Melanin-rich skin is a blessing. However, it’s no secret that the Black community’s skin care needs have historically been ignored within the beauty industry. From ashy sunscreens to alcohol-based ingredients, these products would often lead to increased sensitivity and irritation. To address our unique skin care needs, Black beauty entrepreneurs across the globe have since placed an emphasis on our beauty needs to create an admirable range of accessible, sustainable skincare products. By sourcing unique ingredients like Jamaican bilberry and the beloved Ghanian shea butter, these products effortlessly target issues like dryness and hyperpigmentation.
While it goes without saying that we should always invest in Black-owned beauty, these skincare and bodycare brands deserve recognition for leaving our skin feeling extra special. If you’re looking for more diverse, inclusive skincare brands, this is a good place to start.
1. Liha Beauty
Founded by best friends Liha Okunniwa and Abi Oyepitan, LIHA beauty is all about embracing African heritage. In classic Yoruba tradition, each product is handmade in batches using ethically sourced West African ingredients to forge luxe, organic, and vegan products. From their moisturising body butters and oils to their earthy candles, their expansive range of products are sure to cater to your needs.
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2. 54 Thrones
54 countries, 54 Thrones. Entrepreneur, Christina Tegbe, founded the brand in 2015 to appreciate the African continent’s 54 interior countries while championing Africa’s roots of clean beauty. To achieve the brand’s ethos of sustainability, the brand continues to create opportunities for African cooperative partners through direct commerce. A must-try product is the ultra-hydrating Egyptian Lavender and Moroccan Mint Beauty Butter that will make your skin feel pampered and moisturised.
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3. Epara
A brand motivated by inclusivity, EPARA is a luxury skincare line for and by dark skinned women. After being unable to find skincare that targeted issues of pigmentation and dry skin, Nigerian-British entrepreneur, Ozohu Adoh, developed her own products using organic African ingredients. In 2017, EPARA was awarded the Best New Product For Dark Skin prize in the 2017 Grazia Beauty Awards, while the EPARA Cleansing Oil was voted Best Cleanser for Hyperpigmentation by Marie Claire in 2017.
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4. Buttah Skin
Created in 2018 by actor and model Dorion Renaud, Buttah Skin is all about catering to melanin-rich complexions. Each Buttah Skin product, from their beloved Facial Shea Butter Moisturiser to their Soothing AHA/BHA Rosewater Facial Toner, contains organic African shea butter created to target dryness, discolouration and breakouts, to ultimately boost your confidence in your skin.
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5. London Grant Co
Inspired by the art of “less is more”, the Atlanta-based brand, London Grant, is a consciously clean skincare brand with a lineup of products rooted in non-toxic, fragrance-free ingredients. Each ultra-nourishing butter, oil or scrub is handcrafted to enhance the skin’s natural glow. Whether you’re caring for your little ones or seeking nourishment for mature skin, all their products are safe for the entire family.
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6. BROWN GIRL Jane
BROWN GIRL Jane is motivated by a clear mission, and that is to create wellness solutions for multicultural women. Each innovative vegan product is created with the intention to boost your mood and reduce the appearance and feeling of stress. If you’re on the look-out for a lightweight facial oil, add the Glow Luminous Facial Serum with CBD to your skincare arsenal to deliver a dewy finish without a lingering greasy feel.
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7. Hanahana Beauty
With a story as beautiful as their products, Hanahan Beauty was founded by Abena Boamah-Acheampong. With a a mission to disrupt unsustainable practices within the global beauty industry, Hanahana uses all-natural ingredients and directly supports African women by partnering with the Katariga Womens in Ghana. Escape to the tropics by indulging in their must-try bamboo coconut body butter.
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8. 4.5.6 Skin
4.5.6 Skin is championing the accessibility and inclusivity of Science-backed skincare. The most impressive part? This brand is the world’s first skincare lab fully dedicated to studying the needs of dark skin. Welcome the spa into your home with their hydrating, come-clean cleansing oil, that purifies your skin while evening out pigment spots.
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