Well+Good: How did you get your start in beauty?
My grandfather passed away before I got the chance to meet him, but he was a medicine man.
So I decided to quit my job and make my grandmothers coffee scrub and my grandfathers oils.
And thats how it began.
W+G: What led you to create Thirteen Lune?
NG:The journey of being a Black female founder in the beauty industry has been wonderful.
Nyakio Grieco is the founder of skin-care line Nyakio Beauty and co-founder of Thirteen Lune, an e-commerce platform highlighting Black-owned beauty brands.
There have been many wins, but its also been deeply challenging.
I just found it so strange that this is what it takes for people to discover us.
I took my pain and I turned it into purpose and just started shopping those lists.
As a Black female founder, it often felt like a very lonely journey.
Part of me was just thrilled to know that it wasnt quite so lonely.
I took my pain and I turned it into purpose.
Nyakio Grieco, founder of Thirteen Lune
W+G: Tell me all about Relevant.
And thats what I think is the most healing part of Relevant: Your Skin Seen.
There was no one telling me No budget for you, you cant do that.
Nyakio Grieco is the founder of skin-care line Nyakio Beauty and co-founder of Thirteen Lune, an e-commerce platform highlighting Black-owned beauty brands.
Its so emotional for me because its justtime.
But what Im so grateful for today is that Im not doing it by myself.
Im so grateful for all those moments that I did have because I know how to help them better.
Theyll make their own mistakes.
And so thats the best part.
W+G Why did you decide to launch with sunscreen?
NG:I was seeing ourmelanoma numbers crawl up in the wrong directionwithin Black and brown communities.
And Ive never been able to have my own proprietary complexthat was on my nerdy bucket list.
NG:We talked about runway and girl, I took it.
Im going to play in categories Ive always wanted to play in and never had the opportunity to.
So Im really, really excited for all the places that Relevant will take me.
We just desegregated the beauty aisles, I was not into seeing it happen again.
W+G Whats the most important thing that retailers need to do to support founders of color?
NG:During the movement of 2020, I was seeing all these tiny brands race into giant retailers.
And my biggest fear was, A, I didnt want to see the Black walls recreated.
We just desegregated the beauty aisles, I was not into seeing it happen again.
How are they going to survive?
Im very happy to help to create that space.
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