Black Owned Clean Beauty Brands
Now more than ever, it is so important to purchase from black-owned businesses, big and small. There are so many ways in which you can support the Black Lives Matter movement beyond donating money and protesting in your neighborhood - buying from black-owned businesses in order to support the community is just one way to show your support. I have compiled a list of my favorite black-owned clean beauty brands to shop from and encourage you all to browse the selection. Like always, I am committed to only sharing brands I personally love and use myself.
KNC Beauty: KNC Beauty was founded in 2016 by Kristen Noel Crowley after a life-changing trip to Japan. The company’s claim to fame was their all-natural lip mask, the first of its kind, followed by a de-puffing eye-mask infused with retinol and rosemary, hyaluronic acid, and licorice root extract. Soon after, the company launched a moisturizing lip balm dubbed ‘Supa Balm’ and an exfoliating lip scrub called Supa Scrub. All KNC products are paraben, sulfate, petroleum, and animal cruelty-free.
Plant Apothecary: Plant Apothecary is a Brooklyn based skincare company that sells clean, vegan products. Labeling a product as “vegan” means the ingredients found within it has not been tested on animals. “Clean” means that it is free from artificial coloring, synthetic fragrances, petroleum derivates, pesticides, parabens, phthalates, silicones, and sulfates. Plant Apothecary’s products are plant-based too; they’re made with organic essential oils and botanical ingredients. Plant Apothecary sells a range of body products like washes, bar soaps, and oils, as well as face products like oil moisturizers, masks, and mists (say that three times fast!).
The Honey Pot: Founded by Bea Dixon, the Honey Pot Company is the first plant-based feminine care line on the market. Honey Pot sells all kinds of menstrual-care products from tampons and pads to liners, cups, and sponges, as well as hygienic washes and wipes for everyday use. Honey Pot products are made with eco-friendly ingredients; everything is free of toxins, chemicals, artificial fragrance, and synthetic material. All products are developed and tested by women and are gynecologist-approved.
Briogeo: Founded by Nancy Twine, Briogeo is an all-natural (and might I add award-winning!) haircare collection. The Briogeo brand is built upon the principles of honesty, transparency, and authenticity. Briogeo formulas are free of harsh sulfates, silicones, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic color. All ingredients are ethically sourced, and all products are cruelty and gluten-free. Just a few of many Briogeo bestsellers include the charcoal + coconut oil micro-exfoliating shampoo, deep conditioning mask, ginseng + biotin volumizing spray, and charcoal + tea tree scalp treatment.
The Lip Bar: The Lip Bar is a line of vegan, cruelty-free cosmetics that have been redefining beauty standards for women and men since the company’s launch in 2012. The Lip Bar was founded in part because of Melissa Butler’s frustration by the lack of diversity and inclusion within the beauty industry, as well as the use of excessive amounts of chemicals in beauty products on the market. The Lip Bar offers an impressive selection of lipsticks, glosses, face and eye makeup, and the original ‘Fast Face Kit.’
Pholk Beauty: Pholk Beauty was founded by Niambi Cacchioli with women of color in mind. While traveling in Africa, Niambi experimented with local ingredients and simple recipes she learned from her grandmother in order to find the perfect formula for her combination skin. Pholk Beauty is a brand built upon the African Diaspora’s folk beauty rituals and healing and herbalist traditions. All products are vegan and made with natural ingredients like cold-pressed hibiscus oil, ale vera, moringa, and turmeric.
Mielle Organics: Mielle Organics is an organic haircare brand that was founded by Monique Rodriguez in 2014. The brand took off with the launch of its first product, the Advanced Hair Formula, which is comprised of herbs, amino acids, and mineral. Like Advanced Hair Formula, every Mielle product is made with all-natural ingredients. Bestsellers include Babassu Oil and Mint Deep Conditioning Protein/Moisture Replenisher, Detangling Co-Wash, Moisturizing Avocado Hair Milk, Adult Healthy Hair Formula, and White Peony Leave-In Conditioner.
Foxie Cosmetics: Foxie Cosmetics is a line of vegan and cruelty-free bath, body, skin, and hair products. Austin, Texas native Kayla Phillips created the company in 2015. Foxie Cosmetics was born out of a need for soothing bath products, as Kayla suffers from aches and pains due to chronic illness. Since then, she has expanded Foxie Cosmetics to include perfume and home decor.
Lauren Napier Beauty: Lauren Napier Beauty totally changed the way I think about makeup remover wipes. Their products are so much more than that; the makeup wipes are made with the highest quality all-natural ingredients, leaving skin feeling not only clean but firm and rejuvenated. Lauren Napier Beauty’s bestsellers include three different kinds of facial cleansing wipes: “Cleanse” for normal to sensitive skin, “La Rose” for oily and blemish-prone skin, and “Flaunt” for anti-aging.
Let me know some of your favs below!
X kt