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Image: TLBFor innovative makeup that caters to a variety of skin tones and needs, black-owned brands should be on your radar. Many of these brands were founded by women who saw an opportunity in the market and seized it. Not only will supporting these brands make you feel great, but you'll also find some of the best shades and formulas you’ve ever used.
Here are 10 standout black-owned makeup brands to explore, along with their top products that you shouldn’t miss.
1. Pat McGrath Labs
When one of the world's top makeup artists creates a makeup line, you know it's going to be amazing. Pat McGrath Labs is beloved by makeup professionals and influencers alike. Although the products are on the pricier side, their high pigmentation and quality make them worth every cent.
Our Pick: We can't help but adore the stunning Sunlit Seduction Palette. With its floral mattes and soft blush-toned pinks, this palette offers endless possibilities for creating beautiful looks.
2. Fenty Beauty
Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty line is taking the beauty world by storm, and it’s easy to see why. These products aren’t just a fan favorite because of their connection to Rihanna; they deliver amazing performance with top-notch pigmentation, designed to flatter a vast range of skin tones.
Our Pick: Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation is the ideal foundation for everyone. With 58 diverse shades to choose from, you're sure to find your perfect match. This foundation promises a flawless finish that lasts from day to night.
3. Danessa Myricks Beauty
Founded by the talented makeup artist Danessa Myricks in 2016, this beauty line was created with inclusivity in mind, offering products for a wide range of skin tones. What sets Danessa Myricks Beauty apart is its collection of multitasking products that blend innovation with beauty.
Our Pick: The award-winning Blurring Balm Power is a standout. This versatile product can be used alone or as a primer beneath foundation, offering both hydration and oil control, with a buildable texture that makes it a must-have.
4. LYS Beauty
LYS Beauty meets both Sephora and Credo's clean beauty standards, offering a range of products that cater to diverse cultures and budgets. With everything priced under $30, it’s hard to resist adding these amazing finds to your cart.
Our Pick: No matter how great your makeup is, without quality brushes, it just won’t shine. That's why we adore this elegant rhinestone brush set, which includes a foundation brush, powder brush, concealer brush, crease blending brush, and eyeshadow smudging brush. It’s everything you need, and it makes a perfect gift.
5. Ami Colé
Inspired by the founder Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye’s Senegalese heritage, Ami Colé is a clean beauty brand designed specifically for melanin-rich skin. The line offers an array of amazing products, including liquid matte eyeshadows, lip products, and mascara.
Our Pick: With six beautiful shades, the Lip Treatment Oil is a true game-changer. This oil-to-gloss formula provides shine without any stickiness, delivering both moisture and a pop of color at the same time.
6. Embellish Beauty
Founded by makeup artist Marcia Williams, Embellish Beauty offers a wide variety of makeup products, from lipsticks to mascara. All items are vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and paraben-free.
Our Pick: Whether you're into classic neutrals or vibrant pinks, Embellish’s nourishing stains deeply hydrate the lips with a blend of ingredients like avocado oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil, and vitamin E.
7. Damone Roberts
A perfect look begins with the brows, and nobody understands this better than Damone Roberts. Known as the “King of Eyebrows,” Roberts created this brow-focused line. Even if you can't have him personally shape your brows (he's busy working on celebrities), these products will help you achieve the perfect shape.
Our Pick: Seen on Tameron Hall, the Tinted Brow Gel is a must-have in every makeup collection. Its round brush makes application a breeze, while the microfibers add fullness to your brows. The best part? It keeps even the boldest brows intact all day long.
8. Fashion Fair
Fashion Fair, one of the pioneering black-owned makeup brands, was founded in 1973 by Eunice Johnson. As the first international prestige cosmetics brand for darker skin tones, it continues to push boundaries in the beauty industry.
Our Pick: A bold lip needs the perfect liner, and Fashion Fair’s Lip Shapers deliver just that. With shades ranging from Sexy Scarlet to Plum Wine, these pencils are not only flattering but easy to sharpen.
9. Juvia’s Place
Looking for a black-owned makeup brand with bold, vibrant colors? Juvia’s Place has got you covered. Founded by Chichi Eburu, she created the brand after struggling to find makeup that suited her deep skin tones.
Our Pick: Fun, affordable, and totally genius, the Candy Shop Palette features sixteen sweet shades. With bubblegum pinks and blues, this palette is perfect for creating playful day-to-night looks.
10. TLB
TLB, also known as The Lip Bar, might sound familiar because its founder, Melissa Butler, appeared on Shark Tank. This vegan brand offers five lip products, including balms, liquid mattes, liners, lipsticks, and balms. But that's not all—TLB has expanded to include eye and face products, as well as skincare. And the best part? You can find it at Target!
Our Pick: Can’t choose which liquid matte to try? Why not get all three with the Mini Matte Pout Pack? With shades like Bawse Lady, Rich Auntie, and It Girl, these formulas glide on like gloss but dry to a smooth matte finish—without drying out your lips.
