Get your summer skin glowing and smooth with these black-owned skincare brands:
BGLH Marketplace (Shameless plug, hah!)
BGLH Marketplace carries an array of whipped and raw natural butters and African black soap. With scents like vanilla, tobacco, grapefruit, mint chocolate, and more, there’s certainly something for everyone.

Oyin usually gets shine for their hair products, but the skincare products are delish! The Baltimore-based cult favorite offers natural deodorant, body creams and butters, lip balm, and more. Bonus: They also sell cool tshirts and books on the site.

Pooka carries shower gels and body mists, which can be hard to find from indie brands. You can also shop by collection to find products that complement one another. Cute fact: The name “Pooka” comes from the nickname Dawn Fitch’s mother has for her children – “Pookalitas.”

BFN is another company usually known for haircare, but the facial lotions, polishes, and buttercreams are impeccable. Their vegan/vegetarian products are free of harmful petro-chemicals, made from raw vegetable based ingredients, preserved naturally, and follow FDA standards.

If you aren’t into shea butter, try out Butter Me Up. Instead of shea butter, they mainly use mango, avocado, and almond butters with various scents. The motivation & inspiration behind this skin care line began during the owner’s trial & error experience with consistently buying, off-the-shelf, beauty & body care products that were stated, to heal, protect & nourish one’s skin while, all at once, claiming to be 100% organic & natural.

This company has various lines, and even includes skincare lines for babies and men. I’m curious about the Morning Dew Serum – it’s $64! I know the ingredients are good but I hope it’s absolutely amazing for that much.

The company was developed by a licensed medical esthetician with over 30 years of experience, Mildred Bell. The products are specially formulated to work on those with sensitive skin and address a number of ailments. Bell is a member of the Society of Plastic Surgical Skin Care Specialists, the Day Spa Association, an associate member of the Society of Dermatology Skincare Specialists, and an associate member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.

VM also carries cosmetics, but the skincare line pretty much offers everything for all combinations of skin. Moore, who formerly acted on television, wanted to develop a line of cosmetics addressing the needs of women of color. She is also very involved in community efforts, speaking at the first Urban Economic Council presented by the White House Business Council, the White House Council on Women and Girls and the US Small Business Administration.

Jacq’s’ Organics was founded after the owner found out she had an ovarian tumor, and realized the need to develop natural, plant-based products. Bonus: Jacq’s supports non-profit agencies that help communities in need, including the Haitian Relief Organization and Global Soap Project.

Honestly, the packaging is enough to make me want to buy it ALL. Talk about the gourmand scent jackpot – not only do these butters, creams, and scrubs come in amazing scents, they are also decorated like the dessert they smell like.

I’m always down for a makeup wipe! Lauren Napier created these wipes for being on the go and keeping your face hydrated and clean. You can also use them to prep your skin before applying makeup. The wipes are made with pure ingredients and complex natural compounds deemed safe by the World Health Organization.

This site offers butters, holistic carrier oils, and even tumbled crystals. Secretly OBvious formulas are also made with highly concentrated steam distilled essential oils (as well as some cold pressed oils) from the most healing plants in the world, something I found uncommon and interesting. Richard Gideon Hammond founded the company in 2014 after dabbling in his family’s essential oils recipes for years.

This company even offers natural deodorant and aromatherapy oils you can use as perfume. A San Diego-based company, Skinfolk focuses on holistic products and avoids irritants and alcohol-based ingredients – shea butter and african black soap are some of the first ingredients used.

Plant Apothecary is led by a husband-wife team, who design and/or formulate all PLANT products either together or independently. Their products are made with the help of adults with physical and mental disabilities, who work at the nonprofit BKLYN UNLTD workshop, in Brooklyn, New York. BKLYN UNLTD’s mission is to give disabled adults access to work training and paid work opportunities.

What are your favorite black-owned skincare lines?
23 Responses
I don’t think Cleanse by Lauren Napier is still being sold. She’s moved on to making a cook book. Can’t find anything about it on her socials. I used to promote her on my site, SheairButters, and my daughter used the product. But a few months ago when we went to repurchase, we could not find it anywhere online.
Shalay Wellness is one of my must-haves for eczema kits, beard creams, etc. and they also have a storefront at the Annapolis Mall, MD????
I forgot one! Basebutter as well which is an Aloe Vera based face moisturizer. I have and use all of these brands and they are all black owned 🙂
I recently started using black girl sunscreen(available at target) and love it, also mented cosmetics which is available at Ulta and Mielle for my hair which is available at target as well.
Dora Max has a nice line of products.
I love Nubian Heritage. Surprised that didn’t make the list.
Nubian Heritage is owned by Shea Moisture (Sundial) and I personally don’t support those brands.
I am confused. Isn’t Shea Moisture a black-owned business? I am asking that out of judgement BTW.
Correction: I am asking that but NOT out of judgement 🙁
They are majority black-owned and have a partnership with Bain Capital. After that partnership, I started disliking their marketing strategy and how they release products as well as their ingredients. While I LOVE supporting black-owned brands, I can’t buy from them just b/c they are black.
Don’t forget MissShe Body Cocktails http://www.Missshe.net
Can anyone refer me to African-American or African distributors of unrefined raw shea butter.
Try this: https://bglh-marketplace.com/product/raw-shea-butter/
There’s also DermHa!!
Thank you so much for posting this. Incredibly helpful!
This is Anazing. I appreciate the work and time they put into it. Someone should invest in a business where all these items are available in a black owned store.
that’s a great idea
Cream and coco…the best!
They all look good but Im gonna guess that every single one of them are only available online.
Lately, I’m into Uhuru Naturals skin and hair care. I’d give Dirty Beauty a shot. I’m a sucker for a beautiful bottle.
Wow! I.did know there was many. Thank.you.
Not a girl but I discovered cocosheanut.. And my wife and I love the body and hair butters from them… http://www.cocosheanut.com
+Folie Apothecary. Founded by Nikisha of UrbanBushBabes