Before Fenty: Over 100 Years of Black Makeup Brands

African Americans have been loving, and buying, makeup for generations. When Rihanna launched Fenty Beauty in September, she turned the makeup industry on its head. With its 40 foundation shades -- the darkest of which sold out first -- Fenty proved that inclusivity in cosmetics is not just ethical but profitable. By serving the customers other mainstream brands have largely ignored, Fenty generated more than $72 million in media value alone the month after its debut. "I don't think there was ev...