Unless you actively consume skincare products, you may not be aware that Korean beauty brand TirTir recently expanded the number of shades they provide in their red cushion foundation line. Foundation is a makeup product that serves as a skin base. Its job is to mimic the shade and color of the wearer’s skin while covering blemishes and providing a “clean” look on its own or underneath other products. For this reason, finding a foundation shade that matches your skin tone is key to creating a natural and beautiful look.
The One-Shade-Fits-All Definition of “Beauty”
For the longest time, mainstream beauty brands worked hard at providing more shades to the lighter, fair end of the spectrum while mostly neglecting the darker to deeper end of the skin-tone spectrum. The expectation seemed to be that all people of various skin tones would have to fit somewhere in that limited range. The reality was that people with lighter skin tones could typically find an appropriate shade everywhere they looked. On the other hand, people with darker skin tones were forced to either accept a shade that didn’t match perfectly or buy a variety of shades and products and mix their own custom color. While a small number of beauty brands that created shades inclusive of people of color did exist, such as Black Opal and Iman Cosmetics, they were usually sold on a small scale with limited availability, making them less accessible.
Who Is Considered The Default?
This isn’t only an issue with makeup, as there has been an increase in the call for shifting the definition of society’s idea of “the standard” to include people of color. Companies have created bandages of different skin tones and undergarments with a wider shade array in the ‘nudes’ section. Additionally, companies that produce sunscreen are intentionally developing and marketing products that work for all skin tones by removing the white cast that previous formulations left on those with darker skin tones.
With brands like Fenty Beauty releasing not just makeup but also a skincare line inclusive of as many as 40 skin shades in order to cater to a wide audience, a new standard has been established. Other mainstream beauty brands, including TirTir, with the recent global popularization of Korean beauty products and brands, have followed suit by introducing a whole new spectrum and quality of skincare products.
Inclusivity Broadens Your Mind (and Your Customer Base)
The frustration of searching high and low to find products appropriate for your body is a common one. Walking into a cosmetic store only to find that nothing matches and having to settle for second best is disheartening and ultimately wasteful. Knowing that so many people are demanding more inclusive shades means it is only natural that TirTir join the shade expansion bandwagon. Hopefully, more brands will follow suit, making beauty products more inclusive for everyone.
This article was written by a guest contributor, M. Oyejola
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