The Response Of The Beauty Industry To The Black Lives Matter Movement

Below we outline a small collection of responses to the Black Lives Matter movement from various people and organisations associated with the beauty, aesthetics and cosmetic industry. At Carbon Blush we are proud to cater for a range of clients and be able to treat patients specifically in relation to their individual needs. We recognise that different skin conditions or body issues may present themselves differently on different skin types and do not limit our knowledge to that of purely white skin.  We confidently promote our treatments and their results on our website and social media channels using a range of models with varying skin tones. We also avidly practice anti-racism by donating to charities, having open conversations with clients as well as within our diverse work force and have a zero-tolerance policy to racism or discrimination of any kind. Be sure to contact us in relation to any areas you feel we can improve as we are continuously looking to better our professional practice. Equally our door is always open to conversations around this important topic.

 

 

UOMA Beauty

“CEO and Founder of UOMA Beauty, Sharon Chuter launched her 72-hour Pull Up or Shut Up campaign, challenging brands to release their policies on race equality in the workplace. In her Instagram video, Chuter invited all companies and labels who had participated in “#blackouttuesday” to release the number of black employees they have at a corporate and executive level. “Whereas we understand and appreciate the support, be conscious that to piggyback off a trending hashtag when you have been and continue to be a part of the problem is once again appropriating and exploiting the black community. You all have statements and policies about being equal opportunity employers, so show us the proof” Chuter wrote. “

 

 

ELF Cosmetics – one of the first brands to openly share their numbers

 

 

Milk Make up – admitted to having only four black employees out of 45 members of their team. The brand that originally earned respect for its unisex packaging, publicly announced their partnership with a talent development agency, hoping to establish equality in the creative field and become a more diverse company.

 

 

The Estee Lauder Companies, Revlon & Sephora – pledged to improve their employment practices, after results showed meagre black participation considering the companies magnitude.

 

 

Makeup Revolution and Curology – made promises to create an action plan, announcing the formation of a Diversity Forum and a Diversity, Equity and Belonging Task Force who aim to change hiring practices and increase black representation.

 

 

Glossier – donated $500,000 to organizations, including Black Lives Matter, The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, The Equal Justice Initiative, The Marsha P. Johnson Institute, and We The Protesters – plus, an additional $500,000 to Black-owned beauty companies.

 

 

Kering Group, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Huda Beauty and Deciem – made significant donations to civil rights organisations and Black-owned businesses

 

 

Cruelty-free/Organic beauty brands Glow Recipe, Lesse and Cocokind – demonstrated their allegiance to the Black LGBTQ+ community with donations to the Black Visions Collective, Black Trans Protestors Emergency Fund and Black AIDS Institute.

 

 

Peet Rivko – As well as encouraging social media users to donate, Peet Rivko has donated to Minnesota Freedom Fund, a non-profit organisation that pays bail for low income individuals.

 

 

Nails Inc. – British nail care brand has pledged to donate all of its profits from the US market to support Black Lives Matter.

 

 

Herbivore Botanicals – The wellness-inspired skin care brand has donated 100% of its profits from the past weekend to Black Lives Matter, Minnesota Freedom Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union.

 

 

NYX Professional Makeup – L.A.-based beauty brand NYX informed its 14.6 million Instagram followers on Friday that it would be donating to the cause. Alongside a powerfully simple graphic that read, “IT’S NOT OK,” the makeup giant wrote, “…and we’re not okay. We stand with our black community and will be donating to the Minnesota Freedom Funs and Black Lives Matter.”

 

 

Cocokind – Clean skincare brand Cocokind voiced its support in not one but two Instagram posts over the weekend. “We are appalled to constantly hear stories of the pervasive, violent racism that plagues America,” the first read. “Our voices and actions matter, today, and every day.” Cocokind said it believes businesses have a responsibility to make an impact and would be donating $10,000 to the ACLU accordingly. “This is what really matters in the world right now. Now is the time to speak up and act,” Friday’s post concluded. The next day, the brand returned to Instagram to share a list of black-owned beauty businesses, asking its followers to “show up for, support, and provide the OPPORTUNITY to succeed.”

 

 

Maybelline – Drugstore beauty giant Maybelline took to Instagram on Saturday to share how it would be helping the cause. Alongside a heart made of different skin tones—and foundation shades—the brand wrote, “At Maybelline we believe in inclusivity, equality and justice for all.” It said that because of it, it would be donating to the NAACP, noting, “together we can make change happen.”

 

 

Urban Decay Cosmetics – Urban Decay also voiced its support via Instagram with a post on Saturday that read, “Silence is not an option. Speak up.” The brand pledged to donate an undisclosed amount to Minnesota Freedom Fund and Black Lives Matter, writing, “To all our black colleagues, friends, and community—we stand with you.”

 

 

ColourPop Cosmetics – L.A. brand ColourPop took to Instagram on Saturday with a colorful post supporting the Black community. “We hear you, and we support you,” the brand shared with its 9.5 million followers and said it would make a donation to the Minnesota Freedom Fund and the ACLU.

 

 

Soko Glam – K-Beauty brand Soko Glam announced via Instagram on Sunday that it, too, would be donating to the cause. “As a company and as individuals, we are guided by helping all people and doing what is RIGHT,” the post read. “Given the recent and ongoing racial brutality and social injustice against the black community, we cannot stay silent. We stand with the black community today and always.” Soko Glam said it will be donating to Black Lives Matter and provided a list of sites and resources for its 359,000 followers to educate themselves and support similar organizations.

 

 

The Honest Company – The beauty and baby products company founded by Jessica Alba pledged its support in an Instagram post on Sunday. “Being Honest means talking about the things that hurt, the things that are the most difficult, even when it’s uncomfortable,” the brand wrote. “We’re heartbroken to see what is happening and we are committed to a world that is safe for everyone, no matter who they are, no matter their race. We believe that we’re all in this together and that we must lead with awareness, empathy, and honesty to advocate for equality.⁣” The Honest Company pledged to donate $100,000 to organizations fighting racial injustice, including the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Equal Justice Initiative, and committed to matching all donations made by employees to civil rights organizations.

 

 

Farmacy Beauty – The farm-fresh skincare brand announced its support of the Black community with a quote from Ella Baker. “To our community of nearly half a million: ‘Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother’s son—we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens,’” the post read. Farmacy Beauty shared that it will donate $10,000 to Color of Change and shared additional resources for its 432,000 followers via Instagram stories.

 

 

Boy Smells – The LGBTQ-founded candle company voiced its commitment via Instagram on Monday. “We stand up against inequality and justice,” the post said. “We stand in solidarity and fight systemic racism that courses through the veins of America. Our silence is our complacency, and it is no longer an option.” Boy Smells then pledged a total of $10,000 to the NAACP, Black Lives Matter, and Black Visions Collective.

 

 

Nécessaire – Trendy personal care company Nécessaire invoked the wise words of Angela Davis in an Instagram on Sunday. “In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist,” it read. The brand did not originally include a donation but later amended the post to reflect a $10,000 donation to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.