Celebrating Community, Connection and Culture in Black Cosmetics

What You’ll Learn In This Blog

• You’ll learn the untold history of Black cosmetics
• You’ll understand what’s changed in 2026
• You’ll discover Black-owned cosmetic brands leading this evolution

Introduction

Black cosmetics was never about trends. It was about making products work when they weren’t originally designed to serve everyone. For decades, melanin-rich consumers navigated a complexion market that centered lighter skin tones as the default. Foundations oxidized into orange hues. Powders left a visible grey cast. Bronzers lacked the depth to register on richer skin tones. Even so-called “inclusive” shade ranges often stopped short, with deeper tones added late in development rather than formulated with equal precision from the start.

In response, Black consumers became their own formulators, testers, and quality control experts. Shades were mixed to correct undertones. Products were tested in heat, humidity, sweat, and long workdays. What emerged from these gaps was not a trend cycle, but a culture of precision and performance.

What we were sold before

• Shade ranges built around light skin, with deeper tones added later
• Undertones treated as an afterthought, not a formulation priority
• Powders and pigments that read ashy or dull on deeper skin
• Flashback issues from silica-heavy formulas
• Claims tested under studio lighting, not real-life conditions

Here’s what’s changing now 

• Undertone-first formulation becomes non-negotiable. Brands are formulating around red, olive, golden, and neutral undertones from the start, instead of “deepening” existing shades at the end.
• Performance testing moves into real life. Products are being tested for oxidation, flashback, sweat, humidity, and long wear on melanin-rich skin, not just under studio lights.
• Pigments are engineered to read true on deeper skin. New blends focus on clarity, balance, and light control so color reads true on deeper skin without chalkiness, greying, or excess layering
• These innovations tie into broader 2026 beauty and packaging trends – explored in recent Product & Packaging Powerhouse podcast episodes. 🎧 Listen here.

A Few Black-Owned Skin Care Brands You Should Know

1. Iman : Founded by supermodel and entrepreneur Iman, IMAN Cosmetics was created to address the lack of complexion products for women of color. The brand is best known for its foundation systems and shade ranges designed specifically for deeper skin tones with accurate undertones and seamless wear.

2. Fashion Fair : 50+ years of black beauty! Founded in 1973 by Eunice Johnson, Fashion Fair is one of the original makeup brands created for Black women, born out of the fashion and beauty needs seen backstage at Ebony Fashion Fair shows. The brand set early standards for inclusive shade ranges and remains known for complexion products tailored to melanin-rich skin.

3. Juvia’s Place : Founded in 2016 by Chichi Eburu, Juvia’s Place is a makeup brand created to celebrate and serve melanin-rich skin through highly pigmented, accessible products. The brand is best known for its bold eyeshadow palettes and complexion products designed to deliver true color payoff on deeper skin tones without excessive layering.

4. Lamik Beauty : Based in Texas, Lamik Beauty, founded by Kim Roxie is a vegan makeup line made with natural and organic ingredients for multicultural women. Its products are made without parabens or other known harmful ingredients and delivered to customers in reusable and recyclable packaging. 

5. Laws of Nature: Founded in 2015 by Jasmine Rose, Laws of Nature is a clean makeup brand that provides Black women a diverse selection of shades with high-performance botanical ingredients designed to nourish the skin while also providing coverage. Its products are suitable for all skin types and conditions, normal, dry, combination, eczema, sensitive, or oily/acne-prone.

6. Marie Hunter Beauty: Licensed cosmetologist turned entrepreneur KéNisha Ruff founded Marie Hunter Beauty,  a luxury cosmetics, skincare, and home fragrances brand that globally and ethically sources all of its ingredients. Every lipstick, candle, cream, and fragrance is certified cruelty-free and vegan. 

7. Range Beauty: Alicia Scott founded Range Beauty, a clean and affordable makeup brand, out of a need for more diverse shades and fewer toxic ingredients in the cosmetics industry. The brand uses simple, high-quality ingredients such as water, french clay, and flower extracts that suit all skin types such as sensitive, oily, acne-prone, and combo skin.

Conclusion

Black cosmetics has never been about excess. It has always been about precision, performance, and adaptability.

What’s changing now is that the broader industry is finally designing with those principles in mind — building complexion products that are technically sound across every depth and undertone.

In 2026 and beyond, inclusion will not be measured by how many shades sit on a shelf. It will be measured by how accurately they perform on real skin, in real conditions.

If you’re building or evolving a beauty brand, now is the time to ensure your makeup strategy is engineered for real wear – from formulation to packaging. Let me help you prepare for the 2026 and beyond launches that align with today’s trends. Click here to schedule a conversation chat to discuss the possibilities. 

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