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Black-owned businesses have increased in the last several years, most notably during the pandemic, but it hasn’t always been easy staying afloat.

Despite a 14 percent spike since 2020, Black-owned businesses accounted for just 3 percent of all businesses in 2021, according to Pew Research.

In an effort to showcase some of the many Black-owned companies that you might not be familiar with and some you may already know, we collected a list of more than a dozen fashion and beauty brands to support, now and forever. Black History Month isn’t over yet, and it’s the perfect time to spotlight these Black-owned brands that you can shop all year long.

See more below.

Black-Owned Beauty & Skincare Brands

From lip gloss to facial cleanser, see below for a list of Black-owned beauty and skincare brands to shop.

A celebration of “melanin rich skin.” After working for brand such as Temptu, L’Oréal and Glossier, Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye launched Ami Colé in 2021 with just three products: a highlighter, skin tint and lip treatment oil. The beauty brand now includes dozens of products including bestsellers such as the 3-in-1 Lip Treatment Oil ($18), Lash Amplifying Mascara ($19), and Skin Enhancing Tint ($32) and Skin Enhancing Concealer ($24).

Beards need love too! Bevel’s Skincare Set comes with face and beard wash, face gel and 2-in-1 exfoliating pads. The company was founded by Tristan Walker to help customers embark on a positive beard journey. Bevel products have been clinically tested to help prevent clogged pores and skin irritation and are available at major retailers such as Amazon in addition to the Bevel website.

Speaking of sun protection, Black Girl Sunscreen is another great option. The sunscreen is available as a lotion or spray and in stores and online at Target, Ulta Beauty and BlackGirlsSunscreen.com.

Buttah Skin is an organic animal- and cruelty-free unisex skincare line created for all shades of melanin skin. The brand, founded by actor Dorion Renaud, uses “proven-effective, good-for-your ingredients” which are made to target different skincare needs including dryness, discoloration, oiliness, and blemishes.

Did we mention that it’s Beyoncé approved? Buttah Skin is available in major retailers such as Amazon, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Ulta Beauty.

Speaking of Queen Bey, she’s not only making Black History with “Texas Hold ‘Em,” she launched her heavily anticipated haircare line, Cécred, during Black History Month.

“I built Cécred from the ground up,” Beyoncé shares in a message on the company’s website. “I poured into it everything I’ve learned throughout my life so we can borrow some of our past and bring it to the future. Cécred is about prioritizing yourself and all the things you hold sacred.”

Cécred includes a collection of shampoo, conditioners, hair treatments, hair oil and accessories are priced from $20 and up.

Like a lot of great ideas, EDEN BodyWorks was also born from necessity. Created in 2004 by Jasmine Lawrence, the brand offers body and hair care products made from clean, cruelty-free ingredients at an affordable price (everything in the line retails for less than $10-$12).

One of EDEN’s top-reviewed products is the Peppermint Tea Tree Clear Clarifying Shampoo. You can purchase EDEN BodyWorks products at Target, Amazon, Sally Beauty and at EdenBodyWorks.com.

A conversation about not being able to find the perfect lipstick shade sparked the idea that became Mented Cosmetics. Amanda E. Johnson and KJ Miller created the company because “every woman should be able to find herself in the world of beauty no matter her skin tone.”

Made for your lips, face and skin, the Mented product lineup includes foundation, lipsticks (matte and liquid), concealer, blush, eyeshadow, foundation, eyeliner, lip liner, makeup brushes and more. The products are vegan, paraben free, cruelty free, dermatologically tested and available at Ulta Beauty, Amazon and MentedCosmetics.com.

Mielle Organics is a name that you may have already seen around the web, especially after the bestselling Rosemary Mint Scalp Hair Strengthening Oil went viral last year and remains a No. 1 sellers at Amazon.

Founded by Monique Rodriguez in 2014, the health-conscious brand of shampoos, conditioners, hair oils, vitamins and other products have been promoted by reality stars and social media influencers alike.

Mielle Organics carries dozens of products that you can find at Sally Beauty, Amazon, CVS, Target and other major retailers. Aside from the Rosemary Mint Oil, Mielle has an entire Rosemary Mint Collection which includes moisturizer and sealing cream in addition to the other collection such as mango & tulsi, pomegranate & honey, oats & honey, rice water, sea moss and more.

Chichi Eburu couldn’t find makeup that enhanced darker skintones, so she created her own makeup line. Juvia’s Place blew up on social media, earning likes for its ultra-pigmented makeup pallets, such as The Nubian Eyeshadow Pallette ($20). Among the current favorites from the brand, the TikTok-approved Blushed Liquid Blush ($18).

John Legend’s LOVED01 skincare brand has exfoliators, cleansers and more. The Face & Body Cleansing Moisturizing Face Wash is one of the brand’s top sellers at Amazon.

Curl power! Emmy-nominated actress Tracee Ellis Ross launched Pattern Beauty because she wanted to “create a line of products that gave our hair the support it needed to be true to itself.” The brand carries amazing shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, styling creams, hair tools and accessories — including an edge tool, combs and the new Pattern Beauty blow dryer, which is “designed for curlies, coilies and tight-textures.”

This sleek and stylish blow dryer includes four unique attachments to help shape, stretch, smooth, and define your hair and is equipped with a powerful AC motor that reduces dry time and an ion generator to smooth the hair cuticle. But Pattern Beauty shines at hydration, the moisturizers are especially great.

Healthy hair starts at the scalp. Having spent years on movie set, photo shoots and red carpets wearing different hairstyles –- some of which damaged her hair — Taraji P. Henson took matters into her own hands.  

The Oscar-nominated actress began mixing her own hair concoctions over a decade ago and in 2020, she decided to let the world in on some of those haircare secrets with the launch of TPH by Taraji. “I was having issues keeping my scalp and hair clean,” said Henson. “There was nothing on the market that was servicing my needs, so I concocted something in the bathroom with an applicator and I perfected it with TPH,” Henson told Women’s Wear Daily in 2020.  

The line takes a “scalp-first” approach to hair car offering including gentle but hydrating conditioners (Make It Rain is a personal favorite of mine), cleansers, clarifying shampoos, hair milk and style defining gel. TPH by Taraji is available at Target, Walmart and Amazon and now includes body products.

Co-founded by Hannah Diop and Issa Rae, Sienna Naturals is a hair care brand for textured hair that features shampoos and conditioners free of harsh sulfates, parabens, silicones, artificial fragrances, dyes and other chemicals.

One of the brand’s best sellers is Plant Power Repaid Mask (pictured), which is made with sandalwood, lavender and geranium.

Unsun grew out of a lack of sunscreen options for people of color. Founded in 2016 by Katonya Breaux (Frank Ocean’s mother), the company offers tinted sunscreens, body lotions, highlighters, body butters and more.

You can purchase Unsun products at various retailers including Macy’s, Amazon, Nordstrom and UnsunCosmetics.com.

Black-Owned Fashion Brands

From top to bottom, there’s no denying Black culture’s impact on fashion. Below, find a list of black-owned fashion and purse brands to shop.

A high fashion brand founded by Wilglory Tanjong, Anima Iris carries a piece of Africa in every design. After graduating college Tanjong, who was born in Cameroon and raised in the U.S., spent months traveling around the Motherland exploring African cities like Nairobi, Dakar, Marrakech and Accra.

The brand’s collection of gorgeous bags are handcrafted in Dakar, Senegal, and manufactured with a “zero-waste philosophy” in mind as materials are sourced in limited quantities. The Baby Zuri ($425) handbag above is a mini version of the traditional Zuri bag ($910) and available in four different colors.

Click here to shop Amazon’s Buy Black hub featuring Black-owned brands in beauty, fashion, food and other categories.

You can never have too many vegetables. Carrots by Anwar Carrots, the eponymous streetwear brand founded by Andrew Carrots, is comprised of T-shirts, sweatshirts, pants, bags, hats, shoes and more available at Pacsun, Nordstrom and anwarcarrots.com.

Diarrablu was founded in by Senegalese designer, Diarra Bousso. The sustainable fashion brand, whose mission is to “remake, reuse, recycle and repurpose,” carries a selection of gorgeous designs in bold, show-stopping prints, most of which are produced in Dakar, Senegal.

This luxury streetwear brand founded in Los Angeles in 2013 by designer Jerry Lorenzo. Fear of God offers a “distinct interpretation of American expression” by way of a collection of timeless pieces which includes outerwear, knitwear, tops, bottoms, suits, loungewear, footwear and accessories. This celeb-loved brand has been worn by Dwayne Wade, Justin Bieber, Michael B. Jordan, Selena Gomez, Queen Latifah, the late Virgil Abloh and more.

Founded by TV host and content creator, Nina Parker, the Nina Parker Collection is sold exclusively at Macy’s and features an array of affordably-priced styles ranging from sizes 0X-4X.

A show-stopping, plus-size fashion line filled with trendy, comfortable and fashionable finds including trendy seasonal styles for spring like the cropped shirt and wide leg pants pictured above (available in mixed multi leopard, black beauty and indigo white stripe), and other pieces such as bodycon dresses, tops, dusters, jeans, pencil skirts and more. Parker’s collection aims to help you confidently embrace your curves while expressing your personal style.

Jessica Rich made PVC pumps into a fashion movement. Chloe Bailey, Saweetie, Lil Kim, Cardi B, Jennifer Hudson and Keke Palmer are just some of the celebs who have been snapped in her stylish shoes.

The shoe designer, fashion expert and former host (who’s also the great-niece of Patti LaBelle) made PVC her signature, but the line also has boots, mesh pumps, sandals, mules and platforms in varying styles and designs.

The shopping bag has never meaning, thanks to Telfar. Founded by Telfar Clemens in 2005, Telfar has become one of the hottest purse brands in fashion with a celebrity fan following that includes Beyoncé and Oprah. Telfar has expanded from bags into clothing and shoe collaborations with Ugg, but The Shopping Bag remains one of its star players. The purple bag is sold out on the brand’s website, but you can find it at Amazon, while supplies last.

New York born, Haitian-American designer Victor Glemaud launched his collection of statement knitwear in 2006. Glemaud’s fashionable, figure-hugging designs include the long-sleeve, cutout dress pictured below.
Prior to launching his own label, Glemaud worked for Paco Rebanne and Tommy Hilfiger. Victor Glemaud clothing is available at Revolve and Glemaud.com.

Jennifer Lopez achieves her third No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated March 2), as her new studio album This Is Me… Now opens atop the tally. Lopez was last at No. 1 more than 20 years ago, when J to Tha L-O! The Remixes spent two weeks atop the chart in February and March of 2002. She scored her first No. 1 on the list with J.Lo in 2001.

In total, This Is Me… Now marks Lopez’s ninth top 10 on Top Album Sales and 13th chart entry overall. The new release is a sister project to Lopez’s third album, This Is Me… Then, which was released 2002 and peaked at No. 2 on the chart.

Also debuting in the top 10 of the new Top Album Sales chart, Yeat’s 2093, Blackberry Smoke’s Be Right Here and IDLES’ TANGK.

Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. The new March 2-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Feb. 27. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

In the tracking week ending Feb. 22, This Is Me… Now sold 14,000 copies in the U.S. Of that sum, physical sales comprise 11,000 (6,000 on CD and 5,000 on vinyl) and digital download sales comprise 3,000. The album was available in four CD variants (including one that had a signed insert), nine vinyl editions (all were color variants, including one with a signed insert) and three digital album variations (a standard version, a deluxe edition with two bonus tracks and a commentary edition sold via Lopez’s official webstore).

This Is Me… Now also debuts at No. 1 on Top Current Album Sales, No. 1 on Tastemaker Albums, No. 7 on Vinyl Albums, No. 7 on Independent Albums and No. 38 on the Billboard 200. Top Current Album Sales ranks the week’s top-selling new/current albums (non-catalog/older titles). Vinyl Album tallies the week’s top-selling vinyl releases. Tastemaker Albums measures the top-selling titles at independent and small chain record stores. Independent Albums ranks the most popular independently released albums of the week, by units.

On the Billboard 200, This Is Me… Now marks Lopez’s 13th total chart entry and 11th top 40-charting effort. It’s her first studio album in nearly a decade, and her first release outside the major label system, as the new set was issued via Nuyorican/BMG.

“This is the first step of an immediate strategy with a long-term goal as the incredible content to support the album continues to roll out,” says Cyndi Lynott, SVP marketing at BMG, “including the This Is Me…Now: A Love Story Amazon Original, a documentary entitled The Greatest Love Story Never Told, and of course her massive summer tour.”

Meanwhile, Yeat debuts at No. 2 with 2093 – his second entry on Top Album Sales and first to reach the top 40. The set sold 12,000 copies, all from digital downloads, as the album was not available to purchase in any physical configurations. The set’s digital sales were boosted by its availability across three variations. 2093 was released initially as a 22-song standard album on Feb. 16, boasting features from Future and Lil Wayne. A day later, the album was reissued in a deluxe edition, dubbed 2093 P2, with two bonus tracks, including one featuring Drake. Then, on Feb. 21, the album saw another reissue, termed 2093 P3, with four bonus tracks. This version of the album was only available as a digital download via the artist’s official webstore (and the four bonus tracks were only available as part of the full album purchase).

Taylor Swift’s chart-topping 1989 (Taylor’s Version) rises 4-3 with 11,000 sold (though down 25%) and Swift’s former leader Lover climbs 6-4 with 9,000 (down 24%). Toby Keith’s chart-topper 35 Biggest Hits rises 9-5 with nearly 9,000 sold (up 28%).

Blackberry Smoke clocks its fourth top 10-charting set on Top Album Sales as Be Right Here arrives at No. 6 with 8,500 sold.

Taylor Swift’s former No. 1s Midnights and Folklore are up next, non-movers at Nos. 7 and 8, with nearly 7,500 (down 32%) and 7,000 (down 17%), respectively.

P1Harmony’s Killin’ It falls 2-9 in its second week with 7,000 sold (down 60%).

IDLES’ TANGK starts at No. 10, marking the second top 10 for the act. The set starts with 7,000 sold.

In the week ending Feb. 22, there were 1.166 million albums sold in the U.S. (down 7.3% compared to the previous week). Of that sum, physical albums (CDs, vinyl LPs, cassettes, etc.) comprised 858,000 (down 5.3%) and digital albums comprised 308,000 (down 12.6%).

There were 408,000 CD albums sold in the week ending Feb. 22 (down 6.1% week-over-week) and 446,000 vinyl albums sold (down 4.6%). Year-to-date CD album sales stand at 3.342 million (down 32.1% compared to the same time frame a year ago) and year-to-date vinyl album sales total 3.759 million (down 47.1%).

Overall year-to-date album sales total 9.507 million (down 35.8% compared to the same year-to-date time frame a year ago). Year-to-date physical album sales stand at 7.137 million (down 41%) and digital album sales total 2.37 million (down 12.7%).

Tonight (Sunday, Feb. 25) is the kick-off of Latin music’s longest-running and most-watched music festival. More than 200 million people are expected to watch the television broadcast of the Viña del Mar Song Festival, which celebrates its 63rd year (uninterrupted, save for two years of Covid-19 shutdown) with performances by global music stars.

Alejandro Sanz and Manuel Turizo will open the festival at the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater tonight. Then, the week continues with Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo Bocelli on Monday, Feb. 26 (with Miranda! as the second act); Maná and Men at Work on Feb. 27; Mora and Anitta on Feb. 29; a night devoted to Chilean artists with Los Bunkers and Young Cister on March 1; and for the finale on Feb. 2, Maria Becerra, who took the place of Peso Pluma after the Mexican artist canceled his Latin American tour last week. Trueno will be the second artist of the night.

Although the artists, international and folk competitions, and comedy sets are the main attraction of the festival, the backbone is its hosts. Chileans María Luisa Godoy — who returns for the fourth consecutive year — and Francisco Saavedra, have the titanic task of literally “conducting” the festival six nights in a row, in marathon six-hour plus evenings. Saavedra and Godoy, both veteran journalists, presenters and commentators, not only host and introduce throughout the evening, but they must navigate the subtleties of many artists (and new artists who come to compete), comedians and the live audience at Quinta Vergara, known as “the monster” for their active involvement in what happens on the stage.

This year, Godoy and Saavedra also have an additional challenge, as the city of Viña del Mar was severely affected at the beginning of the month by fires that left more than 120 people dead and more than 15,000 homes destroyed.

Just hours before they go on stage, we spoke with Godoy and Saavedra about what it takes to prepare to host the largest festival in the world.

The Viña del Mar Song Festival has been celebrated for almost 70 years. What is different this year?

Francisco Saavedra: It’s different because a tragedy occurred in Viña del Mar, more than 100 people died and there are many places that are badly damaged. Therefore, the festival took on a supportive tone. Throughout our broadcast, a QR code will be displayed from where everyone can donate for the reconstruction of Viña del Mar.

María Luisa Godoy: It’s a wounded city, and we want all of Latin America to help us in this reconstruction. Therefore, the more than 200 million people who watch the Viña Festival hope that you will collaborate with us. At the amphitheater we have a booth for donations, and also, we aim to heal with music, with entertainment.

How do these facts change your work as hosts?

Saavedra: We’d been rehearsing for eight months, and we had to change the tone of what we were going to say. The artist introductions remain the same, but empathy is what changes the tone of the scripts. We had to re-study.

Godoy: The first night is the big challenge, because it sets the tone. So much so, that we even changed the outside [Godoy will wear a white pantsuit, Saavedra will wear all black]. The festival has always started with a party, and the outfits were flashier, but we’re striking a more sober note out of respect.

This is not a normal hosting job. Literally everyone in Chile — nearly 90% of the population –watches this show at some point. How do you prepare?

Saavedra: There is purely editorial work. We had 18 rehearsals inisde a television studio where the producers gave us all sorts of prompts of what could happen: applause, booing, the teleprompter cutting out, delays. They wanted to see our ability to improvise. You know that the audience in Viña del Mar is very different from other countries. They like to participate, and they’re very radical. If they don’t like something, they’re ruthless. So one has to be prepared for that.

Godoy: It is the largest festival in the world. There are six nights, where there are two artists who sing, plus the competition, plus the comedian. So it forces us to learn the biography of each person in order to present them in the best possible way. And part of the identity of this festival is that it has the “monster.” And the monster is very unique. It’s an audience that can literally eat the artist who is on stage.

In your three years at the Festival, María Luisa, what moment stands out?

Godoy: There was a particularly difficult festival in 2020, during the country’s period of social unrest. They even put up barricades around the venue, and it was difficult for artists to get there. The opening artists couldn’t come because crowds were setting cars on fire outside the hotel and wouldn’t let them pass. And I want to tell you about Ricky Martin who saved the festival in 2020. Every night, we weren’t sure if we would have a show or not. When Ricky came to the venue, he had to lie down inside his SUV because protesters were throwing stones at the cars, not even knowing who was inside. Every international artist started calling Ricky to ask what the situation was. And Ricky, such a good and generous person, completely calmed everyone down, put them at ease, and helped the festival take place.

Saavedra: A similar thing that happened with Alejandro Sanz this year. He went to see some of the people who lost their homes in the fires. It was very emotional.

Francisco, it’s your first year. Did you long to do this?

Saavedra: I think it is the most important festival in Latin America, and for any Chilean television host being in Viña is a very important step in your career. You are seen by audiences from all over the world. You cross borders. To live up to this we’ve been studying and working. It’s a dream for me since I was little. Now being able to fulfill it excites me deeply.

María Luisa, and you? How did the opportunity come to you?

Godoy: It was a surprise because my career was in political journalism, so it was never something I thought I could do. It’s not the kind of thing you can say no to because it is like wearing the Chilean T-shirt for the world. It has simply been the most important thing that has happened in my professional career.

You are a mother of five children. How do you balance such a complex job with motherhood?

Godoy: As a mother, I can’t move without my puppies. I have from 1-year-old to a 10-year-old and they are all here with me. What makes me most happy is being with them and fighting for women. Ever since i hosted Viña while I was pregnant — there had never been a pregnant woman [as a host] — I always said, my dream is to ensure that having children is not an impediment to working, and that working is not an impediment to having children for a woman who wants a child. You have to break down barriers. Motherhood can be made compatible with work.

Pancho, you are also breaking parameters as a gay man with two children. Your little one is just months old…

Saavedra: Absolutely. My daughter Laura and my son Emilio and my husband are here. It is the first time, I believe, in these 63 years that Viña del Mar has been, [that it] has had [an openly gay host] and it has to do with the evolution of the world and how minds are opening. There is a lot of homophobia in the world. This is a great step forward. And the only thing I have received on the street is affection, love and empathy. Being able to do an interview and talk about my husband and my children, and not raise an eyebrow, is a huge step in the right direction.

The Viña del Mar Song Festival can be seen outside Chile on streaming platform Star+.

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