While it’s top of mind now more than ever before, we celebrate diversity every single day. Many beauty brands are black owned, and have powerful women at their helm. Some have become so popular, that they have become mainstream. Make no mistake though, these products were created with the black woman in mind. Their shade range, no matter the product, is inclusive and the hair products address the specific needs of black women and men. We’ve spoken about some of these products as brands we need in Canada right now and we will be highlighting more in the future.
Pat McGrath Labs
Oh, how we covet everything from this line. Each product is a work of art. Anna Wintour proclaimed Pat McGrath “the most influential makeup artist in the world.” We have to agree. Sought after in the fashion world for her ability to create runway looks, she sets many of the trends in the beauty industry. She was hand-selected by Giorgio Armani in 1999 to help him launch his own line of cosmetics. McGrath became the Global Beauty Creative Design Director by Procter & Gamble in 2004. Pat McGrath Labs was founded in 2016 and quickly became THE luxury brand that everyone had to have. Her eyeshadow palettes, with their “special shades” will set you back a cool $170, but their beauty is priceless.
Coloured Raine
Coloured Raine was founded by Loraine R. Dowdy in 2013. Dowdy, Brooklyn born, of Caribbean descent, left her high powered job in the financial industry to pursue her dream of launching a cosmetic line for women of colour. The mission behind her brand is, “to spread awareness of diversity through beauty and to embrace all aspects of colour through unity…A belief in all things beauty, with no stipulations on color, age, and gender is what sets Coloured Raine apart.” The brand is known for their high quality products. We selected it as a brand that we need in Canada right now. You can order it online, but we want to see the glorious eyeshadow in person!
Beauty Bakerie Makeup
Beauty Bakerie is the brain-child of Cashmere Nicole. A former nurse, single mother and breast cancer survivor, the brand became her own sweet passion. Beauty Bakerie’s motto is “Be Better, not Bitter.” Cashmere Nicole has proven that you can have your cake and eat it too. The brand is known for their ADORABLE packaging, all based on, you guessed it, baking. Their setting powder and Cotton Candy Champagne Blush palette are rumoured to have the best formulas around.
Juvia’s Place
Juvia’s Place is another brand that we highlighted as one that we need in Canada right now. Founded by West African Chichi Eburu, the brand is known for their highly pigmented eyeshadow palettes that inspire creativity. The artwork on each Juvia’s Place item is unique and inspired by Africa. You will never see anything like this brand’s packaging and shade combinations. It is an inclusive company, with the following mandate: “We believe in inclusive beauty, and The Tribe is where we celebrate our customers that come to us from all walks of life.”
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Shea Moisture
The brand’s history started in 1912 when Sofi Tucker started selling Shea Nuts at the village market in Bonthe, Sierra Leone . By age 19, the widowed mother of four was selling Shea Butter, African Black Soap and her homemade hair and skin preparations all over the countryside. Shea Moisture is her legacy.
The line is a natural, organic, sustainably-produced range of products. It is sulfate free, paraben free and uses certified organic ingredients, whenever possible. Shea Moisture is also cruelty-free. They produce everything from hair to bath and body products. There are products for four different hair types – everything from straight/relaxed to curly. Each product is created with the black woman’s hair in mind from shampoo to strengthening and restoring rinses and leave-in treatments.
