I had an eclectic upbringing. My mother is black, from Guyana, and my father is white and Jewish. They were always passionate about the arts and had diverse tastes, which is something that I inherited from them. Listening to music and drawing are healthy outlets for me and constantly inspire my work. Here are the lessons I’ve learned from these creative pursuits.
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1. Diversity is beautiful.

Music was an important part of my life growing up—it was always playing at home and in the car. My mother liked 70s funk, soul and disco, while my dad loved Motown, doo-wop and oldies. My grandfather listened to jazz and classical music. I appreciated all types of music, including the MTV videos I watched with my friends and the classic rock songs that influenced our lives. The feeling and mood that it can inspire in you, plus the incredible storytelling, imagery and fantasy that it can conjure in your imagination are all things that contribute to my ideas when I am creating a brand. I want products to be inclusive and diverse and to tell a story.
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2. A product needs to make you feel something.

Art and music are sensory experiences; they evoke a mood or feeling. Whether you’re enjoying a good book or listening to music at home, or attending a live performance, a Broadway show, or spending an afternoon walking through a museum – all of these things activate your senses and impact your creativity. When I develop a product, I want people to have that same visceral reaction. I want them to truly enjoy the experience of it, and derive instant pleasure from using it. That’s in the forefront of my mind during the creative process.
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3. Self-care is essential.

I remember my dad would always buy me art supplies when I was a kid, and I would draw and paint alone for hours. There was something peaceful and restorative about the whole process. That’s what applying beauty products should be like—time alone to nurture yourself and your creativity.
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4. Sometimes you need to color outside the lines.

I think the best art and music are like the best meals—there’s something unexpected thrown in, which makes them totally unique. When creating a beauty product, cosmetic chemists follow a specific recipe to ensure balance. Balance is important, but I also like to infuse my own signature element—whether it’s a scent, ingredient, texture or color. That’s when a product really sings. Every development is a unique work of art to be experienced and enjoyed.

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 By Tara Cohen