Featured on CSC’s List of Top Non-Toxic Black Beauty Brands and Non-Toxic Black Beauty Database, we spoke to JACQ’S Founder and CEO Barbara Jacques about how a health scare during her pregnancy inspired her to create a vegan skincare line created for women of color by women of color.
Barbara’s Story
Barbara Jacques is the Founder and Creative Director of JACQ’S, a vegan and sustainable skincare line created for women of color by women of color. Barbara created JACQ’S after a health scare during her pregnancy. As a way to cope with her illness, she began studying green medicine and holistic plant botany. The more research she did, the more concerns she had about the effects of ingredients on our overall health.
After recovering from her illness and delivering her daughter, Barbara created JACQ’S with a mission to change the way the beauty industry sees skincare and women of color. Black women, Brown women, Latin women, Asian women, and everyone in between should be seen as much more than props and profit margins. Products sold and marketed to Black women contain some of the most toxic chemicals used in the cosmetics industry. JACQ’S product collection is inspired by Barbara’s Caribbean background using exotic ingredients, cruelty-free products, and sustainable packaging.
As one of our featured brands on CSC’s List of Top Non-Toxic Black-Owned Beauty Brands, JACQ’S Skincare products are free of the harmful ingredients on CSC’s Red List of Chemicals of Concern in Cosmetics, which includes chemicals of particular concern for Black women. This list and our accompanying database of products allows Black women to shop for beauty products with confidence knowing that the products they’re purchasing are free of ingredients linked to negative health effects, including those of special concern to Black women.
“JACQ’S is on a mission to change the way the beauty industry sees skincare and women of color. Black women, Brown women, Latin women, Asian women, and everyone in between should be seen as much more than props and profit margins. Why? Because we deserve better.”
–JACQ’S Founder and CEO Barbara Jacques
We asked Barbara more about her brand:
Can you tell us a bit more about the mission of JACQ’S?
I created JACQ’S with a mission to change the way the beauty industry sees skincare and women of color. Products sold to Black and Brown women contain some of the most toxic chemicals in the beauty industry.
The $100 billion personal care industry has “regulated” itself for decades and has said, “Some toxic chemicals in beauty products are okay.” Black women also spend $7.5 billion on beauty products every year and we’re exposed to a higher amount of toxic chemicals.
Tell us more about your brand’s products
Having melanin-rich skin comes with unique concerns that include uneven skin tone, maintaining clear skin, and protecting skin while aging. JACQ’S Skincare collection is formulated using antioxidant-rich ingredients to address these specific concerns.
We set out to create science-backed skincare products that are truly green and effective. We are addressing the needs of women of color by creating solutions for melanated skin and changing beauty norms.
JACQ’S is a Green America-certified business that’s PETA-approved, and all of our products are vegan and cruelty free.
What brought you to create beauty products without harmful ingredients?
I created JACQ’S after a health scare during my pregnancy. As a way to cope with my illness, I began studying green medicine and holistic plant botany. This led to the launch of a skincare line that promotes diversity and acceptance, acne positivity, and destigmatizing the world one skin condition at a time.
Why should people shop clean beauty brands like yours?
There are a limited number of brands that speak to women of color, and there are even fewer skincare brands that formulate products for Black women that do not contain harmful ingredients. I wanted to create a line that was not only non-toxic, but also formulated for women of color that is truly results-driven.
What’s your personal mantra?
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Are you actively involved in your community?
Yes, I volunteer as a reading mentor to elementary students in my community.
Where can people find your products?
You can shop JACQ’s Skincare at Target.com and online at www.shopjacqs.com.
Want more?
- Check out our Black Beauty Database for other, safer-made, non-toxic Black-owned products.
- Get our top tips for finding safer cosmetic products wherever you shop!
