30 Black-Owned Skincare Brands to Support Now and Forever
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Do you remember how good it felt when you first saw a makeup brand with an expansive foundation offering or concealer shade range that extended beyond “toasted almond” and “mocha?” Long before 40 shades became the gold standard, Black founders were the only ones meeting the oft-overlooked needs of our community. They were the only ones with shade ranges, white cast-free sunscreens, and a catalog to define “nude.” Shopping for skincare may be a time-consuming, expensive process, but supporting smaller brands that prioritize natural ingredients and melanin-rich skin makes the process even simpler.
If you’re in the mood to spend some coins, keep scrolling for 30 skincare brands to shop.
54 Thrones
Inspired by her childhood growing up in Nigeria, Christina Funke Tegbe launched 54 Thrones to explore the beauty and authenticity of African culture and beauty secrets.
Price range: $14+
Editor’s Pick: Osun African Beauty Mist, $42
A 54 Thrones (from Sephora) reviewer said: “This is the perfect product as a staple to your self-care essential kit, travel bag, and a great gender-neutral gift! The butter is versatile and has been my go-to these days when we are consistently washing our hands. There is so much comfort in knowing that this is a pure and natural product!”
Hyper Skin
While pregnant with her daughter, Desiree Verdejo struggled to reduce extensive hyperpigmentation caused by a bout of hormonal acne. Unable to find a product that performed, she created her own solution with a vitamin C serum infused with kojic acid, turmeric, and bearberry.
Price range: $28+
Editor’s Pick: Hyper Clear Brightening Clearing Vitamin C Serum, $36
A Hyper Skin reviewer said: “I have always had dark marks from acne. I saw results in just a few weeks. My spots are much lighter.”
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Oui the People
Karen Young, the founder of Oui the People, was forbidden from reading beauty magazines growing up. Why? She thinks her mother felt their content showcased a damaging ideal of beauty. Oui the People is dedicated to producing body care with mindful messaging that rejects perfection and champions individuality.
Price range: $11+
Editor’s Pick: Hydrating Body Gloss, $65
A Oui the People reviewer said: “Veeerrrryyy moisturizing and lightweight, I absolutely love it and how fast it’s absorbed by my skin, so I don’t have to worry about it sticking to my clothes right after.”
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Black Girl Sunscreen
Shontay Lundy changed the sunscreen game for women of color by creating a non-white cast formula infused with nurturing avocado and jojoba oils, cacao, and carrot juice.
Price range: $9
Editor’s Pick: Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30, $19
A Black Girl Sunscreen reviewer said: “BGS is a great sunscreen! As an esthetician, sun protection is my number one concern for my clients. BGS provides proper coverage, applies without the ashy cast, and also moisturizes. Definitely recommended!”
Hanahana Beauty
Hanahana Beauty understands that the secret to moisturized, radiant skin starts with some good ol’ shea butter. Founded by Chicago-based entrepreneur Abena Boamah, Hanahana ethically sources its shea butter-based products from the Katariga Women in Tamale, Ghana.
Price range: $12+
Editor’s Pick: Vanilla Lavender Shea Body Butter, $7
A Hanahana Beauty reviewer said: “My favorite smell of all time. This is like 5th or 6th jar and will continue to order, haha. Great for colder weather as my skin gets dry quickly.”
Shani Darden
Esthetician to some of your favorite stars (Shay Mitchell, Kelly Rowland, Jessica Alba), Shani Darden delivers results—and her products are no different. From the cult-favorite Retinl Reform to the Face Sculpting Tool, Shani Darden Skincare provides simple but effective products that give us our healthiest skin possible.
Price range: $38+
Editor’s Pick: Retinol Reform, $88
A Shani Darden reviewer said: “I LOVE this retinol! I’ve seen such a difference after 30 days and NO irritation!! Love this stuff so much!”
Unsun
Founder Katonya Breaux, like many Black people, was often left disappointed by the dearth of clean sunscreen products for our skin. Breaux created Unsun in 2016 to provide often overlooked skin tones with clean, non-toxic, and non-ashy sunscreen.
Price range: $11+
Editor’s Pick: Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen In “Medium/Dark,” $29
An Unsun Cosmetics reviewer said: “This sunscreen has just the right amount of tint. It’s sheer enough to blend with my concealer/mineral foundation. Highly recommend.”
Karité
Three Ghanaian sisters, one of whom is a dermatologist, created Karité (French for “shea butter”) with, you guessed it, shea butter as its hero ingredient. The moisture-rich formulas look to high concentrations of raw ingredients to help heal and moisturize skin. The family oversees all oil sourcing for its product to prevent deforestation or harm to the animals in West Africa.
Price range: $25+
Editor’s Pick: Crème Mains Karité Shea Butter, $36
A Karite reviewer said: “The hand cream is now a staple in my beauty kit! It smells wonderful and is portable enough to put in my purse to take everywhere with me. Like the body cream, I’ll be ordering this again and again.”
Luv Scrub
We love a brand with a clear mission, and Luv Scrub has not veered off course since it launched a few years ago. These mesh wash clothes shake up everything you thought you knew about exfoliating in the shower. Each one is long enough to slough even tough-to-reach places like your back, and comes in an assortment of gorgeous colors to match any bathroom scheme.
Price range: $18+
Editor’s Pick: Mesh Body Exfoliator, Naked Sunset, $18
Absolute Joi
Absolute Joi was birthed by pediatrician Anne Beal who created the line to help soothe her daughters’ skin breakouts. Specifically made to target concerns that taunt skin of color, Absolute Joi offers a complete range of products, including cleansers, a toner, retinol, and sunscreen.
Price range: $10+
Editor’s Pick: Skin Refining Night Oil with Retinol, $57
An Absolute Joi reviewer said: “This Oil glides on my skin and enters deep in the pores. I see my skin soften immediately!!! Reordering. Thank you.”
Tsuri
The goal of Tsuri is to make self-care more than just an occasional practice. Founder Ashli Goudelock has a background in product formulation and created the range to deliver a spa-like experience without harsh ingredients like synthetic fragrances, colorants, and sulfates.
Price range: $6+
Editor’s Pick: Cashmere + Vanilla Body Oil Bar, $30
A Tsuri reviewer said: “Confession time.. I bought this to give to someone as a gift but when I smelled it I had to keep it for myself! It fits conveniently in my small purse so I never leave home with it.”
Katini Skin
Newly launched company Katini is all about a glow-up. The baby brand just launched in 2022 with four face oils, all made with minimal but potent ingredients pulled straight from founder Katini Yamaoka’s Japanese, African, and Australian roots.
Price range: $75+
Editor’s Pick: Clarity Face Oil, $95
A Katini reviewer said: “Awesome product!!! Made a difference in my skin in the first week of daily use. Will definitely be reordering and recommending to my friends.”
Buttah Skin
As the name suggests, Buttah Skin’s products leave your skin feeling as soft as butter. Founded in 2018 by Dorion Renaud, Buttah Skin is built around shea butter to nourish your skin while proving feel-good ingredients for healthy, glowing skin.
Price range: $14.99+
Editor’s Pick: Skin Transforming Cocoshea 3 Piece Kit, $60
A Buttah Skin reviewer said: “After just a couple of weeks of using this product, I love the way my skin feels. It is no longer dry and is soft to the touch without being oily. None of the products seem harsh on my skin which tends to be sensitive. My skin looks refreshed and has just enough shine.”
Bolden
Created for Black women, by Black women, Bolden is the skin savior you never knew you needed. One common skincare struggle Black women face is hyperpigmentation, which is why founders Ndidi Obidoa and Chinelo Chidozie created products that brighten skin and face hyperpigmentation.
Price range: $8.50+
Editor’s Pick: Bolden Clear Skin Kit, $89
A Bolden reviewer (from Amazon) said: “This product is so amazing!! It really brightens my face and does good against the sun smells really good too. Can't wait to buy it again!!!”
Rosen
Skincare shouldn’t be complicated. Fed up with the beauty industry’s lack of innovation and skincare products catering to Black skin, Jamika Martin found a way to simplify your routine. Enter: Rosen, a skincare brand with fun, targeted products that work for all skin tones and textures.
Price range: $10+
Editor’s Pick: Tropics Toner, $18
A Rosen reviewer said: “This toner keeps my face feeling so hydrated but also helps with my dark spots. I love how it doesn’t dry or tighten my face. This is a winner!!”
Ayele & Co.
Licensed esthetician and makeup artist Danielle Bahi started Ayele & Co., formerly known as Bahi Cosmetics, from her college dorm room at the tender age of 21. Although the Ivory Coast native created the brand to provide affordable, plant-based skincare for all, it’s especially popular among acne-prone individuals for its cult-favorite Sunflower Sweets Serum. The Before and Afters speak for themselves.
Price range: $25+
Editor’s Pick: Sunflower Sweets Serum, $17
An Ayele & Co reviewer said:
BLK+GRN
Blk + Grn is a mecca for black-owned skin, body, makeup, and hair products. This one-stop shop only houses clean, toxic-free beauty products to ensure that whatever product touches your body is the best of the best—like Marla Rene’s Micellar Cleansing Water. Doubling as a makeup remover and cleanser, it’s formulated with cucumber, vitamin B5, and calendula to restore hydration to dry, damaged skin.
Price range: $3
Editor’s Pick: Marla Rene Micellar Cucumber Aloe Facial Cleansing Water, $22
A Blk + Grn reviewer said: “It’s super light yet really good. Takes off my makeup, really, and is a very refreshing facial wash. Love it!”
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Skin Buttr
If you’ve been following model Tatiana Elizabeth Price, you’ll notice girl loves a sun-kissed vacation glow. That’s all her body care brand Skin Buttr. Free of any harmful ingredients, Skin Buttrs’ body butters use whipped shea at the base to nourish and condition the skin. Oh, and the Gingr Lemon Buttr smells DIVINE.
Price range: $10+
Editor’s Pick: Gingr Lemon Buttr, $30
A Skin Buttr reviewer said: “I love how it smells and how smooth it feels when rubbing it on my arms and legs.”
Pholk Beauty
Founder Niambi Cacchioli founded Pholk with a mission to harness the African Diaspora’s beauty traditions into a plant-based skincare brand that celebrates women of color.
Price range: $12+
Editor’s Pick: Glow Replenishing Face Wash, $2o
A Pholk reviewer said: “I've been using this face mash for over 3 months and it's great for my skin. I also want to support a fellow black woman that is trying to help the black community.”
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Aba Love
New York-based skincare brand Aba Love creates handcrafted botanical products perfect for the green beauty lover. The aromatic goods are free of synthetic fragrances and parabens, instead boosted with seed, plant, and floral oils.
Price: $5+
Editor’s Pick: Flower Crown Facial Serum, $21
Nerisha is the beauty commerce editor at ELLE.com, covering all things beauty (and fashion and music). She has a penchant for sneakers and nude lip glosses, and spends way too much time re-watching 90s sitcoms.
Kristina Rodulfo is the Beauty Director of Women's Health—she oversees beauty coverage across print and digital and is an expert in product testing, identifying trends, and exploring the intersections of beauty, wellness, and culture. Prior to Women's Health, the Filipino-American, NYC native and NYU alumna was at ELLE.com for four years. As Senior Beauty Editor, she reported and co-produced the Webby Award-nominated documentary Beat: How Drag Queens Shaped the Beauty Industry and hosted the millions-viewed video series "Beauty Haul." She can never decide whether or not to get bangs, feels naked without winged eyeliner, and will never shut up about running the NYC Marathon.
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