BEAUTY
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Tara Simon,
Ulta Beauty
Imagine filling a swimming pool with your
favorite lipsticks and face creams—that’s
basically a Tuesday for Simon. “Our typical
store is 10,000 square feet and has over
25,500 products,” she says.
She’s got a lot of pull: “When we see a white
space, we partner with a brand to [fill the
void]. There was a lack of multipurpose
products—ones that work harder—so we
collaborated with Tarte to create Shape Tape,
which conceals, contours, and highlights. It’s
been a huge success.”
What she’s excited about now: “Flesh—a
new makeup line that came out of the gate
with 40 foundation shades. And Dyson’s
blow-dryer and Airwrap [heat styler], which
are super smart and innovative—to die for.”
A favorite discovery: “IT Cosmetics—we
partnered with them early on, and the CC
cream is still a best seller.”
The perennial favorites: “Morphe eye
shadow palettes—they offer a great range of
shades—and Clinique 3-Step, a simple but
quality skin-care regimen.”
Below: Clinique 3-Step Skin Care System, Flesh
Firm Flesh Thickstick Foundation, and Tarte Shape
Tape Contour Concealer.
The
THE INNOVATOR
KRISTIAN HENDERSON,
BLK + GRN
Henderson spent years working in public
health before she came across a very alarm-
ing Environmental Working Group report.
The life-changing moment: “I read that
personal-care products marketed to black
women are more toxic than any other
products. I realized I could find an
entrepreneurial solution by marketing green
products from black-owned companies to
black women and sharing education on
ingredients.”
The vetting process: “A board of experts—
chemists, aestheticians, public health
Ph.D.s—review ingredients in every product
we’re considering [for safety and efficacy].”
The scene in her crystal ball: “Sustainable
period supplies will continue to grow.
Honeypot infuses herbs into pads. And
natural lube will only get more popular. We
talk a lot about self-care, but not healthy
sex—natural lubes are starting to take us in
that direction.”
The best sellers: “Sienna Naturals H.A.P.I.
Shampoo is vegan and does a really good
job at defining curls. The Healing Place
Apothecary’s Daily Greens moisturizer is
waterless and lasts all day. And pH7 Foaming
Cleanser is really moisturizing—the woman
behind it has a Ph.D. in toxicology. Every
product I sell is developed by a black person,
and maybe 95 percent are women. We
include an introduction to the artisan—it
feels good to know you’re supporting this
woman’s business.”
From left: CurlMix Pure Aloe Vera
Shampoo (a favorite of Henderson’s),
pH7 Foaming Cleanser, and the
Healing Place Apothecary Daily
Greens Whipped Moisturizing Face
Cream (an early best seller).
64 ALLURE SEPTEMBER 2019
JOSEPHINE SCHIELE
