Black Opal
Budget“Beauty for every shade of brown.”
By Viktoria @vioda.makeup · Published · Updated
Black Opal is a budget makeup brand from the United States, founded in 1994 by MANA Products (Nikos Mouyiaris); now owned by Desiree Rogers & Cheryl Mayberry McKissack. It's best known for its Complexion products engineered for melanin-rich skin, Total Coverage Concealing Foundation and True Color foundation shade range.
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.
Popular Products
What Black Opal is bought for. The ones we've found dupes for link through to the comparison.
- Total Coverage Concealing Foundation
- True Color Liquid Foundation
- Invisible Oil-Blocking Pressed Powder
- Color Splurge lipstick
Known For
Brand Philosophy
Science-led complexion makeup built specifically for deeper skin tones — inclusive coverage that mainstream ranges long ignored.
FAQ
Black Opal Official Channels
Where to buy, and how to reach Black Opal customer service directly.