10 Black-Owned Makeup Brands You Need to Try

If you’re looking for truly innovative makeup products for a range of skin tones and needs, you need to check out these black-owned makeup brands. Most black-owned makeup brands were created by women who found themselves empowered when they realized there was a gap in the market. Not only can you feel good buying these products and supporting these businesses, you’ll also discover that these black-owned makeup brands have some of the best colors and formulas you’ve ever tried.

Here are 10 black-owned makeup brands to keep on your radar along with their must-try products. 

1. Pat McGrath Labs

There’s nothing quite like a makeup line founded by one of the top makeup artists in the world. Pat McGrath's Labs is a favorite of makeup artists and influencers. While it’s definitely on the pricy side, these highly pigmented products are worth every penny.  

Our Pick: We can’t but help notice how gorgeous the Sunlit Seduction Palette is. Featuring floral mattes and blush-toned pinks, this versatile palette has enough colors to create a myriad of looks. 

2. Fenty Beauty

Rihanna’s Fenty makeup line couldn’t be more popular right now. There’s a good reason for this (not just because we love Rihanna). These products are really good (pigments are 10/10) and formulated for an incredibly wide range of skin tones. 

Our Pick: Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation is the foundation for literally everyone. With 58 different shades available, it’s almost impossible not to find one that matches your skin tone perfectly. Your face will stay flawless from day to night. 

3. Danessa Myricks Beauty

Founded by makeup artist Danessa Myricks, this namesake line launched in 2016. These products were created to be inclusive of a variety of skin tones. Better yet, there are some great multitaskers which makes Danessa Myricks Beauty just as innovative as it is beautiful.  

Our Pick: The Award-Winning Blurring Balm Power is a truly unique product. Formulated to be used alone or as a primer under a foundation, it hydrates and balances oil at the same time. Best of all, it’s buildable.

4. LYS Beauty 

Clean to both Sephora and Credo standards, LYS Beauty line was created for a variety of cultures and budgets. With each product under $30, it’s hard not to click “add to cart” on all of these fabulous finds. 

Our Pick: It doesn’t matter how amazing your makeup is. If you don’t have quality brushes, it just won’t look good. That’s why we love this chic rhinestone brush set. With a foundation brush, a powder brush, a concealer brush, a crease blending brush, and an eyeshadow smudging brush—it's got everything you need. It also makes a thoughtful gift. 

5. Ami Colé

This clean beauty line was inspired by founder Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye’s Senegalese roots. Formulated for melanin-rich skin, it has a variety of fantastic products including liquid matte eyeshadows, lip products, and mascara.

Our Pick: With six shades to choose from the Lip Treatment Oil is a game-changer. The oil-to-gloss treatment does way more than just look pretty. It shines without being sticky, all while giving moisture and color at the same time. 

6. Embellish Beauty

Founded by makeup artist Marcia Williams, Embellish Beauty offers a nice range of makeup from lips to lashes. All the products are vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and paraben-free. 

Our Pick: From classic nudes to bold pinks, Embellish’s nourishing stains penetrate the lips with moisturizing ingredients including avocado oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil, and vitamin E.

7. Damone Roberts

A good face starts with the brows and no one knows this more than Damone Roberts. This brow-centric line was founded by the “King of Eyebrows,"—so even if you can’t get Roberts to shape your brows personally (he's too busy with just about every celebrity out there), these products come pretty close,

Our Pick: Featured on Tameron Hall, the Tinted Brow Gel is an essential product that belongs in every makeup kit. With a round brush that makes it easy to apply, it has microfibers to make the brows appear fuller. Best of all, it holds even the boldest brows in place all day long.  

8. Fashion Fair

Fashion Fair is one of the original black-owned makeup companies. Founded in 1973 by Eunice Johnson, it was the first international prestige cosmetics brand for darker skin tones. It continues to break barriers today. 

Our Pick: What good is lipstick without the perfect liner? Fashion Fair’s Lip Shapers make a pout stick out. With colors from Sexy Scarlet to Plum Wine—it’s worth noting these pencils are also easy to sharpen. 

9. Juvia’s Place

Want a black-owned makeup brand with deep colors that pack a punch? Juvia’s Place checks both boxes. Founded by Chichi Eburu, she created the brand when she couldn’t find makeup she liked for her deep skin tones.

Our Pick: Fun and accessibly-priced, the Candy Shop Palette has a genius sixteen shadows for a sweet look. This collection of bubble gum pinks and blues is ideal for the sweetest day-to-night looks 

10. TLB

If the line TLB, also known as The Lip Bar sounds familiar it’s because the founder, Melissa Butler was on Shark Tank. This vegan line has five different lip products including lip balms, liquid mattes, lip liner, lipstick, and lip balm. But (as they say on the show)—wait, there’s more. In addition to other eye and face products, TLB has also branched out into skincare. Did we mention you can find it at your local Target?

Our Pick: Can’t decide which liquid matte to go with? Why not take all three with the Mini Matte Pout Pack? Featuring Bawse Lady, Rich Auntie, and It Girl, these slide on like a gloss but leaves a matte finish. Best of all, these mattes won’t dry out your lips.