We Asked Sabrina Elba About Her Must-Do Beauty Practices—Here Are Her Nonnegotiables
Upon meeting Sabrina Elba for a quick chat in a cozy hotel room on an afternoon in late May, I was struck by how inviting her smile was. She floated across the room and greeted me with a warm hug (she had to lean down since she's 5'10" and was wearing a sleek pair of heels), followed by a bright introduction. The nervous energy I had when I walked through the doorway melted away by the time we had made ourselves comfortable on the couch.
For the next 60 minutes, we talked about everything from the complexities of sourcing ingredients and supporting rural agricultural communities across the African continent to creating a line of melanin-inclusive skincare products and the healthy skincare habits that keep her complexion looking glowy. Below, read everything I learned straight from the multi-hyphenate model, UN Goodwill Ambassador, and entrepreneur herself.
A Conversation With Sabrina Elba: Founder, Model, and UN Goodwill Ambassador
What has your relationship with your skin been like over time, and how did you learn which skincare practices worked best for you?
I had really bad teenage acne and grew up in Vancouver, Canada, where I was one of very few people with melanated skin in my community. I found that not only did what I was experienced with my skin look different on my friends, but the results of the skincare products we used worked differently on me. It wasn't until my acne went away then came back as an adult that I still wasn't satisfying the issues I was facing and realized I wasn't the problem.
The industry doesn't testing on dark skin and weren't speaking to me as a Black woman. I realized that dark skin is more sensitive and prone to inflammation, and brands didn't want to spend the extra money and time on formulations for us. Putting more effort into those creates products that work for everyone. Melanin-inclusive skincare aren't products that are exclusively for Black skin.
What it does is incorporate the needs of melanin-rich skin so everyone can benefit. Fighting hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and skin-barrier support is what everyone wants. These products aren't niche. They just translate differently across skin shades. My business partner Jess and I were so excited to create something new in a space that didn't exist yet for a community that wasn't being seen or heard for a preventative lifestyle.
Our formulas are packed with antioxidants in ingredients that champion A-beauty (African beauty), which is filled with traditions and customs that have been passed down throughout the entire continent. Putting that on the front of our bottles was important for us to do. I want to reclaim those stories and appropriated ingredients by promoting that narrative and the people behind them.
