Who doesn’t want to look good? The problem, of course, is that we all have particular issues that we want to address and many skincare products ‘out there’ are not directed at Black men. Black men are underrepresented on the shelves of major retailers, and the relatively few brands that do exist you’d be hard-pressed to locate.
Still, those that do exist are pretty good. Here are seven black-owned skincare brands that cater to men. We have it on good authority that they rock. Try them. Then come back to tell us what you think.
Bevel
“96.8% of subjects showed an improvement in skin texture and skin tone; 100% of subjects noticed that their skin felt softer and smoother; 90.3% of subjects noticed an improvement in the appearance of razor bumps.”
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Founded by Tristan Walker, Bevel is a Black-owned skincare brand created to address the main shaving issues facing men of colour, such as being prone to unsightly shaving bumps, ingrown hairs, dry scalps and skin irritation. That’s not all Bevel does, of course. You can, for example, purchase a ‘shave subscription’ that consists of the Bevel safety razor, shave brush, pre-shave oil, shave cream, balm and blades (the safety razor won a GQ award for best razor for sensitive skin – see above for the pretty impressive results it achieves).
Frederick Benjamin
“Products to help every man sculpt his best self, no matter his style.”
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The carefully selected and clinically tested ingredients in Frederick Benjamin products combine to nourish Black skin and Black hair. The products leverage essential oils such as clove, hemp seed and nettle, using a ‘problem-solution’ approach that combines natural oils with clinical ingredients – without the drying alcohols and petroleum pervasive in other products.
LivSo
“Our formulas nourish and moisturize your naturally textured kinky, curly, or wavy hair from the root to the tip.”
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Dry hair and itchy scalp are the bane of many people’s lives. If this resonates with you, you’ll love LivSo. The company’s dermatologist-certified highly moisturising hair products are specifically formulated to address these issues: the LivSo shampoo is sulphate free, i.e. cleansing without drying, and the leave-in lotion is great for keeping your scalp itch free.
Nuekie
“The ultimate skincare systems for acne and hyperpigmentation.”
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If you’re looking for Black-owned skincare for hyperpigmentation, look no further. Nuekie was founded by Eunice Cofie-Obeng, who struggled with both acne and hyperpigmentation as a teenager. These struggles led her to search for a solution not only for herself but also for ‘the many women and men of color who also suffer from these skin conditions’. Her achievements have been featured in several noteworthy publications including Forbes and Scientific American.
MANTL
“Skincare products for the face and scalp that are inspired by bald folks.”
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MANTL, in effect, is skincare for your scalp. Its products are specifically designed to protect and nourish exposed scalp skin. MANTL was co-founded by proudly bald Karamo Brown (of Queer Eye fame).
Oyin Handmade
“Clean, natural formulas: no petroleum, no silicones, no sulphates, no parabens, no animal testing.”
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You guessed it: Oyin Handmade specialises in handmade products – for body and beard. Its beard-care line is very popular, and includes a light detangling serum that’s effectively a leave-in conditioner for your beard.
Goodman Factory
“A community of Goodmen who embrace their identity.”
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You’ll find a great range of grooming products here, including the Goodman beard oil, Goodman face oil, beard brushes and combs. Goodman Factory products are plant based and favour ingredients such as Moroccan oil.
Related post: 7 of London’s Best Afro Hair Barbers
