Glossier Names Grantees for 2023 Grant Program for Black-Owned Beauty Businesses

Glossier says its vision is to change how the world sees beauty — and that means changing the industry itself. 

 

The Glossier Grant Program invests in Black beauty entrepreneurs to address legacies of inequity, exclusion and barriers to fundraising. Since 2020, Glossier has given $1.4 million to this program, partnered with over 35 founders leading more than 30 innovative beauty brands in the US and UK, sharing grant funding, curated business programming, resources and time.

 

After months of review– including a final panel with Glossier's CMO, Kleo Mack, chief creative officer, Marie Suter, and Into the Gloss Editorial Director Ashley Weatherford — Glossier has unveiled the 2023 Grantees, which range from halal-certified skincare to feminine hygiene to wellness. 

 

According to the company, the six visionary founders stood out amongst hundreds of talented applicants, building incredible brands, innovative products and changing the future of beauty.

Jordan Karim, founders of Flora & Noor. The only halal-certified skincare brand made and based in the US, the inclusive, vegan skincare brand for those who appreciate clean skincare, those needing to treat the skin concerns of melanin-rich skin, and those with chronic skin conditions starting with eczema and hyperpigmentation.

 

Founders OB/GYN Dr. Barb and ex-pharmaceutical sales consultant Kimba created Kushae with a mission to whip up effective yet gentle, pH-balanced and naturally-based feminine care products—created by women, for women.

 

Mela Vitamins Founder Ashley Harmon was inspired to create the brand after her own health issues led her to learn that 80% of Black Americans are Vitamin D deficient. It is reportedly the world's first vitamin designed for melanated people. Melanin impacts the way bodies produce certain nutrients, which creates unique nutritional needs that other multivitamins don't prioritize. 

 

Brianna Arps founded fragrance brand Moodeaux to introduce a new standard: longer-lasting, skin-nurturing, earth-friendly blends that give subpar scents, questionable ingredients, and wasteful packaging the side eye.

 

Simedar Jackson, founder, Of Other Worlds, created a different kind of beauty brand that doesn't make consumers choose between “clean” and clinical. Rather, treatments are made safe and effective for all skin tones, body types and genders.
 

Vernon Yancy and Jeremiah Regis, founders of Soss, aim to elevate grooming essentials for Black men. By translating self-love into uplifting and affirming grooming routines, consumers are helped to embrace who they are, and welcome who they are growing to be.

 

Glossier will spend the next four months in partnership with these founders, pairing them with a Glossier advisor for mentorship, giving access to business programming, and participating in 1:1 meetings with Glossier's CEO Kyle Leahy, experts across the company, grantee alumni and with Glossier's community of partners like Shopify and Google.