Black Opal

Black Opal is an American complexion-focused beauty brand founded in 1994 to serve women with melanin-rich skin at a time when the mainstream market offered them almost nothing. Originally developed with an African American dermatologist to address hyperpigmentation, oil control, and true shade matching for deeper tones, the brand found immediate success and became a drugstore pillar for brown-skinned shoppers. Its complexion products — foundations, concealers, and setting powders engineered for deeper undertones — remain its calling card.

After the 2019 death of its longtime owner, Black Opal was acquired by entrepreneurs Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack, making the brand Black- and woman-owned for the first time. Sold under both the Black Opal and BLK/OPL names across drugstores and mass retailers, it continues to specialize in high-coverage, shade-inclusive complexion makeup at accessible prices, and it's a frequent reference point for anyone comparing affordable foundations and concealers for deep skin tones.