What Deena’s Loving: Our Beauty Director’s Favorite Black-Owned Beauty Brands

I’ve tried more face oils than I can count, and most of them fall into one of two camps: either they just sit on top of your skin, or they promise glow and deliver grease. Sweet July’s Irie face oil, from founder Ayesha Curry, is one of the rare ones that actually earns a permanent spot on my sink. I started using it in January, during a phase when my skin felt dry and generally uncooperative, and it calmed things down without overwhelming my face. It absorbs beautifully, and the smell is to die for.

Dewy skin in February is a tall order, but Yummy Skin Glow Serum delivers every time. The lightweight, gel-serum texture sinks in fast, giving skin an immediate hit of hydration and a soft, lit-from-within glow. I use most on bare-skin days or mixed into foundation when my complexion could use a touch of shimmer. But what I love most is that it layers seamlessly with sunscreen and doesn’t pill over time.

Turmeric and vitamin C have long been my go-tos for my face, so when I saw them infused into a hair oil, I was immediately intrigued. I’ve been using this oil to seal moisture on my ends and smooth flyaways, and I don't think I’ll ever find a better oil. For anyone who already swears by turmeric and vitamin C in their skincare, this is an easy, natural extension into haircare.

Give me blush over eyeliner, lipstick and eyeshadow any day. It’s the one thing that instantly makes my face look awake, alive and like I tried—even when I didn’t. That’s why LYS Beauty Higher Standard Cream Glow Blush Sticks have become a staple in my routine. The formula hits that sweet spot between creamy and lightweight, melting into skin instead of sitting on top of it. I swipe it directly onto my cheeks, blend with my fingers and I’m done in under 30 seconds.

This leave-in is one of those products I keep coming back to; not out of nostalgia, but because it actually works. As a Black-owned brand and one of the few lines that consistently delivers real results on my 4C curls, it’s earned permanent real estate in my routine. I use this leave-in in two very specific moments: when I’m prepping my hair for styling and when I’m taking down protective styles. In both cases, it adds slip without watering my hair down and makes detangling far less dramatic than it usually is.

Nothing gets me more excited than a red lip with the perfect bluish-red hue and The Lip Bar Liquid Matte in bawse lady hits exactly that balance. From the first swipe, it dries down beautifully without feeling like it’s sucking the life out of my lips, and even better? It doesn’t easily smear or leave lipstick stains on my white teeth. A small miracle in the world of red lipsticks.

I used to live in Harlem, so Harlem Perfume Co.’s Langston Eau de Parfum takes me back instantly. Founded by Black woman Teri Johnson, the fragrance opens with a hit of orange brandy before softening into jasmine, a combination that gets me every time. One spray and I’m back in a place and time I didn’t realize I missed.

There are seasons when I change my hairstyle as often as I change my mind, and finding an edge gel that can keep up has felt impossible, until Miss Jessie’s Hold Me Down Edge Gel. Whether I’m wearing sleek straight styles or letting my curls have their moment, this gel keeps everything in place. No stray baby hairs peeking out, no flakes, and never that dreaded crunch look that makes your hair sound like you’re wearing armor. This edge gel is essential for anyone who likes to switch things up.

Black Girl Sunscreen is one of my favorite affordable sunscreen lines, and one I trust enough to use on my kids. This ultra sheer version goes on smoothly, sinks in quickly and leaves zero white cast, which is still, somehow, not a given. I slather it on year-round, even in the dead of winter, because sun protection never takes a season off.

I love sweet potato pie, but I never imagined I’d want my hair to smell like it… until I tried this oil, that is. Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Hair and Scalp Oil, co-founded by Tabitha Brown, the beloved vegan food creator and wellness voice, and Gina Woods, is warm, cozy and instantly comforting. My little girl loves it too, which sealed the deal.