When you think of makeup brands you tend to think of cosmetic giants like Lóreal, Estee Lauder, Lancome, Maybelline among others. But there are some good cosmetic brands that originate from Africa. Some are young companies, but regardless of age, it is good to also know about and support African makeup brands. This is because these African-owned brands create makeup that caters specifically to women with darker skin tones that many cosmetic companies have ignored. Here is a list of some of these African makeup brands:
1. Juvia’s Place
Nigerian entrepreneur Chichi Eburu started Juvia’s place with 2000 dollars and a dream. Her brand has sky-rocketed in the past year, especially as a result of mentions from YouTube and Instagram influencers with millions of followers. The eyeshadow palettes are are vibrant and beautiful.They are made for the African queens that we are!
2. Suzie Beauty
Suzie Beauty was the first major brand of cosmetics founded in Kenya by a Kenyan.Started by Suzie Wokabi, this brand caters to women with dark skin. From foundation to concealer, powder and eye shadows, this is a brand to reckon with. Suzie has quite a few accolades under her belt. She has now won twice in the 2014 Most Influential Women in Business & Government Awards in the Wholesale & Retail Category for Country and Region. Suzie travelled to Boston, USA in February 2015 as a Distinguished Panelist at the Harvard Business School – Africa Business Conference with the Panel Title of “Localizing Product and Business Models.”
3. House of Tara International
Founded in 1998, House of Tara International has gained a nationwide and continent-wide reputation for expertise and superior quality. It established the country’s first make up studio and make up school in 2004 and launched the Tara Product line, a brand that promotes ethics and ethnicity, by empowering young women for economic independence without moral compromise.
4. Vault cosmetics
Jackie Mgido the founder has her roots in Zimbabwe and has experienced the makeup challenges faced by the everyday woman in Sub-Saharan Africa. Jackie intentionally crafted Vault cosmetics with this forethought and focus. At the moment their product portfolio includes complexion products like concealer, blush, foundation and powders. Their lip products comprise of glosses, lip stains and matte lipstick shades very well suited to African skin.
5. Pauline Cosmetics Kenya
The other major cosmetics brand in Kenya is Pauline Cosmetics. It was started by Nelly Tuikong who by faith quit her well paying job in the US and moved back to Kenya with her husband to start the company. So far, they have mostly colour cosmetics, i.e lipstick, eye shadow, glosses, mascara and brushes. Although they have not yet ventured into complexion products, Nelly’s is a story of successful start-ups that we hear about in conferences.
6. Angel lips
Angel’s Lips Company was Founded in 2013 by top Runway/Print model from Liberia, West Africa and Entrepreneur Lisa Togbah . Their whole brand aesthetic is all about its unique colours of lipstick such as green and navy blue for you to stand out.
7. BM PRO Nigeria
BMPROMAKEUP: BMPRO (BANKE MESHIDA PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP) was born in 2006 with a lineup of 14 products. Today, they have over 100 products in the Nigerian market as well as distributors all over Nigeria, the UK,US,Ghana and Canada.
8. ZARON
Conceived in Leeds, United Kingdom in 2010 but is distributed from the head office, in Ikoyi, Nigeria. ZARON began trading in September of 2011. ZARON states that it provides an assortment of cosmetic products carefully formulated to suit diverse women of colour (WOC).
