Black Opal Beauty

What Black Opal Beauty does

Black Opal Beauty (BLK/OPL) is a Black-owned, Chicago-based cosmetics and skincare brand founded in 1994 that develops and sells products formulated specifically for melanin-rich skin. The company's core offering is a complexion portfolio built around six foundation formulations with 23 inclusive shades in the hero TRUE COLOR Stick Foundation, supplemented by concealers, setting powders, eye and lip color cosmetics, and an Even True skincare line addressing hyperpigmentation, oil control, and blemishes. Formulas are dermatologist-approved, vegan, and cruelty-free, and the brand operates a proprietary Shade ID shade-matching tool and a tiered BLK List loyalty program to drive repeat engagement.

The business operates a hybrid wholesale and direct-to-consumer model. Products are sold via the owned e-commerce site (blackopalbeauty.com), through major US retailers including Ulta Beauty, Target, CVS, Walmart, and JC Penney, and on Amazon. Pricing sits in the mass-market to masstige band ($8–$17 for most makeup, $13–$16 for skincare), with no subscription or recurring component; revenue is generated through one-time unit sales plus digital gift cards. The brand is supported by a community-led go-to-market approach spanning a BLK/TLK blog, social media (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), influencer collaborations (including ambassador Ryan Destiny), and the BLK List loyalty program.

The company was acquired by its current ownership group around 2019 and raised $6 million in funding in May 2019; the leadership team includes CEO Desirée Rogers and President and Co-Owner Cheryl Mayberry McKissack. Headcount is reported at 1–10 employees, indicating a lean operating organization despite the broad distribution footprint, and shipping is restricted to the United States. Recent strategic activity centers on product line extension (Lip Oil in June 2025, COLORSPLURGE eyeshadow expansions in 2024) and ecosystem buildout through the BLK/TLK content platform and loyalty program rather than geographic or channel expansion.

Name

Black Opal Beauty

Legal name

Black Opal Beauty

Website

https://blackopalbeauty.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Black Opal Beauty is a Black-owned cosmetics and skincare brand founded in 1994, formulating foundations, complexion, and skincare products specifically for melanin-rich skin tones and selling through DTC, major US retailers, and Amazon at mass-market price points.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Color Cosmetics and Skincare

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Face Makeup (Foundation, Concealer, Powder, Blush, Bronzer, Highlighter) (CRABACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Makeup Primers & Setting (Face/Eye Primer, Setting Spray, Setting Powder, Fixers) (CRABACAE)

Keywords

• Inclusive beauty products
• Melanin-rich skincare
• Founded beauty brand
• Shade matching cosmetics
• Black-owned cosmetics

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: One-time purchase revenue from cosmetics and skincare products including foundations, concealers, powders, eyeshadows, lip products, and skincare items sold through e-commerce and retail partners.
2. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold in denominations of $15, $25, $50, $75, and $100 that can be redeemed on blackopalbeauty.com.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Black Opal Beauty (BLK/OPL) is a Black-owned beauty brand that develops, manufactures, and sells dermatologist-approved cosmetics and skincare formulated specifically for melanin-rich skin. The company sells foundations, concealers, powders, eye makeup, lip and cheek products, and skincare under sub-brands such as TRUE COLOR, COLORSPLURGE, TOTAL COVERAGE, Even True, and BLK/OPL SKN, distributed through its own e-commerce site, Amazon, and major U.S. retailers including Ulta, Target, CVS, Walmart, and JC Penney.

Product overview

Black Opal Beauty operates as a comprehensive beauty brand with a portfolio of makeup and skincare products specifically formulated for melanin-rich skin. The core product line centers around the TRUE COLOR® foundation collection featuring six distinct foundation formulas including the Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15 (hero product with 23 shades), Pore Perfecting Liquid Foundation, Pore Perfecting Crème Powder Foundation, Mineral Matte Crème Powder Foundation SPF 15, and Even True™ Flawless Liquid Foundation—all utilizing proprietary Shade ID™ technology for accurate shade matching. Complementing foundations is a full concealer range (TOTAL COVERAGE™ Face+ Body Concealer, True Tone Brightening Concealer) and setting/powder products (Oil Absorbing Pressed Powder, Soft Velvet Finishing Powder). The skincare line branded as Even True™ includes cleansing bars (Skin Brightening Bar, Blemish Control Bar), Pore Refining Gel Cleanser, PHA + BHA Exfoliating Toner, Brightening Gel Dark Spot Corrector, Deep Treatment Brightening Scrub, and Oil-Free Moisturizer. Specialized shave care under the BLK/OPL SKN™ sub-brand addresses razor bumps and ingrown hairs. Eye makeup encompasses eyeshadow palettes (Happy Hour, BLK Mermaid, Iconic, Fairy Glamuva, Big Freedia, Haute Heat, True Melanin), Precision Eye Definer, COLORSPLURGE™ Automatic Eye Lining Pencil, and Super Volumizing Mascara. Lip products include COLORSPLURGE™ Liquid Matte Lipstick, Risqué Crème Lipstick, High Shine Lip Gloss, Precision Lip Definer, Blush Sticks, and the new Lip Oil. The brand maintains customer engagement through the BLK/List loyalty program and BLK/TLK beauty blog content platform. All products are dermatologist-approved, cruelty-free, and feature clean formulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Even True: Skincare line including Oil-Free Moisturizer, Skin Brightening Bar, Blemish Control Bar, Pore Refining Gel Cleanser, Deep Treatment Brightening Scrub, PHA + BHA Exfoliating Toner, and Brightening Gel Dark Spot Corrector
• BLK/OPL SKN
• TRUE COLOR
• COLORSPLURGE
• TOTAL COVERAGE
• Shade ID

Products and services

• BLK/OPL TRUE COLOR Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15 A stick-format foundation with SPF 15, providing buildable, blendable coverage with a velvety-smooth finish, available in 23 inclusive shades for melanin-rich skin.
• Even True Flawless Liquid Foundation A lightweight, skincare-infused liquid foundation providing flawless coverage while addressing uneven skin tone for melanin-rich consumers.
• BLK/OPL TRUE COLOR Pore Perfecting Liquid Foundation A liquid foundation formulated to minimize the appearance of pores while providing medium-to-full coverage with true-to-tone color payoff on melanin-rich skin.
• TOTAL COVERAGE Face+ Body Concealer A full-coverage concealer designed to cover dark circles, blemishes, scars, and tattoos on both face and body, with a long-lasting, transfer-resistant formula.
• True Tone Brightening Concealer A brightening concealer with color-correcting properties that illuminates the under-eye area and corrects dark spots for melanin-rich skin.
• Oil Absorbing Pressed Powder A pressed powder that controls excess oil and minimizes shine throughout the day with buildable coverage maintaining shade integrity for melanin-rich skin.
• BLK/OPL TRUE COLOR Soft Velvet Finishing Powder A finishing powder that sets makeup with a soft velvet, photo-ready, non-cakey finish for melanin-rich skin.
• Mist Me Not Priming Mist A priming mist containing Hyaluronic Acid, Green Tea, and Glycolic Acid that grips makeup, refreshes, and sets throughout the day.
• Stay the Day Setting Spray A setting spray designed to lock makeup in place for all-day wear; pairs with the Mist Me Not Priming Mist as the Lock-In Duo.
• Even True Oil-Free Moisturizer A lightweight oil-free moisturizer that hydrates without adding shine, suited for oily and combination skin types in the melanin-rich segment.
• Even True Skin Brightening Bar A facial cleanser bar with Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Turmeric, Licorice, Natural Oats, and Aloe Vera that brightens and refreshes skin.
• Even True Blemish Control Bar A cleansing bar formulated for blemish-prone skin that gently cleanses acne-prone areas on melanin-rich skin.
• Even True Pore Refining Gel Cleanser A gel cleanser that refines pores and removes impurities as part of the vegan, dermatologist-approved Even True collection.
• Even True PHA + BHA Exfoliating Toner An exfoliating toner combining PHA and BHA to address uneven skin tone and texture for melanin-rich skin.
• Even True Brightening Gel Dark Spot Corrector A non-hydroquinone dark spot corrector gel that reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone on melanin-rich skin.
• Even True Deep Treatment Brightening Scrub A deep treatment scrub that brightens and exfoliates skin, part of the Even True collection formulated for melanin-rich skin.
• BLK/OPL SKN Anti-Bump Treatment A targeted treatment designed to address and prevent razor bumps and ingrown hairs, formulated for sensitive and melanin-rich skin.
• BLK/OPL SKN Anti-Bump Shave Gel A shave gel formulated to prevent razor bumps and ingrown hairs, providing a smooth shaving experience for melanin-rich skin.
• Happy Hour 6-Well Eyeshadow Palette A 6-shade eyeshadow palette with rich pigments, matte and shimmer finishes, formulated to perform on melanin-rich skin.
• The BLK Mermaid 12-Well Eyeshadow Palette A 12-shade green-toned eyeshadow palette delivering high-impact, vibrant color payoff designed for melanin-rich skin.
• Precision Eye Definer A pencil eyeliner with smudge-resistant, long-wearing formula designed for precise eye definition that lasts all day.
• COLORSPLURGE Automatic Eye Lining Pencil An automatic twist-up eyeliner pencil with a smudge-resistant formula for easy, precise, all-day eye lining.
• COLORSPLURGE Super Volumizing Mascara A volumizing mascara with smudge-proof and feather-proof formula that delivers full, dramatic lashes.
• COLORSPLURGE Blush Sticks Cream-to-powder blush sticks with vibrant, true color payoff, versatile for cheeks, lips, and eyes with a lightweight finish.
• COLORSPLURGE Liquid Matte Lipstick A liquid matte lipstick that delivers bold, long-lasting color in a lightweight, non-drying formula.
• COLORSPLURGE Risqué Crème Lipstick A creamy lipstick with rich pigmentation and comfortable wear, part of the COLORSPLURGE lip collection for melanin-rich skin.
• Precision Lip Definer A creamy, long-wearing lip liner designed for precise lip definition that stays color-true throughout wear.
• COLORSPLURGE High Shine Lip Gloss A high-shine lip gloss with hydrating, non-sticky formula providing glossy finish and comfortable wear.
• BLK/OPL Lip Oil A lip oil that delivers long-lasting shine with comfortable moisture and a sleek, gloss-like, non-sticky finish; available in four shades.
• Shade ID Technology A proprietary shade-matching system that simplifies finding the perfect foundation shade for melanin-rich skin tones.
• The BLK List Loyalty Program Tiered loyalty rewards program with Rising Star, Show Stopper, and Main Character levels; members earn 5 points per $1 spent plus bonus engagement points redeemable for $5-$20 off.
• BLK/OPL Gift Card Digital gift cards available in $15, $25, $50, $75, and $100 denominations, redeemable online at blackopalbeauty.com with no expiration.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23 inclusive foundation shades available in hero product
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fenty Beauty: Fenty Beauty is a direct peer: a celebrity-founded color cosmetics brand built explicitly around inclusive shade ranges for all skin tones, including deep complexions. Sells across foundation, complexion, lips, and eyes with major global retail distribution.
• Juvia's Place: Juvia's Place is a direct peer: a Black-owned, melanin-focused color cosmetics brand offering highly pigmented eyeshadow palettes, face, and lip products at accessible price points with strong community-led marketing.
• UOMA Beauty: UOMA Beauty is a direct peer: an inclusive beauty brand offering foundation ranges engineered for diverse skin tones, with a similar mission-driven positioning and direct-to-consumer plus retail strategy.
• Pat McGrath Labs: Pat McGrath Labs is a direct peer in the inclusive, high-pigment color cosmetics space with broad complexion and eye ranges. Operates at premium price points but competes for the same culturally engaged consumer.
• Iman Cosmetics: Iman Cosmetics is a direct peer: one of the original legacy brands built specifically for women of color, with foundations, powders, and skincare positioned for melanin-rich skin. Closely comparable in category and historical positioning.
• Fashion Fair Cosmetics: Fashion Fair is a direct peer and historical incumbent in cosmetics for women of color, with foundations, complexion, and color ranges tailored to deeper skin tones. Long-standing category competitor.

Broad incumbents

• M·A·C Cosmetics: M·A·C is a broad incumbent with one of the widest foundation shade ranges globally and significant artist/consumer reach. Overlaps with BLK/OPL in complexion and color but does not specialize in melanin-rich skin.
• NARS Cosmetics: NARS is a broad incumbent with extended shade ranges and prestige color positioning. Competes in foundation and color cosmetics but is not melanin-specialist.
• Maybelline New York: Maybelline is a mass-market incumbent that has aggressively expanded its inclusive shade ranges (Fit Me, SuperStay) and competes head-on with BLK/OPL's price architecture and mass-retail placement.

Emerging players

• SheaMoisture: SheaMoisture is a peer in melanin-focused personal care, primarily in hair and body but with expanding skincare overlap. Shares the cultural positioning and Black consumer focus even though core categories differ.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/blackopalbeauty
• TikToktiktok.com/@blackopalbeauty
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-opal-cosmetics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Black Opal Beauty