Black-Owned K-Beauty Brands

Dr. GIO Cosmetics has made history in Korea as the first Black-owned K-beauty brand and the first brand of its kind to be owned by a Black woman, Grace Ijeoma Okafor. As a Black woman living in Korea, Okafor saw an opportunity to combine the advanced nature of Korean beauty products specifically to solve problems for those with dark skin tones and people of color.

The brand's debut product is the weightless Ultra 7 Brightening Foundation Cushion, which creates the look of airbrushed skin. The brand chose to start with this product as its first because Okafor recognized it as the number one K-beauty product that's "lacking in inclusivity." Unlike comparable brands that only offer a range of light colors, Dr. GIO Cosmetics makes deep shades like Aisha, Chioma and Bisi.