Black-Owned Beauty Brands Aren't Just For Black People

One very simple way white people can be allies to the Black community is to open up our wallets.

Sure it's a small step, but by spending our money at independent, Black-owned businesses, we are supporting these entrepreneurs in a very impactful way. And just to be clear: a business being Black-owned doesn't necessarily mean that the products are only for Black people — they're often for everyone.

Here, I've hand-picked some of my favorite Black-owned brands and products to share with you. Now all you have to do is spend a little cash.

Oyin Handmade Honey Water

To shop: $3.99; oyinhandmade.com

Swap out your winter body cream for this light hydration spray to give your skin the moisture it needs without feeling clammy in the heat. An added bonus? It gives your skin a subtle glow that'll make you feel like a sun goddess.

Oyin Handmade founder Jamyla Bennu was inspired to create hair and body products made with organic, food-grade ingredients when she couldn't find any commercially available.

Hanahana Beauty Shea Balm

To shop: $12; hanahanabeauty.com

You know that glorious moment when you apply a lip balm and your lips instantly feel quenched, happy, and hydrated? Then it fades away 10 minutes later.

That's not the case with this balm. Instead, it leaves you with long-lasting hydration and softness for hours on end, all thanks to the product's main ingredient: shea butter. And I'm speaking from the experience as a self-proclaimed lip balm connoisseur here.

Founder Abena Boamah-Acheampong sources her shea butter directly from the Katariga Women's Group, a collective of female entrepreneurs in Tamale, Ghana, which pays two times the fair trade price.

The Crayon Case The Matte Book Palette

To shop: $27.50; thecrayoncase.com

If you're anything like me, you can't count the number of times you've wanted to experiment with color on your eyes, only to discover just how sheer your yellow, blue, or green shadow actually is. Well, if you're looking for a little extra oomph, your search is over — no wetting your brush, or excessive layering necessary.

These colors (and neutrals!) are highly pigmented, which means they actually show up when you swipe them on — no matter your skin tone.

CEO Raynell Steward aka Supa Cent is a makeup lover who decided to start a brand specifically for the amateur makeup artist. She also happens to name all of her products after her friends.

VIDEO: Laura Harrier beauty looks with MUA Nina Park

Uoma Brow-Fro Blow Out Gel

To shop: $22; uomabeauty.com

The name really does say it all here. If you want perfectly on-trend, thick brows that look completely natural, look no further than this gel. The formula lifts, volumizes, tints, and shapes your brows in one easy swipe, and doesn't flake off — no matter how hot it gets outside.

Sharon Chuter's goal when creating Uoma was to celebrate everyone's differences through beauty. And she uses her own Nigerian heritage and vast knowledge of the beauty industry to do so.

Lauren Napier Beauty La Rose Facial Cleansing Wipes

To shop: $25; laurennapier.com

If you're not a fan of the weird residue left behind by many cleansing wipes, get hip to Lauren Napier Beauty. The rosewater and cucumber extract in these wipes help balance and calm your skin, so they're perfect post-workout — I personally love to use them on my face and body to freshen up after a long yoga session. And since they're individually packaged, they're easy to keep in your gym bag or purse to use on the fly.

Founder Lauren Napier is a skincare lover, makeup artist, and world traveler. She created this cleansing product when she couldn't find anything similar on the market.

People of Color Nail Lacquer in Nefertiti

To shop: $12; peopleofcolorbeauty.com

Yes, this brand was created specifically to complement darker skin, but trust us when we say that there are an array of colors that work for everyone.

Founder Jacqueline Carrington's inspiration to create her line was simple: She never saw images of brown hands in nail polish ads, so she did something about it.

Oui the People Rose Gold Sensitive Skin Razor

To shop: $75; ouithepeople.com

Have you ever seen a razor so pretty? Designed to eliminate the waste of disposable razors and the razor burn that goes along with it, this single-blade tool somehow takes all the pain out of a task you've dreaded since puberty.

Brand founder Karen Young set out to create a product specifically designed for women. Not just another men's razor "dressed in pink."

Josephine Cosmetics Dew/You The Flawless Liquid Highlighter

To shop: $36; josephinecosmetics.com

If looking flawlessly luminous without any hassle is on your list of things to do this summer, this highlighter can make light work of the task. A quick swipe and pat in of any of the four shades delivers a lit-from-within dewy finish.

Sholayide Otugalu set out to make natural cosmetics glamorous, and boy did she deliver!

Beneath Your Mask Illuminate Clarifying Face Mask

To shop: $70; beneathyourmask.com

Summer is a great time to go makeup-free. But let's face it, beautiful skin makes that prospect a lot more appealing! This mask combines detoxifying clays to clear up skin, but is also jam-packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to fight signs of aging, soothe skin and protect it from the environment. In my arsenal of face masks, I consider this one a holy grail, because quite simply, using it can help make the skin of your dreams a reality.

Founder Dana R. Jackson's personal battle with lupus led her to create a line of chemical- and toxin-free products anyone can feel safe using.

Good Beauté Good Face Vita C Cleanser

To shop: $30; goodbeaute.com

I constantly preach the benefits of vitamin C for your skin, and summer is a great time to add it into your routine. This perky, orange-scented gel-cleanser gently exfoliates to reduce discoloration and fight clogged pores, and I love the pick-me-up scent it offers in my morning shower.

After holding leadership roles at multiple big name beauty brands, Kimberly Hairston-Hicks founded her own brand. She wanted to create products that were thoroughly researched and developed to be effective on melanin-rich skin.