By Priyanka Ganjoo & Seoyeon Kim

Black-owned brands have paved the way for beauty brands to promote features other than Eurocentric beauty standards. We’ve been loving these brands for a while! We’ll keep adding to this list as we discover more.

Makeup

1.) Beauty Bakerie - We are into our desserts here at Kulfi, and Beauty Bakerie’s baking inspired names and packaging are so fun! The brand was started by Cashmere Nicole, who became a young mom at 16 and survived breast cancer, and continued to build the brand through hardships. Check out their Flour Setting Powder that comes in colors from Caramel to Brown for different skin tones. 

2.) UOMA - UOMA has a wide range of foundation and concealer shades that acknowledge that "tan" is not one shade, but many shades with different undertones. The brand was started by former beauty executive Sharon Chuter, who started the brand out of her personal experiences and frustrations in the beauty industry, which is so relatable for us. Try their Stay Woke Concealer for a full coverage formula. 

3.) Bossy Cosmetics - When we reached out to founder Aisha aka Aishetu Fatima Dozie a few months ago for advice on how to build a beauty brand, she was very transparent and willing to share her experiences. She built Bossy Cosmetics for ambitious women like her, and her Liquid Matte Genius lipsticks continue to be bestsellers in her line. 

4.) PatMcGrath Labs - PatMcGrath has been called the most influential make-up artist in the world by Vogue magazine, and her beauty line does not disappoint. Her highly pigmented and creamy formulas are what (makeup) dreams are made of. We recently bought the new Divine Rose II palette, which is now out-of-stock. Her cult following ensures her drops sell out super fast. 

5) Mented Cosmetics was started with the search for the perfect nude lipstick, and now offers a wide range of products at an accessible price point. Founders KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson started in their homes and persistently pitched to over 80 VCs before they were able to raise capital to grow. 

Haircare — for all hair types

“The stories of how these brands began are similar — Black women were sick and tired of walking into stores and not seeing any products that worked for their textured hair, so they began making the products themselves. Many of the founders were just normal people who started mixing ingredients to create products that actually worked. None of the big brands have been able to replace them.” - Mana Shah @naturallyyou_mana shares her favorite Black-owned products for all hair types.  

1.) CURLS’ Blueberry Bliss Leave in Conditioner - Recommended for all hair types, this protein-packed product adds moisture and is perfect for hair that’s damaged due to heat, dye, and whatever else. Protein will also help with hair growth by strengthening your locks so that they don’t break off as easily. Founder Mahisha Dellinger started CURLS after being frustrated by the lack of products for natural, curly hair. 

2.) Mielle Organics’ Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner - A deep conditioner and protein treatment in one, this product also does an amazing job adding moisture to your hair. Our hair damages very easily, so it’s important to counteract that with protein. Just replace your regular conditioner with this product to hydrate and replenish your locks. After nine years of working as a nurse in women’s health, Monique Rodriguez founded Mielle Organics to fulfill her lifelong passion for haircare and focused on effective, natural products that nourish your hair and scalp. 

3.) Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil - You can’t get a more authentic product than this oil. The product is made using a traditional, hand-processed method and is amazing for scalp care. The brand’s founders Michael Hines and Lois Reid-Hines created Tropic Isle in 1992 with a desire to celebrate Jamaican traditions in beauty and wellness. 

4.) PuffCuff Hair Clamps - Founder Ceata E. Lash invented PuffCuff when she became aware that Black women who were making the transition to natural hair needed an easy styling tool. If you can’t do tight ponytails because of your thick hair or sensitive scalp, this is the product for you. With PuffCuff clamps you can gather all your hair into a ponytail, clip it around, and you won’t feel a thing. Although the product is designed for curly hair, the brand recently came out with a smaller clamp that works for straight hair too. 

5.) Kinky-Curly’s Knot Today Leave in Conditioner/Detangler- This product is superior when it comes to detangling. It’s especially so helpful for children who hate getting their hair brushed out — I started using it on my five-year-old niece’s and it’s helped her a lot. Kinky-Curly founder Shelley Davis’ passion for natural products began when she traveled home to the Caribbean island St. Vincent and the Grenadines, lost her baggage and had to use a family friend’s mixture of herbs and plants on her locks, then discovered how the natural ingredients made her hair the healthiest it had ever been.

Haircare — for curly hair types

“Everything I do to protect my hair — getting my curls to last five days, using satin pillowcases, sleeping in a bun — all of these techniques came from Black women. They were the first to discover that in order for textured hair to be healthy and luscious, we have to add moisture.” — Mana Shah (@naturallyyou_mana) shares her favorites for textured hair. 

1.) Uncle Funky’s Daughter’s Curly Magic - This is a curl enhancer — you should use this after a leave-in conditioner, when your hair is properly hydrated, and it will enhance your natural curl pattern. It’s made from aloe and extremely hydrating. After being a fan of its products for years, Renee Rhoten Morris acquired the brand in 2014. Her mission is to build natural brands for people of color,  and she has launched Uncle Funky’s Daughter products into retail stores worldwide. 

2.) Tréluxe’s Hi! Definition - “This is my favorite curl-enhancing styling gel at the moment. I swear it smells like chai from India — so good! This product really helps define every ounce of curl potential that’s on your head.” Cortney and Kiprono Sigilai founded Tréluxe in order to provide products specifically for curly-haired women which would enable them to love and maintain their moisturized, healthy hair. 

3.) Bouclème’s Curl Defining Gel - A best seller from this new UK based brand, Sofia @honest.skin shares: “This is amazing!” You only need a little bit of the product to help define curls and reduce frizz, without weighing down your hair.  Founder and CEO Michele Scott-Lynch had long been frustrated by the prevalence of harsh, chemical-based curl products, so she created Boucléme out of a desire to create naturally moisturizing and nourishing products for textured hair.

4.) Kinky-Curly’s Curling Custard -  This brand made it to our list twice! Another bestseller from the brand, this curling custard comes highly recommended to get to your curl potential without crunch! 

All photos reposted from the brands’ Instagram.