10 Black-Owned Alternatives to Popular Beauty Products & Brands
How crazy is it that January lasted 5 years and Black History Month feels like it’s been going on for about 3 days? Having it in February is a whole scam, but it’s okay, I’m still going to celebrate!
I wanted to do a different type of post this year. I could’ve written up a top 10 black-owned beauty brands post, but I wanted to dive a little bit deeper than that. This post will be all about dupes, but we’re making it black! I want us all to start supporting black businesses more. I know they can be a bit tougher to find, and that’s why I’m here to help! For every popular beauty product, I can almost guarantee that there’s a black-owned alternative. Soooo let’s start discovering and supporting our peeps!
1. BLK + GRN (Sephora Alternative)
I recently came across this website, and OMG I love it. BLK + GRN is the definition of For Us By Us. It’s an online organic beauty store created by black people, for black people. Think Sephora.com, but natural and black! Amazing, right? This just may be my new go-to beauty shop. I’m so happy an online shop like this exists, and I wish the contributors nothing but success…soooo go support!!!!
2. Shea Shea Bakery (Bath & Body Works Alternative)
Bath & Body Works better watch out, because Shea Shea Bakery is coming for that ass! Shea Shea Bakery has an assortment of products for your body, skin, and home. They pride themselves on having unique products that are filled with safe ingredients. I’m so in-love with the fragrances and product designs. Y’all…the candles and soaps are molded to look like real desserts! My mind is blown. Black creatives are truly unstoppable.
3. ButterMeUpGoods Detoxifying Facial Mask (Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque Alternative)
Kiehl’s Rare Earth Mask is a detoxifying clay mask that deeply cleanses the skin. It does a great job of pulling out all of the gunk and bacteria that’s been chilling in your pores. Buttermeupgoods is a black-owned beauty brand that has natural products for your face and body. Like the Kiehl’s mask, their detoxifying facial mask is a clay mask that gently removes toxins and rids the skin of impurities. It’s a great product & I highly recommend you pick it up. I also own 4 body butters from this brand and a toner, so I can confidently say that I’m a stan.
4. Beauty Bakerie Face Flour Baking Powder (Huda Beauty Easy Bake Alternative)
I’m giving Beauty Bakerie their flowers, because they were the originators of the bakery themed product line. Huda Beauty came out with a similar product line, and unfortunately it took away from what Beauty Bakerie created. Beauty Bakerie’s powder is amazing, and it comes in various shades that will fit multiple skin tones. It’s great for baking under your eyes, or you can use it as an all-over setting powder. I’ve had plenty of flash photography nightmares with setting powders, and can confidently reassure you that there is no flashback with this one.
5. Uoma Beauty Hey Big HeaD Dual-Density Sponge (Beauty Blender Sponge alternative)
A makeup sponge made by a black woman? I’m all for it! I was super disappointed in Beauty Blender when they first released their foundations. There were barely any shades for darker complexions. Ever since then, Beauty Blender has gotten a strong side-eye from me, and to be 100% honest, I haven’t purchased an actual beauty blender since. I always reach for the dupes, and I’m ecstatic that there’s a black-owned dupe that I can reach for (RiRi has one too if you’re looking for more options). Uoma Beauty has been on my radar for a while now. I’ve purchased a couple of products, and I can’t wait to try out more things from the product-line.
6. Temple Zen Night Hydrating Facial Oil (First Aid Beauty Oat Seed Oil Alternative)
I think everyone and their mom knows how much I love that First Aid Beauty oil lol. I apply it every single night and wake up with calmed, moisturized skin. This oil, by black-owned brand Temple Zen, has similar ingredients and produces almost identical results. It contains hemp and lavender oil which work to moisturize and calm dry and/or irritated skin.
7. Mary Louise Cosmetics’ "Spill the Tea" Green Tea Facial Cleanser (Youth to the People Green Tea & Spinach Vitamins Superfood Cleanser Alternative)
Everyone also knows how much I love Youth to the People’s Superfood Cleanser lol. It’s a gentle, non-drying cleanser formulated with kale, spinach, and green tea. Spill the Tea is a similar, black-owned cleanser formulated with green tea, honey, and chamomile. It cleanses the skin without drying, and calms redness and inflammation. This cleanser is great for all skin-types, and works well on sensitive/acne-prone skin.
8. The Crayon Case’s Box of Crayons Palette (Morphe Brushes live in color artistry palette Alternative)
If you like Morphe’s Live in Color palette, or colorful eyeshadows in general, than this palette by The Crayon Case is for you! This palette is colorful, fun, and super pigmented. It’s often sold out due to high demand, so keep your eyes peeled. The brand itself is also very cute and creative, so be sure to check out other items on the site as well. I just can’t get over the packaging; I want to buy everything!
9. Ujamaa Box (Birchbox Alternative)
Birchbox is one of the most popular beauty subscription boxes. It’s a pretty simple concept; every month you receive a customized box of beauty goodies. The Ujamaa Box Subscription is similar, except you receive goodies every three months from black-owned businesses. How dope is that?! It’s a great way to discover and support black-owned businesses.
10. Pat McGrath’s Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Foundation (Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Alternative)
Yes, Pat McGrath’s foundation is on the expensive side, buttttt the foundation is beautiful. I’ve always gravitated towards tinted moisturizers and light-medium foundations because I find that heavy foundations look dry and cakey on my skin. I like to allow my skin to breathe. I always wanted to try out Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation, because it’s a highly rated lightweight, skin-like foundation. Unfortunately, they don’t have a shade that matches me 🥺. The Skin Fetish foundation, on the other hand, is created by a black woman and was made with black women in mind. It also provides the same dewy finish that Luminous Silk does. If you’re willing to splurge on a good foundation, this is one I recommend!!! &&&& you get to support a black woman while splurging 🤗