Beauty & Fashion
Gone are the days when Black women had to search for products that made them feel seen. As a teenager, if I wanted to experience Black beauty products, my options were limited and often solely online.
I vividly remember wanting to try Carol's Daughter, and my mother had to drive me to a mall that was thirty minutes away just to experience their products in person. I remember feeling so elated to see and touch the products, ask questions to the women who worked there, and see photos of Black women and girls with hair like me in the marketing! It's such a different experience from being able to pick up a go-to product from that very same brand in CVS now!
Black beauty and body brands are now accessible in Target, Sephora, and Ulta, and digital marketplaces are filled with products and our faces for brands ranging from skincare, haircare, makeup, and more. When I look in my bathroom closets, it fills me with so much joy to see how many Black-owned and Black-founded products I not only have, but that have become part of my routine regularly.
Here are some beauty and body care products that I can't live without.
TPH By Taraji
Good Daze & The Wind Down Body Wash
Taraji P. Henson's self-care products TPH and Body by TPH have had me in a chokehold since their first body care products were released in 2022. The line is not only accessible with all products under $13 but also intentional for every part of your day.
Their energizing body cleanser, Good Daze, infused with mandarin and ginger, gets me pumped to have a productive day. Wind Down, which is a creamy body wash with notes of palo santo and ylang-ylang, helps me wash away the day and get ready for the good night's rest that I deserve.
Ami Colé
Skin-Enhancing Lightweight & Blurring Foundation Stick
My favorite clean beauty brand, Ami Colé, has launched its skin-enhancing foundation stick, which is the literal foundation of my everyday makeup look. I have sensitive skin, and there have been many products that my skin doesn't agree with, but this foundation never irritates my skin, and unlike other foundations, when I remove it, I don't break out.
When I'm pressed for time, this foundation elevates my skin in seconds while nourishing thanks to ingredients like shea butter and baobab seed oil.
Topicals
Slick Salve
Topicals' viral Slick Salve saved my lips this winter when I experienced dryness and is my go-to for the gym. And it's vegan! Their unique formula is a "barrier-building balm" that "instantly hydrates, soothes, and protects," giving your lips the hydration and moisture it needs all day long. Some critics have called it too sticky, but it's my favorite whenever my lips need some additional TLC.
SheaMoisture
Bond Repair Oil
The girls are repairing our hair repair era. While there are many lines on the market for hair repair, SheaMoisture's bond repair line is formulated for Type 3 and Type 4 hair. I can't and won't pretend that I use every product of the new line daily, but their bonding oil is my go-to before I style my hair. With a power-packed assist from their blend of Amla oil and shea butter, not only am I frizz-free, but my hair is also strengthened from root to tip.
EADEM
Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum with Niacinamide and Vitamin C
EADEM has been the answer to my skin's prayers over the past few months. I struggle with dark spots that are left after monthly hormonal acne, and this milky serum is for sure a splurge. Formulated with skin of color in mind, the Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum features vitamin C, niacinamide, and licorice algae as key ingredients.
Pattern Beauty
Scalp Serum
I can't deny it; I am a Pattern girl through and through. One of my favorite aspects of wash day with Pattern is their tingly, hydrating serum that soothes your scalp by giving it a sense of relief, which can be especially beneficial when wearing protective styles. I like to apply it following shampoo and conditioner in my wash routine. The ingredients, which include peppermint, rosemary, and lavender oil, feel amazing on my scalp and make me feel like I'm in the salon while I'm washing my hair in the shower.
OUI the People
Featherweight Hydrating Body Gloss Oil with Squalane
OUI the People's hydrating body gloss is a must in my skin routine post-shower. I wouldn't say that it's a replacement for moisturizer, but it's for sure a great addition and their orange blossom skin-barrier-boosting body oil helps my skin lock in moisture and makes it shine like no other oil has.
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