For years, Black-owned skincare brands have been unfairly boxed into a niche. But the truth is, the best of these brands were never just about filling a gap; they were about raising the standard for what thoughtful, effective grooming can be. Built with melanin-rich skin in mind, they address concerns like inflammation, hyperpigmentation, and barrier repair in ways that benefit everyone.
“[Years ago] mainstream brands weren’t always inclusive, or even thoughtful about how their products worked on different skin tones,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey Hartman. “And even when [people of color] voiced that, we didn’t see much change. It wasn’t until Black founders had the power to direct product development that we started seeing real innovation.”
That innovation, he explains, wasn’t just about what’s in the formula, but also who the formula was tested on. “If your product hasn’t been studied on a range of skin tones, you can’t truly say it’s effective (or safe) for everyone,” Dr. Hartman says. “Black-owned brands have been leading the charge in inclusive testing and ingredient selection, and that benefits all skin types.”
There’s also a psychological—and economic—impact to this shift. According to InsightAce’s April report, the global Black beauty market is experiencing substantial growth, with a predicted market size of $31.6 billion by 2034. “Black consumers are not just looking for representation, they want products that work,” Hartman adds. “And when they do? Social media will take it and run. If it performs, people will find it, and they’ll share it. Regardless of their skin tone.”
The same applies to cologne. Often overlooked in these conversations, Black-owned fragrance brands are quietly reshaping what luxury smells like. These aren’t just perfumes in sleek packaging, they’re complex, prestige-level blends that rival legacy maisons and are crafted for anyone with good taste. As Dr. Hartman puts it, it’s not about exclusion or separation; it’s about expanding the spectrum. “Yes, we want to be seen for the unique needs our skin might have,” he says. “But that doesn’t mean the products are only for us. It just means they were made with more intention, and that’s something everyone can benefit from.”
Below, a curated lineup of Black-owned skincare and fragrance finds that prove when products are developed with purpose and expertise, they deliver for everyone.
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Epi.Logic
Image Credit: Epi.Logic Founded by oculofacial plastic surgeon Dr. Chaneve Jeanniton, epi.logic is the kind of clinically backed, quietly luxurious skincare brand that flies under the radar until you see the results. Rooted in science, the line delivers multitasking formulas that sidestep hype in favor of performance. Case in point: The Total Package Repair Cream, a peptide-rich balm that hydrates, firms, and smooths in one step. “It’s the go-to balm I use on my patients to give them that plumped, dewy glow before they leave my office,” says Dr. Jeanniton. With vegan bioidentical peptides, plant-based collagen, and barrier-repairing ceramides, think of it as a post-shave flex.
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Ourside
Image Credit: Ourside Ourside is a modern fine fragrance brand built on storytelling, identity, and inclusivity. Founded by Keta Burke-Williams, a Harvard Business School grad and daughter of a Black immigrant mother, its debut scent, Of Our Own, reflects that layered experience: rich, warm, and intentionally hard to define. “I created Of Our Own as the daughter of an immigrant and a Black woman—someone who’s always lived at the intersection of cultures and identities,” says Burke-Williams. “The scent reflects that: it’s warm, layered, and hard to pin down.” Though proudly Black-owned, Ourside isn’t about exclusivity; it’s about resonance. This is a fragrance made for anyone who’s ever wanted to be fully seen and fully scented.
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Korej Skin
Image Credit: Korej Skin KOREJ is a new skincare brand that quietly raises the bar. Founded by board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Laura Scott, the line is effective, fragrance-free, and built for real life, not just luxiorous shelves. “With KOREJ, ingredients like mandelic acid finally get the spotlight,” says Dr. Hartman. “We’ve known mandelic acid is great for hyperpigmentation, but big brands just haven’t prioritized it.” The standout Mandelic Night Serum puts that star ingredient to work alongside lactic acid to gently exfoliate, smooth texture, and fade dark spots, all while you sleep.
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Epara Skincare
Image Credit: Epara Skincare Epara Skincare is luxury skincare with intention, founded by Nigerian-born Ozohu Adoh to address the needs of melanin-rich skin, and refined enough for anyone serious about results. Its hero product, Natural Cleansing Oil, blends moringa, marula, and licorice root to dissolve dirt, SPF, and urban buildup without disrupting the skin barrier. “It is a gentle but effective cleanser that does not overly strip the skin and yet begins the repair process that leads to well-balanced skin whilst tackling hyperpigmentation,” says Adoh. The formula is purposeful, the texture indulgent, and the results speak to anyone who values a well-kept face.
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Shani Darden
Image Credit: Shani Darden Celebrity facialist Shani Darden is renowned for her straightforward approach to skincare rooted in clinical results. Her Triple Acid Signature Peel brings that same precision home, delivering a professional-grade exfoliation in just 10 minutes. “It’s inspired by the peel I use in all of my Signature Facials and one of my most transformative treatments,” says Darden. Powered by glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids, it smooths, brightens, and revives skin without downtime. The result is that post-facial glow Darden’s A-list clients swear by, minus the appointment.
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La Boticá
Image Credit: La Boticá La Boticá is the kind of indie fragrance brand that turns heads…and then lingers. Its newest standout, Sanctuaria Eau de Parfum, launched in April and is already climbing the brand’s bestseller list. Inspired by hidden mountain sanctuaries in the Dominican Republic, the scent opens with a hit of incense and black pepper, then melts into warm Dominican amberwood, vanilla oleoresin, and sacred resins like olibanum and copal smoke. It’s smoky, sensual, and surprisingly grounding. “Sanctuaria explores duality—the stillness of breathwork at sunrise, the magnetism of presence after dark,” says founder Dawn Marie West. If you want a scent that evolves with your mood and earns you compliments well past midnight, this is it.
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Dr. Few Skincare
Dr. Few Skincare is what happens when a top-tier plastic surgeon decides your daily routine deserves the same precision as a procedure. Created by Dr. Julius Few, the line blends clinical-grade results with clean, inclusive formulas that work across all skin types—no gatekeeping. The star of the lineup is C Serum, a water-based vitamin C treatment that hits brightness and collagen in one go. But the brand’s latest release, DermaReverse, won one of this year’s Best of the Best Awards, and blends the benefits of vitamin C and retinol into a single product.
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Chris Collins Fragrance
Image Credit: Chris Collins Chris Collins Fragrance is where refined meets rebellious. Founded by Chris Collins, a former Ralph Lauren model, the brand draws from Harlem’s cultural legacy and Parisian craftsmanship to create unforgettable scents for everyone. Its standout, Renaissance, channels the energy of Harlem’s cultural revival with a blend that’s equal parts fresh, spicy, and seductive. Marine notes and bergamot lead into a heart of ginger and cinnamon, grounded by a rich base of honey, tonka, tobacco, and leather. One reviewer nailed it: “This scent isn’t just good—it’s become my signature. My wife? Obsessed. Even after hours, she can still catch the scent, and let’s just say my hug count has gone way up.” Wear it once, and you’ll get it.
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Koba Skincare
Image Credit: Koba Skincare Koba Skincare is elevating everyday rituals, starting with the feet. Founded by Therese M’Boungoubaya, the brand takes a luxe, skin-inclusive approach to body care that’s often ignored. Leading the way is the Koba Bottom Up Foot Cream, a rich, velvety formula that transforms dry, rough soles into smooth, hydrated skin regardless of your tone or texture. “This product transforms something as overlooked as foot cream into a moment of pure luxury—yes, it’s bringing sexy feet back,” says M’Boungoubaya. With its spa-like scent and sensorial finish, this isn’t just about soft heels, it’s a full-on self-care upgrade.
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Harlem Perfum Co.
Image Credit: Harlem Perfum Co. Harlem Perfume Co. turns cultural legacy into scent, bottling the soul of Harlem with fragrances that feel like stories. The standout is Langston Eau de Parfum, a unisex blend that pays tribute to Langston Hughes and the creative heat of the Harlem Renaissance. It kicks off with rich notes of cinnamon, caramel apple, and chocolate, moves into a heady swirl of orange brandy and night-blooming jasmine, and settles into a smooth base of tonka, sandalwood, musk, and vanilla. It’s warm, confident, and quietly magnetic; like a poem that sticks with you long after the last line.
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Eadem
Image Credit: Eadem Eadem is the skincare brand cutting through the noise of “for all skin types” by actually starting where most brands don’t: melanin-rich skin. Founded by women of color, it’s built on science-backed formulas that target dark spots and uneven tone without wrecking your skin. Its Cashmere Peel is a perfect example: gentle on skin, tough on dullness, and stripped of anything unnecessary. Just results.
