image via Narloa
….Continued from original BIPOC post….
In the recent years of truly living a sustainable lifestyle, and overhauling my everyday products, I’m always on a continuous hunt and research for cruelty-free, non-toxic and sustainable beauty and fashion brands. And you know what I discovered? So many of these companies are founded and owned by women of color! Many on this list have been on my radar for sometime, some I still use, while others I can’t wait to finally try!!
1. Red Carpet Faces
I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working with Denea Kelly, creator and makeup artist behind Red Carpet Faces, a few times from weddings to this darling beauty themed birthday party — she was even came to Portugal and joined me on my 1st international wedding. She is such a beautiful soul, the kind of energy and positivity you want around you. But she’s also a crazy talented makeup artist, beauty educator and “Madame Airbrush” as she calls herself. She’s based in NJ/NY area and has worked with soo many people, including Loni Love and Essence Fest 2019.
2. Narloa
I’m impatiently waiting for Narloa’s Jasmine + Neroli body oil, a natural blend of my favorites scents! But every skincare product lovingly made with the power of aromatherapy and botanicals seem absolutely divine to me and I can’t wait to give them a try!
3. klur
klur is another natural botanical skincare brand I’m drying to try! I’m a big fan of natural floral infused body oils, and their Elements of Comfort oil with Neroli is in my shopping cart! The self-funded woman owned and operated brand is all about thoughtful, minimal and simplified skin wellness. I can’t wait to give it a try.
4. LIHA Beauty
LIHA Beauty has some of the prettiest minimal branding {totally my style} but each product is made with high quality ingredients that are nontoxic, vegan, cruelty and paraben-free. Their Idan Oil is the most popular moisturizing oil, which is scented with Tuberose flower that I just love! The concept for LIHA was born from the desire to create a luxe natural and organic skincare brand that blended the rich botanical life of West Africa with traditional English aromatherapy and folk remedies.
5. Oui People
Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get a Oui People razor for quite some time now, I mean it’s a sustainable body and shaving brand with a beautiful looking razor, when can you say that about a razor! But I’m daunted by its blade. I’ve heard amazing reviews that it’s an awesome shave, have you given it a try?? I need you to convince me to finally get it!
6. Honey Pot
I’ve known about Honey Pot for over a year when I began seeing their Target commercials. Although I’m already order a 100% cotton subscription of Tampons from another brand, I absolutely want to finally give this completely natural brand a try…whenever they come back in stock!
7. Manketti Hair
Award-winning stylist created products, The Manketti hair care line was created by award winning stylists specifically designed for curly hair types. Their products uniquely blend organic and sustainably sourced Manketti Nut and Ximenia oils that condition and nourish to allow hair’s natural shine.
8. Ode to Self Skincare
Ode to Self Skincare is a beautifully designed skincare brand with intention of offering simple products catered specifically to the African-American woman’s {or man’s} skin. Each product created by Kimberlee Alexandria works to specifically take care of dryness and hyper-pigmentation in a gentle way. This is more than just skincare, it’s about wellness and empowering the Black woman and man to feel their best self.
9. Pear Nova
I love that there are soo many clean nail polish brands these days, and Pear Nova is another brand offering a lovely selection of 10-free formula polishes for every nail care mood, like Dianna Boss and Pineapple Skies. If you happen to live or be in the Chicago are, maybe make a stop at their salon!
10. Range Beauty
It’s a bit disheartening that Fenty was the one of the first high beauty brands to be publicized for offering an array of inclusive foundation colors, specifically for people of color, that for decades were forgotten in the mainstream beauty world. Well, Range Beauty is doing the same, offering affordable and high-quality clean and cruelty-free beauty with shades that perfectly match anyone’s beautiful hue. Their foundation is also the only to be made with eczema and acne in mind.
11. Rosen Skincare
Rosen is one of the few clean skincare brands that are revolutionizes the acne care industry. They normalize acne, because hello it’s human nature, and have thoughtfully made products for people with acne-prone skin. That means all your bumps and scars now have a cleaner enemy. You can even take their skin quiz to get a curated selection of products for you.
12. Brown and Coconut
After years of suffering from severe acne and beyond frustration from the lack of effective popular skin care products, sisters Letisha and Zeena Brown embarked on a journey to heal their skin, from the inside out with Brown and Coconut. They started crafting products that were powered by plant ingredients that were powerful enough to heal and nourish the skin, while still being gentle. Every ingredient used in their products is intentionally added, are all plant-based, non-GMO and as organically sourced as possible. The most important thing is that every single ingredient is used because it serves an important purpose — restore harmony to the skin. Brown and Coconut is for all genders and all skin types! Their Nourishing Body Oil sounds incredibly nourishing, especially with the powerful squalene oil {I’ve started using products with this ingredient on my face and it’s seriously a game changer!}. I love that they also sell sustainable accessories to help reduce waste like reusable cotton pads and exfoliating soap bag.
13. Wild Seed Botanicals
Wild Seed Botanicals was created with the concept of harnessing the power of nature to heal, nourish and restore, something I wholeheartedly believe. Using holistic African traditions, their small batch handmade All of their products are handmade in small batches with love using the finest organic oil and botanicals. Products range from face, to body, to curated “self care ritual” sets and even for men.
14. Flora Lee Naturals
Are you catching the message yet, Plants and Nature are one of the most powerful ingredients to incorporate into our lives, especially on our skin! Nia Nicole, the creator of Flora Lee Naturals grew up with her grandmother in Michigan and was always inspired by a desire to live a more natural, holistic lifestyle. Fueled by her love of skincare, Nia launched her handmade, plant-based skincare brand using grandma Flora Lee’s vegetable/fruit garden as the inspiration for each blend. Flora Lee’s products are simple and fuss-free, because that’s what multi-tasking skincare and wellness products should be — and also brighten your day!
15. Daughter of the Soil
I did mention there are quite a few sustainable and nontoxic beauty and skincare brands led by women of color, and Daughter of the Soil is one you must check out, especially if you’re on and starting a skincare focused on anti-aging. I’ve become more serious about mine since entering my 30’s and particularly because wrinkles tend to be a familial trait. Finding products that are natural, cruelty-free and don’t contain harsh chemicals and retinol, is almost impossible. Well, that’s where DOTS’ products come in, all focused on botanicals to improve skin quality, it’s certainly on my list to try when I finish testing out my current products, and their body products seem just as divine.
16. Mum Bub Hub
Mum Bub Hub is all about creating products that empower mothers and wellness for families transitioning into parenthood, and all their profits go “directly toward providing access to free perinatal education/support on top of standard maternity care, as well as access to free tailored specialist support for women who are finding it hard to access any support due to lack of finances, being on waiting lists, or for those who need support but do not know how to access it.” I’m all for this brand for any momma!
17. Fenty Beauty
Of course, everyone knows Fenty Beauty…I mean if you know Rihanna, then you know a few years ago she released her own cruelty-paraben-sulfate free brand. I’ve actually used her Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer and Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder for almost a year now. The products are light and smell pretty, but the most important thing is that they’re inclusive to all skin tones, especially people of color! And did you hear Rihanna is launching Fenty Skin!
18. The Lip Bar
The Lip Bar might have popped up on your IG or ads, I love that this brand is vegan and cruelty-free, but as someone who is more drawn to warm/natural earth tones when it comes to makeup I love all their color palettes! And guess what? Also available at Target!
19. Mented Cosmetics
Mented Cosmetics is another amazing non-toxic, vegan, cruelty and paraben free makeup brand. It was created after the realization that the clean beauty industry was in serious need of colors to compliment ALL skin tones!
20. Beauty Bakerie
Beauty Bakerie has quickly made the rounds of well-know Black Owner beauty brands that is celebrating cruelty-free products that celebrate all women of color!
21. Black Girl Sunscreen
Black Girl Sunscreen is finally putting sun protection on the map for black people!! Because they too need protection, and this brand can easily be found at Target!
22. Curl Box // Myleik Teele
Curl Box makes it even easier to maintain natural curls with their affordable subscription box, the first of its kind for black driven haircare products! Myleik Teele, the founder is also an activist and teacher, empowering other budding entrepreneurs with #MyTaughtYou podcast. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_npQQYgoQX/
23. People of Color
When Jacqueline Carrington was growing up never saw women of color ever represented in photos wearing various shades of nail polish colors, but it wasn’t until her own daughter began coming back from grandma’s house with her nails painted that she wanted to change that! People of Color mission isn’t merely to represent POC, but to reflect and celebrate everyone who loves and lives in color! is not just for People of Color. Our slogan is “nail polish for People of Color and those who live in color”. This essentially represents everyone who lives in and loves color! There colors are vibrant and beautiful, as well as non-toxic, vegan and cruelty-free, and I’ve got a few shades already saved to purchase whenever they’re back in stock!
24. VEQUE
VEQUE refers to their clean and vegan nail polish brand as a time-capsule of stories and nail care secretes from generations of nail artists and professional expertise. VEQUE is beautifully celebrating their life’s work and heritage that made nail care come to be, while supporting the evolution of clean vegan wellness beauty. They have an entire collection devoted to Nudes a nd so many inclusive skin tone shades for all people of color. I’m also obsessed with their Salted Caramel, Magique and Wainui shades!!
25. Mischo Beauty
Kitiya Mischo King always envisioned her future as a beauty innovator, and that’s exactly what she became when she launched Mischo Beauty in 2013 when she couldn’t find safe non-toxic nail polish during her pregnancy in 2011. Having a degree in Chemistry and as a licensed cosmetologist, esthetician and makeup artist what better person to create a luxury but completely clean nail polish brand.
26. Smoke and Ochre
Smoke and Ochre is a brand of traditional Aboriginal bush medicines made by three generations of strong indigenous women. I’m always one to prefer holistic remedies driven by plant and nature products, so the healing and chest balms certainly peak by interest.
27. Angie Watts
For those of you who suffer from eczema, Angie Watts specifically created her natural, vegan and cruelty-free skincare line to help with her own daughter’s long batttle with it. Angie calls herself a “Skin Food Chef” using the beneficial power of plant-based ingredients to create products that truly nourish and promote healthy skin.
28. Beneath Your Mask
It’s often after hardship that leads to innovation and beneficial results, and that’s what happened after Beneath Your Mask founder was diagnosed with Lupus and suffered and unbearable part of your life. She embarked on a mission to create a natural and non-toxic beauty brand she’d feel good about using on her skin, and essentially continue the path of healing and persevering. Between her Skin Soufflé and Body Elixir she aims to restore, repair, and reverse the toxic effects of environmental hazards and health/lifestyle challenges have on our skin and body.
29. Be Transcendent Skin
Power to you if you have the patience and fit the time to have a skincare routine that involves multiple products, I do not have that patience. I care about my skin but I believe in using fewer products, but higher quality that serve multi-purposes and that’s what Be Transcendent Skin is. They’re all about un-complicating your skincare. Their plant based products are geared to improve skin’s natural glow no matter what your skin type it, athough they do make it easy to find out what yours is with this skin type analyzer.
30. Brigeo Hair Care
I heard about Brigeo awhile back when I was further researching clean beauty brands, and was intrigued by the amazing reviews their conditioning masks have. They have products from exfoliating scalp scrubs to those that tame frizz, add volume and everything in between.
31. Fertile Alchemy
Listen up Ladies! Who doesn’t want a soothing relief to PMS woes, well Fertile Alchemy created an aromatic oil specifically designed to help promote relaxation, hormone balance, emotional wellness and soothe cramps. A personal fave, this synergistic aromatic oil is designed for feminine balance and works on both a physical and subtle level to promote relaxation, emotional wellness, hormonal balance, fertility, and provide PMS relief. And each is handcrafted in small batches using responsible and organic ingredients….now what lady doesn’t want all of that, I’ll definitely have to give it a try!
And these lists won’t end here, as I learn about more BIPOC I will continuously be updating these lists with as many inspiring talents as possible, so stay tuned!!
Don’t forget to check out these other inspiring BIPOC too!
Writers || Poets || Speakers || Publications+Books || NonProfits
Interiors || Home Decor + Design
Artists || Photographers || Creators
Wedding/Event Professionals || Floral Designers
Environmentalists || Sustainability || Planters/Gardeners
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