triple O Nail Polish, founded by Symantha Wechie-Onyechi, offers affordable, colorful nail polish sets that are an absolute must-have.

13. Mented Cosmetics

Founded by KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson, Mented Cosmetics creates stunning and perfectly pigmented makeup products to match your skin tone.

14. Hyper Skin

Desiree Verdejo of Hyper Skin creates nourishing skin care products that focus on hyperpigmentation and work to enhance glow.

15. Aba Love Apothecary

Certified aromatherapist Aba Gyepi-Garbrah values mindful beauty, the natural way. These oils, perfumes, and skincare products are holistic and hand-crafted.

16. Dame Beauty

 

 
 
 
 
 
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We had a wonderful time this Saturday in a Gangsta Gardener’s paradise at @ronfinleyproject #DaFUNction. It was our third year bringing plant derived #bodyscrubs to the community and it may have been one of our best years yet. It’s the biggest delight to welcome back old faces who are eager to build new blends + have brought a new friend or two and even more special to introduce the skin healing benefits of exfoliating to new women, men, and children alike. If you saw my stories you might’ve caught my mama running the exfoliants and holding the beauty bar down. She was the real MVP. Huge thank you @ronfinleyhq for creating an oasis in our concrete city and bringing us all together to #plantsomeshit and making me an in accomplice ? in real Gangsta functions. . . . . . . plantsomeshit #ronfinley #ingredientsmatter #exfoliate #greenbeauty #diy #madeinla #bathandbody #indiebeauty #glowup #organicbeauty #beautywellness #buildyourown #bodyscrubs #naturalbeauty #farmtoface #beautycommunity #plantbasedbeauty #dafunction19 #southcentralla #eventsinLA #damebody #naturalbeauty

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Sannae Hopson’s products include soaps, scrubs, face washes, ans serums, all made with well-researched, active, natural ingredients. Shop Dame’s products here.

Image via UOMA Beauty on YouTube

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