What Makes a Product Truly Accessible?

·5 mins read
Key Principles & Examples
  • Ergonomic Design: Products like Guide Beauty’s eyeliner with finger rests or Kohl Kreatives’ bendable brushes prioritise grip & control for users with limited dexterity.
  • Tactile & Sensory Cues: Herbal Essences uses raised lines on shampoo bottles for visually impaired users, while Rare Beauty’s matte packaging prevents slipping.
  • Universal Functionality: Lancôme’s HAPTA device stabilises lipstick application for those with tremors, demonstrating how tech can bridge accessibility gaps.
  • Inclusive Testing: Rare Beauty partnered with Casa Colina Research Institute to evaluate product usability for people with disabilities, ensuring designs meet real needs.

Demo Idea: Compare a standard eyeliner with Guide Beauty’s ergonomic version, highlighting grip differences. Test Herbal Essences’ tactile bottles blindfolded to show how design aids identification.

"5 Beauty Tools That Exclude People"

Problematic Products & Why

  1. Traditional Mascara Tubes: Twist-off caps & thin wands exclude those with hand tremors (e.g. Selma Blair’s experience with MS).
  2. Slim Eyeshadow Brushes: Difficult for users with limited grip strength (e.g. Kohl Kreatives’ standalone brushes solve this).
  3. Eyeshadow Palettes with Tiny Compacts: Hard to open for arthritic users (Guide Beauty’s wide compacts address this).
  4. Shampoo Bottles Without Tactile Labels: Confusing for visually impaired users (Herbal Essences’ redesign sets a standard).
  5. Lipsticks with Standard Tubes: Challenging for those with Parkinson’s (Lancôme’s HAPTA applicator offers a solution).

Visual Comparison: Show a standard mascara wand next to Guide Beauty’s stabilised version, emphasising grip & applicator design.

The Hidden Cost of Inaccessible Design

Impacts Explored

  • Financial Burden: Adaptive tools (e.g. Kohl Kreatives’ stencils) often cost more, while mainstream products require costly DIY hacks.
  • Time Wasted: Struggling to open jars or apply makeup adds frustration (e.g. Chiara Beer’s one-handed tutorials highlight time-saving adaptations).
  • Emotional Toll: Exclusion from beauty rituals erodes confidence (e.g. Rebeca Gonzalez’s experience with cerebral palsy & shopping barriers).

Storytelling Hook: Feature a user with arthritis describing the 20-minute daily struggle to apply mascara, contrasted with Guide Beauty’s 2-minute solution.

Why Representation in Beauty Matters

Impactful Examples

  • Selma Blair & Guide Beauty: Her role as Chief Creative Officer normalises disability in campaigns, inspiring others with MS.
  • Katie Grant in Benefit Ads: First model with Down Syndrome in a major campaign, challenging beauty norms.
  • Estée Lauder’s AI App: Voice-enabled tutorials empower visually impaired users, fostering independence.

Emotional Angle: Share Rebeca Gonzalez’s story about feeling invisible in stores despite her TikTok influence.

Myths About Accessibility in Beauty

Debunked Misconceptions

  • Myth 1: “Accessible design is too expensive.”
    Reality: Herbal Essences’ tactile bottles cost little to implement but boosted brand loyalty.
  • Myth 2: “It’s a niche market.”
    Reality: 1.3B people globally have disabilities, & ageing populations drive demand.
  • Myth 3: “Aesthetics suffer.”
    Reality: Rare Beauty’s chic, matte packaging proves functionality & style coexist.

Reaction Demo: Compare a “basic” adaptive product with a stylish one, asking viewers to guess which is inclusive.

Why Packaging Fails People

Flaws & Fixes

  • Slippery Bottles: Glossy packaging (common in luxury brands) vs. Rare Beauty’s grippy matte finish.
  • Small Caps/Closures: Traditional lipstick tubes vs. Inner Beauty Cosmetics’ magnetic closures.
  • Lack of Tactile Differentiation: Pantene’s NaviLens codes scan via app for audio descriptions, solving label confusion.

Demo: Try opening a standard foundation bottle with greasy hands vs. Rare Beauty’s ergonomic design.

How Accessibility Helps Everyone

Universal Benefits

  • Parent Hack: Easy-open lids (e.g. Drunk Elephant’s pop-tops) help parents holding babies.
  • Aging Population: Ergonomic brushes aid arthritis sufferers, a growing demographic.
  • Curb-Cut Effect: Tactile shampoo labels aid everyone in steamy showers, not just visually impaired users.

Visual Story: Show a mum, a gamer with hand fatigue & a chef with oily hands all benefiting from grippy packaging.

Sources for Further Reading

This framework balances data, storytelling & actionable examples, ensuring each post educates & engages while challenging industry norms. Let me know if you’d like expanded scripts or specific citations!