Do you have tried-and-true beauty brands, or do you like to experiment with new offerings? What's a beauty find you love telling your friends about? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
It’s an exciting time—especially for those of us who remember when there was only one last name in Black beauty ... Johnson. We honor George and Joan Johnson who created the iconic Afro Sheen haircare and cosmetics line and John and Eunice Johnson who defined Black glamour with Fashion Fair Cosmetics. By the way, both brands are still going strong and are in Black hands.
Today there is a plethora of haircare, skincare and makeup lines that dedicate themselves to inclusivity for all skin tones, skin types, and hair types and textures. Highlighted below are the Black-owned brands you should know and the hero products you won’t want to be without! All prices are subject to change.
Glam Slam
Fenty
Why focus on the hair, makeup or skincare space when you can enjoy world domination in all three? Singer and style mogul Robin Rihanna Fenty embodied the beauty space with cool-girl inclusivity and an unmatched offering of shades and colors for all women. She then stunned with her foray into haircare for all textures with a tightly edited line of 11 products. All of this while she was dominating summer talk with her Fenty Skin entry, a new sun protectant. Bases loaded, she knocks it out the park. All I can say is have fun shopping! Fenty Beauty The Gelly Type Strong Hold Gel, is great for polished ponytails, sleek buns and tight top knots, $25. Sun protection year-round is a must. Reach for Hydra Vizor Huez Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Mineral SPF30 Refillable Tinted Moisturizer Set, a tinted SPF moisturizer that fades dark marks and boosts skin's elasticity with good-for-your-skin ingredients like niacinamide. Choose from 10 flexible shades, $48. Shadowstix Longwear Eyeshadow Stick, 16 intense pigmented, blendable shadow sticks to define and highlight your gaze. $25, available at Fentybeauty.com.
HAIR
Pattern
Created by actress and producer Tracee Ellis Ross. Girlfriend has bodied the haircare space with a 50+ piece line of shampoo, conditioner and stylers, and her tools are next level. Bring the heat with the Interchangeable Curling Iron which includes three different sized curling barrels, heat protective glove to wear while changing the barrels and a luxe storage pouch. $249. Available at Ulta.com.
Cecred
Let’s cut to the chase. Queen Bey with help from Mama Tina Knowles produced a sumptuous line of cleansers, conditioners and treatments that delivers what your mane craves: fortifying protein, rich conditioning and science melded with ancient global remedies. The eight-piece line is lightly scented with Oud, a woody, warm and musky fragrance that is among the world’s most expensive. When you need a heavenly strand saver, try Fermented Rice & Rose Protein Ritual. The ancient Asian hair treatment combines fermented rice and rose powder, which is mixed with water and used as a rinse to reduce breakage and encourage length retention. $52, available at Cecred.com.
4U by Tia
Created by sitcom icon and fab twin Tia Mowry, this line offers an affordable eight-piece line for juicy curls. Keep yours popping with Leave-In-Curl Cream, a versatile treatment that moisturizes and fights frizz, $11 and Curl Refresher Mist, a light spray that revives curls and refreshes scalp in between wash days, $11. Available at Walmart.com.
TPH By Taraji
Created by Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson. Two formulas to deep cleanse the scalp: TPH Master Cleanse, a targeted scalp wash, $15 and Never Salty, $14 a sugar-based scalp and hair scrub that exfoliates scalp and promotes hair growth. Available at Target.com.
Flawless by Gabrielle Union
Cofounded by the ageless actress and celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims. Gabby offers a comprehensive haircare line at affordable prices. Bathe strands and go with 5 Butter Miracle Leave-In Conditioner. Infused with shea and mango butter, it primes hair for easy detangling and locks in moisture. $11. Available at Amazon.com.