Beautyblender
The Beautyblender is a famous egg-shaped makeup-blending tool. It was founded by the Latina makeup artist turned businesswoman Rea Ann Silva. Silva created the tool to help women of color pop on camera while working on the set of "Girlfriends." The popularity of the Beautyblender cannot be overstated. It sold 9 million the past year and over 50 million since 2009.[1] It's since become one of the most recognizable beauty tools on the planet, with at least 17 sold every minute. In recent years, the Beautyblender brand has also expanded to sell foundations, primers, cleansers, and more.[2]
Silva started selling Beautyblender, an edgeless sponge used to apply foundation, in 2002. Now, her company says it’s projected to do $215 million in retail sales in 2019. The Original Beautyblender has won 10 Allure Best of Beauty Awards, and a Youtube search of the name pulls in nearly a million hits. It’s a favorite among celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Meghan Markle.[3]
Bounce Liquid Whip Long-Wear Foundation Racism Controversy
Beautyblender announced the launch of its first ever makeup product, the Bounce Liquid Whip Long-Wear Foundation, on July 18, 2018. After photos were released of foundation swatches, Beautyblender faced backlash from fans who felt the foundation line catered almost entirely to people with lighter skin tones. Beauty influencers such as Alissa Ashley and Jeffree Star were among some of the first beauty gurus to condemn the brand.[4]
When the brand launched the Bounce Foundation, many fans were quick to call out the sparse options for those with darker skin tones. People slammed the brand for catering to mostly lighter and medium skin tones with 32 shades. The brand found itself caught up in a controversy over what some people considered a serious lack of range in the colors for deeper skin tones. It came to be known as “Fifty Shades Of Beige.”[5] The founder, Silva, explains that there were seven shades in the tan and deep ranges that weren't ready in time for the foundation launch, but the Beautyblender team went ahead and debuted without them.[6] After that controversy Beautyblencer issued an apology and they released eight new shades five months later, which is allegedly part of the brand's plan all along. BeautyBlender cited its search for the right undertones as the reason why there was a delay in the full 40-shade release.[7]
Supports to Black Lives Matter
On May 31 2021, Beauty Blender donated all of its profits for the day to the Equal Justice Initiative. According to the brand's Instagram post, the Equal Justice Initiative works to "end mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the US, challenge racial and economic injustice, and protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society."
Beautyblender also took part in #BlackoutTuesday, and has shared resources for its customers to participate in educational workshops.[8]
References
- ↑ Ocbazghi, Emmanuel. How the Beautyblender was created on the set of 'Girlfriends'. Sep 11, 2020. businessinsider.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ↑ Krause, Amanda. How Beautyblender CEO Rea Ann Silva went from a TV makeup artist gig to creating the iconic bubblegum pink sponge. Oct 27, 2020. insider.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ↑ Delmore, Erin. How broke, single mom Rea Ann Silva built her Beautyblender empire. Sept 17, 2019. nbcnews.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ↑ Krause, Amanda. People are furious after Beautyblender unveiled its new foundations that cater almost entirely to white people. July 19, 2018. insider.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ↑ Evans, Shalwah. Beautyblender Founder Rea Ann Silva Talks How To Bounce Back In Cancel Culture. October 7, 2019. essence.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ↑ Noble. Audrey. Beautyblender Took on Cancel Culture With the Launch of Its New Bounce Concealer. February 28, 2020. allure.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ↑ Heng, Emily, The most controversial beauty blunders and how brands redeemed themselves. April 4, 2019. buro247.sg. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ↑ Krause, Amanda. 22 beauty brands that are taking action against racial injustice. June 4, 2020. insider.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
