Over the last week, I’ve done a lot of thinking on how I can be a valuable resource to the black community. How can I use my platform that is usually filled with frivolous things like beauty, fashion, home, and wellness to discuss a much heavier, underlying issue in our community? After a lot of reading and listening, I realized that everyone’s voices will sound different and everyone’s unique way to share support during this time will look different.

For me, that meant looking at what I’m good at – and where I’ve fallen short. Finding clothes, beauty products, homewares and other goods that make life colorful and joyful is what I love doing and likely why you found me. But I realize over time, I have fallen into a comfort zone of sharing the same major retailers over and over again – instead of finding new, emerging, smaller ones. This includes black owned businesses.

Over the last few days, I’ve gone down a new and exciting rabbit hole of businesses that I’ve never seen before. There have been a lot of helpful Instagram posts listing new accounts to discover. (I did notice that some got repetitive with the same businesses featured over and over.) To go a step further, I started clicking through the comments of those posts where people were tagging even more black-owned businesses. There I found some really exceptional ones that I felt are a perfect fit for APOL and YOU.

Below, I’m sharing below 40+ black-owned business to discover and support below. As I started to click through the sites, I realized A LOT of them are already sold out of product which is amazing! If you find ones you like, please bookmark them to visit later when restocked! I’ll be adding more as I find them as well.

If you’re looking for more resources, this is one of the most helpful that I’ve come across this week:

Black Lives Matter Resources + Action Items

BABY + KIDS

Pretty Please Teethers / @prettypleaseteethers / ordered paci clips for Bennett

Harper Iman Dolls / @harperiman / handmade linen keepsake dolls

Truth and Gold / @weartruthandgold / children + adult tees + a stellar reading list

BEAUTY + WELLNESS

Makeup By Meggan / @makeupbymeggan / have her foundation + setting powder

Carol’s Daughter / @carolsdaughter / body + haircare

Briogeo Hair / @briogeo / award-winning clean + conscious haircare

Beauty Bakerie / @beautiebakerymakeup / sweets-themed + SO cute

The Lip Bar / @thelipbar / vegan, cruelty-free makeup picked up by Target

Golde / @golde / superfoods for beauty + wellness

Mented Cosmetics / @mentedcosmetics / vegan, paraben-free, non-toxic

Black Girl Sunscreen / @blackgirlsunscreen / now available at Target

Oui The People / @ouithepeople / shaving and bodycare

The Honey Pot / @thehoneypot / feminine care products

KNC Beauty / @kncbeauty / CUTEST eye masks, lip masks, lip scrubs!

HOME

Rayo and Honey / @rayoandhoney / Homewares with positive intent

Clare Paint / @clarepaint / Zero VOC paint and supplies

Tactile Matter / @tactilematter / homewares and art

The Zen Succulent / @thezensucculent / plant and succulent shop

The Jungalow / @thejungalow / home decor and homewares

CLOTHING + ACCESSORIES

Brother Vellies Shoes / @brothervellies / handcrafted designer accessories

Peace Images Jewelry / @peaceimagesjewelry / curated gold jewelry

Sincerely Tommy / @sincerelytommy_ / clothing and accessories

Nomadic Citizen / @nomadic_citizen / handmade artisan goods

H Kyle / @shophkyle / local Baton Rouge store

The Tiny Tassel / @thetinytassel / the most fun + colorful earrings

West London Boutique / @westlondonbtq / local New Orleans store

Andrea Iyamah / @andreaiyamah / Swooning over everything here

Dynasty George / @dynastygeorge / beautiful dresses + uplifting IG feed

Hanifa Official / @hanifaofficial / unique ready-to-wear designs

Grass Fields / @grass_fields / beautiful + unique textile patterns

 Twelve AM Shoes / @twelveam.co / really into these slides

Meow and Barks Boutique / @meowandbarksboutique / bright + colorful pieces

Love Cortnie / @lovecortnie /

Salt N Sunscreen Swim / @saltnsunscreen / love this one piece + this bikini

ZOU XOU / @zouxou / ethical, small batch shoes

Tree Fairfax / @treefairfax / handmade leather handbags

Sweats By Sam / @sweatsbysam / hand-dyed loungewear sets

LAGNIAPPE

Cause Box / @causebox / curated, socially-conscious products

McBride Sisters Wine / @mcbridesisters / black-owned, women-owned wine company

The Cupcake Collection / @thecupcakecollection / location in New Orleans!

Trade Street Jam Co. / @tradestjamco / their feed makes me SO hungry

Aya Paper Co. / @ayapaperco / 100% recycled stationery + gifts

Have one to add to the list? Please leave below, send via DM on IG, or email me!

Waited a little late to shop for mom this year? I’m usually a gift-buying procrastinator, so I am totally with you… I’ve rounded up some easy and practical Mother’s Day gifts every mom will love – even if they show up a little late. (And with shipping delays due to COVID, who really knows when things are going to arrive anyway?)

Make sure to scroll all the way through to see some EXCLUSIVE discount codes from various retailers that you can use for Mother’s Day or for yourself – I wouldn’t blame you if you found something you want. From farm-grown roses to CBD products and photobooks to skincare, there’s a little something for everyone!

Click Anywhere Below to Shop Mother’s Day Gifts

The Flower Lover: Grace Rose Farm

If you haven’t heard of Grace Rose Farm – go check out their Instagram feed NOW. It’s the most insanely gorgeous rose farm in California, and they are shipping bouquets across for Mother’s Day – any mom would be so excited to get these beauties!

10% OFF CODE: APINCHOFLOVELY10

Also see my post from last year on handmade flower gifts!

The Nostalgic Mom: Chatbooks

Earlier this year, I finally sat down and made a photobook with all of Bennett’s photos from 2019. I don’t know what took me so long because Chatbooks is SO insanely easy to use. You can make one directly from their phone app that syncs to your camera roll! Surprise your mom with a book of her own or a credit to make one from her own photos!

20% OFF CODE: FAIRCLOTH20

The Beauty Queen: Tula Skincare

Okay, one thing every woman needs is a great face wash. I have not found one better than the Tula Cult Classic face wash. I kid you not, it changed my face washing forever. Grab one for mom along with one of their rose eye balm sticks or the hair, skin, and nail gummies!

15% OFF CODE: FAIRCLOTH

The Wellness Expert: Equilibria CBD subscription

So many reasons why I love this brand – especially since I did a full podcast episode on it! (LISTEN HERE) Start mom off with the Brilliance Box as a starter kit or one of their limited time Mother’s Day bundles!

15% OFF CODE: KRYSTALFAIRCLOTH

The Mom Who Has Everything: The Sis Kiss Mama necklace

It may be too late to get a personalized name necklace from TSK, but it’s never too late to grab one of the best-selling “mama” necklaces or one of the many initial style pieces.

20% OFF CODE: SYS20