A lot of people only #BuyBlack during the holiday season and black history month. Why is that? In an effort to keep money circulating in our community and make it easier for others to support black businesses year-round, I decided to ONLY include products from black owned businesses in the attendee gift bags for my inaugural Lights, Camera, Action! media training intensive.

I know what you're thinking. "There are so many black owned businesses, how did you narrow it down?" In addition to being black owned, these companies are committed to forward thinking and empowering others to be their best selves in both their personal and professional life. Below is a list of the companies, a product you should try, and a fun fact about the founder (because we all know how much I love sharing the stories of entrepreneurs).

PS: Did I mention that all the founders happen to be female? On the count of three everyone say black girl magic. 1 ... 2 ... 3 -- BLACK GIRL MAGIC!!!!

Farai - A sustainable and ethical lifestyle brand that focuses on people, product, and The planet.

Product Suggestion: The dresses!!! Ellie (photoed above) happens to be one of my favorites. What I love most about this line is it's versatility. It can easily go from day to night AND the styles and cuts are flattering on allllll body types. The pieces are chic, classic, and timeless aka money well spent!

Fun Fact About the Founder: When Farai Simoyi first moved to New York City, she was hired as a Senior Denim Designer for House of Dereon, the clothing line by, Beyonce and her mother, Tina Knowles. Later on she became the Senior Designer for Nicki Minaj's fashion collection, while simultaneously managing the growth and success of her very own self titled fashion line, Farai.

Purchase Farai Products Here

Curls - An organic haircare company with products for effortless, frizz free, waves, curls and kinks.

Product Suggestion: Anything from the Curls Blueberry Bliss Collection -- but for starters you should try out the reparative hair wash and leave-in conditioner. This collection is designed to soften the driest kink, hydrate the driest curl and promote hair growth. Blueberries are one of the essential ingredients in this product because Proanthocyanidins, (the plant chemical found in blueberries) not only accelerates hair growth, it slows down hair graying, loss and breakage.

Fun Fact About the Founder: Mahisha Dellinger is also an author! In 2015 she released Against All Odds: From the Projects to the Penthouse, a book that chronicles her life story which includes being raised by a single mother, having a brother that was in a gang, living in a violent neighborhood, and becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Purchase Curls Products Here

Nzee’s Creations - creatively designed gourmet pastries for every occasion

Product Suggestion: Customized cake or cupcakes! Any occasion worth celebrating deserves to be personalized. If you dream it, Nzee's Creations can make it! Aside from the breathtaking designs her pastries are known for hitting the sweet spot every single time. No matter the flavor it's never too sweet or too bland, it's always just right.

Fun Fact About the Founder: Nzinga Anderson is a NY based pastry chef who started her business at 13 years old in order to save for college by doing what she loves -- baking! She is self-taught and all of her pastries are made from scratch.

Purchase Nzee's Creations Here

Belle Butters - Premium, high quality natural products for hair and body that are affordable and easy to use.

Product Suggestion: Unyevu Butter (oon-yay-vu) - This hair and body butter is my absolute favorite! It smells divine, goes on smooth, and leaves your skin and hair looking flawless. PLUS it’s lightweight! This is a staple to keep in your car, bag, and desk!

Fun Fact About the Founder: Tasha Burton delivers!!! Figuratively and literally. Product effectiveness is her main priority along with excellent customer service. Tasha traveled from St Louis, Missouri to Brooklyn, New York to hand deliver her products for my media training intensive. She could have mailed them or left it in the mailbox with a note, but instead, she incorporated the delivery into her vacation plans and that will stick with me forever. What an impression!

Purchase Belle Butters Here

Gold Label Cosmetics - A heavily pigmented lipstick line that is cruelty, paraben, and gluten-free!

Product Suggestion: The petals bundle. It includes a bright red, pink and something that’s a little in between. It’s a great way to get acquainted with the line while having something for each occasion. You can’t go wrong! For those a little more bold I would go for the purple color named “Zi Se” which I have personally tried and gifted. My favorite thing about this line (besides the pigmented colors) is the fact that the matte lipsticks don’t leave my lips feeling dry, flaky and ready to fall off!

Fun Fact About the Founder: Kristen Brown was a lead makeup artist on FYI Network’s hit show “B.O.R.N to Style,” helping to makeover women and help them embrace their beauty.

Purchase Gold Label Cosmetics Here

Pretty Girls Sweat - A “Sweat Sisterhood” uniting women to raise awareness for childhood obesity while encouraging girls to “make fitness fun” and “sweat with purpose.”

Product Suggestion: The Pretty Girls Sweat black workout tank and or water bottle are essential and fashionable additions to any workout. The mission and meaning behind the brand makes working out that more rewarding.

Fun Fact About The Founder: Aeshia DeVore Branch launched Pretty Girls Sweat following a meeting with award winning singer Keri Hilson backstage at a concert. The two shared their love for sports and learned that they both played high school basketball. They then agreed to collaborate on an event for teen girls that would prove fitness could be fun, and the rest is history.

Purchase Pretty Girl's Sweat Swag Here

Base Butter - An all natural, multi-purpose beauty product with SPF 20. It is formulated for use on your lips, skin, and hair, so you can use it however you please.

Product Suggestion: The Base Butter Mini. You can literally use it for EVERYTHING: lips, skin and hair. It can even be used as a wound healer, cuticle and nail moisturizer, natural highlighter, lipstick base, twist out sealer, eyebrow growth serum, hair gel alternative and more!

Fun Fact About The Founder: She’neil Johnson created this multipurpose product by accident! She was working on launching a line of natural handmade lipsticks and while coming up with the perfect formula, she came up with something better -- Base Butter!

Purchase Base Butter Here

For more stories on inspiring entrepreneurs checkout The Path Less Traveled Series.

7 Black Owned Businesses To Support Year-Round