Local entrepreneur invents the perfect cosmetic foundation for your skin tone

: Published: 07 June 2011

Special discount for knowitall.ch clients

A new cosmetics company in Nyon has been attracting lots of interest since it opened its doors in the region last year.

Under the sign Custom Colors®, the boutique provides customized foundations that are blended and tested on the premises for clients, while they wait, ensuring the perfect match for their skin tone. Catering for all complexions, including caucasian, asian, mixed, and black; Custom Colors® Foundation will also cover blemishes caused by freckles, rosacea, vitiligo and tattoos.

CEO and Founder, Ronke Obajimi, says, “I set up Custom Colors® out of sheer frustration: I could never find foundation to match my skin tone! So in April last year, using my business experience and the knowledge I had gained through my Master’s degrees in International Law and Business, I decided to take the plunge and set up my own company in Geneva, selling customized cosmetics. However, the business grew so quickly that I needed to move to larger premises in Nyon shortly afterwards.”

Asked why her company has been so successful, Ronke explains,

“Custom Colors® takes the pain out of choosing the right foundation color. This process can be very daunting for some women, and when they shop for foundation in a boutique, they are usually given the foundation that is "closest" to their skin color, or just simply one that does not match their skin color. Their perception is often flawed by the bright lights of the boutique and when they try on the foundation in the comfort of their homes, they discover that the foundation does not match at all. But then, they've already bought the product and it cannot be returned, so it gets forgotten at the bottom of the drawer.”

She continues, “At Custom Colors® we create your custom colored foundation right from scratch. Our color expert analyses your skin to determine what colors to mix, a series of quick trials are run, testing the resulting color swatches on your face (and not on your wrist as most shops tend to do). When the right color has been found (a process that can last between 10 to 45 minutes depending on the skin tone), we then apply the "daylight test": we test the color on the client's face in broad daylight. Only when the color matches exactly is the process completed and the client's foundation is packaged and handed over.”

boutique

Not only will Custom Colors® provide you with the perfect foundation to match your skin tone on they day you come in but they invite you back to adjust the color of your foundation when your skin tone changes throughout the year. According to Ronke, your skin color changes to 3 or 4 different tones throughout the year on average: tanning in the summer, going lighter in the winter, and taking on different shades between seasons. At Custom Colors® you will be able to have your foundation custom-made to match your skin perfectly for each season. They can also make a custom blush to match your skin tone.

One customer, Sonya Reichrath, suffered from acne as a teenager and has spent many years trying to find the perfect foundation and told knowitall.ch:

“In the past, many foundations have made my face look like a mask, and even uglier than before! However, in no time at all, Ronke mixed-up the PERFECT foundation for me, which makes my skin look smooth, natural and healthy! I only wish that I had met her years earlier!”

In the future, Ronke hopes to expand her company worldwide through branches and franchises. She would also like to have her own laboratory, bringing about new creations in terms of texture and product applications. Ronke explains the difficulties she had in finding a laboratory that “understood” her.

“When I first began to look for a laboratory to accompany me on this journey, it was a major uphill task as no-one was willing to do something as innovative as I was suggesting. I kept hearing, "Oh we can't do that, it's never been done before." Fortunately, I kept at it and I found a great manufacturing company with a CEO who's a great outside-the-box thinker, and who simply said 'Let's do it!' And so we did!”

If you are curious to know more about Custom Colors® and would like to see a demonstration then come along to their Open House, being held on Sunday, June 26, between 11h-15h. Ladies of all colors are welcome, especially those with uneven skin or blemishes! Bring a friend to make it even more fun! Let Ronke know if you are coming so she can provide enough to serve everyone.

discount-button150new Knowitall.ch discount: To test out Custom Colors® Foundation for yourself, take advantage of Ronke’s special offer, exclusive to knowitall.ch and Know-it-all passport® clients. For every Custom Colors® Seasonal-blend Foundation purchased (cost Fr. 85.-), 1 free Custom-blend Loose Powder or Blusher (in cream or powder form according to preference) will be offered. Just bring along a copy of this article or the Know-it-all passport® book. This offer is valid on your first purchase and has no set date limit.