I’d intended for this post to go up shortly after my comparable one highlighting Indigenous-owned brands in July, but here we are, months later! Better late than never, right? I want to take this overdue time to shine my (small) spotlight on some of the amazing Black-owned products and brands in the green beauty sphere. This is in no way an exhaustive list, just some of the products that have caught my eye over the last several months (or even longer!)
Jacq’s Revitalizing Face Toner
This is a hydrating floral tea made with mint, hibiscus, chamomile, burdock root, rose, and more. It also includes moisturizing ingredients like aloe and sweet almond, rosehip, and sea buckthorn oils, and works to restore optimal skin pH. The ingredients are right up my alley and the beautiful pink colour is speaking to me too.
Lip Bar is, of course, best known for their lip products, but in these mask-wearing days, I’m more so drawn to the company's face palettes. Each skin tone-coordinated quad includes a setting powder, blush, bronzer, and highlighter, and I can’t help thinking the shades would also pair together beautifully on the eyes.
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Omiaje Herbal Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner
I haven’t had the best luck co-washing with regular conditioners, but I’m curious to try a dedicated cleansing conditioner to see how that might change things. The Herbal Co-Wash uses willow bark and witch hazel extracts for cleansing and also includes a host of nourishing and strengthening ingredients like marshmallow root, babassu oil, horsetail extract, and provitamin B5. Omiaje’s styling products are super intriguing too!
Josephine Cosmetics Eye/Dazzle Liquid Metallic Eyeshadows
I had a hard time picking just one product from Josephine Cosmetics to feature, but nothing gets me as excited makeup-wise as a beautiful metallic/shimmery eye! These highly pigmented liquid shadows promise just that with rich and sparkling colour and instant, long lasting glamour. Available in six glimmery shades that can also double as liners, they look just beautiful!
Alaffia Everyday Shea Shave Cream
Alaffia is a longtime favourite of mine for great performing and inexpensive hair and body products, but one that I’ve never tried is their Shave Cream. My current brand of choice has become increasingly difficult to find, but this looks like a fantastic alternative with a similar lotiony formula. The Shave Cream is available in three essential oil scents and unscented.
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Lovinah Copper Peptide & EGF Ampoule
From ingredients to packaging to price, Lovinah epitomizes luxury skincare to me. Beyond that, what really sparks my interest is how the company incorporates ingredients not often seen in green beauty lines, like the copper peptide and epidermal growth factor in this ampoule. I haven't used either one before, but both are known to be excellent ingredients for hydration and anti-aging. Lovinah’s founder, Joy, also created Black & Luxe over the summer, a site that showcases other great black-owned beauty, skincare, and wellness products.
Bask & Bloom Brahmi Root Hair Masque
I’d like to give my hair a little more attention before the cold weather sets in here, and this repairative hair mask looks like just the thing! Alongside numerous moisturizing ingredients, it includes an ayurvedic herbal infusion of brahmi, burdock, marshmallow, yucca, slippery elm, and horsetail for added conditioning and to promote healthy growth.
Our hands are exposed to everything, but they’re an area that’s often neglected when it comes to sun protection. Sure, you could apply a regular body sunscreen, but since those often lack the elegance and feel of a good hand cream, it’s not something most of us do. Which is why Unsun’s fast absorbing hand cream is so tempting to me! The formula, which claims to be water resistant for 40 minutes, combines rich emollients, revitalizing and anti-aging botanicals, and mineral SPF.
Plain Jane Beauty Blush Refills
Plain Jane offers an extensive line of makeup, but what stood out to me most is that the pressed eye shadows and blushes are sold as refill pans with minimal packaging. The blushes are calling my name, and I also love the look of the cream concealers/color correctors, which look like they might be housed in eco-friendly paper tubes. The company also has clear swatches of almost everything and sells inexpensive samples to help with choosing colours online.
The Honey Pot Feminine Hygiene Products
Mainstream feminine hygiene/cleansing product marketing can be pretty troubling, so I always feel the need to include a disclaimer before talking about these kinds of products. I don’t believe anyone needs feminine cleansing products because lady parts are inherently gross or dirty, but I think they’re great if you experience sensitivity with other products or if you just want a dedicated product for that area. I like the cheekiness of the company’s name and their Sensitive Wash, made with apple cider vinegar, calendula, and colloidal silver, looks like something I would like. The brand also makes wipes and menstrual and soothing products.
Soap Distillery Cocktail Inspired Bar Soaps
I don’t really drink, but the idea of soaps crafted to smell like cocktails is still really fun to me. I also love the company’s attention to sustainability -- soap packaging is plastic-free and biodegradable, and the company forgoes palm oil and any essential oils like sandalwood or palo santo with questionable or unsustainable harvesting/production methods. Note: some scents include fragrance oils, while others, like the Gin and Tonic bars pictured, are made using just essential oils.
Free + True Marigold Morning AM Creamy Gel Cleanser
I’ve heard a lot of positive buzz about Free + True, and the “creamy gel” description of this cleanser sounds like everything I look for in a face wash. The formula is pH balanced and its stellar ingredients include hyaluronic acid, sunflower oil, calendula, papaya, and plantain extracts, and lots more. Moonlight Milk, the company's nighttime balm-to-milk cleanser, looks just as tantalizing too!
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Inahsi Naturals Rock Your Curls Curl Enhancing Cream // Coconut Avocado Curl Defining Custard // Aloe Hibiscus Leave-In Conditioner & Detangler
Inahsi’s founder, who has a history in cosmetic and personal care manufacturing and formulation, created these products specifically for all types of curly hair, and honestly, I’m intrigued by most of the line! The ingredients look amazing and I love that everything is available in inexpensive 2-oz mini sizes if you’re just looking to test the waters.
FrizeFrize Make Me Smile Hair Gel // CurlMix Flaxseed Gel // EcoSlay Orange Marmalade
I’m grouping these together because all three are all flax-based hair gels. Gels are my usual go-to for wash day curl scrunching, and I’ve heard a lot of good things about flax-based formulas. The EcoSlay is scented with sweet orange essential oil, and FrizeFrize and Curl Mix offer both scented and unscented options.
I’d love to know any of your favourites that I might have missed! Feel free to leave them in the comments here or come chat with me over on Instagram:)
