Discover the Nordic beauty brands owned by people of colour that are making waves in the self-care industry
Undoubtedly, Black culture is one of the most diverse and rich heritages of the world. Within Scandinavia, black people are responsible for some of the biggest moments and movements in the region. Artists like Cherrie, Seinabo Sey and Iris Gold have made heaps of waves within the music industry, same as them, other black-descent people like designer Selam Fessahaye, politician Mattias Tesfaye, sculptor Etiyé Dimma Poulsen, artist and illustrator Lisa Aisato, and many more have impacted in their own areas of expertise.
Beauty is not one to be left behind when it comes to the enrichment of its industry. From a combination of a wish to highlight their heritage and create products that are catered to their own skin they gave birth to brands that raise who they are and where they come from, always seeking inclusion, equity and integrity. That’s why, today we round up eight Black-owned beauty brands to have on your radar.
Unifrom
Swedish-born Unifrom is a brand that focuses on creating a new experience around scents, their origin and their application. The brand uses an oil delivery method and fragrances that challenge what is traditionally used as part of the fragrance pyramids. Founded in 2020 by Haisam Mohammed, he took inspiration from his African heritage to conjure stories of past diaspora into scents that carry throughout the day and time.
GOB Skincare
GOB is a skincare brand established in Denmark back in 2016. With sisters Najad and Muna M. Ahmed leading the mission, they take inspiration from the natural raw skincare ingredients women in East Africa, from the regions of Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti and Ethiopia, have been using for centuries to create their products.
Melyon
Founded by Roger Dupé, Melyon is conceptualised as an inclusive force within the beauty industry in Scandinavia and is inspired by his heritage and roots from Togo in West Africa. The ingredients and the conditions the products target are centred around issues common to people of colour while maintaining a suitability for most skin types.
Holy Curls
Growing up with curly hair and wearing a hijab in a country where her skin was different, is the key motivation for Badria Ahmed starting Holy Curls. What Ahmed now considers to be a therapeutic outlet for herself, is a haircare brand focused on giving all the curls out there the love, hydration and the nurture they deserve.
Maréna Beauté
Originally from Senegal, makeup artist Diarry Maréna arrived in Sweden as a teenager. After exploring her passion for makeup, she decided to found Maréna Beauté, a makeup brand that aims to cater to people of colour. With a range of shades and tones exclusively developed to match the complexions of consumers with darker skin tones, it’s a safe haven for those who wish to enhance their natural beauty without compromising their melanin-rich tones.
Isangs
Former human rights lawyer, passionate ecologist and self-described chemistry nerd, Sundra Essein founded Isangs in 2012. The goal was to created sustainable hair and body care products that ‘actually work’. Inspired by her Nigerian heritage, she has worked on a brand that has now evolved into a full line of organic and fair-trade products and positioned itself as one of Copenhagen’s hidden gems thanks to performance, backstory and true sustainability.
Nett Exfoliator
Founded by Norweigan-born Yvonne Aboagye-Hobson, Nett Exfoliator takes the Ghanian concept sapɔ — a unique exfoliating sheet that is an essential part of the bathing culture of the region — and brings it into the northern colds. Great for maintaining a smooth, soft skin texture and the cleansing of ‘hard-to-reach-areas’ the bath gadget is a sustainable choice to upgrade one’s everyday shower experience.