Yesterday, I hopped onto the Eurostar to visit the Black|Up Paris headquarters in the heart of the capital!
I wanted to visit the HQ because, upon meting with the Black|Up General Manager last year, he informed me that there were a number of Women of Colour working in the office, who each had a major influence on the product development process and the testing phases. I wanted to meet these wonderful women and find out more even more about the brand, as it looks to grow its presence in the UK, with the recent launch of its brand new UK website; blackup.co.uk and because (as you know) the two things that get me excited is beauty for the woman of colour and the fabulous WoC making it happen!
Upon arrival I was given a tour of the office by Lynda Mac-Connell, Digital Marketing & Communication Officer.
I have exclaimed my adoration for the strong imagery that the brand produces and to be surrounded by these striking models on a daily basis must be sheer bliss!
The office is a stone throw away from the famed Champs-Élysées and the brand stays true to it’s Parisian roots by infusing elegance with a modern twist to every product and image.
I was then given an in depth tutorial about Black|Up and the products and here are 5 things that I learnt about the brand:
1. The Black|Up woman is….free and modern, proud of her heritage, stylish, elegant and fully embraces who she is (I like the sound of her…my kinda girl)!
2. The brand tests its products in house on the HQ staff and the store staff and international MUAs in order to make sure that the shades, textures, finishes and efficacy is just right! For example, the brand new nude nail polishes (which are just BEAU.TI.FULLLL!), were developed with the assistance EVERY member of the HQ and sales team taking pictures of their hands in order for the product development team to create the perfect match for each skin tone! C’est magnifique!
3. All of the products are manufactured in the EU – in either Paris or Italy – so one can be assured that they are of the highest quality.
4. Prior to its launch in 1999 only 25% of French WoC could find a foundation to match their skin tone, now 85% of French WoC say that they can find a suitable product in the Black|Up range!
5. The complexion products are split into 5 families, from light (for mixed heritage, Asian or Mediterranean skin tones to dark (for deep, ebony skin tones) and there are products in every texture (fluids, creams, powders, CC creams) with matching concealers and powders – EVERYTHING you need to create the perfect base.
I had the opportunity to test the products and have a full make over with Daw, one of the brand’s leading international Make Up artists, who shared some great tips…which I will share in another post!
I will also share a bit more about the future plans that the brand has for the UK and more about members of the fantastic team and a review of some of the fabulous products that I got to try on the day and that I got to take away!
Look out for these future posts coming soon!
Au revoir for now!
