There are Black-owned beauty products that everyone raves about – Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil ($11), The Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Skin Tint ($36), and almost all Juvia’s Place Eyeshadow Palettes ($15-$40).
You’ve probably tried them yourself, read through the numerous TikTok reviews, or heard your sisters talk about them nonstop. And while these products deserve every praise (those Juvia’s Place eyeshadow pigments? Chef’s kiss), we’re here to tell that there’s more to the Black-owned beauty universe than the products every influencer under the sun raves about.
What about the beauty products no one ever seems to notice or talk about?
We try out hundreds of beauty products every year to keep up with the buzziest ingredients or the latest trendy launches on the market (and watch thousands of hours of beauty product reviews), so we’ve got major insight into the most hidden gems.
So below, find the holy-grail Black-owned beauty products no one ever talks about but are sooo good that we have been going back to them every darn time!
Skincare
Bolden Skincare SPF 30 Brightening Moisturizer, $28 – Amazon
This gem is proof that brands have no excuse for creating sunscreen that leaves a white cast and is heavy on the skin. The melanin-friendly is ultra-lightweight and runny, making it ridiculously easy to wear over and under makeup.
It is loaded with antioxidants and vitamin C to correct and brighten the appearance of oxidative damage, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation caused by UV damage.
Did we mention it doesn’t leave even the slightest whisper of residue on your skin? We did? Well, it’s that good; we had to say it twice.
Rose Ingleton MD SuperFruit Exfoliating Tonic 8% AHA Solution, $48 – Sephora
Instyle’s Kayla Greaves once said, ‘Sorry, but [Rose Ingleton MD’s] Exfoliating Tonic will make you throw your other products directly into the garbage,’ and after trying it, we wholeheartedly agree.
Created by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rose Ingleton, this superfruit exfoliating toner features 8% glycolic acid (derm-beloved AHA ), licorice root extract, and the Jamaican Superfruit Blend that unclogs pores, sloughs away dead skin cell buildup, improves skin texture and fades the appearance of dark spots to reveal smoother, brighter and more even-looking skin.
Undefined Beauty R&R Cleanser, $24 – Ulta
Lauren London’s all-time favorite cleanser is one of the most underrated beauty products.
The sulfate-free, pH-balanced prebiotic gel cleanser taps into plant power and the potent magic of chlorophyll, Gotu Kola (a collagen whisperer), licorice root, niacinamide, and shiitake and tremella mushroom to gently buff off dirt, balance, brighten, hydrate, refine and evenly tone, leaving the skin feeling refreshed, soft, and nourished.
The brand also features an array of haircare products that’ll do wonders on your curls and coils. The R&R Scalp Serum ($22) is one of our favorites.
Makeup
Uoma Stay Woke Concealer, $25 – Ulta
We all love a dark-skin-illuminating concealer, and this Stay Woke pick from Uoma does just that. It goes on so effortlessly to instantly blur our imperfections and dark under-eye circles, all the while feeling extremely super-lightweight.
Also, it doesn’t crease and makes you look like you got at least 10 hours of sleep (even if you spent the whole night waging a war with mosquitoes). We love to see it.
Fashion Fair Cream and Powder Blush Duo, $39 – Sephora
If your aunties and moms wore makeup in the early ’70s’ and 80s, you know Fashion Fair was a must-have. The Black-owned beauty brand was among the first to create products specifically designed for Black women. It was so beloved that even Aretha Franklin declared, “A lot of my songs are about people in love, and now I’ve fallen in love with Fashion Fair.”
@kadejajewell NO WAYYY NOBODY TALKING ABOUT FASHION FAIR NO MORE! BLACK OWNED TOO ??♀️??♀️? #makeup #blackownedmakeupbrands #beauty #fyp ♬ Kemuel Kulosa cover sped up version – Kemuel
And while everyone loves Fashion Fair Iconic Lipsticks, $28 (oh, that Robel lippie), it’s the beauty brand’s Cream and Powder Blush Duo that makes us want to spend all our money.
The lightweight and buildable formula features ceramides, green tea extract, and jojoba oil to visibly plump and deliver moisture and antioxidants while giving you a fuss-free look and a pop of color that lasts all day – with zero ashy or gray undertones. It is also vegan and cruelty-free.
Joanna K Cosmetics Fearless X Basically Matte Lipsticks, $17.93 – Joanna K Cosmetics
Matte lippies get a bad rap, but this Kenyan-owned pick will silence all the haters.
Loaded with lips-loving ingredients, the fan-favorite pick will keep your puckers from looking dry AF. And, the shade won’t fade outside of your lip lines, regardless of how many glasses of wine you have.
PSA: If you’re a lip combo fan, these two pair effortlessly together and will fetch you everywhere you go.
Dr. Gio Cosmetics Brightening Cushion Foundation, $35 – Dr. Gio
The first and only Black woman-owned Korean brand has been getting them TikTok girlies all excited, and for good reason. It is a freakin’ cushion foundation that’s exclusively designed for melanated skin.
And while it currently has about six shades (being a startup company and all), its foundation flawlessly flatters dark-skin-toned babes.
@missdarcei Can’t wait for more shades! @Dr. GIO Cosmetics #makeup #kbeauty #cushionfoundation ♬ original sound – Darcei
Hair
Natural Girl Wigs Lady Dior Faux Kinky Curly Wig, $90 – Natural Girl Wigs
When it comes to shopping for natural wigs, the choices are endless. But since wigs and natural hair extensions aren’t always cheap, you need to find a source you can trust. One that offers you everything in one – quality, affordability, and excellent customer service.
Natural Girl Wigs, a Black woman-owned company, offers the best in closure & frontal wigs, headband wigs, ponytail extensions, U-Part wigs, and Virgin Hair Wigs. Just take a scroll through their website (naturalgirlwigs.com) and judge for yourself.
FYI…you might want to have your card at hand because you’ll definitely be tempted to buy yourself one or two.
Nefertiti Secrets All-In-One Treatment, $18 – Amazon
The all-in-one beauty treatment is formulated with natural extracts such as horsetail, nettles, rosemary, and sage to soften, strengthen, and stimulate hair growth. There’s also keratin protein that helps repair damaged strands and boost shine.
CurlMix Wash and Go Flaxseed Gel For Curly Hair, $26 – Ulta
The CurlMix Wash and Go Flaxseed gel features 100% natural organic flaxseeds rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that nourish, soften, and strengthen hair, promoting overall curl health, intense hydration and great definition for curls.
The decadent blackberry fragrance is just a delicious added bonus.
Bodycare
Sugardoh Pits To Pubes Kit, $30 – Ulta
Sugaring is not as painful as waxing (sugar paste works on hair, not skin), and Sugardoh is the leading sugaring kit brand. The Black woman-owned beauty product features this at-home sugaring kit that allows you to remove unwanted coarse and difficult hair naturally.
The beauty kit comes with medium and firm ‘dohs’, strips, and an applicator that gently gets rid of hair from the roots, reducing ingrown and irritation.
Urban Hydration Sea Acne Gone, $15– Ulta
The algae-infused beauty product features potent algae fatty acids that attract water to the surface of the skin to rid your face and body of acne, helping reduce visible redness and inflammation by nixing clogged pores.
Nude Sugar Booty Bundle – Luminous Splendor + Sugar Plum Serum, $25 – Ulta
Keeping skin (mmhmmh…butt) soft and supple is the ultimate skincare goal. Nude Sugar, a bodycare brand by Queen of RnB Toni Braxton, is dedicated to providing Black babes products that love on their bodies and help them achieve baby-soft skin.
Our pick, The Booty Bundle, is loaded with glycolic acid and sugar plum seed oil so that you get your booty right.
