“The focus was to find colors
PAVING THE WAY IN UNCHARTED TERRITORY The process of creating products specifically for people with Albinism presented its own set of challenges. “The main challenge is that it is difficult to manufacture products in the colors that customers want. It is very expensive to develop a product that does not already exist, so there are some products that we do not have yet because of a lack of funding.” Rhodes explains that Albinism manifests in a range of skin tones, eye colors, and hair colors, as there are different types of Albinism with varying levels of hypopigmentation. Ivoree Beauty focused on developing colors that were not commonly available, taking into consideration the diversity of people’s preferences so that they could cater to everyone. “The focus was to find colors that aren’t commonly available, like white, blonde, and auburn for hair color. People with Albinism also have different preferences for how they wear their makeup, whether minimalistic to complement their natural color or bolder colors that bring out their features. Some may prefer a blonde brow pencil, and others prefer a deeper shade. For color cosmetics, we wanted a variety of shades from the fairest shade to the deepest shade because not all people with Albinism are the same complexion.” What sets Ivoree Beauty apart from other beauty brands on the market is its unique combination of factors. Firstly, it is a black, disabled, woman- owned brand, which brings a fresh perspective and representation to the beauty industry. Secondly, Ivoree Beauty was specifically created to meet the requests and needs of a small community, and representation can be a major factor for members of the community. Rhode reflects on the impact of society’s beauty standards as a young woman. “Growing up, I personally had so many people pressure me to color my lashes, brows, and skin darker
that aren’t commonly
available, like white, blonde, and auburn for hair color.”
WHAT LIES AHEAD Looking to the future, the vision for Ivoree Beauty is focused on expanding the range of color cosmetic options and introducing various lash styles. By continuously innovating and meeting the needs of the Albinism community, Ivoree Beauty aims to take it a step further and establish itself as a leader in inclusive beauty. Ivoree Beauty stands as a testament to the power of inclusivity and
“There has been a lot of positive feedback from the Albinism community who thank me for making them feel visible and included because the representation matters so much.”
to look more ‘normal,’ so as a teen, it was something I obsessed over with trying all kinds of sunless tanner, tinting my brows and lashes darker and experimenting with hair color.” The response from the Albinism community since the launch of Ivoree Beauty has been overwhelmingly positive. “There has been a
lot of positive feedback from the Albinism community who thank me for making them feel visible and included because the representation matters so much. I have followers from around the world, and the best feedback I received was from women in Africa who wrote to me to say that I helped them feel more confident in their skin. They were very excited to see a beauty brand created by someone who looks like them and faces the same challenges as they do who was able to find success in an industry that overlooked us in the past.”
representation in the beauty industry. Ivoree Beauty has not only empowered the Albinism community but has also inspired individuals from diverse backgrounds to embrace their unique beauty. The brand’s commitment to diversity and its focus on representation have not only filled a gap in the market but have also highlighted the importance of inclusivity in the beauty industry as a whole.
@FINDING_FILIPA @IVOREEBEAUTY
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