Skincare can be quite an overwhelming routine to get your head around. The market is full of many skincare options nowadays.
However, it’s important to remember that your skincare needs to work for you, and choosing products tailored for darker skin tones will be much more beneficial. Let’s take a look at the Black-owned British skincare brands that create products tailored to work for deeper skin tones.
Liha Beauty
With a story as beautiful as their products, Liha Beauty was founded by Liha and Abi. Their beauty products are a reflection of them; which is a mixture of natural African roots and a quintessentially British attitude. It is clear from their products and their aesthetics, that this is a fusion of African and British culture. ‘LIHA was born from the desire to create an innovative, luxe natural, organic and vegan skincare brand that blends the rich botanical life of West Africa with traditional English aromatherapy and folk remedies.’ You’ll be sure to find something to suit your needs with their product range. From their African body soaps to their body butters and candles, this is a stunning range of products. The mid range prices are also not a disappointment.
EPARA Skincare
Founded by Nigerian/British entrepreneur, Ozohu Adoh, EPARA is a luxury skincare brand made for women with dark skin tones. After being unable to find solutions to her own skincare needs, Ozohu decided to develop her own products. Using organic products from Africa, that were best suited to African skin, she found that her skin issues of irritation and sensitivity were gone and her products had left her skin feeling soft and clear.
The EPARA Skincare range tackles problems that are most common in dark skin. This includes pigmentation issues and dry skin. Their products range from body creams, and oils to face serums and cleansing lotions. They are award winners of ‘Best New Product For Dark Skin’ in the 2017 Grazia Beauty Awards and EPARA’s Cleansing Oil was voted ‘Best Cleanser for Hyperpigmentation’ by Marie Claire in 2017. As this is an award winning luxury product range, you should expect to pay more premium prices.
Novel Skincare
This quintessential skincare company, founded by Nneka Fleming, is unique in its story. Their award-winning natural and vegan skincare range is made to complement the individual. They believe that just as a good novel absorbs the reader and shows them a new perspective, your skincare should do the same. You select your skincare based on your lifestyle, so therefore it absorbs into your own daily experiences.
On their website you have the option to shop by lifestyle, where you can find products for example, for ‘Self Help’ needs or ‘Modern History’ products to help during these days of post-lockdown and social distancing. There is a wide range of products that embody all that impacts our skin. From face masks, shower gels, serums and body creams to the more obscure product of candles. Their products treat a host of skin issues including, blemishes, dry and uneven skin, cellulite, and pollution. Being ‘Beauty Global Awards’ Finalists in 2019 and Editor’s Choice for the ‘Beauty Shortlist Awards’ in 2017, their low to mid price range is a pleasant surprise.
79 Lux Skincare
Known as ‘serious skincare for the body’, 79 Lux is a luxurious skincare brand that uses natural ingredients to tackle skin issues. It is the perfect alchemy of potent botanicals, powerful skin healers, anti-inflammatories and anti-oxidants to feed the skin and counterbalance environmental stressors whilst improving its ability to heal and replenish.
Founded by health and nutrition coach, Karen Cummings-Palmer, the first product in the range was born from Karen’s own needs to treat her eczema prone skin. The Balm was made to be a rich, but not greasy, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory balm that can be used daily. This was then followed by the gold-infused Golden Oil. Although there are only two products in the range, the care and thought that has gone into developing these products is truly evident. This is a luxurious brand, and therefore the prices of both of these skincare products are of a premium range.
Cotton Coco
This small skincare brand was created by Keturah Fontaine and Melissa Madden who are best friends. They have produced an Organic Body Butter that is made from natural ingredients to combat dry skin which is commonly an issue for darker skin tones. Although this is the only product in the range at the moment, this body butter contains all the goodness of shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil, amongst other ingredients to provide a perfectly balanced whipped formula. None of the ingredients in this body butter are synthetic and it is vegan friendly too. To top it all off, the body butter is very affordable at only £10 for a large tub.
Skin Alchemists
Founded by St. Lucian born Theresa, the Skin Alchemists is all about sharing the power of plant medicine through the use of skincare. The passion and the journey is clear in the formation of each of these products. As Theresa states, ‘I first formulated these treats for me and my family. I wanted the best for us without cutting corners and thinking of cost and profit margins. We are the first guinea pigs to every formulation and if it’s not good enough for my family, it’s not good enough for you! They are a small portion of my self care journey...packaged with love... and shared with you!’mFrom an award winning cleansing oil, to body exfoliators and candles, this is truly a luxurious line of skincare products. With their mid to high price range, it is sure to have a product that is accessible for all.
Shimirose
Akua Asiedua Asare founded Shimirose in 2008, and started trading in London in 2018. All of their products are handmade from all natural ingredients, and are paraben and toxin free. They source their ingredients in both Ghana and the UK, ensuring that the women that work to source their shea butter in North Ghana are paid a fair price. They have a good range of shea butter on offer in various sizes and ingredients, including coconut, lemon and lavender. Their prices range from low to mid range which is fantastic for products that have their ingredients sourced in Africa.
The Glow Pot
After suffering from eczema for much of her younger years and being unsuccessful in treating it, founder of The Glow Pot, Ofome Eyanagho decided to create her own remedies. The Glow Pot was created to give you ‘the skin you deserve, the natural way.’ With an impressive skincare range that includes face masks, moisturisers and oils for both men and women, you’re sure to find something to suit your needs. Prices are quite reasonable with a low to mid range.
Okiki
With an amalgamation of Nigerian origins and British influences in their products, Okiki is a range of luxurious, natural products. ‘At Okiki, we create natural, organic products with botanical infusions.’ The Okiki product range is an impressive combination of skincare, body care and home care. Each of the products have the essential ingredients at their core, which makes this a ‘one stop shop’. Their prices are low to mid range, which is impressive.
The Afro Hair & Skin Co.
Ibi Meier-Oruitemeka is a wellness beauty expert, creative entrepreneur and the founder and creative director of award-winning natural beauty brand, The Afro Hair & Skin Co. She has shaken things up in the beauty community by creating an award winning brand, that is ethical and forward thinking. Her ingredients are locally and organically sourced in Britain. Her best selling facial oil FLOW has been recognised as 'Best Skincare for and by People of Colour' by VOGUE, and her range has also been recognised by Marie Claire and Essence amongst other publications. With a low to mid price range, this is a brand that is definitely one to check out.
Wild Seed Botanicals
Wild Seed was founded by Laila Mensah who is known as natural hair blogger, Neffy Frofro. The brand’s roots are firmly planted in the heart of African Holistic Traditions. All of their products are handmade in small batches to ensure that they deliver the most potent, raw and purest potions. They use the finest wildcrafted, organic cold pressed and steam distilled carrier oils, butters, essential oils and botanical herbs. All ingredients are ethically sourced, active and included for their therapeutic effects.
Freya + Bailey
This brand was launched by Abbie Oguntade last year. The products are natural, 100% vegan and botanical based powered by science. They help combat the impact of stress, micro pollution and other modern day realities on your skin's glow. They also help with things like hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone and help balance skin's PH ( all great attributes for black skin). More than that though they are formulated with therapeutic aromas to calm minds as well as skin. Abbie has a marketing background and previously led the skincare division of a global organisation. She launched Freya + Bailey after a severe bout of stress acne and partnered with a clinical team to bring the brand to life.
Antonia Burrell
Last and certainly not least is Antonia Burrell, which is an innovative and sumptuous skincare brand with mouthwatering products such as her iconic Cleansing Oil, Mask Supreme and Facial in a Box. With two decades in the beauty industry, Antonia Burrell is also a revered natural beauty pioneer. She is a BABTAC-accredited practitioner, and an Associate Lecturer in the Chemistry of Aromatherapy at the London College of Fashion. Her holistic skincare collection is a 100% natural blend of potent, predominantly organic, pure, bio-active plant extracts.
Check out our Beauty Directory to find more Black-owned skincare brands.
