The fact that darker skin tones require formulas tailored to them is something Shay Paresh, founder of SHAYDE BEAUTY, realized through her experience working on the business side of beauty. “Prior to launching SHAYDE, I worked in creative marketing and producing. Working with established brands, I saw firsthand how skin color was treated as an afterthought — not just in marketing but down to the actual formulation process. My commitment to finding a personal solution drove my journey to launch and develop SHAYDE BEAUTY to address unmet skincare needs for people of color.”
If you thought that standard formulations can simply be tweaked for those with more melanin in their skin, think again. “When formulating skincare products for darker skin, it’s crucial to use the right amount of actives and ingredients. Too much of something could end up doing more harm than good,” explains Paresh. “Many brands don’t invest in rigorous research and development that take darker skin into consideration. There needs to be a diverse team behind the products.”