We know that there are a number of beauty brands out there that use ingredients that are a bit suspicious. Is it possible to shop beauty brands that support the community and are ethical too? The short answer is yes. It takes research and due diligence to find Black-owned beauty brands that are not only working to achieve a carbon-neutral footprint, but that are also built on equality, social justice, animal welfare, and ecological integrity.
That’s a mouthful, but essentially, ethical beauty brands are brands that are focused on positively driving environmental, economical, ecological and social justice. They are not solely focused on being eco-friendly, they avoid “green-washing”, and they put their money where their mouths are as far as true sustainability.
Check out these five Black-Owned ethical beauty brands.
Marie Hunter Beauty
Licensed cosmetologist turned skincare founder, KéNisha Ruff has a passion for skincare and cosmetics. It is this passion that spurred her to spend five years traveling the world to find the best and most ethical cosmetic laboratories fit for the creation of Marie Hunter Beauty. In addition to vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics and skincare, the catalog ranges from candles to creams to home fragrances.
byValentine Skin Care
Founded by Zimbabwe native and UK-registered pharmacist, Valentine Sibanda, in 2020, byValentine Skin Care is made with 100% natural, sulfate-free, paraben-free and cruelty-free ingredients. This skincare line is designed for people who live with extreme acne, hyperpigmentation, and dry skin. Natural products can fully restore and repair any skin condition.
Flora Lee Naturals
Inspired by her grandmother, Flora Lee’s, passion for gardening, Nia Bucke founded Flora Lee Naturals in 2017. This plant-based skincare line specializes in hydrating ingredients that make your skin happy and healthy. A holistic, plant-based skincare routine is all you need to unlock your skin’s inner radiance.
Brown & Coconut
Boston-based sisters, Zeena and Letisha, began their journey of healing their acneic skin through holistic and conscious lifestyle changes (which they documented on their lifestyle blog) in 2013. When they could not find skincare products on the market to meet their needs, they began crafting their own plant-based products, which would go on to become Brown & Coconut. Their vegan skincare blends plants, botanical extracts, and clays to create powerhouse products that heal itching, stinging, and flaking skin.
Mented Cosmetics
In 2017 co-Founders KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson founded Mented to help make the beauty industry more inclusive of all skin tones. The premium beauty brand offers makeup that is pigMented to complement diverse and deeper skin tones. The best part is that all of their products are vegan, paraben-free, non-toxic and cruelty free.