Love may be in the air, but it doesn’t mean romance is.
February is one of the most wild card months in a year. What will the weather be like? Will Leap Day babies be able to celebrate this year? And most importantly, will I have someone to share Valentine’s Day with?
Though you may not have a significant other, you still can gift your family (like my dad used to do for me while I was away at college), a coworker—maybe, or your best gals. In addition to the romance-turned-gal holiday, it’s during the same month of Black History Month and there is no better time to celebrate Black businesses than now.
For Galentine’s Day, we’re shopping 10 Black-owned beauty products to gift your gals.
1. Jackie Aina’s Forvr Mood candles will surely set the mood for the “girl dinner.”
Forvr Mood “Champagne Showers”
Created by an OG YouTuber Jackie Aina, one of the very first Black influencers on YouTube advocating for just beauty standards for dark-skinned women. Her early GRWMs and makeup videos for a decade have set her up for a lifetime of success, accumulating over 8 million followers on social media.
The YouTuber turned entrepreneur created Forvr Mood with her fiance Denis Asamoah during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a slogan of “Yesterday, Today, Forvr,” — Forvr Mood “is all about enhancing the every day, encouraging self-care, and your life a little more lavish.”
Shop the Valentine’s bundle and all Forvr Mood candles on the site.
2. Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty has endless hits, from the lip bombs to the viral foundation sticks on TikTok. However, you may want to get your hands on something different –the Fenty Eau de Parfum.
Fenty Eau de Parfum
The singer took her talents from music to the makeup industry in 2017 launching the high-demand Pro-Filt’R foundation in 40 shades, something that hadn’t been done before. The brand has since expanded to 50 shades setting the tone for many brands to follow.
Last summer, the Fenty fragrance introduced Rihanna’s signature scent, as you know badgalriri smells the best. The warm floral scent with magnolia, musk, tangerine, and Bulgarian rose is the perfect Galentine’s Day gift for friends who are fans of the Barbadian singer.
Shop the fragrance on the Fenty website and sephora.com.
3. I experienced serious FOMO when seeing the Topicals brand trip on social media posted by dozens of Black content creators in Ghana.
Topicals Slick Salve Balm
Though the eye patches were everywhere, the Topicals slick salve lip balm has been impossible to find after going viral on TikTok.
Co-founded by Olamide Olowe, the skincare brand champions chronic skin conditions which is clinically and scientifically backed by co-founder Claudia Teng, a team of experts, and pediatric dermatology at Stanford. Olowe has raised over $10 million in funding from investors like Kelly Rowland, Jay Z, Bozoma Saint John, Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, and more.
The Gen Z co-founder imagines “transforming the way you feel about skin through effective science-backed products and mental health advocacy.
Shop the back-in-stock slick salve balm on the site and other products on sephora.com.
4. World of Chris Collins allows fragrance enthusiasts to escape to a different world and enjoy the luxury that comes with life. Whether you’re courting someone or want to have a girl’s night out, the fragrances surely seduce a mysterious scent that will keep the vibe going.
World of Chris Collins Eau de Parfum “Harlem Nights”
The black-owned brand was recently added to the Sephora home. Founder, Chris Collins, fragrances are influenced by his previous career where he traveled the world and developed a true love for fine fragrance. Collins is behind the scent and storytelling of each fragrance, “I’m inspired by a story, a memory, a place or, in some cases, a specific fragrance note. I’m very much inspired by music, art, and love. The result is only those fragrances that I fall madly in love with, that elicit a strong emotional response.”
Shop the newest collection, Lust, along with all other products on World of Chris Collins and sephora.com.
5. Danessa Myricks is an OG when it comes to the beauty industry targeting inclusivity.
Danessa Myricks Beauty Infinite Chrome Eye Shadow
The self-taught makeup artist went from working behind the scenes at runways to creating her own editorial cosmetics brand. The infinite chrome flake eye shadows are super pigmented and the yummy skin serum tint foundation is exactly how it sounds– yummy!
Shop Danessa Myricks Beauty on the site and at sephora.com.
6. If I think of any brand that is worth it and affordable, my cheeks instantly go to Juvia’s Place.
Juvia’s Place Blushed Liquid Blush
Founded by Chici Eburu based on a struggle to find beauty products without a grey cast on her rich and deep skin, Juvia’s Place was born. Not only is the range impeccable, but the products that would accompany lighter complexions like bronzer and blush in early makeup days but mute against darker tones are super pigmented and vibrant with Juvia’s Place.
Shop the Juvia’s Place blushes and all other products on the site and ultabeauty.com.
7. I am always afraid to venture into retinoid formulas as they can be very harsh on the skin, but Shani Darden Skincare has proven formulas and effective solutions that are much more approaching.
Shani Darden Skincare Retinol Reform Serum
Founded by esthetician, Shani Darden, her skincare brand was created by the need of creating off-the-market formulas that were effective but hard to find. The Retinol Reform serum is the most popular product that has helped the brand create a huge following from celebrities and loyal clients.
Shop Shani Darden Skincare products on the site and sephora.com.
8. Ami Colé lip treatment oils are all the rave for amazing benefits to the pigment and lip shine. The oil-to-gloss treatment nurtures the lips and is clean, vegan, and cruelty-free.
Ami Colé Lip Tint Oil
Ami Colé was inspired by the founder, Diarrha N’ Diaye’s, mother – who owns her braiding salon in Harlem NYC, Aminata African Hair Braiding. The salon has been stapled in many “melanin-rich women” in NYC to get West-African-inspired hairstyles per Ami Colé. “Ami Colé represents this beauty melting pot.”
You can find the Ami Cole lip tint oils on the site and sephora.com.
9. The Lip Bar is known for its crazy out-there shades, from green to yellow, and if you’re searching for any shade, you will most likely find it at the vegan lipstick brand.
The Lip Bar
Founded by Melissa Butler who gained traction after her appearance on Shark Tank where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to investors and judges on a reality show. Butler went from rejection to succession. The Lip Bar reached a milestone in September with having the brand in 3000 CVS stores across the United States.
Try visiting the store’s flagship location in Detroit, Michigan, shopping the brand online, and visiting Target or CVS.
10. Bread Beauty Supply caters to my curly hair perfectly and ever since I heard about the brand, I thought it would make the perfect gift for Galentine’s Day.
Bread Beauty Supply Everyday Gloss
Maeva Heim created Bread Beauty Supply out of a lack of acknowledgment within the beauty industry after she worked for beauty conglomerates. The Australian native realized her hair type wasn’t mainstreamed and idealized a brand where curls were a priority. Bread Beauty Supply advocates for clean hair products and essentials your hair needs like “Bread.”
Shop Bread Beauty Supply on the website and sephora.com.
