As I sit here trying to figure out the “right” words to say, or how to best articulate my feelings about the racial injustices and tragedies happening in our world right now, I feel like no matter what or how much I say, I will always fall short. I say that because I know I’ve been privileged in my life simply because of the color of my skin. I will never know what it feels like to be treated differently, harshly, or unjustly because of my race. But just because I don’t have that experience or the “right” words, doesn’t mean I can’t support and stand in solidarity with those who do.
I’m heartbroken and shook up by the events that have taken place over the last week. I’m even more saddened by the fact that these uncomfortable conversations still need to happen, that the world hasn’t changed yet, that racism still exists in our country. I’m disappointed in myself for how limited my knowledge was of black history and how unaware I was of the racial superiority beliefs that still surround us today. However, as disheartened and frustrated as I am, I know I need to move forward and DO BETTER. It’s not enough to just say “I’m not racist”, it’s not enough to post a few aesthetically pleasing squares on social media, it’s not enough to say that I’m listening, it’s time to TAKE ACTION. “Actions speak louder than words” is such an old expression, and it couldn’t apply better to the Black Lives Matter movement right now.
We all need to take action, no matter how big or small, because every little bit matters and will make a difference. There are countless resources online that you can refer to in order to figure out what you can do to make this world a better place and end white supremacy. Donate, vote, sign petitions, educate yourself, read, listen, and watch relevant books, podcasts, and movies about racism, support black-owned businesses, have uncomfortable conversations with your family and friends, pray, challenge your beliefs and your heart. These are all steps in the right direction, even if you don’t have the means to donate or support, you can still share the foundations and businesses with others, let your voice be heard. Now is not the time to be silent, because we’ve been silent for far too long, and it’s not the answer. We need to raise the next generation to be kinder, have more compassion, and to be antiracist. I could go on and on, but I’m not an expert or “know-it-all” by any means, I don’t have all the answers, and I myself am being challenged to do all the things I just suggested. I want to make a difference, not just now, but for the foreseeable future. This fight to end systemic racism and the Black Lives Matter movement is a marathon, not a sprint.
So, while brainstorming ways that I could take action and support the black community, I wanted one of them to be something that would be very authentic for my blog. That’s when I started doing some research on something that I’m very passionate about and share often: beauty. It was a no-brainer, and I can honestly say that I felt embarassed to not know specifically whether or not I had ever used any black-owned beauty products.
Fast forward to doing a bunch of research, and I am very impressed with what I found and excited to try some of these products! I’m going to share six black-owned beauty businesses with you today that range in focus from makeup, to skincare, and haircare. One ongoing trend that I noticed was that these businesses were rooted in a belief that beauty comes in many forms, and many of their goals were to change the narrative of beauty that the media had falsely given for so many years. Many of these businesses were started and inspired by African culture and/or the owner’s native country, from the ingredients in their products to the application of them. The businesses I’m sharing with you today are all owned by black women who had a dream, a purpose, and a deep desire to help women look and feel their best by providing them with the right products. Many of them are cruelty free, vegan, and organic too! I hope you enjoy discovering these brands if you haven’t already. I’m excited to purchase from them and discover their products! I will of course share that on Instagram when I do.
Beauty Bakerie
Beauty Bakerie is a makeup brand founded in 2011 by Cashmere Nicole, a boss lady and breast cancer survivor. You guys know I’m a sucker for cute packaging, and theirs is to die for! It’s inspired by an obsession with baking and desserts and the branding portrays the image of “sweetness.” Their Milk and Honey Palette (pictured above) was named 2019 Best of Beauty by Allure! Their products are also sold at Ulta and Morphe.
Bomba Curls
Bomba Curls is a haircare brand founded by Lulu Cordero using Dominican beauty secrets. Lulu’s struggle with her curls and hair loss inspired her to turn to her native Dominican Republic hair care recipes to create her own products. She formulated high-quality natural and organic ingredients to create hair care products that help maintain strong and moisturized curls. Their Forbidden Hair Oil product (pictured above), is infused with pure coffee seed & castor oil to promote healthy hair growth.
Oui The People
Oui The People, founded by Karen Young in 2015, offers luxurious shave and skincare products. I found their razors to be intriguing with their sleek design and single-blade, but their message was what really got my attention: “Rather than pursuing flawlessness, we aim to build efficacious products, designed thoughtfully, that help you feel great in the skin you’re already in.” They’re not aiming for perfection, they aim for customer satisfaction.
The Lip Bar
The Lip Bar started from founder Melissa Butler’s kitchen while she was working on Wall Street. She was “tired of the beauty industry’s lack of diversity, lack of inclusion and excessive amounts of unnecessary chemicals,” as stated on their website. Melissa went on Shark Tank and was rejected, but that didn’t stop her from pursuing her dreams. Her brand is now available in more than 450 Target stores and she opened up a flagship store in Detroit last year. Their makeup products are meant to be easy to use and are vegan and cruelty free.
Luv Scrub
Luv Scrub came from an African skincare secret that founder Caroline Owusu–Ansah built into a business. The mesh body exfoliator is something that was used in West African culture for generations. Caroline had given the product to her friends to use, and they were the ones who urged her to start the business when they realized how smooth the exfoliator made their skin feel. The product is made of 100% nylon, unlike traditional loofahs, so it won’t breed bacteria or irritate the skin.
Salty Spray Soap Co.
Salty Spray Soap Co. sells soaps, scrubs, lip balms, and body butters that are handmade in Bermuda. You guys know I’m a wannabe island gal, and there are few places I love more than the Carribean, so this brand instantly grabbed my attention! Owner Genelle John started the business as a way to give back to her community, and there’s nothing to not admire about that. The products are made using moisturizing and antioxidant-rich ingredients with scents of the island. You’ll pay double the cost for the product with international shipping fees, but I think it’d be worth it to support the island, especially with the recent effects of COVID.
That’s it for now! I truly hope you enjoyed this post. I thought about listing out the resource of where you can donate to, linking to the petitions to sign, etc. However, it’s so easy nowadays to get that information from Google, so I thought it’d be more useful and interesting to share these black-owned beauty businesses with you guys that I’m genuinely interested in and will be supporting myself. Lastly, I’ll end with this Bible verse:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32