From Harm To Healing: The Brands Revolutionizing Black Beauty

For generations, beauty care for Black women has meant more than a 10-step nighttime routine and lemon water facials. It’s been a fight for safety and visibility. From the pioneering efforts of Annie Turnbo Malone and Madam C.J. Walker, who revolutionized the beauty industry in the early 20th century to the ‘Black is Beautiful’ movement of the 1960s and the Natural Hair Movement in the 2000s, the legacy runs deep. Each era not only celebrated Black identity by embracing textured hair and darker skin tones, but it showed the broader beauty industry that all-natural products for Black women were profitable and necessary. 

Although today’s viral clean girl aesthetic, a trend rooted in minimalistic appliques and natural ingredients, is taking over the industry, many Black beauty companies remain stagnant in their approach to health and wellness. And the problem isn’t just what’s missing from these products, it’s also what’s hiding inside them. 

Research has resurfaced that many popular skin and hair brands disproportionately targeting Black women contain harmful chemicals. Studies show these products have ingredients linked to cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive harm, and other serious health issues. In fact, a 2025 analysis by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) revealed that over 80% of 4,000+ products marketed to Black women contained at least one hazardous ingredient.

Formaldehyde, a chemical better known for its use in embalming fluid to preserve corpses, has been widely used in hair straighteners and smoothing treatments popular in Black communities. Although the Food and Drug Administration started working on a ban this year, the Trump administration has delayed those protections and an executive order was signed pausing all federal regulations.

Other harmful ingredients like quaternary ammonium compounds or “quats” are often added to hair conditioners to make them feel silky and smooth, but they’re also the same toxic compounds found in disinfectant wipes. Scientists have linked quats to reproductive problems in women and increased cancer risks. Preservatives like isothiazolinones, often used to prevent mold growth in cosmetics, have also been found in beauty products and are linked to respiratory damage.

Even ingredients described with innocent-sounding labels like “fragrance” can be dangerous. That single word can mask the presence of hundreds of different chemicals. One such chemical, lilial, was banned by the European Union after it was found to impact fertility and fetal health, but it still appears in U.S. products.

All of this underscores why brands like Tenta Skin, Melanin Haircare, and Unsun are so essential. They’re not just offering safer alternatives or leaning into “clean beauty” trends as a marketing ploy. These products are a lifeline for Black women, and the brands behind them celebrate, nurture, and protect melanin-rich skin as their first priority. 

Born out of a passion for wellness and empowerment, Tenta Skin is one of the newest brands leading the charge. Their philosophy is simple but powerful: “Your skin deserves care without compromise.”

Tenta Skin creates skin care specifically for melanin-rich complexions using naturally derived ingredients. Each ingredient is sourced from ethical suppliers like Brambleberry and 3CayG, ensuring that the products are as sustainable as they are safe. In addition, they formulate their products in accordance with European Union safety standards, which are significantly more rigorous than U.S. regulations. 

By eliminating hazardous chemicals common in mainstream beauty products like parabens, phthalates, and formaldehyde releasers Tenta Skin is empowering Black women to embrace their natural beauty with confidence and peace of mind.

Aiah Opeola, the founder of Tenta Skin, told Her Agenda that as the company continues to grow their goal is to source ingredients such as palm kernel oil and shea butter directly from trusted suppliers in Liberia and Ghana, West Africa.

“This will allow us to support women-led cooperatives and create more ethical supply chains that reflect the roots and richness of our heritage,” she said.

Another standout in the movement is Melanin Haircare, a brand founded by popular natural hair YouTuber Whitney White (also known as Naptural85) and her sister Taffeta White. What started as a passion project from years of experimenting with DIY hair care recipes in their homes has grown into a full-fledged brand dedicated to celebrating and protecting natural hair.

Melanin Haircare focuses on what matters most: healthy scalp care, natural ingredients, and multi-purpose products that actually work. Their bestsellers are formulated without the harsh sulfates, silicones, parabens, or artificial dyes that have historically dominated the Black haircare market.

Instead, the brand highlights nutrient-rich, plant-based ingredients like black cumin seed oil, baobab oil, and argan oil. All of which were chosen for their ability to nourish curly, coily, and kinky textures.

When it comes to sunscreen, Unsun Cosmetics is rewriting the rules. Founded by Katonya Breaux (also known as the mother of singer Frank Ocean), Unsun was born from Breaux’s frustration with the lack of clean, mineral-based sunscreens for women of color. 

Traditional sunscreens often leave an unsightly white cast, making many Black women shy away from sun protection altogether, which according to the American Academy of Dermatology is a dangerous trade-off considering skin cancer survival rates are significantly lower among Black Americans.

Unsun’s tinted mineral sunscreens blend seamlessly into darker skin tones while using safe, reef-friendly ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. They not only provide crucial sun protection but also celebrate and enhance natural beauty without the chemical baggage.