Balanda Atis

Balanda Atis (born 1972 or 1973)[1] is an American cosmetic chemist. An employee of L'Oréal since 1999, her work expanding the company's range of cosmetics marketed to women of color has been covered by fashion publications such as Harper's Bazaar and Elle.[2][3]

Balanda Atis
Born1972 or 1973 (age 50–51)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationCosmetic chemist
EmployerL'Oréal USA

Early life and education

A first-generation Haitian American,[1] Atis grew up in East Orange, New Jersey.[4] She earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Rutgers University and a master of science from Fairleigh Dickinson University's cosmetic science program.[5]

Career

As a chemist at the company Playtex Products, Atis worked on various brands of personal care products including Banana Boat, Jhirmack, Ogilvie, and Tan Express.[6] When she joined L'Oréal USA in 1999, she first worked on mascara formulations.[4][7] Not satisfied with existing makeup for dark-skinned women, in 2007, she started a side project at her job with the permission of the head of the company's makeup division. Atis and two other L'Oréal scientists went to shows hosted by the company across the United States and collected skin color measurements from women of color. Through her research at the company, she discovered that ultramarine could be utilized in foundations to create rich and deeper shades while avoiding the muddy finish common in existing products for dark skin tones.[7][8]

Atis was made manager of a laboratory opened by the company in 2014 dedicated to developing cosmetics for a range of skin tones.[2][4] She also developed the foundation that actress Lupita Nyong'o wore in ads for L'Oréal's Lancôme promotional campaign starting that year.[8][9] In October 2020, Elle magazine named Atis one of "10 Black women making history" and identified her as the "driving force" behind the expanding range of makeup shades—to accommodate all Black skin colors—in brands like Armani, Lancôme, Maybelline, and Urban Decay.[3]

References
  1. Moody, Elyse (February 2016). "This Woman Discovered the Secret to Foundation that Looks Good on Everyone". O, The Oprah Magazine. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  2. Martin, Crystal (October 7, 2020). "The Black Scientists, Doctors, and Entrepreneurs Changing The Beauty Industry". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  3. "Black History Month: 10 Trailblazing Women Changing The Future You Need To Know". Elle. October 28, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  4. Segran, Elizabeth (October 2015). "The L'Oréal Chemist Who's Changing The Face Of Makeup". Fast Company. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  5. Irwin, Demetria (May 1, 2012). "L'Oreal Chemist Takes Passion For Cosmetics Global". Black Enterprise. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  6. Morley, SM (March–April 2002). "The Modern-Day Technology Leaders: Engineering the Future". US Black Engineer and Information Technology. 26 (1): 87. ISSN 1088-3444.
  7. Bhan Ahuja, Simone (June 15, 2016). "What It Takes to Innovate Within Large Corporations". Harvard Business Review. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  8. Hyman, Vicki (July 7, 2016). "Jersey chemist at L'Oreal liberates cosmetic palette". Inside Jersey. Retrieved February 17, 2021 – via NJ.com.
  9. Arterberry, Andrea (December 26, 2015). "Why Are Women of Color Still Having Trouble Finding Foundation?". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
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