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You Outta Know - 26 Black Owned Beauty Companies
Coloured Raine Cosmetics
With an innate desire for true beauty, Loraine (Raine) D. dreamt of a cosmetic line that encouraged self-expression and creativity. From that dream came to life Coloured Raine. Founded in 2013, Coloured Raine is an edgy collection of bold eye shadows, lashes, nail polishes, lipsticks and glosses that break all barriers in the cosmetic world.
Set to launch in 2016, Laws of Nature Cosmetics is a mineral cosmetics line designed for women of color founded by Jasmine Rose. Her line is gluten free, talc and bismuth oxychloride free, cruelty free (not tested on animals), paraben free, sulfate free, no synthetic dyes, no synthetic fragrances, no petrochemicals, no phtalates, no GMO’s, no triclosan and made in the USA.
Since 2002 Lake Louise has been the Chief Eco-Beauty Officer (CEO) of Skin, Mind, Body Essentials, a beauty and wellness products company whose brands include: Lotus Moon®, DetoxRx®, Plain Jane Beauty® and SON®. As an EcoPreneur, Lake applies the principles of sustainability, a passion for whole body wellness, and vast ingredient knowledge in all aspects of her business operations.
CEO, Vera Moore former actress turned entrepreneur is President & CEO of the highly competitive family owned business, Vera Moore Cosmetics. Vera was contracted on national television as one of the first black actresses on the soap opera “Another World” NBC where she portrayed “Linda Metcalf” for ten years. She immediately realized the void in the market for quality products for women of color, specifically a natural looking foundation that didn’t rub off on your clothes. This gave birth to Vera Moore Cosmetics. Vera’s products are used on Stage, Screen and TV. Cosby Show, Wendy Williams Show, etc. Emmy award winning makeup artists, celebrities, news anchor women, and women from all walks of life solicit Vera’s products and services.
Launched in 2012, Gold Label Cosmetics started out as a fun venture for makeup artist, Kristen Elise Brown to create a cosmetics line that had women from all walks of life in mind. With her natural approach to beauty, she believes the goal of her line is to look like you. It’s easy to love YOUR BEAUTY when you find a brand that celebrates it. GLC is that brand. GLC is a beauty company that doesn't have one specific look or agenda. Gold Label will have both classic and on trend color cosmetics along with highly-pigmented, stay there gluten and paraben free formulas.
Sacha Cosmetics is manufactured in Trinidad and Tobago. Here they have people of every possible complexion and there is summer all year round. To ensure that women never look chalky or ashy in bright lighting or photos, Sacha Cosmeticsworked tirelessly to successfully develop products that are flash-friendly on diverse skin tones. Sacha foundations fit like a Second Skin, with superior coverage and a lightweight feel and their eye shadows are long wearing and look equally beautiful on all skin tones. Sacha was the Official Cosmetics of the 1999 Miss Universe, the 2000 Miss USA Pageant, the 2014 Miss Panama Pageant and several other international beauty events. Our Company was voted Caribbean Exporter of the Year 2015.
Melissa Butler is the owner and founder of the Lipbar. A Detroit native, she hand crafts vegan, gluten, and paraben-free lipsticks unlocking the prism for swatches in every color in the rainbow. Initially the idea came to her because she was a self proclaimed product junky frustrated with the lack of lipstick colors for darker skin tones. Flash forward, and she now heads a contemporary makeup line suitable for all where clients do not have to be a certain complexion to feel confident in her lipsticks. Her company was featured on an episode of Shark Tank, and even though she walked away with out an investment, she still has gone on to expand her brand creating new mattes, minimalist colors, lipliners, along with a Lipbar mobile tour via her traveling cosmetic counter. Just think, makeup in a food truck maybe coming to a city near you!
IYMB stands for "I Make You Beautiful" and was founded by artist and educator Danessa Myricks. After corporate downsizing Danessa took her hobby of experimenting with makeup and turned it into a career. Danessa has worked as a consultant to several product development teams for a host of global cosmetic and beauty brands. She has over 15 years experience in developing the educational foundation that builds consumer confidence in competitive markets by launching innovative tactics throughout the beauty industry. Danessa is an internationally renown educator, trade show host, and author, and has over a dozen step-by-step training dvds.
Vegan and non-toxic nail laquer brand found in Ulta Stores and salons around the country.
AJ Crimson was founded by AJ Crimson of course. A makeup artist who’s worked with Missy Elliot, Brandy and more debuted a brand that fits the wide range of shades among women of color.
Founded by a Chemistry Grad, Florence Adepoju this handmade (Yes, Adepoju makes these cosmetics herself) cruelty-free lipstick brand can be found online and in Topshop.
Beauty Bakerie was founded by entrepreneur and breast cancer survivor, Cashmere Nicole. Right now they have a line of cruelty-free, smudgeproof, waterproof lipwhips that are selling out. Keeping in line with the “bakery” theme is their brownie brow products. Find their products online.
This luxury skin care brand was founded by Jamaican born Beauty Expert, Melissa Hibbért’. The line features everything from foundation, lipstick and mascara to brushes and a complete skincare system.
This sleek yet practical nail care line was created by and named after nail care professional, Bernadette Thompson. Thompson has worked with such celebrity clients as Beyonce, Rihanna, Whitney Houston, Tyra Banks, Aaliyah, Missy Elliot, Janelle Monae and many more.
Dalynn Cosmetics was founded by Danielle Dalynn. The brand prides itself on being a customizable cosmetics line at an affordable price.
This cruelty-free, paraben-free, petroleum and vegan lip color line was created by Howard grad, Stephanie Bennett who packages and makes the products by hand herself.
The Polish My Life nail color line was founded by Shaneka McDonald in 2013 after she searched for the perfect coral/orange nail color. McDonald ended up mixing her own nail color and thus Polish My Life was born.
The bold lip gloss brand Lip Addyct was founded by Memphis-based Adrienne Owens in November of 2011 from her love of glosses.
This nail polish line was crafted by veteran nail professional, Theresa Williamson. Williamson who had been a licensed manicurist for 22 years set out to create Polish & Co, a non-toxic, carcinogen-free polish line.
Celebrity stylist and owner of Kontrol Mag, Julian Lark developed the Revel cosmetics brand as his answer to the need for versatile quality cosmetics.
Spectrum
This brand was created by Amber Rose (not to be confused with the model/actress), a mother of an autistic child in efforts to give back to families affected by autism. Out of every purchase 30% is donated to Autism Research and Education. The brand successfully raised $17,000 in the last 5 years for the cause.
This brand was founded by makeup artist, Karian Newby-Durham in Detroit, MI as a response to cosmetic brands which failed to provide adequate colors for those of all skin tones. This company also donates a portion of their proceeds to the Parkinson’s Foundation in honor of Karian’s grandmother.
The brand Vault was created by Zimbabwean entrepreneur Jackie Mgido in response to the make-up challenges she faced as a woman in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Beauty Brownie was created by two sisters from Brooklyn, NY as a means to encourage women with “darker skin tones to love the skin they’re in and not conform to beauty standards that leave them out of the equation.”
This Pennsylvania-based company was founded by professional makeup artist Crystal Warren in 2010 as a means to provide a high performance makeup with more natural and organic based ingredients. Pink Stiletto cosmetics prides itself on being a 95% natural and organic product line.
Jill St. Williams created Jay Jill cosmetics with women of color in mind. This line has everything from contour palettes and foundation to a brow bar line and brush sets. Currently only available online and through national conventions.
Ka’Oir is a vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free, paraben-free cosmetic line that developed by model, Keyshia Dior.
