Self-care is the best care and there’s no better wellness practice than taking care of your skin. Caring for Black skin can be difficult with mainstream products. Battling issues like hyperpigmentation, discoloration, and dryness are common for Black travelers worldwide. However, Black-owned skincare brands in Europe are showing out with products that transform and heal skin of all shades.
The next time you’re traveling through Europe, consider stopping into a few shops and grabbing some Black-owned skincare products. While some brands are only available in local retailers, others have brick-and-mortar stores that you can pop your head into. Here are a few Black-owned skincare brands to discover while visiting Europe this year.
bea Skin Care
Founded by skin specialist Bianca Estelle in 2015, bea Skin Care has been transforming skin in the UK and beyond. However, before launching bea, Estelle established several clinics throughout the UK dedicated to helping clients realize their skin’s potential and transforming it from the inside out. Bea Skin Care is founded on Estelle’s knowledge of cosmeceutical science. The brand aims to educate customers on their skin while also catering to a diverse range of skincare needs that other brands overlook. Travelers can grab bea Skin Care products at numerous locations in the UK including the flagship clinic in Marylebone, London.
LIHA
Rooted in rich Yoruba traditions with a splash of British flair, LIHA is a Black-owned skincare brand where a little bit goes a long way. The company was founded by Liha and Abi. The two women met in college in 1998. When Abi would travel to Nigeria to her father’s hometown, she’d bring back the best Nigerian shea butter that would become the foundation of their product line. A decades-long friendship culminated in a magical skincare brand that tied together their ancestral and current cultural norms. Today, LIHA is dedicated to helping customer nourish their skin and their soul simultaneously with amazing products made in the UK.
EPARA Skincare
EPARA Skincare is a brand made for customers to wrap their entire being in. A Nigerian word, EPARA means “to cocoon oneself” and that’s exactly how customers feel after using the Black-owned skincare brand. The brand uses the power of African botanicals to heal, moisturize, and repair damaged skin. Creator Ozohu Adoh struggled with dry, uneven skin for years before creating EPARA Skincare. Now, her company is changing lives worldwide from the UK with healing balms, serums, and oils straight from African shores. Travelers can visit the EPARA Limited store on Great Portland Street in London.
The Afro Hair & Skin Company
Dedicated to plant-based healing for melanin-rich skin, The Afro Hair & Skin Company has a product line aimed towards healing skin naturally. The brand was recognized as the third-best skincare choice for people of color by Vogue magazine and the reviews tell the rest. Customers worldwide have amazing things to say about the Afro Hair & Skin Company and travelers can check them out if they’re traveling near the British coast.
Aviela
Another Black-owned UK skincare company rooted in African pride, Aviela started with a stiff ankle. Owner Patricia Monney was struggling with a sore ankle while traveling on holiday to Ghana. When a local doctor suggested she rub unrefined, raw shea butter on the injury, Aviela was born. Monney moved forward with researching the anti-inflammatory properties of shea butter; birthing the foundation of the Aviela product line. Now, the skincare line includes a variety of products derived from shea butter including body butter, lotions, black soaps, and more. Travelers visiting the UK can purchase Aviela products at their UK store at the Potters Bar.