By Onicia Muller of ASE Beauty

Gianne Doherty - WELL Summit
Learning about wellness doesn’t have to be a lonely journey. One of the best parts of clean beauty is community and connecting with others on the journey to clean has never been easier with women like Gianne Doherty. WELL Summit founder and co-founder of clean bath and body brand Organic Bath Co, Gianne Doherty is a clean beauty advocate powerhouse within the wellness space. A source of information and inspiration, Doherty created the first WELL Summit in 2015. This annual event brings together beauty bloggers, wellness professionals, and clean living enthusiasts from across the country. This clean weekend is all about fun and education, with opportunities for workshops, interactive breakout sessions, exclusive wellness goodies, the L.I.V.E. WELL Party, and networking opportunities.

Shontay Lundy - Black Girl Sunscreen
Melanated skin and sunscreen? The combination seemed like a business idea that wouldn’t take off, but Shontay Lundy of Black Girl Sunscreen proved everyone wrong. The MBA grad who founded the clean skincare company teaches that contrary to popular belief, people of color do need sunscreen for a variety of reasons. Lundy created a sunscreen that is free of harmful ingredients like fragrance, parabens, oxybenzone, and octinoxate. Best of all, Lundy’s formula does not leave a white residue, which is a major turnoff for people of color. In 2020, Black Girl Sunscreen expanded its range to include Sunscreen-BGS Kids, their sunscreen formula for kids.

Dr. Anne Beal - Absolute JOI
The Absolute JOI skincare brand focuses on three main tenants: Clean, effective, and simple. Inspired by her daughters, Dr. Anne Beal set out to bring joy by designing a skincare line that was free of paraben and other harmful ingredients. Absolute JOI is an inclusive clean beauty brand that offers people with all skin types and tones simple but effective skincare for renewed radiance and healthy balance.

Dr. Kristian Henderson - BLK + GRN
Discovering clean beauty products has just gotten a million times easier with the creation of BLK + GRN. Founded by Dr. Kristian Henderson, BLK + GRN is an all-natural marketplace with products by all black artisans. The marketplace connects Black people with natural lifestyles to high-quality, toxic-free brands that share in our mission of health, wellness, and community cultivation. Featured products are carefully chosen by Black health experts who know what an all-natural product truly looks like. BLK + GRN motto is “never bring in junk—only joy.” If a product is not sustainably made, plant-based, or cruelty-free, it’s not featured.

Taliah Waajid - Taliah Waajid
Taliah Waajid was one of the first companies to offer a complete line of natural, chemical-free hair care products. Today the company has four hair care collections, including ones for men and children. This family-owned and operated business is also a strong supporter of open communication about mental health issues within the Black community. Its founder also works with Grady Hospital on its new Mental Health Pavillion.

KY Washington - Modern Green Goddess
During a huge fertility battle, KY Washington felt sick, overweight, and sad. She found herself asking why her hormones were interrupted. That question led to a wellness journey that opened the world of alternative medicine. A complete change in lifestyle led to feeling the best she’s ever felt in her life. It also led her to discovering the truth about the ingredients in makeup products. As a professional makeup artist, she couldn't just give up on her favorite beauty products. Instead, she sought out clean makeup brands. Today KY Washington is a makeup artist who focuses on clean beauty and the creator of the wellness newsletter, Modern Green Goddess. She offers group classes and private makeup lessons as well as aroma therapy sessions. You can discover clean beauty tutorials aon KY’s Facebook page.

Martine Charles - ASE Beauty
Of course, we would be remiss not to include ourselves in this roundup. ASE Beauty was co-founded by Martine Charles. Recognizing that women of color are at greater risk for exposure to dangerous chemicals in their workplace,communities and from cosmetics, she teamed with educators, beauty industry and marketing experts to develop ASE Beauty.

At ASE we believe in offering clean, luxurious beauty products that enhance our looks without compromising our well being or the well-being of our community. Through #cleanconversations, Ase Beauty seeks to educate and empower women about clean beauty products and encourages them to live a clean lifestyle.

Women -- especially Black women -- face enormous challenges in business. And although Women of color spend 80% more on cosmetics, we only get 10% of the shelf space. We hope this list of clean beauty champions inspire you to support women-owned businesses and join the clean beauty movement.