Summer has said its goodbyes, and given way to the sweet September air that will soon usher in the start of sweater weather. Every day will be a melody of crisp mornings, cozy wear, and creamy coffees, all while savoring the rich autumnal hues of this enchanting season.
As we admire the hypnotizing hues of the delicate leaves that sway their way down and kiss the ground, there is no better time to cozy up with some BIPOC-owned skincare and holistic wellness brands making sweeping changes in their respective industries. By setting new beauty standards, bringing much-needed awareness to minority groups, and celebrating singularity and enoughness, these small businesses deserve all the spotlight in the world for teaching us how to embrace every perfectly created molecule of our existence.
So while we joyfully indulge in all things pumpkin spice, let’s take a moment to celebrate all of the cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg, and whipped cream skin tones that make this world beautiful, and hopefully, nice.
The BIPOC Powerhouses
Here is a list of BIPOC powerhouse brands that we at The Luxe Particle are not only proud to feature and support, but whose mission is to redefine what it means to put diversity and inclusivity into practice, and the importance of giving back to nature and the communities they aim to serve.
Akar Skin | Taiwan
Akar is the Tibetan word meaning “white crystal”, a symbol of purity, wellness, and new beginnings. Founder Kate Chen, originally from Taiwan, was inspired to create her skincare line after experiencing burnout from the corporate hustle that led to a health scare. While in Tibet to focus on her own healing, she discovered the beauty and potency of many superfoods such as Sea Buckthorn and Goji berries to soothe and transform her stressed, problematic skin. Offering over 70 pure botanical ingredients in their product line, Akar Skin is dedicated to sourcing with sustainable, ethical, and transparent practices, and is proudly EWG-certified. Akar Skin embodies slow living, supporting intentional, mindful living with space for reflection, growth, connection, and self-care. Its philosophy is rooted in the belief that nature is a healing force for mind, body, and spirit, and can only enhance the beauty that is already in us.
Explore Akar Skin here.
Asevida | Bermuda
Asevida is a skincare line that formulates clean and effective solutions for stressed skin using potent botanicals and the blissful power of adaptogenic herbs. Developed by Shannon Cann, a lawyer, and herbalist born and raised in Bermuda, Asevida’s clinically-tested formulas create a fusion of ancient wellness with modern science. Shannon is committed to building not only a skincare line, but a sustainable business that values ethically-sourced ingredients and giving back to nature. Her unique approach to blending gentle powerhouse plant actives with adaptogenic herbs has given Asevida the leading edge as a holistic wellness and skincare line. Another reason to adore Asevida? They have partnered with One Tree Planted, to plant one tree for every product purchased, and have also pledged to donate 1% of annual sales to charitable causes.
Explore Asevida here.
Cheekbone Beauty | Indigenous
Cheekbone Beauty, Inc. was created in 2016 by Founder and CEO Jenn Harper, of the Ojibwe nation in Ontario, Canada. With Anishinaabe roots, Jenn turned her trials into triumphs to build an inclusive beauty brand that proudly represented her Indigenous ancestors. Using the art of storytelling in their creative process, the brand has created a line of cruelty-free and sustainable products. Cheekbone Beauty has uniquely positioned itself as not only a cosmetics brand, but a medium to reach Indigenous youth to provide education, bring visibility, preserve the culture, and build a community for generations to come.
Explore Cheekbone Beauty here.
Katini Skin | Japan + Ghana
Katini Yamaoka, a singer-songwriter and the Founder of Katini Skin, infuses the influences of her rich heritage rooted in Japan, Africa, and Australia into every carefully sourced ingredient from the world over. With an innate aptitude for healing and wellness nurtured by a childhood abundant in natural wonder, her formulas include restorative elements such as Kakadu Plum, Tsubaki, Marula, and Squalane. Katini has made it her mission to bring empowerment to global human rights through her soulful voice. She has also partnered with Black Progress Matters, a movement dedicated to recoloring the leadership landscape in corporate America.
Explore Katini Skin here.
Live Tinted | India
Live Tinted can be summed up in one word: Deepica. In 2015, Founder & CEO, Deepica Mutyala, went viral for her under-eye color-correcting video by sharing a simple hack using red lipstick. Since, she has been blazing trails, breaking barriers, and boldly going where no South Asian woman has gone before through her mission to honor all skin tones, and bring awareness to the intricacies of cultural identity that plague us all. With a blossoming beauty line that infuses thoughtful, high-quality skincare ingredients in every formula, Live Tinted prides itself on co-creating with its community through intimate conversations focused on beauty, diversity, and inclusivity. Today, Live Tinted stands not only as a trusted brand, but as a high-powered, inspirational movement.
Explore Live Tinted here. Our personal favorites include the Huesticks color correctors and Hueglow serum.
Okoko Cosmetiques | Togo, West Africa
Founder & CEO of Okoko Cosmétiques, Oyéta Kokoroko, developed a stunning eco-luxe skincare line focused on delivering multi-purpose products that are high-performance and backed by research. Born in Togo, West Africa, and raised in Montréal, Quebec, Canada, Oyéta creates sophisticated formulas that are innovative, science-backed, and highly effective. This ultra-luxurious product line was conceived after Oyéta’s personal experience with problematic skin. As a result, she studied aromatherapy, herbal medicine, and product formulation. Today, Oyéta offers a suite of targeted skincare formulas with hypnotic blends that include the likes of Kombo Butter, Dragon’s Blood, Beech Tree, Blue Tansy, and Bakuchiol, to name a few. Okoko Cosmétiques is the embodiment of innovation and excellence, where science meets skincare.
Explore Okoko Cosmétiques here. Our personal favorites include the Multi-purpose Sublime Balm and the L’Élixir De Clarté.
Plantkos | India
Sejal Patel is the Founder of Plantkos and also a pharmacist by training. She knows firsthand what it feels like to be inundated with false, antiquated, and non-inclusive beauty narratives. With an Indian heritage, Sejal was on a mission to rewrite the beauty story by bringing her Eastern culture and Western training to erase toxic beliefs rooted in colorism and inspire us to embrace the unique qualities of each complexion. Plantkos has positioned itself as the first pharmacist-developed skincare line that blends ancient Ayurvedic traditions with modern pharmacy. It develops targeted solutions for hyperpigmentation, inflammation, and dehydration specific to melanated skin tones using the power of ingredient synergy – expertise that Sejal has perfected through her science background. What’s more, Plantkos has built an innovative laboratory testing process using synthetic skin models that allow it to assess product efficacy with greater precision, allowing for nuanced future product development for melanated skin.
Explore Platkos here.
Shayde Beauty | South Asia + Trinidad
Sophisticated, simple, inclusive, and innovative are just a few words to describe Shayde Beauty. With a mission to formulate “skincare made with melanin in mind”, Founder, Shay, has created a specialty skincare line that targets areas of concern for individuals with a darker complexion. The unique needs of melanin-rich skin inspired Shayde Beauty to develop brilliant antioxidant-rich and exfoliating formulas with clean, vegan, and cruelty-free ingredients. Using carefully curated ingredients such as azelaic acid, niacinamide, kojic acid, green tea, rosemary, and chamomile, Shayde Beauty has become an award-winning leader in fending off unwanted hyperpigmentation and post-acne scarring. Another win? Shayde Beauty is a partner of 1% For the Planet, an organization where members commit to contributing at least 1% of their annual sales to critical environmental causes.
Explore Shayde Beauty here.