By Chris Olsen
The average annual revenue for women-owned businesses is $143,000. Black women-owned businesses earn significantly less—an average of $24,000 annually. This is largely because women of color do not receive access to the critical resources needed to start and grow their small businesses.
As a consumer, you can make a difference. Join Publish Her in buying beauty products from Black women business owners. Use these services. Show your support by liking, sharing, following and recommending Black women-owned businesses online.
A’ME-KE: Online retail space featuring inclusive makeup, beauty and grooming brands made with melanin in mind; founded by Emeka L. Anyanwu, Esq. Ame-ke.com
AMINA ADEM NATURAL SKINCARE: Natural luxury skincare that combines modern science and aromatherapy; founded by Amina Adem. AminaAdem.com
AVOCURL: Hair care products for all hair textures made with natural ingredients like avocado and coconut; founded by Jasmine Curtis. AvoCurl.com
BASE BUTTER: Aloe vera moisturizer made for oily and combination skin; founded by She’Neil Johnson. BaseButter.com
BELLE BODY: Sugar and salt scrub that exfoliates and nourishes for glowing skin; founded by Megan Carter. BelleBodyGlow.com
BEAUTY LOUNGE MINNEAPOLIS: A Minneapolis, Minnesota-based multicultural hair destination; founded by Melissa Taylor. MplsBeautyLounge.com
BLACK GIRL SUNSCREEN: All-natural vegan sunscreen for women of color; founded by Shontay Lundy. BlackGirlSunscreen.com
BLACKTRAVELBOX: Clean beauty essentials on the go for travelers of color; founded by Orion Brown. TheBlackTravelBox.com
BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY: Haircare basics for not so basic hair; founded by Maeva Heim. BreadBeautySupply.com
COCOBUTTERY: A line of 100 percent natural skincare products made from ingredients you can pronounce; founded by Jennifer Jones. Cocobuttery.com
COLOURED RAINE COSMETICS: Bright, high-quality products for everyone, regardless of skin tone, age or gender; founded by Loraine Dowdy. ColouredRaine.com
THE CRAYON CASE: Makeup designed for amateur makeup artists; founded by Raynell Steward. TheCrayonCase.com
EPIPHANY ESSENTIALS: A luxury skincare company committed to using all natural ingredients; founded by Tamera Beard. ShopEpiphanyEssentials.com
FORHERCOSMETICS: All-natural and inclusive beauty brand committed to empowering women and girls of color; founded by Alyssa Space. ForHerCosmetics.com
GILDED BODY: Luxury body care and home fragrance products; founded by Blair Armstrong. GildedBody.com
GLORY SKINCARE: Personalized skincare for every hue made simple through science and technology; founded by Alisia Ford. GlorySkincare.com
GORJUS WHIPS: Echo-friendly skincare products composed of skin-safe ingredients to feed and nourish the skin and hair; founded by Jacqueline Elliott. GorjusWhips.com
GRN GOODS: Beauty essentials that aid in an all-natural approach to wellness and self-care; founded by Alexia Armbrister. GrnGoods.co
HANAHANA BEAUTY: All-natural skincare products on a mission to disrupt the global beauty industry; founded by Abena Boamah-Acheampong. HanahanaBeauty.com
HONEYPOT: All-natural feminine hygiene products made to cleanse, protect and balance your vagina; founded by Bea Dixon. TheHoneyPot.co
HYPER SKIN: Hyper Clear Brightening Clearing Vitamin C Serum combines vitamins C and E to clear away hyperpigmentation; founded by Desiree Verdejo. GetHyperSkin.com
KNC BEAUTY: Paraben-, sulfate-, petroleum- and animal cruelty-free masks, scrubs and balms; founded by Kristen Noel Crawley. KNCBeauty.com
KREYÒL ESSENCE: Ethical beauty products made with all-natural ingredients harvested by farmers in Haiti; founded by Yve-Car Momperousse. KreyolEssence.com
THE LIP BAR: A vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand on a mission to change the way you think about beauty; founded by Melissa Butler. TheLipBar.com
LIPESTEEM: A purpose-driven cosmetics company that celebrates people of all skin tones with plant-based, gluten- and cruelty-free lipsticks that make them feel confident and beautiful. LipEsteem.com
LIPREVOLT: A cosmetics brand built on the belief that womxn can inspire change and look great doing it; founded by Courtney Stewart. LipRevolt.com
LUV SCRUB: 100 percent nylon mesh exfoliator used in West African skincare for generations; founded by Caroline Owusu-Ansah. TheLuvScrub.com
MELANIN HAIR CARE: Simple, natural, luxurious and toxin-free styling products; founded by Whitney White. MelaninHairCare.com
MENTED COSMETICS: Vegan, paraben-free, non-toxic makeup for all skin tones; founded by KJ Miller and Amanda Johnson. MentedCosmetics.com
THE NAIL BAR: A Minneapolis, Minnesota-based salon focused on elevating client experience in nail care and diversifying the professional landscape; founded by Kiara Ellis. TheNailBarMN.com
ORGANIGROWHAIRCO: Vegan, organic and all-natural hair products created for every hair porosity; founded by Kay Cola. OrganiGrowHairCo.com
PAT MCGRATH LABS: Premium lipsticks, eye shadows and highlighters created by veteran beauty visionary Pat McGrath. PatMcGrath.com
ROCKY ROBINSON: A self-care product line and movement celebrating the brilliance, beauty and magic of Black and brown girls; founded by Audra Robinson. ItsMeRocky.com
SOAP DISTILLERY: A soap company focused on sustainability and specializing in cocktail-scented soaps; founded by Danielle Martin. SoapDistillery.com
SHEA YELEEN: A social enterprise financially empowering women in Africa through its shea butter products; founded by Rahama Wright. SheaYeleen.com
SUNKISS ORGANICS: Organic skincare products that empower women of color to embrace self-care by aligning with their natural beauty. SunKissOrganics.com
UOMA: A beauty brand that believes beauty starts when you decide to be yourself; founded by Sharon Chuter. UomaBeauty.com
WHEN SHE COMES HOME: A company that curates beautiful care packages filled with items that encourage prenatal and postpartum women to exercise small acts of self-care; founded by Diana Hilaire. WhenSheComesHome.com
Do you own or support a Black women-owned beauty business not mentioned here? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list!
Photo credit: Anna Mazig for Publish Her
About the Author
Chris Olsen is a broadcast media veteran turned communications consultant, educator and the author of “Whyography: Building a Brand Fueled by Purpose.” The founder of Publish Her and Publish Her Story, Chris has helped thousands of women tell their stories and publish their books.
About Publish Her
Publish Her is a female-founded and focused publisher dedicated to elevating the words, writing and stories of women. We are passionate about amplifying the voices of women of color, women with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We aim to make publishing an attainable, exciting and collaborative process for all. Publish Her specializes in print-on-demand books, workbooks, journals, magazines and more.
