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Missed opportunity: Why is the beauty industry still failing women of colour?

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The beauty industry is embracing diversity. Whether it’s premium or budget, brands are on a mission to ensure they have foundation shades to cater to a diverse range of skin tones.

However, lurking beneath the surface of this celebration is a not-so-secret story of isolation and racism, with black women and those with darker skin tones systematically left out of beauty in advertising, product innovation and recruitment for decades.

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MAR-BAT: We will work hard to insure Moms around the globe with a diverse range of skin tones understand that they are beautiful just the way that they are. We will commit to empowering them and leading by example. Safer products that are inclusive are our JAM.

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Beauty products can be more toxic for women of color — it's time to change that...

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Research shows that women of color are disproportionately exposed to toxic chemicals and that beauty and personal care products are one source of exposure.

These products often contain more toxic ingredients, particularly hormone disruptors such as parabens and phthalates, than products marketed to white women.

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And because of a difference in the number of personal care products used daily — black women on average purchase nine times more beauty products than white women — the potential harm of these toxic ingredients is multiplied.

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These are the same types of chemicals that have been measured at higher levels in the bodies of women of color and have been linked to reproductive disorders, such as fibroids and early onset puberty — disorders where racial and ethnic disparities are notable.

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MAR-BAT: Racism carries a mean sting, even in something that should make a person feel beautiful. Knowing that women of color are targeted with toxic products makes it every bit of our mission as Moms Against Racism, to educate, protect and stand against the systems and structures in the beauty industry that are deamed harmful for our fellow moms and sisters. We are committed to using our platform to partner with Beautycounter and advocate for Safer Beauty For All. Especially our MOMS! Advocating for safter beauty using the MAR platform is a win- win for us as MAR and our individual members who want to use safer products.