I agree with historian John William Templeton, who created National Black Business Month in 2004, but I disagree that it should be celebrated in only one month. I offer this: Black business should be celebrated 12 months a year because we must circulate the money into our communities like others do with theirs. We show our support with our dollars.
Let’s address the proverbial elephant in the room: The social media and media conversation about diversity and inclusion in beauty can sometimes feel stagnant, repetitive, and staged to benefit white-owned and white-run beauty brands and the corporations that own them.
It’s just like in Hollywood business circles, where companies willingly leave billions of dollars of profit on the table rather than step in and help grow a community of storytellers of color: When it comes to investments in beauty brands, they have historically provided just enough to get them started but not enough to support their growth.
The nonprofit Seasoned Gives Circulation of Our Dollar initiative presents a comprehensive analysis of how money circulates in historically populated African and African American communities, highlighting the transformative potential of regenerative economics over extractive practices. Understanding the profound impact of these dynamics is essential for addressing how we can keep our money circulating in our communities.
The current disparity in dollar circulation is stark, with a dollar remaining in the Asian community for 28 days, in the Jewish community for 19 days, in the White community for 17 days, and in the African American community for only six days.
I start these beauty stories with facts because we have power in whom we choose to support, and we must never forget that fact. According to the global marketing research firm NIQ, African American consumers spent a whopping $9.4 billion on beauty products in 2023, accounting for an estimated 14.4% of the U.S. population, which is a 32% increase since 2000. This is power.
Here are a few beauty brands that have products to consider supporting as you make the transition from summer to fall.
Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder and Concealers
Danessa Myricks creates multifunctional products that work for every part of the face. A self-taught professional makeup artist, her unconventional ways and innovation continue to help people achieve amazing results.
Black Opal True Color Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation
Dior has just dropped their new Dior Forever Skin Correct Multi-Use Foundation Stick, and Westman Atelier has just introduced their Vital Skin Foundation Stick, priced at $68. However, neither brand beats BLK/OPL at $14. Created in 1994 and Black-owned since 2019, this brand understands Black and Brown skin tones.
This brand released 36 shades because they understood the assignment. Their goal is to create products you can be active in and push the bounds of what beauty can stand for.
Ami Colé has a new Skin-Enhancing Lightweight & Blurring Foundation Stick. The founder, Diarrha N’Diaye, made this product for melanin-rich people, prioritizing natural ingredients and addressing the undertones of even the deepest shades of brown. This is also a clean beauty brand.
Pat McGrath has been in the beauty industry for more than 25 years, continuing a legacy of innovation. Her newest product is the Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Powder. It’s perfection!
The Thread Blend It Multi-stick focuses on the Gen Z consumer. This is a cruelty-free brand, and their goal is to create a culture around self-expression and creativity. Price range is only $4–$8.
LYS Beauty No Limits Cream Bronzer Stick, and now their foundation stick, is the first African American-owned, clean makeup brand at Sephora. This is a clean brand with distinctive formulations.
This brand is made for those who struggle with major skin issues like eczema and uses the standards set by the National Eczema Association. They even create “Not for Skin” ingredient lists to ensure that their customers stay away from elements that could trigger flare-ups.
Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder is one of the products in a line developed in Trinidad and Tobago. They cater to women of color with all different shades and tones.
This brand offers a beautiful range of lip colors for all occasions—maximum impact with minimal effort.
Mented products are created to fit people in a variety of hues. This is a high-quality, pigmented, vegan makeup brand.
Looking for the perfect matte liquid red lipstick? Look no further. The tone variant technology caters to diverse skin tones.
The Crayon Case Hall Pass Lip Gloss is a fan favorite. Founded in 2017 to inspire amateur makeup lovers, the company has evolved into a line that even expert makeup artists love.
Now at Sephora, this brand was founded by Eunice Johnson in 1973. Fashion Fair is an OG, breaking racial barriers in the business and centering on our beauty for generations, standing the test of time.
Founded by Kim Roxie, this brand was designed to make women of color feel better about themselves and is known for clean makeup that fits dark skin tones.
Adriana Nichole Cosmetics Single Shadows
I discovered this brand rising on TikTok. It’s created by Adriana Nichole, who focuses on single shadows that range from fun to absolutely nuts.