Effortless Beauty: Best Black Owned Makeup Products For Minimalist Makeup In 10 Minutes Or Less

This week, I’m sharing my step-by-step quick minimalist makeup routine, plus the best Black-owned makeup products for a simple, yet beautiful look.

First, let me start by saying “minimalist makeup” (otherwise known as “no-makeup” makeup) is not for everyone! You may prefer a full beat with bright, fun colors, and that is totally cool! I love those looks myself, but running around after five kids does not leave a lot of time for a 20–30 minute makeup routine.

However, I still like to look polished and put-together when I leave the house, and putting a little something on my face is definitely part of that. I recently fell in love with the “no makeup” makeup look because it’s super easy to recreate, takes less than ten minutes, and it gives me that dewy, “your skin, but better” vibe that’s pretty much perfect for every occasion. If this sounds good to you, keep reading!

DISCLOSURE: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post contains affiliate links from which I earn a commission, at no extra cost to you, when you make a purchase. Read more about it HERE.

Black Owned Makeup Products For Minimalist Makeup Looks

Black Owned Sunscreens

R&R Sun Serum– Contains skin-loving ingredients like Jojoba and Niacinamide, plus 10% Zinc Oxide for heavy-duty protection against the sun. Available in three different shades for flawless, sheer coverage that evens skin tone. **This is one of my mainstays; it’s great under makeup, but fabulous on its own as well!

Eleven Sunscreen Primer— Lightweight, reef-safe chemical-free formula that doubles as a velvety smooth primer.

Black Owned Primers

The Lip Bar Skin Set Primer— Mattifying formula with Rose Water Extract, Irish Sea Moss, and Aloe Vera. Great for blurring pores and fine lines.

Trippin Smooth Primer— Lightweight gel formula that’s perfect for oily skin! Mushroom Extract, Chamomile Water, and probiotics soothe and protect skin, while micro-illuminating pearls create a subtle, “from-within” glow.

Black Owned Concealers

Skin-Enhancing Concealer— Medium coverage to blur blemishes and brighten skin.

Vision Cream Cover Adjustable Foundation & Concealer— 23 full coverage shades with a lightweight natural finish. Squalane to add moisture and balance oil production as well as powerful Vitamin E to protect from pollution damage. Plays well with oil, wax, and silicone-based products.

Black Owned Foundations & Skin Tints

Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint— Light coverage tinted moisturizer available in 25 shades. Layers easily with your favorite primer and skincare products. Made to gently blur imperfections for a healthy, hydrated look.

Skin-Enhancing Tinted Moisturizer— Light to medium coverage for a natural-looking dewy glow. Baobab Seed Extract for hydration, heavy-duty antioxidants for protection against pollution and free radicals, plus Vitamin E to soothe skin and help prevent moisture loss.

Skin By Mented Cosmetics Foundation Stick— Medium to full buildable coverage formulated with skin-pampering ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and Grapeseed Oil. Adjustable stick, super easy to apply as a foundation, concealer, or even contour.

Black Owned Brow Essentials

The Lip Bar Vegan Brow Gel + Brow Pencil— **My personal fave! The gel side goes on smoothly and lightly, plus it dries quickly. The pencil side is great for short little feather strokes to fill in any areas that need attention; I tend to use this end when my brows are in need of a touch up.

Mented Cosmetics Eyebrow Pencil— A classic, no-muss, no-fuss brow pencil with a spoolie at one end to help smooth brows for a natural look. Waterproof, highly pigmented, and lasts up to 10 hours.

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Black Owned Shadows & Shadow Primers

I Prep, I Prime— Long-lasting, paraben and sulphate free.

Black Magic Freedom Palette— Soft matte browns that are perfect for everyday minimalist looks, plus a few highly pigmented duo-chromatic shades for whenever you want to step it up a bit.

Coffee & Cocoa Bronzer Palette— Four gorgeous, warm, earth-toned shades that can be used to highlight, add contour, or add color to eyes and cheeks. This one is currently in my shopping cart, so I’ll update ya’ll soon with my review!

The Coffee Shop Eyeshadow Palette— 16 rich, brown shades with matte and shimmery finishes.

The Nubian Eyeshadow Palette— **I’ve had this one for a minute and it’s still one of my favorites. There are soft matte shades for every day, and beautiful, rich shimmery neutrals for those days when you want just a little extra. They wear well all day too!

Black Owned Mascaras

The Lip Bar Big Timer Volumizing Mascara— **This one is a staple in my makeup bag and the name pretty much says it all. Expect long-lasting, va va voom volume, and NO clumping. **I would recommend a good oil-based remover at the end of the day.

Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl Mascara— Features an innovative double-sided brush with one side to lift and add volume, and another to curl and define lashes for a bright-eyed, fresh-faced look. Cruelty-Free, Vegan, and Gluten-Free ingredients.

Black Owned Blushes & Highlighters

Matchstix Shimmer Skin Stick— Eight shimmery shades to add color to your cheeks or a subtle glow. Lightweight, blendable cream-to-powder formula.

Desert Date Cream Blush & Lip Multistick— Soft, creamy matte in four subtle shades. Hero ingredient: Desert Date to keep lips hydrated and soft (and super kissable!).

Aim High Multiuse Liquid Highlighter— Three shimmery shades with a radiant, satiny finish. Use alone or mix a little bit into your foundation for an all-over glow. Skin-loving ingredients include Myrciaria dubia Fruit Extract to help brighten and even out skin tone, Mango Extract to soothe and pamper skin, and Sodium Hyaluronate, a derivative of Hyaluronic Acid that locks in moisture and provides Vitamin A for glowy, revitalized skin.

Black Owned Lipsticks & Glosses

Colorfix Eye, Cheek & Lip Cream Pigment— Water-proof AND crease-proof. Luxe, creamy formula that works as a shadow, contour, highlight, blush, and yes, lip color.

The Nude Velvety Matte Lipstick— **Another favorite of mine! I usually prefer glosses, but this lippy goes on as smoothly as any gloss and it makes my lips feel hydrated and pampered, thanks to the Hyaluronic Acid.

Lip Love Amber Lip Gloss— One of my go-to glosses. Jojoba and Rosehip Oils make this gloss so hydrating that I can use instead of chapstick. And it’s another multiuse product that’s great for lids, cheeks, and lips.

Black Owned Setting Sprays & Powders

Skin Melt Tac-Free Loose Setting Powder— Go with the translucent version or one of two shades for deep brown to medium and rich to deep skin tones. Lightweight, light coverage with a matte finish. Formulated with Hyaluronic Acid to help skin retain moisture and Baobab Seed Extract to hydrate and pamper skin.

LYS Beauty Skin Loyalty Setting Spray— Hydrating ingredients like Cucumber Extract, Green Tea Extract, and Aloe Leaf Juice make this a superb pick for those with dry skin.

**BONUS: Calendula Oil Cleanser to easily and gently remove everything at the end of the day without damaging your skin.

Minimalist makeup beginner? Here are few quick tips…

How To Streamline Your Makeup Routine

Lead With Skincare

Before you can have a great minimalist makeup routine, you need a great skincare routine. Investing in quality products that nurture your skin and address any issues you may have (ie, hyperpigmentation, dryness, acne, etc.) helps provide a clean, fresh canvas to work with when you’re ready to apply your makeup. Plus, the better condition your skin is in, the easier it will be to highlight and accentuate rather than cover up.

If you’re ready to step up your skincare routine, these amazing Black owned skincare brands carry everything you need whether your skin is dry, oily, combo, sensitive, or even acne prone!

Focus On The Products NOT The Tools

Don’t let a lack of tools stop you from achieving your minimalist makeup goals. Obviously, you’ll need a spoolie to apply your mascara! Or you may want a good eyeshadow brush if the shadows you’re using are powder. Some tools, though, like sponges, or different angled brushes, are not exactly deal breakers when it comes to this kind of look.

In fact, unnecessary tools can complicate your routine and make it feel like one more thing to do before leaving the house. Push comes to shove, you can always purchase a tool or two later, once you’ve got your routine down and you have a better idea of what you need.

Speaking of products…

Use Quality Products

Expensive doesn’t always mean amazing quality and cheap doesn’t always mean crap. There are some great drugstore finds from Black-owned companies (quite a few mentioned further up!) that will give you exactly what you’re looking for without busting your wallet.

I try to go for products with gentle ingredients that won’t irritate my skin (double points if they’ve added hydrating skincare ingredients!), neutral colors that I can wear year-round, and formulas that last throughout the day without smudging. Think about how you want your products to perform for you throughout the day and go from there!

Double-Duty Products Are A Must

I love eye, lip, and cheek sticks for minimalist makeup looks. They’re usually incredibly easy to apply, and cut your application time waaay down, since you’re using one product for so many areas on your face. Plus, these kinds of multi-use products are so easy on the budget!

Step By Step Minimalist Makeup Guide

STEP 1: Sunscreen/ Primer

Now is a great time for a double-duty product like the ones mentioned above to prime the skin, give your makeup something to stick to, and protect against sun and free radical damage. There are also some great primers with blurring capabilities that help reduce the appearance of pores or textured skin.

STEP 2: Concealer

Great for help concealing acne scars, hyperpigmentation, or any spots you want to cover to give you an even application on your next step.

STEP 3: Skin Tint/ Foundation

Skin tints usually have less coverage but tend to be easier and faster to apply. A lot of formulas are almost skincare hybrids, so these are great options if you have sensitive skin. Personally, I find that formulas with light to medium buildable coverage work the best as they last all day, don’t clog my pores, and give a natural finish.

STEP 4: Brows

This one is a personal preference. I prefer a tinted gel to quickly and simultaneously smooth and fill in eyebrows. But I do find that formula is easiest to use on well-groomed brows. When my brows are in need of a shape up, I’ll go for a pencil which takes longer but looks cleaner.

STEP 5: Eye Primer & Eyeshadow

A good eye primer gives your shadow something to adhere to, increases the wear time of your shadow, and helps prevent creasing. As far as eyeshadow goes, I prefer a neutral shade with a hint of shimmer for quick, mistake-proof application.

STEP 6: Mascara

There are tons of different formulas; look for one that’s waterproof, smudge-proof, and that volumizes and adds length.

STEP 7: Blush

Instead of going just under the cheekbones, try starting perpendicular to your eye and nose. Apply blush in a slight “L” shape to subtly lift the face.

STEP 8: Highlighter

Totally optional! I sometimes use when I’ve had a rough night with the twins and need a little something extra to brighten my face.

STEP 9: Gloss

Glosses are great for a quick wash of color that’s quick and easy to apply without making mistakes (sensing a theme here?)

STEP 10: Setting Spray/ Powder

Another opportunity for a double-duty product. There are great mattifying ones for those with oily skin, or sprays with SPF which are great for reapplying throughout the day.

Final Thoughts

If ten steps sound like a lot, remember that these are all products that are quick and super easy to apply. I literally timed myself the other day and my whole routine took like six minutes and some change!

Also, don’t feel like you have to follow this routine step by step. Make it your own! If you want to skip the concealer (like I tend to) go for it! Not feeling the shadow today? No worries! The biggest thing that matters is that YOU feel polished when you leave the house. Figure out what that means to you and go from there!

If you’ve tried any of the amazing Black owned makeup products above, please share your experience below!