Three Black-Owned Skincare Brands You NEED to Know About

I thought I’d share some of my favorite black women owned skincare brands with you today. Recently, I started a journey of switching out conventional products for organic ones. And, yes, it’s really been a journey. I’ve tried some products I really didn’t like, others that I thought were just okay, and some that I really loved. I figured I’d share a few of the ones I loved to make your journey easier. All of these brands are small businesses so I included a bit about their owners so that you can really get to know the brand. Are you ready? Let’s dive in:

1. Saige and Ivy

Saige and Ivy was founded by Brittney Oliver, a mother of two from Leland, NC. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. While in school, she began learning about the health and therapeutic benefits of essential oils and other natural products. After she had her first child, she started exploring more about natural products and realized that many of the mainstream products she used contained harmful chemicals that negatively affected her health. She decided to do something about this and after much planning, Saige and Ivy was born.

Believe it or not, I came across Saige and Ivy by scrolling on instagram. I was pretty curious to learn more about how effective their spray deodorants were since I’d only tried stick and paste deodorants in the past.

So far, my experience with organic deodorant was mediocre. I wanted to try something better than I had so far. So, I reached out to Brittney and she gifted me her Flourish deodorant to try.

I first noticed it had a mild scent of apple cider. It was natural but still very feminine. I tried it as soon as I got it. I was a bit nervous since I was going to work that day. If it didn’t work, things could have been really bad. But, thankfully, it worked really well. I kept using it exclusively for the next few weeks and I noticed that not only did it remove odor, it actually left a pleasant scent on my clothes.

If you’re looking for a really good natural deodorant that does it’s job, Saige and Ivy is the way to go. If you’re a newbie to natural deodorant, no worries: they have a Deep Detox Underarm Mask that you can use to help your skin adjust. Even though the deodorants are $12.99, they’re worth it because they do the job and they can last you 2-3 months.

2. Elements of Aliel

Next up, Elements of Aliel by Lakeisha Entsuah. Like Brittney, Keisha started her business after the birth of her first child. After dealing with fertility issues, she decided it was time to focus more on the ingredients in the products she used on her body. But, during her pregnancy, she noticed that even some natural products were irritating her skin. So Keisha took her pharmaceutical manufacturing experience and used it to create her own products. Eventually it led to the growing business she has today.

I tried two products from Elements of Aliel: the Rose Balm, made of a blend of incredible natural oils and butters proven to help heal dry skin, soothe irritated skin, and balance oily skin and the Awaken Cleansing Polish, featuring everybody’s favorite: coffee.

I loved both products. The Cleansing Polish was the perfect exfoliator, moisturizer, and cleanser all in one. The aroma of the coffee was a PLUS. Since I first got it, I’ve been using it regularly when I shower. I have pretty dry skin that does get patchy and flaky in some areas. Especially in the winter. Using this cleansing polish has helped to reduce the non-stop itching and dryness I’d typically experience in the winter.

The Rose Balm was a great way to seal in the moisture I received from the cleansing polish. I would use some on my skin right out of the shower and it would keep it moisturized all day. Here’s a plus, you can use the Rose Balm in your hair too! I used it to seal in the moisture in my hair before styling.

They each cost $28 separately but if you buy the bundle you get both for only $54.

3. Susan & Me

Susan & Me was founded by Kesha Montgomery and named after her grandmother, Susan. Kesha created the brand after an ongoing struggle with eczema during her senior year of college. She’s extremely passionate about helping others and using her insight to solve problems. I found this quote on their website and I think it really sums up the whole mission of the brand:

“The story of one’s life is written in service to others.” — Kesha Montgomery

I really connected with Kesha because I also struggle with my skin. I have an extremely dry patch of skin on my back that nothing helps to soothe. So, I tried her Quad Complex and was pleasantly surprised. It’s unscented so if you’re looking for fragrance, this might not be the product for you. But, if you’re looking for something to really correct tough skin problems, Susan & Me is the brand for you. It works. The product is super rich and creamy and deeply moisturizes tough areas. It’s made of four powerful butters: Shea, mango, avocado, and kokum. It also includes babassu oil.

If you struggle with any tough to solve skin issues, please go and check out Susan & Me. You won’t be disappointed.

If any of what I shared interests you, definitely go check out these small businesses. I can guarantee you that each of their products are top quality and do exactly what they claim to do. The owners and their team work around the clock to ensure that their customers love the products they receive. If you haven’t started using organic skincare products yet and you’re looking to start, this is the best way to go. Feel free to reach out to me if you need skincare or product advice!