Balanda Atis facts for kids

Balanda Atis is an amazing American scientist who works with cosmetics. She has been a part of L'Oréal since 1999. Her important work has helped create many more makeup shades for people with different skin tones. This has been featured in popular fashion magazines like Harper's Bazaar and Elle.

Early Life and Learning

Balanda Atis grew up in East Orange, New Jersey. Her family came from Haiti, making her a first-generation Haitian American. She loved learning and went to Rutgers University. There, she earned a bachelor's degree in biology. Later, she continued her studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She earned a master's degree from their special program in cosmetic science.

A Career in Cosmetics

Before joining L'Oréal, Balanda worked as a chemist at Playtex Products. She helped create many everyday items like sunscreens (Banana Boat) and hair products (Jhirmack, Ogilvie). In 1999, she started working at L'Oréal USA. Her first job there was making different kinds of mascara.

Innovating Makeup Shades

Balanda noticed that there were not enough makeup choices for people with darker skin tones. In 2007, she decided to do something about it. With permission from her boss, she started a special project. Balanda and two other scientists traveled across the United States. They carefully measured the skin colors of many women. This helped them understand the wide range of skin tones better.

Through her research, Balanda made an exciting discovery. She found that a special blue pigment called ultramarine could be used in foundation. This helped create rich, deep shades of makeup. It also prevented the makeup from looking dull or "muddy" on darker skin. This was a big step forward in making makeup that truly matched everyone.

Making a Big Impact

Because of her important work, L'Oréal opened a new laboratory in 2014. Balanda became the manager of this lab. It was dedicated to making cosmetics for all skin tones. She even helped create the foundation worn by famous actress Lupita Nyong'o in ads for L'Oréal's Lancôme brand.

In October 2020, Elle magazine recognized Balanda's achievements. They named her one of "10 Black women making history." They called her the main reason for the huge increase in makeup shades. Thanks to her, brands like Armani, Lancôme, Maybelline, and Urban Decay now offer many more options for all skin colors. Balanda Atis truly changed the world of beauty for the better!