Editorial Note: This post was originally published in 2020. Since our support for Black-owned brands is a forever kind of thing, we thought we'd update any sold-out products to make it easy to shop the latest and greatest from some of our favorite brands, plus add some new brands we've discovered.
There is a lot of work to be done to support the Black community, stand up against racial injustices and police brutality, and educate and learn about the systemic racism and biases that infiltrate our communities (and ourselves). Some of that work involves protesting, donating, reading, listening, writing to government leaders, and talking to our own family and friends about racism. We at Who What Wear and THE/THIRTY are committed to putting in the work and learning so much more.
One other thing you can do to support the Black community now and always? Using your spending power to put your money, if you can, toward some amazing Black-owned businesses. To start, we've compiled a list of noteworthy Black-owned wellness brands and businesses below. This list, of course, is not exhaustive, and we're looking to add even more going forward. Send us a DM on @thethirty if you want to share a brand you love. And check out our lists of Black-owned fashion and beauty brands as well.
Health/Food/Supplements
1. Golde
Brooklyn-based Golde was co-founded by CEO Trinity Mouzon Wofford in 2017. The brand features both food and beauty products, all with superfood ingredients. Our editors are big fans of Golde's latte blends (turmeric, cacao turmeric, and matcha turmeric).
2. The Honey Pot Company
Plant-derived feminine-care brand The Honey Pot Company was founded by Bea Dixon, who suffered from bacterial vaginosis and was inspired to make products to support and balance the vagina. Offerings include tampons, pads, menstrual cups, and feminine wipes and washes.
3. Movita Organics
Movita Organics was founded by TV and film producer, author, and health advocate Tonya Lewis Lee. The women's wellness brand has a multivitamin, a beauty supplement, a prenatal vitamin, and vitamin D3.
4. Peak and Valley
Founded by Nadine Joseph, Peak and Valley makes adaptogen blends designed to lift your mood, help your focus, and nourish your skin. All of the ingredients are organic, vegan, and ethically sourced.
5. Sacred Vibes Apothecary
Herbalist Karen Rose founded Sacred Vibes Apothecary, a Brooklyn spot that is both a shop and a learning and community center. In addition to her healing elixirs, tonics, body sprays, and more, Rose also offers apprenticeship and gardening workshops.
6. Foolproof Body
Courtney Adeleye already has a successful haircare brand The Mane Choice, but that didn't stop her from breaking down barriers in the wellness space. She launched feminine-wellness brand Foolproof Body, which features everything from vaginal cleanses to pads to supplements.
7. Xula
Founded in Mexico City, Xula is a Latina- and Black-owned hemp brand that combines ancestral knowledge and modern science. There are tinctures and remedies to support sleep, menopause, stress, PMS, and more
8. Partake Foods
Denise Woodard was inspired to create Partake Foods after her daughter was diagnosed with multiple food allergies. The brand features foods—like cookies, baking mixes, and breakfast mixes—that are gluten-free, non-GMO, and free of the top nine allergens (wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, soy, fish, sesame, and shellfish).
9. Saha Self-Care
Saha Self-Care features a wide variety of high-quality CBD products, including oil tinctures, softgels, gumdrops, pre-rolls, and bath salts.
10. For Them
Founded by nonbinary entrepreneur Chloe Freeman, queer-wellness brand For Them launched last year and features three products: a chest binder, intimacy serum, and candle. The brand also has a supportive community that's hosted on Discord with daily check-ins, collaborative art events, and more.
Self-Care/Skincare
1. Aba Love Apothecary
Aba Love Apothecary's founder Aba Gyepi-Garbrah uses her plant medicine and aromatherapy knowledge to formulate oils, mists, and serums that are soothing and healing.
2. Alchemy Body Shop
CEO and founder Veronica Smith founded Alchemy Body Shop when she saw a need for natural and organic kincare products that were actually affordable. The shop features candles, balms, body butters, healing oils, and scrubs—all with botanical ingredients.
3. Brown Girl Jane
Sisters Malaika and Nia Jones and beauty and wellness expert Tai Beauchamp created plant-based CBD-focused Brown Girl Jane to make wellness products accessible for women of color. The collection has so much variety for all different kinds of needs, from sleep drops to facial serums to body butters.
4. Emanate Essentials
Emanate Essentials' founder, Sha Hannah-Santo, is a certified aromatherapist who wanted to create wellness and self-care products without the "junk." Her line of natural small-batch products include soaps, scrubs, facial oils, and candles.
5. Homebody
The most relaxing bath experience is just a soak away with Homebody's blends. The colorful soaks—in pastel blues, pinks, and purples—will just make you smile (and feel good, too, of course). They're formulated to help you de-stress, relieve muscle tension, and nourish your skin.
6. Oui the People
Oui the People is making shaving a better experience. The brand's single-blade safety razors give a close, smooth shave while avoiding ingrown hairs and razor burn. And while you're adding a rose gold razor to your shopping cart, don't forget the bikini line sheet masks or a resurfacing body serum for pre- or post-skincare.
7. Play Pits
Play Pits all started when Chantel Powell made an all-natural deodorant for her 6-year-old son, Kam, who encouraged her to make it for everyone. Now the brand has grown to offer deodorants for adults, too.
8. Actually Curious
We're big fans of the Actually Curious card game, which was created by Michael Tennant, because it's a great way to bond and build relationships with others. Each card in the game features a question that is designed to spur empathetic conversations. In addition to the original game, there are Happy Hour, Culture, and Human Rights editions.
Fitness
1. Aarmy
Former SoulCycle instructor Angela Manuel-Davis co-founded fitness studio AARMY with Akin Akman and Trey Laird in 2019. The studio offers cycle and boot camp classes—all on demand.
2. Banana Skirt Productions
Founded by former music exec Akinah Rahmaan, Banana Skirt Productions offers fitness classes that are basically dance parties. You can take classes in person in the New York City studio or online.
3. Culture Fit
If you're looking for something that's far from your average, boring workout bra and leggings set, Culture Fit's activewear features beautiful West African print designs to stand out in. Each piece is made of quality, sweat-wicking material and is designed for comfort. The brand also makes yoga mats.
4. Gloveworx
Celebrity trainer Leyon Azubuike (his clients include Jennifer Aniston) founded boxing studio Gloveworx in 2015. The studio has locations in Los Angeles, New York City, Houston, and Nashville (opening soon) and offers on-demand classes.
5. Get Loved Up
Yoga teacher, personal trainer, and holistic health coach Koya Webb founded Get Loved Up, a wellness brand and community that includes teacher trainings, retreats, nutritional products, and a podcast.
6. Inner Workout
You might be familiar with Taylor Elyse Morrison's Inner Workout already. We got to learn about her morning routine previously. But if you're not in the know, the brand is all about self-care, with a podcast, workshops and sessions, and a mindfulness card deck.
7. Jeanette Jenkins
Celebrity trainer Jeanette Jenkins features free workout ideas on her Instagram feed, but if you really want to get serious about your fitness, you can join her Hollywood Trainer Club. You'll have access to over 932 workout videos, healthy recipes, and an active community.
8. Jessamyn Stanley
Yoga instructor, author, and advocate Jessamyn Stanley is one of our favorite fitness experts. Her all-inclusive approach to yoga is so inspiring and motivating. While she teaches all over the country, she also has on-demand classes on her The Underbelly platform, which is offering a two-week free trial right now.
9. kemetic Knowledge
Named after the ancient civilization of Kemet (which is now Egypt) and its ancient scholars, Kemetic Knowledge's mission is to "draw attention to Africans' significant role by honoring them through our line of clothing." In addition to activewear like leggings and sports bras, the brand also has swimsuits, too.
10. Pru Apparel
Pru Apparel incorporates Ankara prints into its sports bras, leggings, and shorts. And you're getting high-quality activewear—every piece is squat-proof, moisture-wicking, and not see-through.
11. Trap Yoga
Trap Yoga creator Britteny Floyd-Mayo wanted to create a different kind of yoga experience for people who felt ostracized in traditional classes. The result is a Vinyasa-style class paired with trap music spun by a live DJ and motivational talk, which Floyd-Mayo calls "ratchet affirmations." You can sign up to join the online community and get access to yoga videos, workshops, and more.
12. Lukafit
Founded in 2017 by Mbali Z. Ndlovu, Lukafit's mission is to "celebrate and support women of color along their health and wellness journeys." The activewear line is specially designed with curves in mind—you'll find leggings, sports bras, tees, and shorts among its offerings.
Home
1. Antik Lakay
Antik Lakay's candles will look right at home with any cool girl's minimal aesthetic. And the scents are so inviting, from Serenity (pomegranate, sage, and patchouli) to Growth (fir needles, frankincense, and oud).
2. Alexandra Winbush
If candles and tea are an essential part of your self-care routine, Alexandra Winbush should be your go-to brand. Both the candles and tea blends feature soothing, feel-good scents and flavors like pomegranate ginger and lemongrass.
3. Bolé Road
Interior designer Hana Getachew founded Brooklyn-based Bolé Road as a way to merge her Ethiopian culture with her love of design. You'll find everything from pillows to rugs to coasters to curtains in both bold colors and neutrals.
4. Harlem Candle Company
Teri Johnson founded Harlem Candle Company in 2014 with her love of fragrance, jazz, and Harlem as inspiration. The brand features candles named after James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, and Josephine Baker.
5. Jungalow
We got to hear about Jungalow founder Justina Blakeney's story on the Second Life podcast, and I've personally been a fan of hers for years. Her lush, colorful aesthetic has definitely shaped my own interior design POV. You'll find wallpapers, planters, art, rugs, pillows, tabletop pieces, and more on her site.
6. Lolly Lolly Ceramics
Lalese Stamps creates unique ceramic pieces from her Milwaukee, Wisconsin, studio. In addition to mugs, she also sells other Lolly Lolly merch, like pins, t-shirts, and tote bags.
7. NaturalAnnie Essentials
Candles already can help us on our road to self-care, but what about a candle with a motivating phrase? NaturalAnnie Essentials features candles with phrases like "Be the Change," "Creating All the Things," and "Currently Unbothered." Other offerings include skincare products like hand butters and hand sanitizers.
8. Pretty Honest Candles
Pretty Honest Candles' products are soy, biodegradable, and have a long burn time (50 hours!). And they come in such interesting and inviting scents like fresh coffee, Egyptian musk, clean cotton, and honeysuckle jasmine.
9. Pur Home
If you're looking for all-natural and nontoxic cleaning products, look no further than Angela Richardson's company, PUR Home. The brand is Leaping Bunny–certified and has favorable ratings from the Environmental Working Group.
10. Flickerwick Limited
After being diagnosed with PCOS in 2013, Frances Gardiner was on a mission to create scents that could lift spirits and relieve stress. Enter her brand, Flickerwick Limited. In addition to beautiful candles, you'll also find wax melts and diffusers in delicious scents like pink grapefruit and basil, and mango lychee.
11. A+ffirmation Culture
Monique Brown started A+ffirmation Culture after leaving her busy career in the fast-paced film industry. Brown's self-care candles are clean-burning and made with coconut wax, cotton wicks, essential oils, and natural fragrances. Plus, you get an affirmation card to provide inspiration.
Next up: 20 Mental Health and Wellness Resources to Follow
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions.
