Black-Owned Beauty Brands

Black-owned cosmetics have come a long way since the days of your mother and grandmother’s cosmetic company, such as Fashion Fair, founded in 1973 by entrepreneur the late Eunice Johnson, a Black-owned company.

This company set the tone and remains one of the largest Cosmetic companies to date—another Black-owned cosmetic company by top model the late Naomi Sims launched in 1973.

Naomi had retired as a model and tried her hand at acting, which did not go as planned; she subsequently opened a beauty company after dabbling in the wig business. Model Iman decided to follow in the same footsteps when she launched Iman Cosmetics, and it was a success! Iman’s diverse color option catered to women of every age and nationality, her ability to choose the great colors, emollient lipsticks, and Egyptian-inspired hues that captivated us and took beauty to another level.

Rihannas’ Fenty cosmetics was also a force to reckoned with because she added excitement and youth to her line. Her subtle gloss and 40 foundations spoke volumes because it was missing in the cosmetic industry. Rihanna is where sexy meets sassy, and “Mother” Pat McGrath is where sophisticated meets Goddess! I love her ability to transform as a makeup artist, and she is pure perfection. It is such fresh air to see how dynamic the beauty world has evolved throughout the years, and I am so excited for all of the up-and-coming companies making a name for themselves in such a powerful way.

We have come a long way in the beauty business, and something tells me this is only the beginning. African Americans are owners of everything beauty from shampoo to body scrubs, and we are limited to cosmetics.

Trends are being set along the way by up-and-coming entrepreneurs of all ages; we can capitalize on a billion-dollar industry that Caucasians and others predominately owned. We spend more than 1.2 trillion on beauty products every year. As consumers, we look for unique and trendsetting items to buy, sort of the (next best thing) to keep us intrigued and wanting for more, and I think we should have a piece of the pie.

Beauty Bakerie

This 100% cruelty-free, vegan makeup brand founded by Cashmere Nicole

Lip Whip

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After debuting in 2015—and now selling at Sephora—makeup line Pat McGrath Labs

Try her: Mothership PaletteFlesh and 5 MatteTrance Lipsticks

Fenty Beauty

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty in 2017 when it offered 40 different shades of foundation

Stunna Lip Paint, and Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick,

The Lip Bar

Bawse lady

is the world’s best red lipstick, period.

Founder Melissa Butler started Lip Bar in 2012

AJ Crimson Beauty by Celebrity makeup artist

AJ Crimson Beauty

AJ CRIMSON BEAUTY Dual Skin Creme Foundation

B Simone Beauty

Diamond Lip Gloss

Mented Cosmetics

Skin by

Mented

Foundation

Lawofnaturecosmetics

Brow Wax Pomade,

and

Lip Lacquer