By Chris Olsen

September is National Skin Care Awareness Month, a time to focus on your body’s largest organ and stock up on products that help you care for and love your skin. As you do, consider supporting beauty and personal care businesses founded by women of color.

For women-owned small businesses, the average yearly revenue 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 by being intentional about where you shop. This list includes beauty and personal care businesses founded by women of color that you can help thrive. Buy products from these businesses. Use their services. Show your support by liking, sharing, following and recommending small businesses like these:

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

BEA’S BAYOU SKINCARE: Herbal and probiotic skincare solutions created to bring relief to eczema sufferers; founded by Arielle Brown. BeasBayouSkincare.com

BEAUTY LOUNGE MINNEAPOLIS: A Minneapolis, Minnesota-based multicultural hair destination; founded by Melissa Taylor. MplsBeautyLounge.com

BELLA ROSE PASSION: High quality, all-natural personal care products that are safe and healthy for everyone; founded by Bella Rose. BellaRosePassion.com

BLACK GIRL SUNSCREEN: All-natural vegan sunscreen for women of color; founded by Shontay Lundy. BlackGirlSunscreen.com

BLK/OPL: State-of-the-art skincare solutions for hyperpigmentation, oil control and shade matching; founded by Carol Jackson-Mouyiaris. BlackOpalBeauty.com

BLACKTRAVELBOX: Clean beauty essentials on the go for travelers of color; founded by Orion Brown. TheBlackTravelBox.com

BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY: Hair care 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

THE CRAYON CASE: Makeup designed for amateur makeup artists; founded by Raynell Steward. TheCrayonCase.com

DOSSO BEAUTY: Hypoallergenic hair extensions  and organic hair care; founded by Kadidja Dosso. DossoBeauty.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

GET GORGEOUS SALON: An award-winning hair salon located in the Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul, Minnesota; founded by Ilka Bird. GetGorgeousSalon.com

GILDED BODY: Luxury body care and home fragrance products; founded by Blair Armstrong. GildedBody.com

G.L.A.M. PRODUCTS: A certified women- and minority- owned business dedicated to eco-friendly skin-friendly products; founded by Tiffany Cartwright. GlamBodyScrubs.co

GLOWRX SKINCARE: Skincare products formulated with ethically- and sustainably-sourced vegan ingredients that nourish skin and produce a healthy glow; founded by Dr. Lorraine Beraho. GlowRxSkin.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

LIFEAROUND2ANGELS: Founded by Ningzi Sun, LifeAround2Angels developed the best selling bath bomb in the U.S. from superfoods, natural oils and herbs. LifeAround2Angels.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

LIP ESTEEM: 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

LOTUS FLOWER OM: Skincare featuring aromatherapeutic blends to help balance overall well-being; founded by Symphony Lyricist. LotusFlowerOm.com

LUNA MAGIC: A beauty and lifestyle brand that celebrates the founders’ multicultural heritage, Latin culture and music; founded by Mabel and Shaira Arias. LunaMagic.com

LUV SCRUB: One hundred 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

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

SKIN BY BROWNLEE AND CO.: A Cincinnati, Ohio-based skincare clinic and line of products specializing in the prevention and treatment of acne and hyperpigmentation; founded by Sylvia Brownlee. SkinByBrownlee.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

THEORGANIBRANDS: Vegan, organic and all-natural hair products created for every hair porosity; founded by Kay Cola. TheOrganiBrands.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

Photo: Honeypot

About the Author

Chris Olsen is a book designer, publisher, 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 publisher dedicated to educating authors and 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.

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