Introducing "Love Your Shade" The Social Movement For Color Variation In The Beauty Industry

I wanted to take a minute to talk about the new project that I’ve been working on with @lipstickjunkieforever. For the past few months, you guys have seen us swatch various makeup products from lipsticks, blushes, highlighters, eyeshadows etc. on different skin tones. (Her MAC Cosmetics foundation shade is NW20 and mines is NC50.) We wanted to find a space that would really bring awareness to the fact that there is a lack of variety in color cosmetics industry and work towards filling the void. I’ve remained pretty quiet over the past few weeks over the issue because of this…As a woman of color – especially as a woman of color in the industry – it’s seriously disheartening to me that this is still an issue that is seemingly being ignored and brushed under the rug. When new collections are released, essentially the only swatches that showcase the color or shade of the product are normally done on one skin tone; which is great, but I’m left wondering what the color is going to really look like on me. There have been too many times that I’ve falling in love with a lipstick only to have purchased it to find out that it’s a completely different color on me because of my skin tone and undertone. I have completely skipped by new releases of products because it was only showcased on one skin tone and not marketed with any other “color model” in mind.

I’m not saying this as a black and white thing. I’m saying this as an all beauty thing. I want to see the products showcased on all skin tones: pale, fair, medium olive, brown, dark brown, ebony, chocolate. Everyone from Asians, Hispanics, Caucasians, Native Hawaiians, African Americans, Indians, Pacific Islander, Women, Men…Everyone needs to be represented and marketed to in the industry. We all have money to spend. Give us a reason to.

Let’s continue to destroy the standards of beauty. Join the movement on @loveyourshade. #LoveYourShade [wpvideo cCwuVho2]