ColorBlend Makeup is the first makeup brand in the UK with a full colour cosmetic range founded by a Black woman with personal funding. Now an award-winning company, ColorBlend Makeup began with only Kesha Williams' student finances five years prior. Kesha created her first palette as a student in university. Once established as an official company in June 2020, Kesha's vision has grown, from providing makeup to creating opportunities for accessibility among the melanin-rich. Today, not only has ColorBlend Makeup been nominated for a Diversity & Inclusion Award in 2021, but it has also won awards for Best Cosmetic Brand and Best Premium Foundation 2020.

The name ColorBlend represents the multifaceted, generous vision of the company. "We created ColorBlend Makeup for everybody and every skin tone," Kesha Williams says.

The defining product collection is both radical and basic. ColorBlend HD Foundation features 16 shades and is made without parabens, animal testing or irritating fragrances. It's high-performance, water-resistant and transfer-proof. In other words, it's camera-ready right from the bottle.

"Online, you see that beauty brands that have expanded their shades, but it's still hard to find them in stores or your specific area. ColorBlend is about providing accessibility and availability for people who have been underrepresented. It's not an afterthought. Our range was created for all kinds of people from the very beginning," Williams explains.

Her vision means hiring staff people of all backgrounds and genders. This purity of intent is also the reason that ColorBlend Makeup is now pursuing a new track—an agency of makeup artists specifically trained to work with models with deeper skin tones. 

Not only for the everyday woman, but also the backstage experience for Black models, actors and entertainers is in want of change. Just last year, British-Jamaican model Leomie Anderson—a Victoria's Secret Angel—posted a reel on Tiktok showing her struggle pre-runway. Two different makeup artists worked on her face, but neither understood how to work with her skin tone and features. Ultimately, Leomie did her own makeup before her catwalk. Leomie is prepared with her own makeup tools at every job for this very reason, and she's speaking out.

For Kesha Williams, ColorBlend has a role to play in bringing change.

ColorBlend Makeup is now beginning a nationwide search for the best UK makeup artists. "We're creating an army of makeup artists who can take care of women with deeper skin tones," says Kesha. "We're going to provide the products and staff to film productions, fashion events, and musical performances." These seeds will blossom into incredible fruitful results. Not only can this educate professionals and everyday makeup users, but it will bring positivity, pride and joy to the way that Black history, Black skin and Black beauty is perceived in society and the media. 

“Dear Black Women”: Kesha Williams and Simi Lindgren Share Their Voices

CurlyTreats is an annual festival celebrating natural Black hair, Black beauty, wellness and health. “Dear Black Women” is an International Women’s Day programme. Activities, speakers, market booths and product demos await any Black woman seeking wellness ideas, Beauty secrets, and inspirational women-crushes.

The topics aren't just about what's seen on the surface. Important conversations about endometriosis, finding a therapist who understands Black stories, domestic abuse, and the Black social narrative are scheduled too.