Far from just offering inclusive shade ranges, our favourite Black (and frequently female) founded beauty brands play an integral role in expanding the conversation around race, representation and diversity in the beauty industry. We shouldn’t be content with a few extra hues added into a foundation line, but rather be listening to the beauty brands that are pushing things forward in terms of what women of all colours, shapes and orientations want from their products – be they make-up, skincare or haircare. And that’s precisely what these brands are doing. As we celebrate Black History Month, below find 15 of the best Black-founded beauty brands to invest in, learn from, and enjoy. 

Uoma Beauty

Created by Nigerian-born former beauty executive Sharon Chuter, Uoma is a make-up brand that offers an array of shades, colours, and consistencies in all of its products, and includes empowering messaging on its packaging. The brand places the emphasis on celebrating our differences – whether that means celebrating our skin colour, our sexual orientation, or our size. “The world is beautiful because we are all different and colourful in our unique way, and this is why Uoma Beauty exists,” Chuter has said.

Available at Cult Beauty. 

Dizziak

Described as both an “aphrodisiac for afro hair”, and a “multi-culturally-minded haircare brand for the 21st century”, Dizziak was founded by Loretta De Feo, a former journalist who saw a gap in the market for luxurious and effective haircare products, for all hair types. So far Dizziak has unveiled two vegan-friendly formulas that aim to hydrate and nourish textured hair, housed in bold, monochrome packaging.