How Bilan Hassan’s Unparalleled Beauty Is Setting New Beauty Standards
Unparalleled Beauty is a trailblazing beauty brand that offers vegan, paraben-free, and cruelty-free cosmetic products specifically designed for women of color. Its founder Bilan Hassan established the brand driven by her personal experiences and observations of the glaring lack of representation in the beauty industry. As a woman of color herself, Hassan often faced challenges finding products that matched her skin tone, which inspired her to create a brand that celebrates the beauty of all skin tones and ethnicities.
Hassan’s personal values of inclusivity, equality, and empowerment are deeply embedded in Unparalleled Beauty’s mission.The brand is dedicated to creating a significant shift in the beauty industry by promoting true equity, diversity, and inclusion. Unparalleled Beauty caters to those who are equally passionate about current beauty trends and social issues, aiming to create positive change while allowing individuals to express their unique beauty confidently.
The Folklore spoke to Hassan about challenging mainstream beauty standards, championing diversity and staying ahead of the curve.
Can you share the personal experiences or observations that led you to create a beauty brand dedicated to diversity and inclusion?
Growing up, I noticed a glaring lack of representation in the beauty industry, particularly for people of color. As a woman of color myself, I struggled to find products that catered to my skin tone. I often found myself purchasing two or three foundations at a time in hopes that I could get a perfect shade match by mixing them. This inspired me to create a brand that celebrates and embraces the beauty of all skin tones and ethnicities, ensuring that everyone is able to find products that are suitable for them without having to go on a goose chase.
How do your personal values and commitment to social impact intersect with the world of cosmetics?
My personal values of inclusivity, equality, and empowerment are deeply intertwined with my passion for cosmetics. I believe that beauty should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or identity. By prioritizing diversity and inclusion in our product offerings, marketing campaigns, and community engagement initiatives, we aim to challenge societal norms and empower individuals to embrace their unique beauty.
What’s unique about formulating products specifically for women of color? Are there specific ingredients or challenges you consider? What differentiates Unparalleled Beauty from other beauty brands in the beauty industry?
Formulating products for women of color requires a deep understanding of different skin tones, textures, and undertones. We carefully select ingredients that cater to the specific needs of diverse skin types, ensuring that our products are both effective and inclusive. What sets Unparalleled Beauty apart is our unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion at every level of our brand, from product development to marketing. We prioritize authenticity and representation, offering a wide range of shades and products that celebrate the beauty of every individual.
How does Unparalleled Beauty challenge mainstream beauty standards and promote wider representation?
We challenge mainstream beauty standards by redefining beauty on our own terms. Through our inclusive product offerings, diverse marketing campaigns, and collaborations with influencers and models from all backgrounds, we aim to promote a more inclusive and representative beauty industry. We believe that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and shades, and we’re dedicated to amplifying voices that have traditionally been marginalized.
Your brand mission includes educating and inspiring others. What other ways do you empower your community?
In addition to our product offerings, we host workshops, events, and online resources focused on topics such as wellness, makeup techniques, and self-care. We also partner with organizations that support marginalized communities, donating a portion of our proceeds to causes that align with our values. By empowering our community through education, advocacy, and support, we strive to create positive change both within and beyond the beauty industry.
How have you engaged with influencers and models to reflect the diversity you champion?
We work closely with influencers and models who share our commitment to diversity and inclusion. By collaborating with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and identities, we ensure that our brand is authentically representative of the communities we serve. We actively seek out voices that have been underrepresented in the beauty industry, amplifying their stories and experiences to inspire others and promote wider representation.
Where do you see the beauty industry evolving in terms of inclusivity, and how does Unparalleled Beauty plan to stay ahead of the curve?
The beauty industry is gradually becoming more inclusive, but there is still much progress to be made. As the landscape continues to evolve, Unparalleled Beauty will remain at the forefront of this movement, constantly innovating and pushing boundaries to ensure that everyone feels represented in the world of cosmetics. We will continue to listen to our community, adapt to changing needs, and challenge the status quo to create a more inclusive beauty industry for all.
How do you ensure your ingredients and practices align with your values of conscious beauty?
We carefully vet each ingredient that goes into our products, prioritizing sustainability, ethically sourced materials, and cruelty-free practices. We believe in transparency and accountability, and we’re committed to continuously improving our processes to minimize our environmental impact and uphold our values of conscious beauty and supporting fair labour practices.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to blend business with social impact?
My advice would be to stay true to your values and never compromise on your commitment to social impact. Find a cause that you’re passionate about and integrate it into every aspect of your business, from product development to marketing to community engagement. Remember that creating change takes time and perseverance, but the impact you make will be worth it in the end. By prioritizing social impact in your business model, you can create meaningful change while building a successful brand.
How does customer feedback play a role in shaping the evolution and expansion of your product line?
Customer feedback is invaluable to us. We actively solicit input from our community through surveys, focus groups, and social media channels, using their insights to inform our product development process. Whether it’s requesting new shades or formulations, providing feedback on packaging or pricing, or sharing their experiences with our products, we take customer feedback seriously and use it to continuously improve and expand our product line. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do.
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