To celebrate Black History and International Women’s Month everyday we’re highlighting some of our favourite Black female-owned skincare, beauty and fashion brands. Small actions can spark opportunities for visibility and recognition. It is a time to support the community and create space for learning and conversations.  Within the beauty industry the demand for products that cater to a wide range of skin tones and types is not just about representation, but also a reflection on the market shifting, opening the eyes of many of the larger beauty brands to become more inclusive.  

We are excited to champion and show our appreciation for Black female entrepreneurs this month and everyday. From established brands to rising stars across beauty, fashion and lifestyle, keep reading to get to know some of the incredible Black-founded businesses you must have on your radar.

Skincare and Make up

BREAD Beauty Supply

Hair care brand, BREAD Beauty Supply was launched by Maeva Heim, a self-taught hair stylist who sought to fill a gap in the market for hair care products that cater specifically to the variety of curly hair textures. After feeling overlooked in mainstream conversations about hair, Maeva launched her brand to challenge the existing narrative around texture hair and provide effective and considerate solutions. Committed to promoting inclusivity and sustainability in the beauty industry, BREAD Beauty Supply’s innovative product line is designed to be uncomplicated, practical and fun, while being gentle on curls and coils. All the formulas are made with clean and natural ingredients while bringing simplicity to otherwise complicated routines. 

Redoux NYC

Co-founded by Asia Grant and her college friend Alejandro Cuevas, Redoux is a sophisticated offering of fine fragrances and vegan skincare. With a shared passion for new experiences and nostalgia comes a collection of bottled memories influenced by nature. Each product is designed to reflect the scents of each season.

Fenty Beauty 

It’s almost impossible to talk about Black-owned brands without mentioning Fenty Beauty. Founded by Rihanna, Fenty quickly made waves, shaking up the industry by offering the most inclusive range of products and shades. Made with high-quality formulations and sleek design, Fenty celebrates all types of peoples with their product offering and campaigns, quickly establishing a reputation as a champion of diversity and trailblazers in the industry. 

Ami Colé

While we are seeing more brands emerging in the mainstream market catering to more skin tones, black and brown consumers are still limited by the way of options. Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye, founder of Ami Colé, spent many years mixing and matching foundations and concealers, but still never felt like herself when she looked in the mirror.

After a few years in marketing roles in the beauty industry, Diarrha was approached by Glossier to work in their product development team, this was to serve as an incubator of sorts for what was to come. She soon set on a path to create products that would fill a void and address what she had been endlessly searching for yet unable to find: a range of clean beauty products designed to enhance instead of masking for that coveted “no makeup makeup look.”

Diarrha sought to create clean beauty products with shades, consistencies and a finish that is light, breathable and looks like your skin, so that when you look in the mirror you still see yourself. Ami Colé, named after her mother, is a brand dedicated to high quality makeup for melanin-rich skin that is not only aspirational, but also achievable. Offering a curated collection of make-up essentials designed to enhance and nourish the skin.

With a focus on clean, multi-functional products, Ami Colé embraces simplicity and efficacy, catering to the modern woman's busy lifestyle. From their skin-illuminating tinted moisturiser to their hydrating lip treatment, each product is thoughtfully formulated with high-quality, skin-loving ingredients to deliver effortless, radiant results.

Embracing inclusivity and empowerment, Ami Colé is a safe space for women of colour to see themselves and feel seen, giving them the tools to embrace their natural beauty, celebrate their diverse tones and rich stories, and inspire confidence and self-expression with each application.

Hanahana Beauty

Hanahana Beauty is more than just another beauty brand; it’s a celebration of African heritage and tradition. A socially responsible, sustainable and transparent company that develops consciously clean skincare and creates a new experience by supporting the communities involved.

Inspired by her mother’s at home regimens and fueled by the urge to satisfy her skin desires, founder and former algebra teacher Abena Boamah-Acheampong, started off by making products for herself. Very soon she returned to Ghana to discover more about the healing properties and the process of cultivating this nourishing ingredient.

After visiting a female cooperative called Katariga who were producing shea butter from the seeds of the native shea bushes, Abena returned to launch Hanahana Beauty, sourcing her shea butter directly from this collective.

Creating new experiences through homemade body care products, Hanahana Beauty has developed a consciously clean skincare that brings autonomy to its producers, making material change in education, healthcare and clean water initiatives. Hanahana Beauty’s products nourish and rejuvenate while empowering women of colour, prioritising sustainability and ethical sourcing, proving that beauty can be both ethical and effective. Their best-selling product comes in five natural scents 

Hyper Skin

Born out of personal struggles with acne, dark spots and feeling overlooked in the beauty industry, founder Desiree Vergejo launched Hyper Skin to provide solutions with real skin types, concerns, textures and colours in mind. Hyper Skin is on a mission to address the unique needs of women of colour offering a curated selection of products specifically formulated to target common concerns with melanin-rich skin.

Their hero product, the Hyper Clear Brightening Clearing Vitamin C Serum, is beloved for its potent blend of antioxidant and plant-based extracts that work in synergy to brighten dark spots and even out bumpy skin. Hyper’s solutions are a commitment to efficacy, inclusivity and transparency, delivering results and empowering women to embrace their natural beauty with confidence and pride.

Developed through the unique lens of coloured skin the range is gentle enough for darker tones, yet strong enough to deliver the promised results for lighter tones. Desiree has created a brand that truly celebrates diversity and inclusivity centered around realistic solutions. Redefining standards for modern, clean beauty backed by science, Hyper Skin has raised the bar with hyper-effective, safe formulas and the hype is real!  

Fashion and Lifestyle

Brother Vellies

Always on-point and sustainably crafted, Brother Vellies was founded in 2013 by Aurora James as a love letter to African design and craftsmanship. Dedicated to sustainability and ethical practices, Brother Vellies is a trailblazer in the fashion industry, setting new standards for environmental responsibility and social impact through their commitment to traditional techniques. Brother Vellies not only creates stunning footwear and accessories, but also preserves cultural heritage and empowers artisans in communities across the globe.

From sourcing eco-friendly materials to implementing fair labor practices, every aspect of Brother Vellies' supply chain is carefully curated to minimise environmental harm and maximise positive social outcomes. By prioritising sustainability and ethical production, Brother Vellies is leading the way towards a more responsible and compassionate fashion industry, proving that style and conscience can indeed go hand in hand.

The Harlem Candle Company

Entrepreneur Teri Johnson is an avid adventurer and professional jetsetter who brings her experiences to life through her product offerings, telling stories of the rich cultures she has encountered.

Realising the power of smells, Johnson turned her passions into a thriving luxury home fragrance company in 2014 inspired by the bounteous cultural history of her own neighbourhood of Harlem. The Harlem Candle Co. is the manifestation of travel and lifestyle connoisseur Teri Johnson’s love affair with scents, music, and the vibrant spirit of Harlem during the Renaissance Era.

Inspired by the richness of that nabe’s yesterday and today, each candle is handcrafted using a soy wax blend and infused with bespoke fragrance oils developed by some of the most renowned and innovative perfumers. So, light the wick, close your eyes and let your Harlem candle illuminate the space around you, transporting you to another time and place with its soft glows and evocative fragrances.

It’s the roaring twenties, the height of the renaissance, sounds of smooth jazz and notes of tobacco, amber and musk fill the streets of Harlem, NYC. With each candle you’re taken on an olfactory journey through time and place, capturing the beauty and essence of Harlem’s past and present.

The Harlem Renaissance remains one of America’s greatest eras of Black enlightenment, sparking a generation of Black intellectuals and creatives that still influence us today. Like music, the top, middle and base notes of each candle tells a story, encapsulating the moods and feelings of musical icons like Armstrong and Langston, while celebrating Black culture and heritage.

BROWN GIRL Jane

As we celebrate and support Black female-owned businesses, we couldn’t help but fall in love with BROWN GIRL Jane, a fine fragrance brand rooted in heritage, wanderlust and masterful craftsmanship.

The brainchild of three dynamic Black women with distinctly unique backgrounds, BROWN GIRL Jane brings together beauty and wellbeing through science-backed fragrance collections designed to uplift, inspire and transport your mind.

Every fragrance blends rare, global essences into unique scent compositions, offering a sensory journey that evokes joy and confidence, sparks motivation, or induces deep serenity.

BROWN GIRL Jane bottles fleeting moments and desired emotions into portable and powerful potions, a scent for every mood to help you feel energised, focused, uplifted or tranquil.

 

Elevating Black-owned Businesses and female-owned businesses

If the last few years have taught us anything, it's how to be more thoughtful about how we consume and the brands we give our money to. Shopping Black and female-owned businesses can help make a tangible difference. It can go a long way to giving Black female entrepreneurs recognition, funding, and shelf space. Whether you’re searching for Black-owned clothing labels, beauty brands, or home decor stores, you’ll find one to support here. 

Are there other black-owned brands you love?
Tell us via DM on our Instagram @kobaskincare and we'll add them to this article