Finding black owned beauty products can be a hassle in itself. Let alone, sunscreen, a product most black people don't even think that they need. Nigerian sisters, Chinelo Chidozie and Ndidi Obidoa, understand the struggle and for that reason are working to expand the market for black women and WOC. They are also aiming to support communities that produce shea nuts (which they use in their products) in Burkina Faso.
As reported by Konbini.com, when their customers started complaining about hyperpigmentation—or, the discoloration of darker skin due to sun exposure, they started investigating why sunscreen leaves a white residue on darker skin.
In an interview with OkayAfrica, Chinelo says:
"A lot of black people don’t wear sunblock because they don’t see the damage immediately. There’s an issue with education around sunscreen in the black community.
Even though skin cancer doesn’t affect people of color as much as it affects people with white skin, that makes it more dangerous because it’s often not caught until it’s in an advanced stage.
[When buying beauty products] I always ask myself, ‘Is this a product that will leave a white cast on me?’ and then I realize, whoever made the sunblock probably didn’t have me in mind. As consumers, we’re so used to trying products to see if they’ll work. In 2017, that’s not okay."
Photo: Konbini/Bolden
This why Bolden was created. Aiming to fill the obvious gap in the beauty product market for people of color. The sunblock is developed with a formula that acts more like a moisturizer than a sunscreen; it’s a cream-colored serum that dries clear on the skin. Chinelo goes on to explain, "We've tested it on ourselves and a wide spectrum of skin tones, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Folks are very excited that we are increasing the number of product options that work really well for their skin concerns."
Photo: Konbini/Bolden
We know all too well that one size does not fit all, and these sisters are finding the formula for us. Great job, ladies.
Will you all be trying this product?
