8 Indigenous Cosmetics Companies to Check Out in 2023
Are you looking to upgrade your self-care routine this season? These 8 Indigenous-owned cosmetics companies have all the little gems you need to bring some color and luxury into your life for 2023. These businesses have dozens of products, shades and colors to choose from, and some even carry other products like jewelry, clothes and skincare!
We want to make sure there’s options for everyone, so we’ve made sure to include brands that are vegan friendly and do not test on animals, as well as companies that prioritize sustainability and giving back to their communities.
And if you do buy from anyone on this list, or any Indigenous-owned businesses, please tag them and us on social media showing what you bought! And if you don’t, drop them a quick follow on Instagram! Many of these companies rely primarily on word of mouth to promote their businesses, so let’s do everything we can to support their success.
Frybread Cosmetics
Frybread Cosmetics is a great place to start if you’re looking for brilliantly colorful eyeshadow palettes and fun lip gloss. Frybread was founded by Shundine Suazo (Taos Pueblo/ Diné) in 2020, and named after her small Frybread Stand kitchen. “I wanted something super authentic to myself that showed unique colors you wouldn’t see in an everyday eye-shadow palette,” she says. “I wanted it to have a connection to Indigenous people who love to wear makeup and express themselves.”
These striking Halloween edition liquid eyeshadows are a great gift choice for someone who likes to have fun and experiment with their makeup looks!
Follow Frybread Cosmetics on Instagram.
Prados Beauty
Founder CeCe Meadows (Yoeme/Numumu) has a lot on her plate as a mother of four, Army wife, published poet, makeup artist and entrepreneur. As if that wasn’t enough, she also founded and is President of The Prados Life Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to putting their money, time, and mentorship back into Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. Along with their “World-changing” partners, they raised over $20,000 to help bring COVID-19 PPE supplies to remote Native American communities.
When you buy from their website, a portion of the proceeds is donated to causes supporting this mission. If you’re not sure what your loved one would like, you can buy them a gift card so they can shop for themselves! You can also donate directly on Paypal.
Follow Prados Beauty on Instagram.
Cheekbone Beauty
Cheekbone Beauty is definitely the place to shop if you’re looking for clean and sustainable products. Cheekbone is a certified B Corporation and a Member of 1% for the Planet, which means it has committed to donate the equivalent of 1% of gross sales through a combination of monetary, in-kind and approved promotional support directly to environmental nonprofits.
All of Cheekbone Beauty’s formulas are vegan, cruelty-free, and fair trade. They also prioritize local ingredient sourcing and sustainable packaging and shipping, and are working with the PACT collective to create a circular economy for beauty packaging.
Follow Cheekbone Beauty on Instagram.
Niawen
Founder Tara Tekahentakhwa (Mohawk) views skincare as a sacred act of self-ceremony that can help reconnect with the divine within us all. Her formulations blend the traditions and wisdom of her ancestors with her formal training in skin science, and all Niawen’s products are organic, locally sourced and 100% natural.
While Niawen Skin is focused on skincare and wellness, they do carry a few unique and versatile makeup products. These “skincare makeup sticks” come in 3 colors: a highlight, contour and soft maroon color. These sticks can be used anywhere on the body, the lips, cheeks and eyes.
If the person you’re shopping for isn’t into makeup, skincare products like their eye balm or sweetgrass soap are a self-care staple for everyone. Their website also has a gift card option!
Follow Niawen on Instagram.
Bloodline Beauty
Founder Deanne Vanwinkle (Navajo) has over 14 years of experience in the beauty industry, and her passion for makeup artistry and creativity shines on the Bloodline Instagram page where she posts lots of looks that you can check out for inspiration!
If you’re looking for a deal, the My Watermelon Beach Babe eyeshadow palette is currently on sale for just $25 (previously $40). Bloodline also has a lot of other products to choose from: Makeup brush sets are a great practical gift for someone who already owns more than enough makeup products, and the site also carries jewelry, hoodies, and tumblers.
Cherish Skin
Cherish Skin is an Afro-Indigenous beauty company founded by Cherish Yazzie-Hart (Navajo). One standout product is the Navajo Nation Palette, which features glittering hues pulled from the Great Seal of the Navajo Nation.
The best thing about the Cherish website is a page that breaks down the active ingredients in its skincare products, along with the benefits of each one. This makes it super easy to shop based on specific skin needs, and avoid any allergens or irritants!
Follow Cherish Skin on Instagram.
Melting Pot Cosmetics
Melting Pot Cosmetics has some of the most fun and unique branding and packaging on this list! The lip glosses are super cute and affordable, vegan and made by hand with Vitamin E and Jojoba oils. You’ll need to resist the urge to buy all 10 colors.
The most striking products on the site are the vibrant press-on nail sets. Some of the bestsellers are the dreamy pink Angel Cakes set and the muted but fierce Lava Cake set. All nail purchases include extra nails plus everything you need to prep your nails and apply the set.
Follow Melting Pot Cosmetics on Instagram.
Ah-Shí Beauty
“Ah-Shí” is Navajo for “this is me, this is mine.” As founder and CEO Ahsaki Lafrance-Chachere (Diné/African American) says on the Ah-Shí website: “This is my Beauty! My customers set their own beauty standards. It is my responsibility that when my customers look in the mirror, they see themselves, feel empowered and continue to love the skin they are in.” She’s been entrepreneurial since she was a child growing up on a reservation in Arizona, and In 2021, she was the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s Native Woman Business Owner of the Year.
Ah-Shí’s products are cruelty free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, paraben free, alcohol free, fragrance and essential oil free. That’s a mouthful, but it means they are perfect for people with sensitive skin, sensory issues or allergies. The site also has a section dedicated to ingredient transparency, where the contents of each product are listed.
The website carries both makeup and skincare that feature elegant and minimalistic packaging, which is part of the company’s holistic approach to beauty. To quote Ah-Shí’s VP of research and development: “The experience of the consumer, the emotional aspect of the product, is as important to us as the resulting efficacy of the product.”
Worldwide shipping is available, making this a good pick for someone living outside the U.S.: you can get the product mailed directly to them!
Follow Ah-Shi Beauty on Instagram.
