Podcast 197: Skincare for Racial Equity with 4.5.6 Skin

In this episode, we embark on a journey with visionary founder Noelly Michoux, the force propelling 4.5.6 Skin to the forefront of skincare innovation with the world’s first Skin Tone Research Lab.

Shaped by experiences living in France, and now reshaping beauty norms, Noelly’s evolution from a corporate background to pioneering a skincare revolution is a narrative that resonates.

In discussion with podcast host and Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier, Noelly shares her insights on navigating the multiple challenges faced by skin phototypes 4, 5, and 6. We hear about the complexities of establishing the Skin Tone Research Lab and the profound commitment of Noelly and her company to bridging the racial equity gap in the beauty realm.

Tune in for an enlightening conversation that transcends conventional beauty narratives. Join us as we unravel the layers of Noelly’s journey, gain exclusive insights into skincare tailored for diverse needs, and explore the transformative power of scientific inclusivity. Hit play now to immerse yourself in a dialogue that goes beyond beauty standards.

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Inspirational quote:

“Inclusivity is not just about deepening foundation shades or showcasing diverse models; it’s about genuinely integrating the diverse needs and experiences into every facet of your brand, from ideation to marketing. Real inclusivity starts with empathy and understanding.” – Noelly Michoux

In this episode with guest Noelly Michoux, you will hear:

• Noelly’s unconventional journey: Explore Noelly’s unique path from her start in the corporate world to discovering her true calling in the beauty industry, driven by her personal experiences as a young black woman.
• The birth of 4.5.6 Skin: Dive into the compelling story of how Noelly founded the Skin Tone Research Lab within 4.5.6 Skin, challenging the industry norms and creating a skincare brand dedicated to closing the racial equity gap.
• Skin challenges for phototypes 4, 5, and 6: Gain insights into the specific challenges faced by melanin-rich skin phototypes, with a focus on issues like dehydration, inflammation, and hyperpigmentation.
• Research-driven strategy: Gain a deep understanding of how 4.5.6 Skin’s strategy originates from comprehensive research on the structural and functional differences in darker skin tones.
• Challenges in testing: Explore the challenges faced by 4.5.6 Skin during the testing phase, navigating the industry’s lack of samples for skin phototypes 4, 5, and 6, and the need for internal testing processes to ensure efficacy on darker skin tones.

Key takeouts include:

• Passion for diversity: Explore Noelly’s passion for promoting diversity in the beauty industry, manifested through her journey, mission, and commitment to creating inclusive skincare solutions.
• Ethnobotanical knowledge: Recognise the value of integrating ethnobotanical knowledge with dermatological expertise, forming the foundation for innovative and effective skincare solutions.
• Inclusivity beyond marketing: Understand Noelly’s perspective on genuine inclusivity, going beyond marketing strategies to deeply integrate diverse needs and experiences into every aspect of the skincare industry.
• Scientific inclusivity: Embrace the concept of scientific inclusivity, where empathy leads to a thorough scientific understanding of different skin types, paving the way for personalised and effective skincare.
• Open Dialogue: Noelly invites listeners to reach out with questions or discussions, fostering a community dedicated to addressing skincare challenges for diverse skin tones.

Meet our guest: Noelly Michoux

Noelly Michoux, Founder of 4.5.6 Skin, grew up in Normandy, France and moved throughout Europe during her young adult life, before landing in New York City as an e-commerce director for luxury beauty and skincare brands. Surprised by the lack of products specifically formulated for people like her with melanin-rich skin, especially in a country as culturally diverse as the United States, Noelly became fascinated with researching skin physiology and wanted to understand why there was such an apparent lack of inclusivity in the market.

With a passion for educating people with melanin-rich skin about their shared skin concerns, Noelly dreamed of a customised physiology-led skincare company that designs formulations that are safe and effective for people with skin phototypes IV, V, and VI. She founded 4.5.6 Skin, and the world’s first Skin Tone Research Lab, in France, to test, develop and manufacture high performance products based on the functional and physiological differences of phototypes IV, V, and VI.

Find out more about Noelly Michoux and 4.5.6 Skin:

Website | Instagram | Facebook

4.5.6 Skin special offer for our podcast listeners

Noelly Michoux is offering Green Beauty Conversations’ listeners a special discount code giving you 25% off all individual products (not valid on duos or kits). Use this code at checkout on 4.5.6 Skin:

456FORMULABOTANICA

If you want to hear more from other beauty industry founders, innovators and spokespeople who are working on inclusivity and raising awareness of the needs of people of colour in the industry, please do delve back into the podcast archives. We’ve a host of episodes on the issues, but do go and listen in particular to:

Episode 68: Talking about diversity in the beauty industry – with Erica Freemantle
Episode 101: Why Black skincare matters – with guest Dija Ayodele
Episode 153: From mainstream neglect to indie beauty success – with Equi Botanic’s founder Ekwy Chukwuji-Nnene

Thank you for joining us for this episode of the Formula Botanica Green Beauty Conversations podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share, subscribe and review this episode on iTunes, Spotify or Youtube so that more people can enjoy the show. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Lorraine Dallmeier is a Biologist, Chartered Environmentalist and the CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetic science school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica Team.