Building a Skincare Empire: Akilah Releford Gould on the Rise of Mary Louise Cosmetics and Bold Beginnings

Our guest is a true visionary who began her journey in beauty while she was still a student at Howard University, crafting her first DIY skincare products right in her dorm room. Fast forward to today, she’s the founder and creative force behind Mary Louise Cosmetics, a brand celebrated for its commitment to clean beauty and its focus on intergenerational beauty practices. I’m talking about none other than Akilah Releford Gould.In our conversation, Akilah opens up about her early experiences that sparked the creation of Mary Louise Cosmetics, including the influence of her father, Dr. Bill Releford, on her entrepreneurial journey. We also dive into how she seamlessly incorporates ingredients from Bloom Ranch, the largest Black-owned ranch in Los Angeles County, into her products, and the significance of clean beauty in her brand.But that’s not all! Akilah shares exciting news about her latest venture, Lucky Girl Rosé, and how she balances being a new mom with running a successful beauty empire. Plus, she gives us a sneak peek into what’s next for Mary Louise Cosmetics, and of course, she couldn’t leave without sharing her personal skincare, makeup, and haircare routines.FOLLOW  MARY LOUISE COSMETICSMary Louise Cosmetics' WebsiteMary Louise Cosmetics' InstagramFOLLOW  AKILAH RELEFORD GOULDAkilah Releford Gould's InstagramFOLLOW HELLO BEAUTYHello Beauty's InstagramHello Beauty on Apple PodcastHello Beauty on SpotifyHello Beauty on  iHeartRadioHello Beauty SimplecastFOLLOW JOYCE PLATONJoyce's Instagram