When it comes to makeup, most people often turn to well-known international brands to make additions to their kits or their collections. If you are a makeup lover, however, you should consider exploring the world of Caribbean-owned makeup brands. Exploring Caribbean-owned makeup brands is a fantastic way to diversify your beauty routine and support local businesses. From the tropical vibes of Barbados to the vibrant colours of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, these brands bring a unique and necessary perspective to the beauty industry. So why not give them a try? You might discover your new favourite makeup brand and the next viral beauty product.
1. Alamar Cosmetics- Cuba
Gabriela Trujillo, the founder and CEO of Alamar Cosmetics, originated from Alamar, Cuba, with her family moving to Hialeah, USA, marking the genesis of her captivating story. Introduced to makeup by her esthetician mother, Gaby skipped college to refine her skills at the Cosmix School of Makeup Artistry, freelancing at 18. Her industry ascent from MAC Cosmetics to BoxyCharm reflected her resilience amid challenges, culminating in a makeup brand celebrating culture, resilience, and self-expression.
2. Pat McGrath Labs- Jamaica
Renowned makeup artist and beauty mogul Pat McGrath has roots deeply tied to the Caribbean. Hailing from Northampton, England, she inherits Afro-Caribbean heritage through her Jamaican mother, Jean McGrath, who profoundly influenced Pat’s fascination with makeup, fashion, and beauty during her formative years. Pat’s illustrious career spans collaborations with elite brands like Prada, Giorgio Armani, and John Galliano, showcasing her editorial prowess in numerous runway shows. Beyond makeup, she holds the prestigious role of British Vogue’s beauty editor-at-large.
Her monumental venture, Pat McGrath Labs, launched in 2015, swiftly gained global recognition for its high-quality products, endorsed and lauded by influencers and makeup artists worldwide. The brand’s value soared to over 1 billion dollars by 2019.
3. Stay Golden Cosmetics- Jamaica
Stay Golden Cosmetics, founded by Danielle Edmond, proudly embodies West Indian heritage in their makeup line. Danielle’s Jamaican upbringing and journey to New York infuse the brand’s essence and creativity. The Island Girl Collection, with 22 Matte Lip Shades and 14 Glosses like Jamrock and Boricua, pays homage to the region’s vibrancy.
4. Fenty Beauty- Barbados
Would this be a list of Caribbean-owned makeup brands if we didn’t own Fenty Beauty? Created by Rihanna, Fenty Beauty has been a game-changer since its launch in 2017. The brand offers inclusive products that perform across all skin types and tones, revolutionizing the beauty industry.
5. Luna Magic Beauty- Dominican Republic
LUNA MAGIC, a thriving indie beauty and lifestyle brand, was founded by sisters Mabel and Shaira Frías. Their brand fuses beauty and lifestyle, celebrating their diverse heritage, culture, and music with vivid colours. Based in Los Angeles, the brand aims to introduce high-performance cosmetics, diversity, and vibrancy to the industry, drawing inspiration from Caribbean and Latin American cultures, New York City’s hustle, and Los Angeles’ glamour. LUNA MAGIC products are available at nationwide retailers such as Target, CVS, and Walmart.
6. Gaelle Cosmetics- Jamaica
Safyie Jean-Pierre founded Gaelle Cosmetics, infusing creativity and lightheartedness into their makeup line to instill joy and confidence in women’s daily appearance choices. Their makeup aims to enhance self-expression with a bold, independent style, empowering individuality while supporting philanthropic causes. For each online sale, they donate $1 to improve healthcare and education in Jamaica, inspired by Safyie’s upbringing in a single-parent household and her struggles during college.
7. Sacha Cosmetics- Trinidad and Tobago
With a legacy spanning 45 years, SACHA recently earned distinction from McKinsey & Company as one of the two oldest Black cosmetics brands globally. Renowned for its high-performance lineup, the Sacha Buttercup Powder stands out with a staggering 15,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. SACHA holds PETA Cruelty-Free, Vegan, and Halal certifications and served as the Official Cosmetics for the Miss Universe and Miss USA Pageants.
8. Rici Cosmetics- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
The Vincentian-owned cosmetics brand is dedicated to being vegan-friendly, promoting products that are beneficial for both the planet and the skin.
9. Necromancy Cosmetica- Puerto Rico
Necromancy Cosmetica, a brooding and intense makeup line, offers matte lipsticks that elevate one’s style into the dark, embracing a cruelty-free and handcrafted ethos. Created by Des and Zal, the brand features inspired hues like Deadly Nightshade, Bonfire Dance, and Segunda Plaga, reflecting occult and creative influences. All lipsticks are 100% vegan, never tested on animals, setting the stage for a guilt-free indulgence in the Necromancy cult. Operating from Puerto Rico, Des and Zal personally handle orders, aspiring toward success as an independently owned, produced, and distributed non-liquid lipstick brand, inviting customers to explore their bewitching collection for inspiration.
10. KA’OIR Cosmetics- Jamaica
KA’OIR Cosmetics, founded by Keyshia Ka’oir in 2011, is a bold and vibrant cosmetics company. The brand offers authentic Keyshia Dior Lipsticks, GlitzStick, Glitstick, Snooki Lipstick, and Trina Lipstick. Their collection includes bright lipstick colors, lip pops, gloss, nail polish, and eyeshadow. Celebrities like Trina, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, and Teyana Taylor have endorsed the brand.
11. Yardie Cosmetics- Jamaica
Santana, founder and CEO of Yardie Cosmetics, introduces a beauty brand designed for makeup enthusiasts, rooted in Jamaican heritage. Her aim was to capture Jamaica’s essence—language, people, music, and cuisine—through product names and a catalog reflecting the island’s mystique. Embracing her Jamaican identity in the United States, she incorporates Jamaican Patois names for products, offering an immersive cultural shopping experience. Yardie Cosmetics prioritizes quality, offering cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, and hypoallergenic options, empowering customers to embrace their inner Island Gyal while feeling safe and beautiful.
12. Bettina Cosmetics- Puerto Rico
Founded in October 1963, M & J Inc. represented the vision of Julia and Victor Mercado, along with Richard Solomon and Herb Wilson, aiming to enhance the beauty of Puerto Rican women with top-notch products and exceptional service. Originally a cosmetics distributor, Woltz, an Italian nail polish line, thrived, excelling due to its quality, color variety, and affordability. Bettina® Cosmetics emerged twenty years later, dominating the market in Puerto Rico with their nail polish line. With the involvement of the newer Mercado generation, Bettina® expanded its makeup line, notably introducing products like Dual Foundation Powder, Liquid Foundation, and Foundation Stick. Under the presidency of Bettina Mercado, the brand escalated in 2008, sourcing global elements to elevate Bettina® Cosmetics to new heights.
13. Tobaglo Cosmetics- Trinidad and Tobago
Committed to spotlighting Tobago while empowering makeup enthusiasts in the beauty realm, Tobaglo Cosmetics Ltd emerges as a dynamic force bridging tourism and cosmetics. Rooted in Caribbean essence, Tobaglo excels in offering quality products like pigmented eyeshadow palettes, enduring matte lipsticks, and affordable, sparkling glitters. With a focus on affordability and top-tier service, Tobaglo stands out as a trusted and evolving brand, prioritizing inclusivity and embracing diversity through a range of choices in their offerings.
14. House of Uni- Jamaica
At House of Uni, individuals are encouraged to define their unique beauty. Founded by Kumiko Ming, a Caribbean woman with almost two decades in beauty and fashion, the brand embodies her love for travel, Caribbean music, and unity. Starting with the Calypso Collection from her kitchen, House of Uni celebrates Caribbean inspiration through premium, gluten-free, paraben-free, and cruelty-free products. It’s more than lipsticks; it’s about empowering people to live boldly, embracing their uniqueness, and exuding self-confidence. The brand aims to make every customer feel like a goddess, providing an uplifting and inspiring experience worldwide.
15. Tonal Cosmetics- Barbados
Tonal Cosmetics, founded by Christal Alert, is a groundbreaking beauty brand that celebrates skin tone diversity. As a cosmetic scientist, Christal combines her love for beauty with her technical science background. The brand’s innovative product is an all-in-one skin perfection foundation that fuses makeup, skincare, and sun protection, offering an SPF 50 shield against harmful UV rays, specifically designed for melanated skin1. Tonal Cosmetics emerged from a frustration that Caribbean beauty shelves were dominated by imported goods, and local products were missing from major retailers. The brand aims to empower and represent diverse skin tones, making it a revered name in the beauty industry
16. Coloured Raine- Grenada
@colouredraine Reasons why you need this Rebellious Nudes palette #ColouredRaine #Swatches #Makeup #Eyeshadow #VoiceOver #NudePalette ♬ original sound – Coloured Raine Cosmetics
Loraine R. Dowdy, the innovative mind behind Coloured Raine Cosmetics, originates from Brooklyn, New York, with ancestral ties to the Caribbean, shaping her brand with a fusion of cultural pride and imaginative flair. In 2013, Loraine realized her lifelong aspiration by founding Coloured Raine, an inclusive cosmetics line promoting self-expression, celebrating racial diversity, and shattering industry norms. Renowned for its enduring lip formulas and intensely pigmented eyeshadows, the brand prides itself on high-performance products suitable for various skin tones. Coloured Raine signifies a pioneering, inclusive, and black woman-owned enterprise, advocating unity and diversity in beauty, all while upholding vegan and cruelty-free values.
17. Kami Cosmetics- Jamaica
Kami Cosmetics, a luxury beauty brand, caters to sophisticated, chic, and bold women, offering cruelty-free makeup essentials. Embracing the concept of every woman as a butterfly, symbolizing journey, transformation, and the freedom to feel beautiful, Kami’s products are designed for those who dare to live vibrantly.
18. Auldine Cosmetics- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Auldine’s Cosmetics, founded and crafted by Auldine Brown, stands as a local treasure from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Renowned for high-quality, hypoallergenic cosmetics, the brand embodies excellence in the regional beauty industry. Offering a diverse range of products catering to individual beauty needs, from vibrant lip shades to flawless foundations, Auldine’s Cosmetics champions self-expression and uniqueness. Auldine Brown’s passion resonates in every creation, leaving an indelible mark on the Caribbean beauty landscape. For those in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, explore Auldine’s Cosmetics at Glitz & Glam, situated upstairs in the MTM Building at Kenmars Mall in Kingstown, offering everyday essentials and glamorous choices for all beauty desires.
19. Island Play Cosmetics-Trinidad and Tobago
Island Play Cosmetics proudly embodies the essence of the Caribbean, drawing inspiration from its vibrant music, festivals, and lively cultural energy. Their diverse beauty line celebrates Caribbean flavor, offering inclusive products catering to various skin tones, ethnicities, and genders. Each product design reflects relatable aspects of Caribbean islands, aiming to empower individuals through representation and cultural immersion. The brand aims to inspire and uplift those who find their own inspiration within, recognizing the global demand for cosmetics infused with essential cultural essence, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity.
20. S Cosmetics- Martinique
Based in Fort-de-France, Martinique, S.COSMETICS emerges as a vibrant beauty brand, offering a diverse range of captivating products. Some of their offerings include the NÜ Eyeshadow Palette: A vivid assortment for expressive eye looks; the Sugar Cane Shimmer Powder: Sparkling powder for radiant skin and the Dulcey Diamond Gloss: Luxurious lip gloss.
21. It’s Bel Cosmetics- Puerto Rico
Aidmanellys Cintron, a passionate beauty enthusiast hailing from Puerto Rico, embarked on her product-testing journey and review-sharing endeavours back in 2016. Fueled by a vision, she aspired to establish her own cosmetics brand someday. Her primary aim was to craft a brand rooted in inclusivity and genuine hospitality, not merely following trends. With relentless dedication, she is assured that you’ll relish every product offered by itsBel Cosmetics.
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