Born from a grandmother’s reminder to “Don’t be ashy,” Don’t B. Ashy makes small-batch body care handcrafted in Brooklyn, New York. The Black-owned brand frames moisturizing as inherited resilience and self-tending, with products such as its signature lemongrass-and-rosemary body butter made for skin and spirit. Its “Love, Me” collection extends that idea through a custom scent collaboration with Tiffany D. Cross.
Hamlin ApothecaryHandmade in Harlem, Hamlin Apothecary creates all-natural whipped body butter by infusing moisturizing butters and oils with botanicals. Mommy-owned, made and operated, the brand grew from founder Terri Freeman’s search for cleaner body care during pregnancy and draws inspiration from her great-great-grandfather’s Hamlin Drugs, founded in Raleigh in 1904. Its products are produced in micro-batches, with aromatherapy-based scents and carefully sourced, food-grade-or-better raw ingredients.
Palermo BodyPalermo Body makes botanical skincare and self-care products, handcrafted in small batches at its Brooklyn studio with a sensibility shaped by Sicilian heritage. Founder and formulator Jess created the brand in honor of her Sicilian grandmother, Nonna Vincenza, and follows a minimalist formulation philosophy that gives each ingredient a clear purpose. The company’s products have also found a place in luxury spa treatment menus, including those at Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire and Carneros Resort & Spa.
Treasured EmpireFounded by Nadia Olivia after creating a natural salve to help her daughter’s severe skin rash, Treasured Empire makes handmade, natural and organic skincare in Brooklyn. Its Treasured Beauty line pairs aromatherapy and plant-based care with scripture and faith-centered intentions, while Treasured Hands extends that approach into DIY beauty and creative workshops. The company also develops wellness boxes that connect daily self-care with reflection and spiritual practice.BROOKLYN, NY
J.D. Body TreatsFounded by Georgina Jean-Dusseck in 2018, J.D. Body Treats grew from her effort to help her children’s unresolved skin rashes into a New York-born holistic wellness brand. Its self-care boutiques and community programming reflect a broader mission: helping people make intentional care part of everyday life while creating space for healing and connection.BRONX, NY