By Hannah Muehlberger

Landing International, the most awarded B2B beauty platform, uses its exclusive technology to ensure that every voice in beauty is heard and celebrated by putting their unparalleled industry knowledge to work, they position brands – especially indie and BIPOC-owned beauty brands – for success. In that vein, Landing International produced the Voices of Beauty Summit over the past two days. Voices of Beauty is a two-day summit dedicated to creating change through diversity and inclusivity within the beauty space community. The event commenced on March 27th and 28th in Downtown LA. Voices of Beauty brought together industry pioneers. The summit explored the powerful synergy of brands, retailers, and experts, addressing the urgent need for more inclusivity across workplace culture, product development, and marketing strategies. Sarah Chung Park, CEO and Founder of Landing International, says, “As founder s and leaders, we have influence. How do we use that privilege to ensure every beauty consumer feels empowered to live loudly and proudly in their skin? I hope this summit will help open the conversation.”

Day 1 of the Voices of Beauty Summit took place this past week to address diversity and inclusivity from all angles of the industry — from building a truly authentic brand consumer behavior to funding an inclusive future to accessibility in beauty. John Legend, Singer and Founder of Loved01 was a Keynote Speaker on the 27th and held a Fireside Chat.

The summit boasted industry powerhouse speakers from brands like Glossier, FORVR Mood, Tower 28, Live Tinted, Sweet July Skin, and PHLUR, retailers including ULTA, Forever21, JCPenney, FabFitFun, Credo, and beauty publications such as Allure, Cosmopolitan, and Refinery29.

John Legend (Day 1)

The Voices of Beauty Summit took place, addressing diversity and inclusivity from all angles of the industry — from building a truly authentic brand consumer behavior to funding an inclusive future to accessibility in beauty. John Legend, Singer and Founder of Loved01 was a Keynote Speaker and explained why his skincare line is different. The Retail Bootcamp is the first-of-its-kind interactive event dedicated to upskilling and uplifting beauty founders at the forefront of diversity and inclusivity. Designed by founders for founders, this one-day event will provide a unique opportunity to connect with fellow founders, editors, buyers, and influencers in a collaborative setting. From speed-dating to improv exercises to games & prizes, founders will leave energized, inspired, and educated! No matter the stage your business is in, we will cover topics that can make or break your business – including how to land a major retailer to get social buzz to chargebacks and exits. Learn the ins and outs of running a successful brand and growing your business in retail from founders who are doing it.

John Legend sat down with the host of the podcast Naked Beauty, Brooke DeVard, to discuss what makes Loved01 so special and unique, but also how Legend can balance this among his music, family, and more. Brooke asked Legend why it was so important for this skincare line to be out there. Legend stated “well, first of all – we have skin – and we are a growing minority in this country, but the majority of the global population, and so the idea that there wasn’t a lot of skincare developed with us in mind is something that needed to be created. (We) needed to have products that celebrate our skin, I thought about skin in a lot of ways, but there are some things we are more likely to have things like eczema and hyperpigmentation; certain issues that we deal with more than other people but there weren’t a lot of products being made developed with us in mind and not only is it that but even in Derm schools and all these other places where professional weren’t prepared to deal with skin and not really focusing on our skin very often and so we thought that that was something needed to be addressed and thought why not we create something beautiful, effective, felt luxurious, but also accessible and affordable for everybody.”

Legend also explained the stereotype of African Americans not aging as early and noticeable as other races. He notes that “I think we all still have to be mindful and we have to take care of our skin and can’t take it for granted and not just think ‘black don’t crack’ you know all those things, you know all those things that we have to do, the Work, the care and being intentional about it, we wanted Loved01 to give the tools to be intentional about it.” DeVard also asked Legend where the name “Loved01” came from. Legend explained that“…it’s central to who I am as an artist and even when I go out and speak, I graduations and I talk about my political philosophy so much is centered around love…I also thought about what personal care self-care and skincare are, it’s an act of love for yourself and it’s also an act of love that you share with loved ones…you spend a lot of time with some of that time, maybe spent in the bathroom together sharing a self-care ritual, and we thought celebrating that idea of us being together in communion in the bathroom and sharing that ritual, so that really encompasses all the ethos behind what we wanted to create, and again when we thought about celebrating melanin-enriched skin making sure (it) was at the center of our product development and we also want to say you are loved, we are loved and you’re not overlooked and you’re not served we want to give you a product that really has you in mind and celebrates who you are.” DeVard asked Legend too how he and his wife, Chrissy Teagan, perform self-care rituals together. Legend cites “ Chrissy and I have agreed to do a one-night staycation, one night a month to get away from the kids. We check into a hotel, get away from the kids, go to a spa, just enjoy each other‘s company.”

“I think you gotta take that time for yourself and your relationship. If you don’t take those moments to reset, the time can get away from you, you’re always gonna have something, so I think you have to be intentional about having ‘me time’, or ‘couples time’, so you can focus on your mental health, your time together, your relationship and all that. I think that’s important”

Legend’s skincare brand, Loved01, includes ingredients safe for and made especially for, melanin-enriched skin. Legend himself enjoys the Hand + Body Lotion the most, describing it as a lotion that feels like it costs more than it actually does. Ingredients in the lotion like Rosehip Oil, Sea Buckthorn Oil, Sunflower Oil, and Shea Butter all rolled up into one universal lotion that’s dermatology recommended. Featuring a lightweight texture that leaves skin moisturized and soft. Excellent for daily use on hands and body to provide lightweight moisturization. Legend also noted that this was also his children’s favorite product.

Chrissy’s favorite product is the Exfoliating Cleanser which also works for the face and body. Gently exfoliate your face and body with this cleanser featuring a creamy texture of fine bamboo powder and plant-based oils. With the same ingredients as the moisturizer, Sea Buckthorn Oil and Rosehip Oil deeply moisturize the skin while Aloe Vera calms. Crafted for melanin-rich skin with a pH of 4.30 – 5.30 (slightly acidic) and effective for all skin types. Legend highlighted that Loved01 products are not only affordable but are accessible. You can find these products at your local Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and more. 

Day 2: Ciara and Ayesha Curry

  Day 2 of the Voices of Beauty Summit went off with a success! The event was moderated by industry powerhouses, highlighting diversity and inclusivity within the beauty space. This day was packed with information on how to reach a diverse consumer base, breaking down barriers in media, accessibility in beauty, and the ever-changing retail landscape. Ciara, Singer and Founder of OAMSkin, was a Keynote Speaker on the 28th and held a Fireside Chat. Discussions included how to reach your diverse consumer base while breaking down barriers in media and providing accessibility to beauty through the ever-changing retail landscape. Ayesha Curry, Founder of Sweet July Skin, was Speaker on the 28th and highlighted her journey of breaking into the skincare space. Ayesha swooped up SH-RD Haircare and High on Love Products while attending the Marketplace of the Voices of Beauty Summit.

Ciara’s skincare brand, OAMSkin, stands for “On A Mission.” Ciara founded OAM as a clinical collaboration with a team of skincare experts, research scientists, dermatologists, and an MIT engineer. She notes, “We’re on a mission to create a simple routine for all skin tones.” With a team of powerful women, Ciara and her experts are committed to clinical skincare, which is why they only use the best ingredients that meet their high standards in quality and skin safety. Their innovative formula combines peptides with three pure and stable forms of Vitamin C for triple layer benefits: L-Ascorbic Acid, which improves skin tone and provides antioxidant protection from free radicals – including those initiated by UVB and UVA rays. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate which penetrates the skin’s surface to target uneven skin tone and brighten complexion, with anti-aging benefits. Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate boosts collagen production and attacks free radicals to visibly smooth skin, while evening skin tone. One of the most popular items is their Vitamin C Radiance Duo, which brightens, tones, and evens skin. The perfect 2-step addition to any routine. Brightening Pads and 20% Vitamin C Brightening Serum both have Tri-C Pro-Peptide Complex™, a powerhouse blend of peptides and stable Vitamin C for visibly brighter, more even skin tone. Gentle enough for all skin types.

Ayesha Curry, founder of Sweet July Skin, explains her mission and inspiration for her brand, saying “As you might know, my love for food and cooking has always been a big part of who I am. And it was this very passion that sparked my interest in skincare as well. I realized that just like quality ingredients can make a dish extraordinary, they can also work wonders for your skin—from the inside out. Like a delicious recipe for your face! This has been a deeply personal three-year adventure for me, inspired by the wisdom of my amazing mother and grandmother. They’ve always known the power of Caribbean ingredients and the magic they can bring to our skin. So, I took that knowledge and combined nutrient-packed foods like guava, papaya, and lychee seeds to create simple yet effective products that will make your daily skincare routine feel like a self-care retreat. Our clean formulas combine the sensorially rich properties of these superfoods with hardworking actives to yield proven, visible results. I can’t even begin to express how grateful I am for your support and trust as we dive into this transformative skincare journey together.” The full collection of Sweet July Skin formulas that are inspired by founder Ayesha Curry’s Jamaican heritage. Each formula contains nutrient-rich Caribbean superfoods that  are paired with modern-day activities; a private self-care retreat for your skin. The Complete Set of the Sweet July Skin products includes a Pava Exfoliating Cleanser, Pava Toner, Soursop Vitamin C Serum, Castaway Cream,  Irie Power Face Oil, and the Good Youth Retinol Sleep Serum.

The foundation of their products lies in the abundance of nutrient-rich resources found in the Caribbean, utilizing superfoods like guava, papaya, and lychee seeds. Sweet Skin July has meticulously curated formulas that blend the wholesome advantages of natural superfoods with cutting-edge actives. This harmonious combination provides well-balanced and effective solutions for all skin types.

All credits for photos go to

– Joelle Lemercier at ©elogestudio

– Claire Painchaud at ©clairepainchaudphotography