These days it’s easy for self care to feel like a chore. Just one more thing added to your never ending to do list. It shouldn’t feel that way. Maybe it starts out that way, but it should eventually become an organic part of how you live, love and take care of you. Yes, the goal is for it to feel seamless and not so much of an effort. It’s not always that way but that’s why it’s a goal, right? Ha! While everyone knows that reading is part of my self care, I’ve also found some Black self care brands I love and have thrown into the mix.
Since I mentioned reading, I have to tell you about a book I read last month. It’s called Girl Gurl Grrrl by Kenya Hunt. It was such a relatable read. It talks about womanhood in this age of Black girl magic. She touches on themes of family and race that really hit close to home. It’s such a good read.
Black Self Care brands
As far as brands that I love, I have to shout out Hella Tea. They way hard core coffee lovers are about their java is about how I am with tea. I love a good loose leaf tea and brew a cup every morning to start my day. I found Hella Tea on a list of Black owned companies last year and fell in love. The company is based in the Bay Area. They have various blends with the coolest names like Steep Curry, Tea Short and Huey TEA Newton. One of my favorites is their E-4Tea. It’s a delicious earl grey blend. So good!
I talk about skin care now and then and I have to let you in on a secret. My go to spot for skin care products has been blk+grn. It’s a Black woman owned space that only sells green products. I love it! I have discovered so many brands through the site. One of my favorites is The Healing place Apothecary. They have this whipped facial moisturizer that I can’t get enough of. It goes on light and it leaves your skin with that dewy look we all love.
For the longest time I have been loving body butters over lotions. If it’s not shea butter or cocoa butter, it’s some whipped body butter that’s keeping moisturized. I tried WhippedUp Cosmetics some time back and love it. The fragrances are smooth and not overpowering and they make your skin feel and look good.
Another one for the body butter boat is from Last Frontier Soap Co. The owner lives on a farm in Alaska and makes really cool natural products including soaps with goat milk and body butters. The soaps alone are just little pretty works of art.
Last on my list isn’t a self care brand, I guess. I was scrolling Instagram recently and saw a post from activist Tamika Mallory. She was doing a series of posts promoting Black businesses. One she posted about was Black Womens Lives Matter. I checked them out and found a few shirts that I love! The sweatshirt I’m wearing in the photo above is from the site. It’s my favorite these days. In some ways the company is self care simply because they have such affirming messages on their clothing. I’m going to call it a self care brand because affirmations are absolutely self care!
