THE BEAUTYWELL PROJECT

YOUNG WOMEN'S WELLNESS & YOUTH LEADERSHIP WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY EXPANDED THE YOUNG WOMEN'S WELLNESS AND LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE (YWWLI), WHICH TRAINS EAST AFRICAN AND OTHER YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR (AGES 14-18) TO LEAD IN AREAS OF HEALTH, ADVOCACY, AND SOCIAL- EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. COHORT IMPACT: PARTICIPANTS MEET WEEKLY FOR 18 WEEKS TO DEVELOP SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS AND GAIN POLICY SKILLS TO ADDRESS COLORISM AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. MENTORSHIP: THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SAFE SPACES FOR EXPLORATION AND INCLUDES ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP THAT CONTINUES AFTER GRADUATION. YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD: IN 2025, OUR YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD ESTABLISHED THE BEAUTYWELL YOUTH INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT, CREATING A DEDICATED DIGITAL SPACE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THEIR PEERS ON WELLNESS AND SELF- ESTEEM. EXPANSION: NEW GRANTS ALLOWED US TO INCREASE OUR MENTOR COUNT AND SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS, REACHING MORE YOUNG GIRLS THAN EVER BEFORE.

WE HAVE DEVELOPED THE BEAUTYWELL PROJECT DATABASE THAT ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM OF SKIN-LIGHTENING PRODUCTS, CHEMICAL EXPOSURES, AND COLORISM IN THE COSMETICS INDUSTRY. THIS DATABASE CONTAINS SKIN-LIGHTENING PRODUCTS THAT BEAUTYWELL HAS TESTED IN LABS AND IDENTIFIED TO CONTAIN HARMFUL INGREDIENTS THAT POSE SIGNIFICANT RISK TO INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITIES HEALTH. THIS WILL GIVE INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT THIS TOXIC SKIN-LIGHTENING AND OTHER COSMETICS PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN HIGH LEVELS OF TOXIC CHEMICALS. THIS WILL HELP INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND ADVOCATE FOR SAFER BEAUTY PRACTICES AND STRICTER REGULATIONS WITHIN THE COSMETICS INDUSTRY. LAST YEAR WE HAVE TESTED MORE BEAUTY PRODUCTS INCLUDING SKIN-LIGHTENING PRODUCTS WHICH SHOWED ELEVATED LEVELS OF MERCURY. LAST YEAR WE HAVE INCREASED OUR PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH ON THE HEALTHY BEAUTY SALON PROJECT WHICH IS COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH PROJECT THAT HELPS BEAUTY SALON OWNERS DELIVER THE HEALTHIEST EXPERIENCE FOR THEIR CLIENTS AND WORKERS. THIS PROJECT HELPED US WORKING WITH SEVERAL SALONS AND LEARNED THE TYPE OF PRODUCTS THEY USE AND WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT SAMPLES TO TEST THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY USE. THIS LEARNING ALSO HELPED US DEVELOP EDUCATION AND TRAINING MATERIALS FOR THE SALONS. WE HAVE TRAINED STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS TO EFFECTIVELY WORK WITH SALONS AND CONDUCT COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH IN SALONS AND COMMUNITIES. BEAUTYWELL HAS BEEN WORKING WITH SOME SALONS TO PREPARE THEM FOR GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATIONS.