As we move through the month of February, it is important to recognize and celebrate Black history while also being intentional about how we show our support. One meaningful way to do this is by uplifting Black-owned and Black-founded beauty brands that have made lasting impacts on the industry. I have compiled a list of standout brands that deserve recognition not just during Black History Month, but throughout the entire year for their innovation, inclusivity, and commitment to serving diverse communities.
Makeup
1. FENTY BEAUTY
Born and raised in Barbados, Rihanna has often spoken about how her Caribbean upbringing shaped her perspective on beauty, identity, and representation. Those experiences directly influenced the launch of Fenty Beauty in 2017, which quickly gained massive popularity for its inclusive and diverse shade range. At a time when many brands overlooked deeper skin tones, Fenty Beauty set a new industry standard by creating products designed for people of all complexions.
As someone who has tried many products from Fenty Beauty, I can confidently say they are worth the hype. Rihanna did not stop at makeup, as she later expanded her brand to include skincare and haircare lines that carry the same commitment to quality and inclusivity. Through her beauty empire, Rihanna has reshaped traditional beauty standards and created space for consumers who were long excluded from the conversation.
2. DENESSA MYRICKS BEAUTY
Danessa Myricks grew up in Queens, New York, and did not originally plan to work in the beauty industry. She began her career in the medical field, but as a single mother of two, she needed a more flexible career path. This led her to transition into publishing, where she focused on beauty-related content and eventually discovered her passion for makeup. Myricks is completely self-taught and, despite having no formal training, she proved that talent and determination can open doors.
She later founded Danessa Myricks Beauty, a brand rooted in inclusivity and innovation. Her products are thoughtfully designed to work across a wide range of skin tones and skin types, challenging traditional beauty standards. One standout from the brand is the Yummy Skin line, which creates a flawless, radiant base and leaves the skin looking effortlessly glowy. Myricks’ journey and brand continue to inspire creatives who may not follow a traditional path into the beauty world.
3. JUVIA’S PLACE
Chichi Eburu, the founder of Juvia’s Place, created her brand after struggling to find makeup that truly suited her darker skin tone. After moving to the U.S. from Nigeria, she rarely saw people with deeper complexions represented in beauty media. This lack of representation became a driving force behind Juvia’s Place and its mission to center inclusivity.
Eburu has shared that African culture is a major inspiration for the brand, emphasizing that makeup should reflect cultural richness, identity, and history. Juvia’s Place gained significant attention for offering foundations in 42 shades, which firmly established the brand within the beauty industry. Beyond foundation, the brand’s liquid blush and powder blush duo has become especially popular among makeup artists and beauty creators on Instagram and TikTok. Above all, Juvia’s Place remains accessible, with products typically ranging from $5 to $40, proving that inclusive beauty can also be affordable.
4. PAT MCGRATH LABS
Pat McGrath is a British-born makeup artist of Jamaican descent. Her mother, Jean McGrath, immigrated from Jamaica and worked as a dressmaker. She introduced McGrath to fashion and makeup at an early age, sparking a creative passion that would shape her career. In the early 1990s, McGrath began working backstage at fashion shows, where she played a key role in creating iconic beauty looks that helped define the industry.
In 2015, she launched her own beauty brand, Pat McGrath Labs, which quickly gained global recognition. By 2019, the brand had reached a value of $1 billion, solidifying McGrath’s influence within the beauty world. She is especially known for her dramatic runway makeup, including her signature porcelain doll look, which has been widely recreated by fans and makeup artists using products from her line. Through her artistry and innovation, Pat McGrath has redefined luxury beauty and continues to shape trends across the industry.
5. LYS BEAUTY
Tisha Thompson is the founder and CEO of the Black-owned beauty brand LYS Beauty. With over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, Thompson built her career developing and marketing clean beauty products while also working as a trained makeup artist. Her professional background allowed her to deeply understand consumer needs, from addressing specific skin concerns to creating products that remain accessible at an affordable price point.
In 2021, she launched LYS Beauty, making history as the first Black-owned clean makeup brand to debut at Sephora. The brand quickly gained attention for combining clean ingredients, inclusive shade ranges, and budget-friendly pricing. All LYS Beauty products are priced under $30, including the brand’s best seller, the No Limits Cream Bronzer Stick, which retails for $22. Through LYS Beauty, Thompson continues to prove that clean, inclusive makeup can be both high quality and accessible.
Skincare
1. EADEM
EADEM was co-founded by Marie Kouadio, who is originally from France with roots in the Ivory Coast, and Alice Lin Glover, who is Taiwanese-American. The two met while working at Google and created their brand with the belief that skincare should deliver real results without taking away from personal identity.
Built with melanin-rich skin in mind, EADEM focuses on science-backed formulas that help address concerns like hyperpigmentation while still being gentle on the skin. The brand has recently gone viral on TikTok, especially for its Le Chouchou Exfoliating and Softening Peptide Lip Balm. After seeing it all over social media, EADEM is officially on my list for the next time I go to Sephora.
2. TOPICALS
Olamide Olowe, the Nigerian-American founder of Topicals, created the brand with the mission of making skincare that truly works for everyone. Prior to launching Topicals, Olowe co-founded SheaGIRL in collaboration with SheaMoisture in 2015, which was later acquired by Unilever in 2017. These early experiences helped shape her approach to building an inclusive and result-driven skincare brand.
Topicals challenge traditional skincare testing methods by formulating products for Fitzpatrick skin types six to one, rather than the other way around. Many brands begin testing on lighter skin tones and treat deeper skin tones as an afterthought, but Topicals prioritizes the deepest skin tones first, operating under the belief that what works for deeper tones works better for everyone. Some of the brand’s best sellers include the Slick Salve Lip Balm and the Brightening and Clearing Serum. As someone who owns the lip balm, I can confidently say it lasts all day. Recently, the brand’s Under Eye Masks have also gained attention on TikTok for helping reduce the appearance of dark circles.
3. 54 THRONES
Christina Funke Tegbe, the founder of 54 Thrones, grew up in the southern U.S. while being deeply connected to the cultural traditions of Nigeria. From a young age, she experienced the beauty rituals of Africa through tubs of shea butter sent by her aunt in Nigeria, which left a lasting impression on her understanding of natural skincare.
Inspired to share the richness of African beauty with a wider audience, Tegbe traveled throughout Africa to learn about traditional beauty practices and ingredients. In 2015, she left her corporate career to pursue this passion and officially launched 54 Thrones in 2016. The brand is known for its nourishing, high-quality products made to deeply moisturize and protect the skin. Some of its best sellers include the African Beauty Butter and the Barrier Repair Cloud Cream, both of which highlight the brand’s commitment to honoring African beauty traditions through modern skincare.
4. BUTTAH SKIN
Buttah Skin was founded by Dorion Renaud, who grew up struggling to find skincare products that worked well for his melanin-rich skin. Frustrated by products that either caused irritation or failed to address concerns like dryness and hyperpigmentation, Renaud set out to create a brand that prioritized simple, effective skincare designed specifically for deeper skin tones.
Launched in 2018, Buttah Skin focuses on clean, minimal formulas that promote healthy, glowing skin without unnecessary ingredients. The brand is especially known for its Vitamin C Serum and its Shea Butter Moisturizer, both of which aim to brighten, hydrate, and protect the skin. By centering melanin-rich skin from the start, Buttah Skin continues to fill a gap in the skincare industry and has become a go-to brand for those seeking straightforward and result-driven skincare.
5. CAY SKIN
Cay Skin was founded by Winnie Harlow, a Jamaican-Canadian model and a strong advocate for self-acceptance and inclusivity. Living with vitiligo has made Harlow especially passionate about protecting her skin, and from a young age, skincare was always a priority. Influenced by the women in her family and traditional Jamaican remedies, she learned early on the importance of caring for her skin, even though sunscreen often left a noticeable white cast on her brown skin.
Launched in 2022, Cay Skin focuses on lightweight, reef-friendly SPF products that protect the skin without leaving a white cast. Harlow’s personal experiences, including a severe sunburn she suffered after skipping sunscreen during a photo shoot, inspired her to create a brand that blends skincare with sun protection for all skin tones. Some of the brand’s most popular products include the Isle Glow Face Lotion SPF 45 and the Isle Lip Balm SPF 30, both designed to hydrate, protect, and encourage healthier sun-care habits.
Haircare
1. PATTERN BEAUTY
PATTERN Beauty was founded by Tracee Ellis Ross, who grew up navigating the challenges of caring for naturally curly and textured hair in an industry that often overlooked it. As the daughter of Diana Ross and a longtime advocate for natural hair, Ross drew from her own hair journey and the stories of others in the curly-hair community to create products that celebrate texture rather than trying to change it.
With its launch in 2019, PATTERN Beauty was designed specifically for curly, coily, and tight-textured hair types, with formulas that focus on hydration, definition, and hair health. The brand has become especially popular for products like the Leave-In Conditioner and the Curl Gel, which help enhance natural curl patterns without weighing the hair down. Through PATTERN, Tracee Ellis Ross continues to promote self-confidence and representation by encouraging people to embrace their natural hair.
2. MIELLE ORGANICS
Founded in 2014 by Monique Rodriguez, Mielle Organics was created out of a personal need for healthier hair solutions. After experiencing hair loss herself, Rodriguez leaned on her background in nursing to develop products rooted in natural ingredients and thoughtful formulations designed to support hair growth and scalp health.
What started as a passion project quickly grew into a staple brand within the natural hair community. Mielle Organics is now best known for cult-classic products like the Rosemary Mint Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil and the Pomegranate and Honey collection, both praised for delivering real results at an affordable price point. By prioritizing accessibility and effectiveness, the brand continues to resonate with people who want to care for their curls, coils, and textured hair with confidence.
3. BRIOGEO
Nancy Twine originally began her career in finance, but after the loss of her mother, her path shifted. During that time, she reconnected with meaningful memories of creating beauty treatments from scratch in the kitchen with her mother, which helped shape her appreciation for thoughtful, ingredient-focused hair care and the role it plays in self-care.
In 2013, Twine founded Briogeo with the goal of developing clean, effective haircare products that work for a wide range of hair types and textures. The brand quickly became known for prioritizing scalp health, hydration, and nourishment, with products like the Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask becoming a standout favorite. As someone who has used Briogeo’s hair masks, I can genuinely see how the clean formulations make a difference, leaving hair feeling healthier, softer, and more manageable over time.
4. THE DOUX
Maya Smith and Brian Smith co-founded The Doux while living abroad, combining their love of hair culture with salon expertise to create haircare products that truly get textured hair. Maya brings decades of experience as a licensed cosmetologist working with all curl patterns, and the brand draws inspiration from ’90s hip-hop culture and bold self-expression. The Doux was built to simplify curly hair routines and bring salon-quality results into everyday hair care. The Doux offers solutions for wash days, styling, and everyday hair care, with popular products like the Mousse Def Texture Foam, Big Poppa Defining Gel, Dear Mama Moisture Milk, and Chief Rocka Xtreme Moisture Mousse.
In addition to these favorites, The Doux offers a wide range of products designed for different curl patterns and styling needs, including gels, creams, leave-ins, curl refreshers, and texture balms. The brand is also known for being affordable, making it easy to build a full hair care routine without spending too much. By combining performance, inclusivity, and accessible pricing, The Doux continues to be a go-to brand for curly, coily, and textured hair.
5. TGIN (THANK GOD IT’S NATURAL)
Founded by Chris-Tia Donaldson, Thank God It’s Natural (tgin) was created to provide effective, natural hair and skincare products specifically for curly, coily, and textured hair. Donaldson brought an impressive academic background to the brand, earning a Bachelor’s degree in economics with high honors from Harvard University and later graduating from Harvard Law School. In 2015, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, a battle that deeply shaped her purpose and advocacy. Despite her illness, she continued to build tgin while using her platform to highlight health disparities and support women facing financial challenges during treatment. Her passing in November 2021 was a profound loss, but her impact continues to be felt through the brand she built.
Today, tgin is widely known for its moisture-focused products, including the Honey Miracle Hair Mask, Green Tea Super Moist Leave-In Conditioner, and Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer. The brand is available at major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Sally Beauty, and Walgreens, making it both accessible and affordable. Through its products and values, tgin continues to support healthy hair routines while honoring the legacy of its founder.
Celebrating Black-Owned Beauty Beyond Black History Month
Black-owned beauty brands have long shaped the industry, often without receiving the recognition they deserve. The founders highlighted here created their brands out of personal experience, cultural pride, and a commitment to inclusivity, challenging long-standing beauty standards along the way. Supporting these brands is not just about the products, but about honoring the innovation, resilience, and impact behind them. By intentionally choosing to uplift Black-owned beauty brands beyond February, we help ensure their stories, voices, and contributions continue to thrive year-round.