Joining the curation of thirteen lune’s Black and Brown-owned brands made for everyone, is a highly-select edit of ally brands that have traditionally made efforts to be inclusive in their product assortment and who have made it an integral part of their mission to incite meaningful change beyond beauty. They comprise the 10% of our 90/10 Rule which is a commitment to carrying 90% BIPOC owned brands and 10% ally brands.
“Jouer” translates to “play” in French and it couldn’t be a more apt term for the brand that most every beauty-obsessed individual carries in their makeup bag. Founded in 2008 by Christina Zilber, Jouer offers clean, good-for-your skin products that are as versatile as they are fun. From neutrals to amped up bold color, items are easy to use, unintimidating and universally flattering on a wide range of skin tones.
THIRTEEN LUNE CO-FOUNDER, NYAKIO GRIECO DISCUSSES ALLYSHIP AND THE BEAUTY OF CLEAN, QUALITY MAKEUP.
Nyakio Grieco: What was the impetus to start your brand?
Christina Zilber: Years ago, a makeup artist gifted me with a refillable palette, inadvertently answering my prayers for a palette filled only with colors and products that I would actually use. When I discovered that palette did not fit in my evening bag; I began to develop an interchangeable palette system - one that was completely portable and customizable. The first incarnation of Jouer was born in 2004, and what began as an interlocking makeup palette system relaunched as a fully-fledged cosmetics company in 2008 - Jouer Cosmetics.
NG: Do you have a beauty philosophy? What is it?
CZ: Yes. We can’t see beauty as something that’s just superficial. Beauty is as beauty does. It is what you do in your life that makes you beautiful. That’s something that I’ve tried to impart on my children.
NG: What does allyship mean to you?
Christina Zilber: To me, allyship means supporting our BIPOC community by creating products that are inclusive and reflect the world we live in. It also means partnering with like-minded individuals and brands that share our values and amplify the voices of a diverse beauty community.
NG: Has inclusivity always been a priority for you as a brand founder?
CZ: Yes, as an indie brand, delivering top-quality products for people of all colors has always been a priority. At Jouer, we're committed to creating inclusive, clean and cruelty-free products that everyone can feel beautiful in and are proud to continue this mission with Thirteen Lune.
NG: What inspires you most about the beauty landscape and industry today?
CZ: I’m excited to see more innovation in the skincare arena. I think that science-based skincare is the thing I’m most excited about. I love looking into and finding new formulas. I think we’re going to see more of that. And, just more inclusivity in general. More acceptance.
NG: What would you like to see more of in the beauty industry when it comes to diversity and inclusivity?
CZ: There needs to be more inclusivity in the beauty world, absolutely. Our shade range is very inclusive, and I think as an indie brand, we were one of the first that came out with 50 shades of foundation - and as an indie brand, trust me, that’s not easy. But I say if we can do it, there’s no excuse for any other brand not to do it. Beauty isn’t any one skin tone, age, or gender; it’s all of us.
