One lesson of the Black Lives Matter movement is that people around the world should look inward, internalize anti-racist behavior, and find ways to change their daily habits. One simple way we can do this is by making a point of supporting more Black-owned businesses.
We recently published a guide highlighting some of our favorite up-and-coming Black-owned companies across several industries. Now, we’d like to take an opportunity to focus on three wellness and beauty we’re excited about.
Glory
Founded by Portland-based entrepreneur Alisia Ford, Glory is an ambitious new beauty brand that foregrounds Black female perspectives, traditionally underrepresented by the skincare industry. At the center of Glory’s business is their Skincare Box series, a subscription-based package that highlights a collection of exemplary new beauty products from BIPOC-owned businesses.
Available in small, medium and large sizes, the non-toxic products in each box are selected by experts, based on an initial subscriber questionnaire assessing unique skin needs, goals, lifestyle, environment, and more. Customers can customize their ideal monthly package by selecting the types of products they’re interested in, such as cleansers, exfoliants, toners, moisturizers, SPF sunscreens, treatment serums, or handy new skincare tools.
Black Girl Sunscreen
This Miami-based startup specializes in products that cater to the sun-protection needs of melanated skin. Since its inception in 2016, the company has sought to debunk the myth that Black people do not need to defend their skin against SPF and UV rays. As the company emphasizes on their site, damaging sunburn is a phenomenon for dark-skinned people as well, causing dryness, wrinkles, and other types of permanent damage, as well as greatly increasing risk of skin cancer.
Free of harmful chemicals and artificial fragrances, Black Girl Sunscreen’s resilient sunscreen goes on smooth and clear—with no lingering off-white residue. The company stocks products specifically catered to both adults and children, and maintains a blog offering detailed information about the importance of sun protection for dark skin.
Pattern
Pattern is the brainchild of Black-ish actress Tracie Ellis Rose—a haircare brand catered toward Black folks with a focus on artistic creativity and social justice activism. Their primary goal is to provide affordable and effective products for curly hair, all made with safe and nourishing ingredients.
In addition to providing customers with the products they need, Pattern provides clear instruction in using them effectively. Their comprehensive Curl Guide offers expert advice on how to treat a variety of hair textures. Importantly, the goal is never to tame or restrict the natural quality of curls and coils: it’s to set them free.
Central to Pattern’s business operations are regular donations to charitable organizations supporting women and BIPOC, including Black Lives Matters, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Equal Justice Initiative and more.
Find more black-owned business or beauty brands here.