Natural & Vegan Makeup Brands For Black Skin

Finally! An awesome collection of natural and vegan makeup brands for black skin specifically!

By Amma Aburam

Let’s face it: finding makeup for black skin is still not as easy as it should be. Whether you’re shopping in a drugstore or a department store, it seems huge brands like Boots, Dior or Lancome fail to cater to the diversity in the black skin tone. And yes, black skin IS different!

Why Black Skin Is Different

When it comes to finding vegan makeup brands for black skin as opposed to white, there’s one obvious difference: the colour of the products! I’m sure you know that it’s beyond difficult to find natural & vegan makeup hues that suit our skin tones.

I’ve been working on this article for ages. It was delayed again and again, mainly because some of the brands I found that did match my skin were too chemical, or not vegan friendly.

But when it comes to skincare and beauty, black skin is different for reasons beyond colour.

Black skin is a result of the production of eumelanin, which is dark brown to black in colour. White skin is a result of the production of pheomelanin, which is red to yellow in color.

Other differences between black and white skins include:

• In black skin there isn’t as much water, so the skin is less hydrated. The epidermis in black skin also has fewer ceramides, which are waxy lipids (fatty acids) that form a natural barrier. Therefore, our skin often has a higher level of transepidermal water loss (lost moisture from the skin) compared to white skin
•  More darkly pigmented skin has far better function, including a better barrier to water loss, stronger cohesion, and better antimicrobial defense. So our skin tends to look better for longer, with fewer wrinkles and less sagging.
• Since black skin is richer in eumelanin and melanosomes which provide superior protection against the effects of ultraviolet radiation. So we don’t need much of an SPF in our products. But that being said, we can burn, too, so keep out of the sun anyway.
• Black skin tends to scar easier and deeper than white skin.

What To Look For In Makeup Brands For Black Skin

Now that you know how our skin is different, what should you look for in natural and vegan makeup brands for black skin, then?

• Oil glands tend to be more numerous and large in black skin, and follicles tend to be larger, so black skin tends toward oiliness. That said, it is less acne-prone. So maybe look for oil-free products.
• Dark skin tones look stunning when sporting bright, bold, beautiful colours. While some options may look intimidatingly bright in the tube, give them a try!
• Avoid bright pink or peach blush tones. These can give dark skin tones an ashy appearance. Go for warm magenta, purple-hued berry tones, or golden pinks and reds instead.
• To highlight dark skin tones, go for highlighters with gold, rose gold, or bronze tones. Silvery, pink-hued highlighters have a tendency to cause a dulling effect.

Here, I’ve come up with this fab list of natural and vegan makeup brands for black skin, most of which I have tried and tested myself. What’s interesting about this list is that for the most part, they’re all 100% owned by people of colour – mainly women. Bonus!

PS: If I’ve missed any brands, please let me know in the comments, below. We need all the info on these products we can get!

10 Natural & Vegan Makeup Brands For Black Skin

1. Shea Moisture

Packed with organic, natural and sustainable goodness, Shea Moisture is one of the best vegan makeup brands for black skin. They create not only makeup, but also an array of skincare and hair care products you’ll love.

The Fair Trade brand strives to be sulphate free, paraben free and is even tested on members of the founding family – not on animals. In addition to this, 10% of commercial sales go to women-led businesses that are involved in providing the ingredients for the brand’s products.  How great is that?

Vegan? No, but it’s cruelty-free.

Hero Products? Black Plum lipstick and CC Cream SPF 15

2. Axiology

This is one seriously ethical lipstick brand! Not only are their cosmetics cruelty-free and free of all nasty chemicals normally present in deeply hued lipstick (i.e. heavy metals), but their Latina founder, Ericka Rodriguez, also donates a nice chunk of profits towards saving orangutans.

And did I mention that their recycled, recyclable packaging is made by a Bali women’s collective?

No wonder this is one of my favourite vegan makeup brands for black skin!

Vegan? Yes.

Hero product? I am loving their Elusive shade right now.

3. Laws of Nature Cosmetics

This gorgeous makeup brand is watertight when it comes to ethics! It’s all natural, gluten free, vegan friendly, cruelty free and 91% organic, with no parabens, talc, mineral oil, or other nasties. Sounds heavenly, right? But it gets even better: they offer a free, online skin consultation.

Vegan? Yes.

Hero products? Their perfectly shaded mineral foundations and concealer sticks.

4. Plain Jane Beauty

Plain Jane Beauty is an eco-friendly brand that blends aesthetics with ethics with the aim to make sure that everything that goes on your skin is healthy, effective, safe, and cruelty-free. With a whopping 17 organic foundation shades, there’s certainly something here for everyone!

Not sure you want to commit to a product? No problem – you can purchase small samples cheaply. The brand is part of the Green Business Leadership Forum and owns a Leaping Bunny logo (proving they don’t test on animals), but what I love the most is that they also offer a monthly subscription beauty box (called Eco BeautyBytes), so you can try and test new products.

Vegan? Cruelty free

Hero product? Their retractable brow pencils are the perfect texture, never need sharpening and come in an array of colours.

5. Gabriel Cosmetics

This is one of those vegan makeup brands for black skin that was created to highlight women’s natural beauty through organic, NPA certified skincare and vegan/gluten free cosmetics.

Some extra offerings from Gabriel Cosmetics that the other brands mentioned above don’t have is an array of nail polishes, and a ‘clean kids’ range, which is a great idea.

Vegan? Yes.

Hero product? Their Zuzu Luxe oil-free foundation that comes in a wide variety of shades, from a honey complexion to darker tones.

6. Black Up

Oh, how I love this Paris based brand! It’s an exception to the list, as its original founder, Fabrice Mahabo, is, of course, a man. But he is a man of melanin, and really knows how to make a lippy that will make your skin tone truly pop. This brand creates some of the most richly pigmented colour cosmetics on the market. Why not try their perfectly tinted foundations, bold eyeshadow palettes or blushes to see for yourself?

Vegan? Almost. Most of their products are – a few contain beeswax. All are 100% cruelty free

Hero product? You will love their Black Up x Shy’m Eyeshadow and Blush Palette, below! It’s got amazing colours in it, and I can honestly say they last all day.

7. Belleci Cosmetics

Stephanie Belleci Manna, beauty expert and the Founder of Belleci Cosmetics, just recently launched a very unique, patent pending, anti-aging custom foundation system with only 4 SKUs that works on all skin tones and ethnicities.

It took ten years and a tremendous amount of market research to create this mistake proof product, which is free of parabens, propylene glycol, alcohol, dyes, fragrances, mineral oil, gluten and talc.

Vegan? Nope

Hero product? Well, it’s really all about the foundation, but the lip palette looks good, too!

8. IMAN Cosmetics

This is one of the most popular makeup brands for black skin! Founded by the gorgeous former model and widow of David Bowie, Iman, this brand offers over 10 best-selling foundation shades to match the skincare needs of African American women. This halal beauty brand features a full line of cosmetic and daily skincare products to embolden your look, no matter where you go.

Vegan? No, but they are halal and cruelty-free. They never test their products on animals, nor do they ask others to conduct animal testing on their behalf.

Hero product? Their lipsticks are out of this world!

9. Juvia’s Place

The brand is 100% cruelty-free, and most of their products are also vegan – some products, such as their Old Saharan Palette colours used carmine to create their red shades. But that was then – today the label is aiming to be vegan friendly and is phasing out the insects. However, that doesn’t mean Juvia’s Place cosmetics will be any less richly pigmented!

Vegan? Kinda. See above.

Hero product? Their ‘I Am Magic’ concealers and foundations are pretty much…magic!

10. Holy Curls

Ok, this may not qualify as one of our vegan makeup brands for black skin. But given the love-hate relationship many of us have with our hair, I thought this was a brand to include!

Whether your curl type is loose waves or tight curls, Holy Curls has a range dedicated to your tresses and its needs. The brand is totally plant-derived, cruelty-free and is, of course, 100% vegan. Their products are both sulphate and paraben-free, and naturally fragranced with essential oils. This stuff will leave your hair hydrated, softer and more defined, too.

Vegan? Yes!

Hero product? The Curl Gel is great for keeping your hair looking fabulous for days at a time!

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Amma Aburam

Features Contributor at Eluxe Magazine

Currently a Senior CRM Executive at AllSaints, London, Amma is also the blogger behind Style + Sustain. She’s passionate about ethical fashion and loves to shop for second hand and vintage clothing. She is a frequent contributor to Eluxe Magazine, and resides in London.

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