17 of our favorite Black women-owned brands, from Clare Paint to Mented Cosmetics
These are worth checking out.
Credit:
True To Us / KSM Candle Co.
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At Reviewed, we love supporting Black-owned brands in a ton of different categories and industries. We’ve rounded up Black-owned wine brands, Black-owned beauty brands, Black-owned food brands, and even Black-owned kids’ brands. Now, I’d like to introduce some incredible businesses that are run by Black women.
From beauty to crafts to home goods, these 17 brands sell products that you didn’t know you needed until now. There’s a ton of wonderful brands out there to support, and these ones are definitely worth adding to your shopping rotation.
1. Polk Paper
Let’s get this paper.
If you were planning a major 2020 celebration, you’re likely still holding on to the decorations, but regardless, you’ll definitely need some new invitations. With her stationary Polk Paper, Schulyer Polk makes stunning custom invitations that completely capture the excitement of the event you’re hosting. Even if you don’t have a need for invitations right now, Polk Paper is a great excuse to craft a handwritten note for your loved ones on this stunning paper.
2. Clare Paint
Why paint the town red, when you could paint your bedroom “Blue Ivy”, “Avocado Toast”, “Prince” or “Sriracha”?
Maybe it was all of the HGTV bingeing or staring at the same four walls 24/7, but 2020 was the year that everyone decided to become an interior designer. If you want to give your walls a major refresh, try using Clare for your paint. The colors are stunning, the names like “Blue Ivy” and “Avocado Toast” are kitschy, and the paint applies nice and thick. And if the only thing you’ve ever painted has been paper with your fingers, Clare has all the resources to help you pivot to painting walls—including all kinds of kits, primers, colors, and a chatbot to help you narrow down colors based on the light exposure, other furniture in the room, and the vibe you’re going for. It’s that easy.
3. Sheila Bridges Design
The Harlem Toile collection is a must-see.
I’ve always had an appreciation of toile de Jouy prints, but as a modern Black woman, I never saw myself reflected in anything in the midst of the French revolution. But Sheila Bridges has completely changed that. The Black interior designer and artist has a toile pattern featuring Black girls playing double Dutch, a Black couple dancing, and a Black man dunking on his friends, all set in the colonial era. Her unique and playful toile patterns come in an array of colors on everything from plates, wallpaper, and pillows. Be sure to follow her on social media because Bridges collaborates with other brands—I’m still on the hunt for the limited edition speaker she designed with Sonos.
Shop out Sheila Bridges Designs
4. Estelle Colored Glass
Raise your (colored) glass!
For some reason, I’ve never invested in an impressive set of wine glasses. But when I saw these beauts from Estelle Colored Glass, my jaw dropped (much like most of the wine glasses I’ve owned). Named after her grandmother, Stephanie Summerson Hall created a company that sells luxury jewel-toned glassware, including wine glasses that come in a variety of silhouettes, cake stands, and decanters. I may or may not need to plan a housewarming or wedding just so I can add these to a registry because my kitchen feels incomplete without them.
5. Fe Noel
Dress like you’re going to Grenada, even when you’re not.
In 2019, we all had grand visions of using 2020 to sit on a beach, and while that didn’t happen, I spent my time doing the next best thing: scrolling through the Fe Noel Instagram almost daily. The Brooklyn-based designer behind the eponymous label, Felisha Noel, pulls from her Grenadian roots to create flowy, unique, and bold pieces. If you’re going for a “I wish I was on the beach” or “rich auntie on vacation” vibe (as I often am), Fe Noel is a must even if you’re only going to wear it around your apartment.
6. Ten Wilde
All that glitters is gold.
If you’re in the market for some new jewelry, Ten Wilde is a Black-owned company founded by Tenisha Wilde that carries a variety of all-gold baubles, both 14K and gold-plated. Wilde bases the designs off her own personal style and California roots, creating chic yet affordable pieces that are perfect for layering and stacking. Think: huggie hoops, chain necklaces, and delicate pendants, all suitable for everyday wear.
7. True To Us
Cool girl alert.
In my head, I’m a super cool, edgy, streetwear queen who spends evenings skateboarding to grab takeout or a limited-edition sneaker drop—but in reality, I’m none of those things. But Jourdan Ash has created a platform dedicated to normalizing Black and Brown women as staples of the sneaker and streetwear space called True to Us that makes me consider this lifestyle. There are limited quantity product drops of hats, sweatsuits, and shirts, any of which I’d gladly wear to give off ~Black sk8r girl~ vibes as I walk to pick up my takeout because I’m too stiff skateboard.
8. Black Girl Sunscreen
Finally, a sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast.
Protecting your skin from the sun is cute, but a white cast is not. It’s the worst when you put on sunscreen to protect your skin, only to see a thick layer of white cream smeared in circles all over your torso or legs that sometimes appear purple. Enter Black Girl Sunscreen. It’s designed to protect skin tones of all shades without leaving a white or purple cast. We’ve tested it before and found that it provides ample protection without leaving a ghostly layer. It’s a staple for me because, believe it or not, I’m not interested in looking like Violet Beauregarde at the beach.
Shop Black Girl Sunscreen at Ulta
9. Luv Scrub
Scrub-a-dub-dub, Luv Scrub in the tub.
Creating the optimal bath experience has been a priority of mine since childhood thanks to a music heavyweight named Ernie (of Bert and Ernie fame) singing about his Rubber Duckie. While a plastic duck is no longer a required part of my bathing experience, the LuvScrub is. It combines the scrubbing power of a washcloth and loofah to create the ultimate vehicle for soap. It’s lightweight and lays flat to dry, so unlike a loofah, which has to be replaced on a monthly basis, the LuvScrub lasts 18 whole months. Caroline, the company’s founder, was inspired to bring a bathing staple from Ghana to the United States to give people the only tool they’ll need for exfoliated, unclogged, polished, and even skin. For that, my skin is forever grateful.
10. KSM Candle Co.
It’s lit. Literally.
I love making things just so I can say, “Oh, this ole thing? I made it!” Whether you’re like me and looking to DIY some home decor or you just want to buy it, you should check out KSM Candle Co. This small Baltimore-based, Black-owned business was born while its founder Letta was watching The Walking Dead. No zombies are harmed or included in the making of her soy candles, which you can buy online or make in one of her workshops in Baltimore. But even if you don’t live in Charm City, you can still get in on the fun with candle making kits and or attend one of the virtual workshops.
11. Golde
Beauty from the inside and out.
We’re all supposed to believe that beauty is inside, but let’s be real, it’s on the outside, too. Golde is a company dedicated to both. Every single one of its beverage products has a ton of 5-star reviews, so regardless if you’re looking to de-stress, de-bloat, hydrate, or caffeinate yourself with a matcha, superfood latte, you’re in good hands with Golde. Its beauty products have stellar reviews too, and the Papaya Bright face exfoliating mask was named a “2020 Best of Beauty product” by Allure magazine. You can sip a Tumeric Latte while exfoliating with that Bright Papaya mask and let your natural Golde glow shine.
12. Mented Cosmetics
Find a nude that’s right for you.
Historically, in the beauty industry, the color “nude” has always referred to a beige/pink-beige/ light-beige color that doesn’t really appear “nude” if your skin is a darker shade. It just looks like you’re wearing beige. Two women decided to change that with Mented Cosmetics, a makeup company that offers a wide spectrum of “nude” skin tones. Its foundation comes in 16 shades, its nude nail polish comes in three shades, its lip gloss comes in seven shades, and its matte lipstick comes in nine nude shades. Those are just some of Mented’s offerings, but with thousands of 5-star reviews, you’re guaranteed to get long-lasting wear from these inclusive beauty products. If you’re unsure of where you fit in this new nude world, there’s an easy quiz you can take to help match you with the perfect color.
13. Hyper
Over 700 people are hype over Hyper.
If your acne-prone skin is more sensitive than a toddler, this product is for you. Hyper Skin’s Hyper Clear Brightening Clearing Serum does wonders for hyperpigmentation, regardless of skin tone. It’s a vitamin C serum that has significantly faded many of those little pesky dark spots that bore witness to every pimple after a just few weeks of use. And I’m not alone with my love for this product. More than 700 reviewers have sung their praises about the wonders that this serum has done to even and smooth face textures of all types.
Get the Hyper Clear Serum from Hyper Skin for $36
14. The Sixes
Tall girls stand up!
I’m 6-feet-tall and it’s great, but there are two major drawbacks: I did not play basketball (so stop asking!) and my pants often look like I’m single-handedly trying to bring gauchos back (I’m not, I promise!). The taller you are, the harder it can be to find cute pants that actually reach the floor. Enter The Sixes, a clothing company dedicated to dressing women 5-foot-7 and taller in fashion-forward pants that fit. The company was founded by Franci Girard, a former professional volleyball player turned CEO businesswoman. She stands at 6-foot-2, so if anything, you know that her designs, much like the pants she creates for her company, won’t come up short.
15. Junie Bees Butta
Stay classy, not ashy!
Name a better feeling than getting out of the shower and lathering yourself in a hydrating lotion, cream, or oil—I’ll wait. A favorite Black woman-owned brand of mine, Junie Bees Butta, is named after the founder’s daughter. Baby June had eczema and her mother was tired of trying different products with complicated formulas to give her baby the relief she needed, so she made her own. Not only can I pronounce and recognize every ingredient, including avocado oil, mango butter, and shea butter, but it's a completely natural formula that I use on my body, face, and hair. I keep a jar of the rose bergamot scent next to my bed to satisfy all of my hydration needs.
16. 54 Thrones
Even though no one is shaking them, it’s still very important to keep your hands moisturized.
Your skin is your largest organ and, as aforementioned, we’re striving to stay classy instead of ashy. While sticking our hands under every hand sanitizer station we walk past is great for our health, it’s not good for the moisture of our hands. That’s why 54 Throne’s Beauty Butter is always within reach somewhere in my Mary Poppins’ bag. Two kinds of shea butter provide double hydration and instantly combat dryness to instantly relieve skin. The reviews also speak for themselves, almost every product has been voted “Best in Beauty” by beauty publications, and the brand’s gift set was named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2020. If it’s good enough for Oprah’s hands, then it’s good enough for mine.
17. Me and The Bees Lemonade
Who needs a high school summer job when you’ve been running your own business since you were 4 years old?
What were you doing when you were 8? Personally, I was trying to understand division and checking the growth status of my adult teeth hourly. Mikaila Ulmer, on the other hand, was inking her signature on distribution deals with Whole Foods for her lemonade brand, now called Me and the Bees, which she started when she was 4. It’s not your average lemonade stand. By the time she was 10, she was pitching her business on Shark Tank, and now at 16, her five flavors of Lemonade (Classic, Prickly Pear, Ginger, Ice Tea, and Mint) are sold at over 1,500 locations nationwide.