In honor of Black History Month, we are rounding up our Beauty Through the Black Lens series in one place just for you. Hear from Black brand founders, dermatologists, models, makeup artists, and more about their experiences as people of color in beauty. Things have come a long way, but these inspiring stories prove there is still a lot of work to be done.

We are seeing big changes in the fashion and beauty industries: racial diversity on the runway, age inclusion in hair care ads, and size inclusion in athletic wear to name a few. While it is easy to get swept up in these important industry shifts,Hannah Harris is focusing on the little (albeit equally impactful) changes. Her first daunting question: Where are all the brown hands? With a beautifully curated Instagram feed and an emerging content studio by the name of Brown Girl Hands, Harris is beginning to answer her own question.

Jade Ponce has an immediately recognizable gentle spirit. Sure, you might first notice that she has mastered the art of a glowing soft beat or that her highlighter is the perfect shade for her honey complexion—but then you take note of her sweet smile and inviting demeanor and think, I want to be friends with this girl.

There is a gap in the beauty industry, and Tisha Thompson is on a mission to fill it starting with her new company LYS BEAUTY. This good-for-your-skin makeup brand includes vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainably packaged products that all retail for less than $30. The brand launched in 2019 and has already joined Sephora is shelves as the first Black-owned clean beauty brand, but it is no wonder this cosmetics company is such a hit. Thompson is a trailblazing clean beauty veteran with more than 15 years of innovation under her belt, and she is using her industry expertise to service women of color.

Feeling inspired and want to experiment with your own beauty routine? Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started!