For over 30 years, this family-owned company has provided everything from amazing skincare products to sponsoring women’s conferences and makeup classes for eager learners. “We created the Bovanti brand because we saw a void in the beauty industry for women of color, and wanted to empower women through beauty and confidence,” says Bovanti Cosmetics creative director and CEO Marquel Bohannon. Visit Bovanti Cosmetics for more info.

To be honest, these just may be some of the best smelling candles you’ll ever get to experience. Denequa Williams, the owner of Lit Brooklyn, found most of her inspiration from her personal love of candles. “I love how having a candle lit can transform the ambiance of any room,” she says. “The initial vision behind LIT was to create a product that people love and can serve as an automatic mood booster. It’s humbling to be apart of that experience with everyone who supports.” Visit Lit Brooklyn for more info.

“When I re-branded Gold Label Cosmetics, I thought of what makes you smile when you buy and use cosmetics. Even as a young woman, I lived and breathed for a glossy fashion magazine. I wanted to apply that same bout of luxury in every person’s life. Our packaging is opulent and we encourage our customers to live lavishly with product names like Baby Grand, Nairobi, First Class, and Trust Fund. The formulation has to be easy to use because the person on the go doesn’t have time for reapplying and flaky lips. They just don’t,” says Kristen Brown, the owner of Gold Label Cosmetics. Visit Gold Label Cosmetics for more info.

“In 2016, we announced partnerships with Target and Amazon, which was a very exciting time for us,” says a Walker & Company spokesperson. “Whether you already have a Bevel Shave System subscription and need a Bevel Razor while traveling or a little extra Bevel Shave Cream to tide you over until your next shipment, our a la carte products are a great complimentary option to our existing products and services. It’s our vision to have every single household in the world know and love our brands.” Visit Bevel for more info.

“Our customers love the fact that we’re 8 Free, which means we’re free of the eight harmful ingredients commonly found in nail polish,” says founder and CEO of Mischo Beauty, Kitiya Mischo King. “They also love that that we’re constantly working to improve our formula in an effort to make it as healthy as possible.” Visit Mischo Beauty for more info.

Following the boss-like behavior of her father and hip-hop legend Nas, Destiny Jones has made a name for herself as well. “The inspiration behind Lipmatic lipgloss is New York City and hip-hop,” says Jones. “I wanted my lipgloss line to have a ‘streetwear’ edge. Most beauty products are all about glitz and glamour, and I wanted to have a product that was for every girl, whether she wears heels or sneakers on a daily basis. I wanted my line to celebrate the beauty of the urban community, and the history behind NYC which is mine and my family’s hometown. Visit Lipmatic for more info.

Mane master and celebrity stylist Vernon Francois saw a need for his products in the market place and took action. He said, “I was inspired by listening to my clients, hearing what they felt was lacking, and being passionate about wanting to address this. For too long, they had been very frustrated by the limited range of choices available to them and felt disappointed that big brands were not talking to them. My initial vision was to bring options for all types of textured hair to the high-end and mainstream beauty space. By textured hair, I mean kinky, coily, curly, wavy, straight. and damaged hair; as well as hair that is worn in braids and locs. Through my years of experience, industry knowledge and research, I knew that I was perfectly placed to address this.” Visit Vernon Francois for more info.

Melissa Butler, the founder and CEO of The Lip Bar, told Yahoo Beauty, “We launched with 12 bold and bright lip colors like blue and green to offer women a chance to express themselves in ways that weren’t possible by shopping with traditional retailers. Today, almost five years later, with retail partners like Target, we are staying true to our purpose of encouraging women to create their own standards. Visit The Lip Bar for more info.

By noticing how much the makeup industry lacked diversity, Chichi Eburu was inspired to create Juvia’s Place. “It’s our goal to create a brand that improves the perception of multicultural beauty by creating high quality and cost effective products that compliment a wider range of skin tones beautifully, most especially darker skin tones. I get inspiration from the African culture and festivities. Sometimes I’m inspired by the environment, attires, cultural food, herbs, and natural products that are used as beauty regimes in Africa,” says Eburu. Visit Juvia’s Place for more info.

Founder and CEO of The Mane Choice, Courtney Adeleye, told Yahoo Beauty, “After a hair color malfunction, I was dismayed to learn that there was no product on the market that took a holistic approach to healthy hair care. It was unfortunate and led to my experimentation with natural ingredients that I could trust to repair and grow my hair longer, healthier, and stronger. While formulating each product, we take a holistic approach by infusing our products with biotin, vitamins, and minerals.” Visit The Mane Choice for more info.

“I developed the line to speak to black women and other women of color (Latin, Indian, Asian) first! Often, these women have been left out of the conversation or forced to unsuccessfully fit themselves into other brands. With AJ Crimson Beauty, she isn’t just an extension, but at the heart of our development,” says AJ Crimson. Visit AJ Crimson Beauty for more info.

“What makes Beauty by Africa Miranda different is that it is an ever changing story. As my travel adventures continue, so will the inspiration for new products. I don’t see this as a traditional skincare or body line with the usual toner, moisturizer, lotions etc.,” says owner Africa Miranda. “I will be offering products that will add beauty and inspiration to the user, as well as a connection to the destination that inspired them. It is my hope too that through the products, women and men will be encouraged to visit these destinations themselves and add their own chapter to the story. Visit Beauty By Africa Miranda for more info.

Who wouldn’t trust products sold by legendary model and mogul Iman? If anyone, she really knows her stuff and understands how important it was and still is to have products that everyone can enjoy. “While larger companies are now becoming more inclusive, there are still more options for women with paler skin. I was the first company to create bronzers for skin of color, to put SPF in our products, to think of skin care and technology for women of color,” says Iman. Visiti IMAN Cosmetics for more info.

Owners Liz Pickett and Ginger Johnson both suffered from adverse reactions to chemicals in beauty products and organically became advocates of clean beauty that is free of harmful ingredients. “With a company value ‘Real Beauty Is Clean Beauty,’ our products are nontoxic and vegan friendly, yet never compromise style or quality to achieve our cleaner formula,” says Pickett. “We are pioneers in the nontoxic/vegan nail polish space and are known as ‘the original vegan friendly nail lacquer made for style setters.'” Visit Ginger & Liz for more info.

“Since 2011, curlBOX has been a force in the haircare and beauty category by providing a unique service of content, media, and products to a growing audience that is continuing to reflect the ethos of the mainstream culture – beauty comes in all shapes, colors and sizes. As a result of our strong focus on our brand mission, curlBOX continues to gain traction nationwide by serving a lucrative, niche market,” says founder and CEO of curlBox Myleik Teele. “It has changed the way women try and purchase haircare products. Our monthly box delivers full and sample sized products designed for naturally curly hair.” Visit curlBOX for more info.

Many may use this beloved brand for their ahead of the curve natural hair concoctions, but they also offer a plethora of skin care and body products that are equally as impressive. Richelieu Dennis, the founder and CEO of Sundial Brands says, “We recognized early on that little value existed for the people we serve to operate within the constructs, and constraints, of traditional segmentation and the myopic categorizations that often result. So, we have defined the ‘new general market’ as an amalgamation of cultures, ethnicities and demographics aligned against commonalities, need states and lifestyles – that is, an inclusion approach, one in which no one is left out or ignored.” Visit SheaMoisture for more info.

You’d be hard pressed to miss these beautifully crafted hair products at a Target near you. CEO Mahisha Dellinger was “frustrated with the lack of effective and wholesome products for my newly natural, curly hair, [so] I left my post as marketing manager at Intel Corporation to pursue my passion to create eco-conscious organic products that are natural and safe for all ages to use. After I became a mother, this passion become my purpose.” Visit Curls for more info.

Founder and CEO Sherrel Sampson told Yahoo Beauty, “I recognized a significant void in the haircare industry when I experienced a persistent itchy scalp and couldn’t find an adequate solution. I researched many anti-itch products and brands to find that many were based in harsh ingredients and contained petroleum and mineral oil that clog the scalp. After trying several products that provided very little relief, I was inspired to work with a team of organic experts to formulate one-of-a-kind botanical scalp care products that calm scalp itch for an extended period of time. Visit Canviiy for more info.

“Oyin Handmade is the go-to brand for health-conscious individuals and modern families everywhere,” says creator Jamyla Bennu. “The products are multi-purpose; gentle enough for adults and babies and eco-friendly.” Bennu also shares that all products are made with love top of mind. Visit Oyin Handmade for more info.

Andrea Fairweather created travel beauty kits, which include a patented color-coded system with matching face charts for each to help customers figure out exactly what they need. “One of the biggest highlights of my brand are seeing how clients appreciate the guidance of the color-coded system,” says Fairweather. Visit “Oyin Handmade is the go-to brand for health-conscious individuals and modern families everywhere,” says creator Jamyla Bennu. “The products are multi-purpose; gentle enough for adults and babies and eco-friendly.” Bennu also shares that all products are made with love top of mind. Visit Fairweather Faces for more info. for more info.