Historically, Black women have been exposed to more toxic chemicals than any other cultural group. According to the Environmental Work Group (EWG), 75% of mainstream products marketed to Black women are considered to be noxious. In a recent EWG study and analysis of ingredients in 1,177 beauty and personal care products marketed to Black women, about one in 12 was ranked highly hazardous on the EWG’s Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database scoring system. Common hazards linked to ingredients that are unhealthy include cancer, hormone disruption, developmental and reproductive damage, and allergies.
The good news is, Black women are aware of these jarring statistics and are actively combatting this issue by creating clean beauty and wellness products that benefit your health. Like Kristian Henderson, DrPH, public health professor and founder of BLK+GRN. She founded the e-commerce store to highlight and support Black women who create healthy, all-natural products for their community.
With more knowledge and options at our fingertips, every day, Black women are becoming more mindful and intentional about what they consume, digest, and buy – including their beauty and wellness products.
We’ve rounded up six (five Black-owned), holistically healthy wellness and beauty brands to add to your shopping cart.
01 Rebundle
Rebundle was created to combat the toxins in synthetic hair. It’s the first American-made, plant-based hair extensions brand on a mission to provide more comfort and less waste through eco-friendly and non-toxic hair extensions. The idea for Rebundle sparked in 2019 when founder Ciara Imani May suffered from one too many itchy scalps while wearing her protective styles. Through researching alternative options, she learned that synthetic hair is made with toxic plastics harmful to her body and the environment. Her passion for sustainability and understanding of health disparities in personal care products inspired the vision for Rebundle’s first product, braidbetter. Rebundle also offers a plastic, synthetic hair recycling program for customers, which recycles the hair into outdoor furniture, decking, and more. The initiative, born out of a dire need to eliminate plastic synthetic hair waste, has recycled over 335 pounds of plastic synthetic hair.
Available at02 Black Girl Sunscreen
The wildly popular Black Girl Sunscreen caters to Black women. Its products do not include harmful chemicals, like parabens, but instead, contain natural ingredients to moisturize skin with melanin without leaving a white residue.
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Trinity Mouzon grew up with a mother who suffered from an autoimmune disease, which inspired her to curate accessible wellness products for people of color. With her partner, Issey Kobori, Mouzon co-founded Golde, a vegan and cruelty-free wellness company that makes skincare, matcha, and face masks from all-natural superfoods. Its hero ingredient is turmeric, a potent super-herb recognized for its beautifying, healing, and mood-boosting properties.
Available at04 Beneath Your Mask
After being diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, Dana Jackson created Beneath Your Mask, a skincare brand with natural and organic ingredients that don’t disrupt the immune system. One of her most popular products is the skin soufflé.
Available at05 Vagitaminz
Vagitaminz, created by comedian and wellness enthusiast Lala Milan, is the perfect remedy to regulate the balance of your vaginal PH. When vaginal PH is off, you may experience odor, BV, yeast infections, discharge, vaginitis, and more. Vagitaminz, a boric-acid vaginal suppository can be used seven nights in a row to alleviate the symptoms.
Available at06 Coppertone Every Tone Sunscreen Lotion
Coppertone Every Tone is a lightweight, broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen lotion that blends in clear & stays clear on all skin tones. Its key ingredients include nourishing Vitamin E, free of Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, PABA, Phthalates, and fragrance.
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