A little over a decade ago, a buyer for a major retailer turned down board-certified dermatologist Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd's skin care brand because of its focus on darker skin tones. “They told me, ‘we don’t cater to that market,’“ said Woolery-Lloyd, who is also founder of skin care education platform Derm Friends. "They said they had no interest in any type of brands that focus on that demographic."
Since then, there has been progress. When Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty launched in 2017 with 40 shades of its Pro Filt'R foundation, the internet and beauty industry took note. The product line resulted in “The Fenty Effect,” wherein major beauty brands like Dior and CoverGirl began expanding their own range of shades and creating more inclusive formulas for darker complexions.
SKIP AHEAD Best products from Black-owned beauty brands | Black-owned beauty brands to shop
But there's also further to go. Black shoppers spent approximately $6.6 billion on beauty products in 2021 — that’s about 11% of total beauty spending in the U.S., according to a 2022 report by McKinsey & Company. And though Black consumers show an affinity and preference for Black beauty brands, only 4% to 7% of beauty brands carried by retail stores are Black-owned or Black-founded.
In general, "Black-owned businesses have more barriers to entry into the market, they need more resources, capital and education in order to create, produce and sustain their businesses and have longevity,” said Dr. Aleta Simmons, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Simmons Skin Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
But movements like the Fifteen Percent Pledge, created in 2020 so that companies across all industries commit at least 15% of their shelves to Black-owned businesses, are working to change that, with major companies like Sephora and Ulta Beauty signing on. The result has been positive for Black business owners, consumers and the beauty industry.
“I love that Black beauty brands have this very modern approach — they look young and fresh, whereas for years, brands made these old-fashioned products that have been around for decades that never changed because that was all that was available,” Woolery-Lloyd said.
To highlight notable Black-owned brands in the beauty space, we’ve rounded up a number recommended to us by beauty experts and dermatologists, as well as some of the brands' standout products.
Best products from Black-owned beauty brands in 2023
We consulted beauty experts about their favorite Black-owned beauty brands and compiled standout, highly rated products that we think you should know about. We also highlighted specific items our experts have used and recommended to us.
Founded in Detroit, The Lip Bar — one of Simmons’ recommendations — offers brightly colored lipsticks, liquid lips and matte stains designed to stay on for around 24 hours, according to the brand. Lip Bar also offers a Complexion Quiz to show you the best product shades for your skin tone, and Virtual Try-On of lipstick shades using your camera. The Lip Bar will be expanding into the skin care space on Feb. 10.
Mented Cosmetics capitalizes on the quest for the so-called “nude” lip color — which is different for everyone. Founders KJ Miller and Amanda Johnson designed their cosmetics with women of color in mind, and offer a variety of shades for darker skin tones. Woolery-Lloyd told us she’s a fan: It's “beautiful, well-targeted and feels very modern.”
The Complexion Bundle comes with a stick foundation, setting powder and bronzer in 16 shades. The formula is also vegan, hypoallergenic and paraben-free, according to the brand.
Both Woolery-Lloyd and Simmons are fans of hair care brand Girl+Hair, "a leader in the field of scalp health and fine-tuning the treatment of certain hair styles,” Woolery-Lloyd said. Its innovative dropper, for example, is designed with a needle-nosed tip that allows people with braids to effectively apply the product. The brand offers hair strengthening oils, curling gels and leave-in conditioners designed for people with protective hairstyles looking to maintain the health of their natural hair.
The brand’s Ultimate Braid Care Kit comes with an apple cider vinegar rinse that works to clear build up and repair damaged hair, a leave-in conditioner that delivers hydration and an oil balm with moisturizing emollients like shea butter, castor oil and olive oil.
Cashmere Nicole’s Beauty Bakerie is a charming brand, of which Simmons is a fan — she loves the Proof is in the Pudding eye shadow palette, which includes four matte and five shimmer eye shadows in neutral shades. Beauty Bakerie says the eye shadows are highly pigmented, buildable and the formula is vegan and paraben-free.
“If I have braids in my hair, I like to use Taliah Waajid product,” Simmons said. The brand’s Ditch the Itch serum is designed to care for hair underneath protective styles like weaves, braids and two-strand twists. It contains ingredients like bamboo, basil and peppermint to help soothe itching and dry scalp, and it can be applied directly on the irritated area to stop the itching, according to the brand.
Danessa Myricks Beauty is another favorite of Simmons, who said she likes the liquid eye shadows. There are "tons of colors that make your skin pop, whatever brown skin tone you are,” she said. The Colorfix liquid eye shadow line comes in four finishes: matte (available in both bright and nude colors), glossy, glitter and metallic. In addition to Colorfix, Danessa Myricks also offers high-impact liquid eye shadows and multi-chrome eye shadow flake toppers.
Katonya Breaux, founder and owner of UnSun Cosmetics, previously told us she created UnSun Cosmetics after finding sun damage on her own skin, but chemical sunscreens were irritating and mineral-based options were often too thick, white and pasty. "I had no success with finding tinted mineral sunscreens with shade options matching my skin tone," Breaux said. She said UnSun was created specifically for people with darker complexions who wanted that necessary protection from the sun.
The brand’s EVERYDAY Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen offers SPF 30 protection and is available in two shades: Light to Medium and Medium to Dark. UnSun Cosmetics says it has a smooth and silky formula that won’t leave a white residue.
Woolery-Lloyd mentioned BeautyStat as a great skin care brand for people of all complexions. Created by Ron Robinson — who worked in product development for major beauty brands like L’Oreal, Revlon and Clinique — BeautyStat launched its first and bestselling product, the Universal C Skin Refiner, in 2019. The serum contains 20% stable and pure vitamin C that doesn’t oxidize or turn brown, according to the brand. In addition to the vitamin C serum and its accompanying eye brightening treatment, BeautyStat also offers moisturizers, cleansers, face masks and chemical peels.
Sister Tribe Cosmetics’ lipstick in the shade Queen is Simmons go-to everyday lip product. “It’s moisturizing, and it's hard to find a good lipstick that feels like a lip balm,” she said. “I can leave it on all day and I don't feel like my lips are dry after a few hours.” Sister Tribe Cosmetics offers more than a dozen lipsticks and glosses that the brand says can compliment a variety of skin tones.
Camille Rose offers hair, skin and body care products that are made using natural and food-grade ingredients, according to the brand. Simmons said she loves the Aloe Whipped Butter Gel, which is formulated to provide moisture and a light styling hold and is made with natural ingredients like macadamia seed oil to prevent breakage, almond extracts that conditions the hair and aloe vera to promote hair growth and retain moisture, says Camille Rose.
Black-owned beauty brands to shop
We reached out to over 50 beauty brands across skin care and makeup to compile Black-owned beauty companies that we think are worth checking out. We also confirmed with each brand below that they’re at least 51% Black-owned, which is in-line with the Census Bureau's definition of a Black-owned business.
Black-owned beauty and skin-care brands
Black-owned hair-care brands
Meet our experts
At Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
FAQs
Nivea (German pronunciation: [niˈveːa] ( listen), stylized as NIVEA) is a German personal care brand that specializes in skin and body care. It is owned by the Hamburg-based company Beiersdorf Global AG.
What beauty brand makes the most money? ›
L'Oréal is the leading beauty products company with over $35 billion in global sales (Statista) L'Oréal remains the top player in the beauty industry, with nearly $11 billion more in sales than second-place Unilever.
Is Danessa Myricks black-owned? ›
Black-Owned Beauty Brands: Danessa Myricks, Fenty, Golde, KNC – The Hollywood Reporter.
Is Shea Moisture Black-Owned? ›
In recent years, we've seen the emergence of so many new Black-owned hair companies. Pioneers such as Shea Moisture and Carol's Daughter have been joined by Black-owned haircare companies like Pattern Beauty, Grace Eleyae and many more in offering an inclusive array of products catering to all hair types.
Why is Nivea making me black? ›
NIVEA Perfect & Radiant Lotion contains extracts of natural ingredients. If you have used products containing bleaching agents before the start of NIVEA Perfect & Radiant Lotion, the skin may appear as if it is getting darker because the bleaching has stopped.
Who owns CeraVe? ›
L'Oréal S.A. is a French cosmetic and personal care company and a leader in beauty product research and development and sales. The company owns 36 brands, including Maybelline, Garnier, NYX Professional Makeup, Redken, and CeraVe.
What race spends the most money on makeup? ›
Black women, in particular, spend an estimated $7.5 billion annually on beauty products, shelling out 80% more on cosmetics and twice as much on skin care as their non-Black counterparts. Yet, they've been grossly underserved by the cosmetics industry throughout history.
What beauty products are most in demand? ›
Face creams and moisturizers held the largest revenue share of over 40.0% in 2021 and are expected to maintain their lead over the forecast period. Face creams and moisturizers are among the most used items as these are frequently applied.
Who is the biggest beauty online retailer? ›
Sephora.com is the online shop with the highest eCommerce net sales that is selling products in the Beauty e-commerce market in the U.S., with a revenue of US$2,592 million in 2022 generated in the U.S., followed by ulta.com with US$2,059 million.
Is Fenty beauty Black owned? ›
Black-owned Beauty Brands: Fenty, Topicals, Pat McGrath, Briogeo, KNC – WWD.
16-Year-Old Makes History as Youngest Black Owner of Beauty Supply Store. Not many 16-year-olds can say that they have a successful business under their belts, let alone two. Yet, that's exactly what Paris Mckenzie is doing.
Who owns BLK lipstick? ›
Jacqe Gutierrez, CEO and Co-Founder of BLK Cosmetics
BLK is actually a reflection of Anne's beauty philosophy—that less is more, and that beauty should be made easy.
Is Cantu still Black owned? ›
Carol's Daughter and Cantu aren't actually black-owned, but these highly effective hair care brands are. While many of us are searching for ways to support black-owned businesses, you might be surprised to know that some fan-favorite brands, like Carol's Daughter and Cantu, aren't actually black-owned.
Is mizani Black owned? ›
Companies such as Mizani, Dr. Miracles, and Murray's Hair Pomade are actually white owned.
Is Mielle Black owned? ›
When the Black-owned hair care company Mielle Organics merged with Procter and Gamble Beauty earlier this year, it sparked discourse in Black communities about the potential ripple effects that come as Black-owned businesses gain increased attention and support.
What is the side effect of Nivea? ›
Serious side effects of Nivea
Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
What are the disadvantages of Nivea cream? ›
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects.
Which Nivea is for dark people? ›
Bronze Effect Nivea Body Lotion for medium dark skin provides day after day, for a still naturally tanned effect and intensively moisturises the skin for 24 hours.
Which is better CeraVe or Cetaphil? ›
CeraVe is the safer bet for anyone with dry or sensitive skin. It's the one I use most often. If you want something for normal, combination, or oily skin, Cetaphil is a better place to start.
Is CeraVe made in China? ›
CeraVe products are all made in the US. From here, they ship their products globally. Even though they sell their products in China, none of their products are manufactured in the country.
One brand that's hard to quit is CeraVe — a best-selling drugstore brand that gives the best results for your skin. Plus, celebrities like Blake Lively and Olivia Wilde swear by the products.
What race wears the least makeup? ›
Black women are the least likely to use makeup and skin-care products, Grant reported. That may be because they probably have the hardest time matching these products to their skin color and treatment needs.
What do African Americans buy the most? ›
Black households' annual expenditures averaged $36,149, which was 79.8 percent of their average income before taxes. The amount spent on housing ($13,530) consumed the biggest portion of annual expenditures, accounting for more than one-third of the total. This was followed by transportation ($5,946) and food ($5,825).
What state wears the most makeup? ›
New York is the most beauty-obsessed state in America, according to a new study carried out by StyleCraze. After examining Google Trends data, StyleCraze found that New Yorkers search terms like 'skincare', 'makeup' and 'hair care' significantly more than residents in other states.
What is the makeup trend in 2024? ›
Dopamine Brights
This trend continues through to 2024 as people are more willing to try out bolder and vivid tones. Near neons and ultra brights get a refresh with amplified gloss—gels, shimmers and shiny metallics lend an otherworldly take on this color trend.
What is missing in the beauty industry? ›
Chemical ridden products, vague ingredient labels, and hidden chemicals are three of the major problems with the beauty industry. All these problems stem from one major source: lack of regulation. Lack of regulation enables companies to put unsafe chemicals in products and vaguely label chemicals as “fragrances”.
What skincare ingredient is most searched? ›
Most popular skincare product ingredients globally 2022, by monthly searches. In 2022, coconut oil was the top searched skincare product ingredient, with an average of 43,000 monthly searches globally. The second most popular ingredient was vitamin E, which amassed about 31,000 searches per month that year.
What is the most popular beauty website? ›
Most Visited Beauty and Cosmetics Websites in United States
| Rank | Website | Rank Change |
|---|
| 1 | sephora.com | 1 |
| 2 | ulta.com | 1 |
| 3 | bathandbodyworks.com | = |
| 4 | byrdie.com | = |
1 more rowSephora, Ulta and Sally are the top three based on Cosmetify's assessment of social engagement. According to the Cosmetify Index, which ranks the world's biggest beauty brands based on their social engagement and following, Sephora, Ulta Beauty and Sally Beauty were the top three beauty retailers in 2022.
Who owns 50% of Fenty Beauty? ›
Fenty Beauty (stylized as FEИTY BEAUTY) is a cosmetics brand by Rihanna, that was launched on September 8, 2017.
Kinky-Curly is an OG Black-owned-hair care brand. Knot Today is known and loved for nourishing tresses while simplifying the detangling process.
Is Black Opal black Owned? ›
Under new owners Desirée Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack, Black Opal is launching at Ulta with new products, cleaning up formulations and aiming to be the go-to brand for women of color.
What was the first black makeup brand? ›
Created in 1973, Fashion Fair was the first national makeup brand that catered to women of color. The brand was founded by Chicago's famous Johnson Family, who published Ebony and Jet magazines and put on the Ebony Fashion Fair.
What was the first black owned brand at Sephora? ›
Lys Beauty: Meet the founder of the first Black-owned clean cosmetics brand sold at Sephora | Fortune.
Is Maybelline black owned? ›
White-owned brands like Maybelline and Pantene are finally realizing that black women exist.
What is the largest black-owned beauty brand? ›
Be blessed,” Butler celebrated in a recent TikTok. The HBCU grad and CEO of beauty brands The Lip Bar and Thread Beauty just announced that her makeup companies are taking up six feet of shelf space, making history as the biggest Black-owned makeup company in Target.
Is Lip Bar black-owned? ›
The Lip Bar is celebrating a milestone by becoming the largest Black-owned makeup brand sold at Target.
Who is the CEO of BLK Cosmetics? ›
JACQUELINE “JACQE” GUTIERREZ thought she was destined to be a corporate employee. Now, she sees that corporate experience gave her invaluable insights that helped her as the co-founder and chief executive officer of BLK Cosmetics.
Why people stop using Cantu? ›
This is because they have so many emollient ingredients that are not lightweight. Some of these ingredients can build up over time if you're not cleansing properly. If you're following the Curly Girl Method, then using Cantu products would lead to buildup over time because you're not using strong enough cleansers.
Why don't people like Cantu? ›
This is the most stated con for Cantu's products, i.e, that it contains alcohol. Alcohol in your hair products like hair sprays for women, gel, and creams can lead to dry hair that appears fried and lifeless. It also reacts with your hair which in long term has a damaging effect o your hair strands.
The website jmlstaging.wpengine.com is owned and operated by Universal Beauty Products, Inc. Jamaican Mango & Lime®. All information is managed and controlled by UNIVERSALBEAUTY at our offices in Glendale Heights, Illinois.
Is Shea Moisture Black Owned? ›
In recent years, we've seen the emergence of so many new Black-owned hair companies. Pioneers such as Shea Moisture and Carol's Daughter have been joined by Black-owned haircare companies like Pattern Beauty, Grace Eleyae and many more in offering an inclusive array of products catering to all hair types.
Who owns Lotta Body? ›
Pat Williams, master educator, Revlon Multicultural, the parent company of Lottabody, says, "Multi-textured hair is the new black." She continues, "71% of African-American adults in the U.S. wearing a natural hair style at least once in 2016, according to research firm Mintel.
What black hair products are not Black owned? ›
Non-Black Owned Hair Brands At A Glance:
- Shea Moisture (Black created, but not currently Black-owned)
- Cantu Beauty.
- As I Am (Owned by people of color)
- Jamaican Mango and Lime.
- Soft Sheen (Black created, but not currently Black owned)
- TCB Naturals (Owned by people of color)
- African Pride (Owned by people of color)
Though Camille Rose is one of the leading natural hair care brands, we're one of the few leading brands where a black woman still maintains 100% ownership, which is no easy feat in navigating a space that is heavily funded.
Is Aunt Jackie's still Black owned? ›
No, Aunt Jackie's isn't black owned – however there are three executive and senior roles that are filled by incredible black women and it's so good to see!
Is the owner of Carol's daughter Black? ›
Black-Owned. The 58-year-old opens up about how she started her beauty brand out of her kitchen in 1993, sold to L'Oreal in the face of backlash in 2014, and why she never entertained retirement after her business was acquired.
Which company owns Nivea products? ›
When Beiersdorf introduced its pioneering NIVEA Milk, the first “liquid cream” in 1963, it opened up a brand-new dimension of skin care.
What companies does Nivea own? ›
Our Brands
- NIVEA. Our most important brand has enjoyed over 100 years of success and is today one of the world's largest skin care brands. ...
- Eucerin. ...
- Hansaplast. ...
- La Prairie. ...
- CHANTECAILLE. ...
- Coppertone. ...
- STOP THE WATER WHILE USING ME! ...
- Labello.
Nivea is an iconic skin care brand from Germany.
Nivea Cream is one of the best creams for black skin. It has been in the market for a long time and has been tried and tested by many people. It has been proven to work on all types of skin including black skin.
What does Nivea stand for? ›
The “mother of all creams” was named for its white colour, and the word NIVEA is derived from the Latin word “nix, nivis” meaning snow.
Who owns the Eucerin brand? ›
Today, Beiersdorf is a global company with iconic brands — Coppertone, Aquaphor, Eucerin and NIVEA — focused on providing innovative, clinically-proven and safe skin and sun care solutions to more than 500 million consumers in over 200 countries — making people feel comfortable in their own skin.
Is Nivea FDA approved? ›
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns the public from purchasing and using the following unnotified cosmetic products: NIVEA® CRÈME SMOOTH BODY WASH SHEA BUTTER.
Are Eucerin and Nivea the same company? ›
Beiersdorf AG is a German multinational company that manufactures, retails personal-care products and pressure-sensitive adhesives headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. Its brands include Elastoplast, Eucerin (makers of Aquaphor), Labello, La Prairie, Nivea, Tesa SE (Tesa tape) and Coppertone.
Who is Nivea main competitor? ›
NIVEA's competitors include Johnson & Johnson, Henkel, L'Oréal, AmorePacific.
Is aquaphor and Eucerin owned by the same company? ›
Both brands are made from the same German-based company, Beiersdorf Inc. It's a global skin care company that also owns Nivea, Coppertone, and Labello. That being said, both Aquaphor and Eucerin vary in terms of customer reviews and customer service.
Why is American NIVEA different? ›
American Nivea ends in an ingredient called METHYLCHOLOROISOTHIALOZENE and METHYLISOTHIALINONE. It is somewhat shinier and thinner, and turns "soupy" in the middle. It leaves a luster on my skin even after being absorbed (the German cream is luster when applied, but matte once absorbed).
Is NIVEA 100% Natural? ›
Our formulas contain up to 99% naturally derived ingredients*.
Is NIVEA in America? ›
One of the reasons that the NIVEA that we sell on the Smallflower site is so popular is because many people think that German NIVEA is different than the NIVEA commonly sold in the US. American NIVEA is produced in a plant in Mexico and has a slightly different formulation than its European counterpart.
Top Face & Body Moisturizers
- Cerave AM Face Moisturizer.
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer.
- The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA.
- Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Cream for Face.
- Cerave Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum.
- Skinfix Barrier + Triple Lipid-peptide Lotion.
- Pond's Dark Spot Corrector B3 Moisturizer.
Retinoids. Another good treatment for African-American skin is the use of retinoids. Retinoids such as Tazorac, Differin and Retin-A are good choices for those who have multiple skin issues. Retinoids not only assist with hyperpigmentation, they also help clear acne and reduce minor wrinkles.
