It’s crazy to think that even ten years ago there were extremely limited options out there when it came to makeup for women and men of colour. It’s only been in the more recent years, since the launch of Fenty Beauty in the UK, that we’ve seen a more significant shift in the colour options made available to consumers, as well as a shift in mindset that this should be a standard requirement when it comes to brand proposition.
With the launch of every new brand campaign, the same faces fill up my feeds reflecting only one part of the makeup of this country and proving we’re still some way off equality.
In the 2011 census 1.9 million (3%) of the population identified themselves as black British, an increase from 1.15 million ten years prior, with more and more diversity on our streets should come to the diversity available online, but that just doesn’t seem to be happening. With the recent #BlackLiveMatter campaign bringing ethnicity to the forefront of our minds, it's made me question why there aren’t that many commercial and traditionally successful influencers outside of the creamy coffee colour spectrum.
It's really interesting how geographics also has a part to play in what is stocked on our shelves. In predominantly white areas of the UK, you'll find lighter and whiter shades stocked whereas, in multicultural areas such as the suburbs of London, you'll find a much larger spectrum of shades.
Now, this could be due to supply and demand, however, if there's no supply of inclusive ranges of skin tones, there can be no demand thus leading people to buy online and struggle to source their correct shade.
Here is a few links to Black-owned makeup 💄 brands:
lman Cosmetics, Lipmatic, Uoma beauty, Mented Cosmetics, The Lip Bar, Bahi Cosmetic, Fenty Beauty, Juvia’s place
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