Disrupting the beauty industry

Every company doesn’t begin on a kitchen counter, but Alyssa Space’s did. Now the beauty trailblazer presides over a laboratory in the heart of Detroit as founder and CEO of ForHerCosmetics. Space virtually visits the Libraries to talk about her career in STEM and her entrepreneurial journey, what she has learned about being a woman in business, and how she’s disrupting the cosmetics industry. She will also conduct a workshop on community building—and lipstick-making.

Space’s online talk is Wednesday, Sept. 15, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. and her online workshop is 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. The talk is free and open to the public; pre-register here. The workshop is free and open to current NC State students only; pre-register here (space is limited).

Space’s message is poignant for anyone interested in the beauty economy or in chemistry, but also relevant for an aspiring entrepreneur in any field.

“I always tell aspiring entrepreneurs to please do something that you love and really has true meaning to you,” Space says. “When the burn or passion runs low, you will always return to what you love. When you love what you do, you will put your all into your work—and this is how you change the world.”

The cosmetics industry has been criticized for having long been fixated on white skin tones and complexions. But the industry is slowly changing in this regard, and ForHerCosmetics—through its product lines of all-natural lip gloss, lipstick, body shimmer, eyeshadow, and highlighter with vegan and cruelty-free ingredients—aims to shatter stereotypes that makeup is only made for just one group of people.

“ForHerCosmetics is making inclusive products for women of all shades and backgrounds,” Space says. “Although the industry is just now catching up, creators and brands are recognizing the importance of inclusion and also the demand. FHC prides itself on always being that brand that saw the need and supplied this need.”

In addition to ForHerCosmetics, Space has created a STEAM enrichment hands-on experience for students called "Chemistry in Cosmetics.” The nonprofit program aims to inspire students, especially girls, with the possibilities that science offers. In her Libraries workshop, Space will talk about how she has impacted her community through “Chemistry in Cosmetics,” and she’ll demonstrate how to make her infamous lipstick that has had over 20,000 sales since its conception.

Free and open to the public, this event is part of the Libraries’ Making Space series which hosts public talks and workshops centered upon gender diversity and inclusion in STEM as it intersects with race, ethnicity, ability, and sexuality.