A vibrant Kenyan woman named Nelly Tuikong discovered through her personal experience that dark skinned women, usually find it hard to get cosmetics color that fits their exact tone of their skin.
She then deemed it fit to solve this problem from the roots by establishing a cosmetic line pushing for beauty products for all shades of dark skin.
After being frustrated by her inability to find the right cosmetic tone for her skin, eyepencils most especially, Nelly who was studying nursing in the United States was inspired to be the problem solver of this frustrating problem that all African women can relate to.
She quit nursing in 2013 and founded Pauline cosmetics(@paulinecosmeticskenya) , one of the few industries in the continent producing cosmetic products solely for dark skinned African women. Her company is a major part of the growing preference for native products not only because of their quality, but because they are quite affordable as compared to other International brands.
Her brand currently carries 12 lipstick shades for black skinned women and Is doggedly aiming towards 2 while still preparing to launch 15 different foundation shades to better. Implement the African skin.
Despite the initial resistance from locals who believed that locally produced products are inferior, the business has spread wide, and is gradually moving out of the confines of the country to other areas in Africa.
“I focus on creating colors for our color by exploring formulations that would give best results as well as pigments that will work for women with darker skin tones. I believe that we need more indigenous brands. Gone are the days when we would rely for foreign aid for everything. Our people are well educated, well-travelled and empowered to take part in the rising standards of the continent” she said.
Well Done Nelly Tuikong!! We Celebrate You!