One of my greatest joys in life is evangelizing about how Black folk approach beauty (it’s honestly the reason ). Part of that approach is a unique and hard-won love language that anyone can be inspired by: I like to call it “enhancing, not transforming,” and it reflects how the best products make us look like our best selves, not like somebody else entirely. This idea is deeply rooted in Black beauty, which is largely self-referenced: know we’re gorgeous; we don’t need outside validation—although if you’ve got something to help us kick it up a notch, then great.
I realize that may sound a bit cocky to some, but it’s actually a truth born out of resilience and self-care. See, historically, the beauty industry never did a good job of developing products around the wants and needs of people of color. Beauty ideals were based on white skin, and Black buying power was ignored.
Most mass-market companies offered foundation shades that never went deep enough and color cosmetics that didn’t complement our melanated skin. We had to recognize and celebrate our own dopeness, which was typically supported by only a few Black-founded lines, like Fashion Fair and Iman Cosmetics. We’re now in a glorious new era of a beauty industry that gives a damn—and I love it here! Those OG Black-girl-approved brands set the bar high for everyone else, proving that you can center inclusivity while still serving all with extensive shade ranges, nuanced hues, and thoughtful formulat.