Time was that African-American women had to turn to ethnic beauty brands to meet their needs. Even as recently as the 1990s, Revlon and Maybelline has created lines especially for African-American women. Here are other blasts from the past:

Do you know that Flori Roberts is a white woman? She later developed Dermablend corrective concealer.

Today, Flori Roberts cosmetics are sold through Color Me Beautiful’s direct selling and mall kiosks.

Posner Cosmetics was introduced in the 1940’s.  I’ll occasionally find Posner cosmetics at drugstores, but not a comprehensive selection.  Posner’s web site features online shopping.

I haven’t been able to find out much about Zuri. I found miscellaneous products at Dollar General years ago. You may shop Zuri at Texas Beauty Supply and House of Beauty (note: not an endorsement, I’ve never shopped these places).

Here a svelte Aretha Franklin serves as a spokeswoman for Fashion Fair.

Dorothea Towles Church was the first Black Maybelline model to appear in Ebony Magazine in 1959.