It is officially February, which means Black History Month is in full swing! There are so many ways to celebrate Black successes and one way is to support Black people through their business ventures and products. Makeup is a huge industry in which Black artists have begun to launch new brands in the past 20 years, redefining what make-up can look like for people of all shades. Here are five of my favorite Black-owned makeup brands that are worth supporting in 2024.
1. Fenty Beauty
Fenty Beauty is a beauty company owned by singer and performer, Rihanna. The company was founded in 2017 with the slogan “Beauty for All” as Rihanna launched 40 shades of foundation and concealer to consider all skin colors and tones. Rihanna especially made sure to include darker shades as they have been frequently ignored in the past. Fenty now has 50 shades, constantly improving their brand to fit their customers’ needs. They have since expanded to include Fenty Fragrance and Fenty Skin for even more options for their customers. The success of Fenty Beauty has been huge, with a valuation of 2.8 Billion dollars, and demand continues to rise.
Favorite Product: Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara
2. Pat McGrath Labs
Known for her runway makeup, Pat McGrath Labs launched in 2006 to celebrate the artistry and legendary work of Pat McGrath herself. The makeup brand is known for its bold and bright colors and shades which mimic the work McGrath does for runway models on the catwalk. The idea is to create a diverse range of looks and try something new, and you can do just that with McGrath Labs. The selection is vast so there truly is something for everyone within McGrath’s collection.
Favorite Product: MatteTrance Lipstick
3. Mented Cosmetics
Mented Cosmetics plays off the word “pigmented” and designed a brand to include all shades and skin tones through beauty, skin, and hair care products. The brand was founded in 2017 by KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson. Miller and Johnson say on mentedcosmetics.com that they “created Mented Cosmetics because we believe everyone should be able to find themselves in the world of beauty, no matter your skin tone.” Along with this, they take an environmental approach to their product as all of their lipsticks are vegan, paraben-free, non-toxic, and cruelty-free. The effort to include diversity and sustainability is clear at Mented Cosmetics.
Favorite Product: Semi-Matte Lipstick
4. Ami Colé
Infused with both Senegalese and New York City culture, Ami Colé, pronounced AH-ME CO-LAY, was created by founder Diarrha Ndiaye. This Black beauty brand was named after Ndiaye’s mother to honor her story of immigrating from Senegal to New York City where she owned her own hair braiding salon. The brand is known as “clean beauty to celebrate melanin-rich skin that is used to uplift Black women and shades that are often forgotten about.” The packaging and wording of the products are some of my favorite features; the bright color and encouraging, optimistic titles on products make me excited to buy and use them.
Favorite Product: Skin-Enhancing Stick
5. Beauty Bakerie
Last but certainly not least, Beauty Bakerie is a unique brand founded by mom and breast cancer survivor, Cashmere Nicole. She launched her brand in 2011 with the hopes of creating products that emphasize feeling good on the inside and out in every moment. The brand is also vegan and cruelty-free to create and promote a cleaner environment. My favorite feature of Beauty Bakerie is its bakery-themed packaging and labeling. There is so much thought put into the design for an extra touch of love, and everything looks good enough to eat.
Favorite Product: Flour Setting Powder
There is so much Beauty in Being Black
While all of these brands differ in products and style, they all reiterate an important ideal: Black people belong in the world of makeup. One of the most important things in this world is representation, and every day these five founders give that to people of color after being denied a spotlight within cosmetics for far too many years. There is great power in the dollars consumers spend, so putting it towards companies that care about diversity, inclusion, and sustainability is one of the best things you can do. Consider purchasing from one of these — and many other — Black-owned businesses this year and every year.
