Four Beauty and Skincare Brands Created By and For People of Color
The beauty and skincare industry has long underserved people of color. However, there has been an expansion of inclusivity and diversity in the industry. This positive and powerful movement has caused a rise in the number of black owned brands. From celebrity owned brands to small businesses, there are many great beauty brands that are taking the beauty world by storm.
IMAGE COURTESY OF ABSOLUTEJOI
Finding good skincare that actually works for you can be a long and difficult process. Black owned skincare company, AbsoluteJOI, provides quality, simple products that can treat a variety of concerns. The brand was created by Dr. Anne Beal, a medical researcher, who saw a need for clean and effective skincare. AbsoluteJOI focuses on the health of your skin, so rather than hopping on the latest skincare trend, it helps address skin issues from the source. By reducing inflammation and damage, these products can help prevent hyperpigmentation, signs of aging, and other common concerns for skin of color. These products are free from fragrances, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and skin bleach; they use just simple, clean ingredients that work great for sensitive skin.
COURTESY OF ELEVEN BY VENUS
Pro tennis player, Venus Williams has even dipped her feet into the world of skincare with her brand EleVen by Venus Williams. Her line of products focuses on sun care and protection, and they are also packed with hydrating, soothing, and calming ingredients for your skin. As someone who spends lots of time training and playing in the sun, Venus Williams must know the importance of protecting her skin for the sun. The Unrivaled Sun Serum is a mineral sunscreen that pairs well with a moisturizer and can even be used as a makeup primer while providing much needed protection from the sun. As a transparent serum, it leaves no white cast making it perfect for all skin tones. She also has included lip balm with SPF 15 with a few tinted red and pink shades. When thinking about sun protection, you often forget about your lips, but they need protection too! This lip balm will provide you with much needed sun protection and as a bonus a bright pop of color.
COURTESY OF UOMA BEAUTY
The beauty of makeup is that there is no right or wrong way to wear it, and Uoma Beauty offers bold and beautiful colors to play around with. The brand was founded by Sharon Chuter and is inspired by her African heritage. As an inclusive brand, Uoma offers 51 shades of its Say What?! Foundation that is individually formulated for common concerns of each skin tone. They also have a variety of contour sticks for people of all skin tones to find their perfect match. The Black Magic Collection is filled with jaw-droppingly gorgeous colors and beautiful sparkles and shine. If you’re a beauty guru, or someone who wants to have more fun with makeup, Uoma is an amazing brand to try out.
COURTESY OF MENTED COSMETICS
Mented Cosmetics, short for pigmented, is made for anyone, but is specifically focused on women of color. The brand was created by two black women, KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson, who wanted everyone to be able to find the right shade that worked for their individual complexion. Nude is not just one color, it’s a range of colors that work with a range of skin tones, and Mented allows everyone no matter their skin tone to find their perfect classic nude color. The vegan, non-toxic, and cruelty-free brand offers an incredibly versatile product, Skin by Mented, which can be used as a buildable, lightweight foundation, concealer, or contour stick. What more could you ask for in a beauty product?
Beauty of all kinds and all skin colors should be celebrated. People of color, especially, should be able to find the beauty products that match their needs, which is why these black owned brands are amazing brands to support.