Pay It Forward

Hi, I’m Samantha Martin.

I am 21 years old and I am highlighting my small business Luxurious Glamoúr Cosmetics. This is a beauty business that was inspired by my sudden health change.

It is a big misconception that people with physical impairments or disabilities as the world likes to label us; ‘we don’t wear makeup nor have the desire to look & feel pretty too’. Firstly, I would like to highlight how the word disability is proportionally incorrect as it automatically limits one’s abilities. Emma Torres once said, “Disabilities don’t exist, only a notion of wonderful capabilities”.

At the age of 16, I woke up one day and I couldn’t walk. A never-ending journey of tests, multiple diagnoses my life has been forever changed & certainly given me a new perspective and outlook on life. Hence the birthing of Luxurious Glamoúr Cosmetics; a brand that bridges the gap in the beauty industry by producing innovative cosmetics that enables people with physical impairment(s) the ability to independently use cosmetics to the best of their abilities.

Health challenges can become the centre of your life. To then lose my independence and constantly relying on people cost me my self-esteem & confidence. That being said, I found serenity in makeup. The Power of makeup.

The joy I have when I complete a makeup look is that of a kid who just got candy. It motivates & inspires me to push my boundaries with any other tasks. It is my desire that with Luxurious Glamoúr Cosmetics physically impaired people like myself will feel the same joy. This is why LG Cosmetics is here to enable physically impaired people the ability to hold onto their joy in the midst of the circumstance by doing what they love or simply what makes them feel even more beautiful - MAKEUP!

I believe with the right accessible tools and resources one can exceed their physical limits regardless of it being a small step.

Accessibility in makeup allows those registered 'disabled' to feel abled and certainly not different. It gives us our power back. Not only when we have that red lipstick on helping us feel fierce & boldness but also when we apply that red lipstick by ourselves. That feeling of ABLE, accomplishing something so “simple” as blending eyeshadow; that’s an achievement. Celebrating the small things.

Though accessibility, diversity and inclusion are lacking majorly in the outside world e.g external properties, such as schools, homes etc It is also highly invisible in fashion and makeup. Having to experience first hand the lack of accessibility in a lot of aspects, it saddens me greatly knowing that even the one thing I’m most passionate about, that same thing that took me out of the grave my mind dug due to a sudden change in health & isolation being unable to leave the flat due to no lifts, that one thing I can’t even do correctly. Over time, I've learnt how to work through it, I still sometimes struggle with makeup application due to my hands becoming extremely weak, swollen, painful etc regardless there are people worse off than me & aren’t able to execute a makeup look. If only there were makeup products that made it easier for them.

This is why LG Cosmetics aims to give independence during makeup application to those with underlying health conditions that affect their physical bodies. With our cosmetics products our aim is that you enjoy the therapeutic process and not require help from someone else; because not always when you need help is someone always there.

To conclude I would like to shoutout my small team of amazing friends who are helping me bring this to reality. We have drawn out 8 products we endeavour to launch; unfortunately, we have been struggling financially hence we still haven’t launched yet. Prior to the lockdown, we intended on getting our first prototype but of course, we had to push it back until we are allowed back out.

Be sure to follow my social media platforms as follows keeping in touch with my endeavours & progress.

Luxurious Glamoúr Cosmetics

Thriving for Independence.

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