Some of the Best Beauty Brands for People of Colour
Looking for beauty brands that will actually make you look and feel good? When it comes to inclusivity, it is fair to say the beauty industry does not have a great track record. But thankfully, progress is being made. While mainstream beauty brands like MAC, Bobbi Brown and Lancome have made concerted efforts to widen their shade ranges, we are also seeing much black-owned hair care, cosmetic and skincare brands making their mark on the industry. Here are 5 of our favourite beauty brands we recommend you check out!
Charlotte Mensah
If beauty is your bag, you have probably already heard of British haircare legend, Charlotte Mensa. Based in London, Mensa is the three-time winner of ‘Afro Hairdresser of the Year’ and the first black woman to be inducted into the British Hairdresser Awards Hall of Fame. The queen of afro hair and curly textures, Mensah is the go-to stylist for A-listers such as Jada Pinkett-Smith, Erykah Badu and Janelle Monáe.
Thankfully for us, Mensah has channelled her 26 years of haircare expertise into a luxury range of Manketti Oil products – with stunning results.
Charlotte Mensah’s haircare range uses a unique combination of organically, ethically and sustainably sourced Manketti Nut and Ximena oils to naturally nourish and strengthen afro hair. Specifically designed to tame frizz-prone curls, repair damaged ends and replenish lost moisture, this multipurpose oil makes your hair feel healthier, stronger and more beautiful than ever. If your hair needs a pick-me-up, this wonder oil is the product you’ve been looking for!
Epara Skincare
Based in the UK, Epara is a luxury skincare brand that caters to the specific needs of women of colour.
Formulated with African botanical ingredients, Epara’s high-quality, scientifically-proven products are specially designed to target hyperpigmentation, even skin tone and hydrate dry skin.
This premium beauty brand’s founder is Ozohu Adoh – a Nigerian-born entrepreneur with a passion for natural skincare. For years, Adoh suffered from painful follicular eczema and searched tirelessly for a product that could improve and soothe her condition. When existing products and treatments left her disappointed, she decided to develop her own formula using organic African botanicals. From this, Epara was born.
Today, Epara offers a range of all-natural products, from nourishing serums and face oils to ultra-hydrating lotions, face masks and body creams. Rich in precious botanicals, essential oils and plant extracts, this gorgeous, black-owned skincare range is one to keep on your radar.
Kawaii Adornments
Marie stocks hair adornments, earrings and necklaces, and everything is lovingly designed and handmade by herself in the UK. She runs her independent business from her studio in London, where she specialises in crafting unique hair adornments for dreadlocks and braids, including ultra tiny ones. Her charming adornments are suitable for Microlocs and Sisterlocks ™ size locs, but can be worn by anyone. Find your charm here
Starest
After discovering the harmful effects of chemicals often used in beauty products, Esther Julius set out to create her own ethically-sourced organic skincare range.
And the lightweight Starest Revive Hair & Scalp Oil is enriched with 17 herbs and essential oils that are packed with vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients to stimulate stronger, faster hair growth (£19.99).
Find Starest in the pan-African business directory.
Arami Essentials
Eden’s Elixir is what you’ve been waiting for. Balancing Rose Water Toner for Face & Neck which contains rosewater to hydrate dry skin, white willow bark extract to clear clogged pores and aloe vera extract to soothe inflammation, all working together to bring your skin back to its natural equilibrium. Available in mini (100ml) & regular (250ml) sizes.
TWOK
TWOK is a London-based, cosmetics brand on a mission to deliver inclusive, trendy, safe and innovative products to people of colour. An acronym of ‘The Women of Kolor’, TWOK believe that everyone should have convenient access to awesome beauty products, ‘regardless of their skin tone, ethnicity, shade, colour or texture’. From vibrant, high-impact pigments to foundation shades that actually match, TWOK is a beauty brand that boasts a range of cosmetics designed to celebrate and accentuate the beauty of black, honey and olive skin tones.
For those blessed with ultra-dark skin, TWOK’s Dark Matter High-Performance Liquid Eyeliner is a must-try. This inky black, ultra-pigmented liner dries quickly and stays put – for a dramatic statement look that lasts all night long.
Pillbox Cosmetics
Ever struggled to find a nail polish shade that perfectly matches your clothes and accessories? Now the search is over, thanks to Pillbox Cosmetics’ Custom Colour Service. The first of its kind in the UK, this online service can create any shade under the sun. Simply send them a picture of your dream hue, choose from three floral scents and voila! You have a beautiful, gorgeous-smelling nail polish that is as unique as you are.
The creation ‘colour-crazy’ British sisters Afua and Nana Ohene-Darkoh, Pillbox Cosmetics is a beauty brand that is all about celebrating individuality. In addition to their customised service, the brand has a fabulous range of handmade prêt-à-porter nail lacquers – from vibrant summer shades to sweet, creamy pastels. All of Pillbox Cosmetics’ polishes are vegan, toxin-free and cruelty-free, so you can rock funky nails safely and ethically. What’s not to love?
Lovemeafrohair
Lovemeafrohair stock tons of natural haircare products for kinky, curly and coily hair types, so if your locks are in need of some TLC, look no further.
Their African print batik satin headwraps are great accessories for everyday-wear as well as special occasions by locking moisture into the hair with a backed lining (£12 excluding shipping). Available in large adult size (180cm x 55cm).
Find Lovemeafrohair in the pan-African business directory
Earth to Earth Organics
Earth to Earth Organic’s motto is ‘healthy, happy skin for you and the planet,’ and you’ll certainly be happy with their handmade Magic Body Butter.
It’s great for helping to soothe sensitive skin issues such as eczema or dehydrated skin, as well as being cruelty-free, eco-friendly and vegan (prices range from £11.99 to £35).
Find Earth to Earth Organics in the pan-African business directory.
Emolyne
Emolyne is a black-owned beauty brand that specialises in providing inclusive lipsticks, lip liners and nail lacquers. Each product is available in 30 red and nude shades that have been carefully designed to cater to all skin shades and undertones, with plenty of options for honey, olive and deep tones. The best part is, once you discover your perfect lipstick, you can instantly find the exact shade of nail polish to matchmaking coordinating your look a doddle!
Ugandan-born and London-based Emolyne Ramlow created the brand after struggling for years to find lip and nail shades that matched each other and complimented her complexion. The brand’s diverse colour range is a homage to Emolyne’s Africa roots, with each shade named after an African country, city or landmark.
The products themselves are gorgeous. The long-lasting lip colour glides on smoothly for a velvety, semi-matte finish, while the high-gloss polish creates a perfect gel-effect in minutes. Emolyne are new to the beauty scene and definitely one to watch!
Shea Desire
Available in four gorgeous scents, Shea Desire’s Natural Body Butter made of Shea butter, almond oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil and vitamin E oil will have you feeling sensual all day.
Long-lasting and luxurious using natural vegan ingredients, only a small amount is required for your skin to feel hydrated and soft. Available in two sizes (£14.99 for 165g, £27.99 for 385g).
Find Shea Desire in the pan-African business directory.
Ghana’s Fresh
Ghana’s Fresh is a Black-owned beauty brand ensuring a fair deal for Ghana’s agricultural sector by sourcing directly from farmers and producers whose methods are as natural and traditional as possible.
Their bestselling cold-pressed 100% pure cocoa butter aids in combating eczema, psoriasis and dry skin patches, and may help skin stay youthful, so get your hands on some now (£12.99).
Find Ghana’s Fresh in the pan-African business directory.
Speechless Hair Styles
Speechless Hair Styles is a wonderful Black-owned beauty brand whose braids will leave you, well, speechless, and you can replicate their results at home with their Speechless Hair Growth Blend balm.
Vegan, gluten-free, paraben-free, and sodium chloride-free, each drop penetrates the hair to deeply moisturise, strengthen and smooth, giving intense nourishment and incredible shine while reducing frizz (£24.99).
Find Speechless Hair Styles in the pan-African business directory
There has never been a better time to show your support for black-owned beauty brands, so why not check out these gems? We would love to know what you think of these brands, so let us know in the comments. Which black-owned beauty brands do you recommend?
