Barbara Walden

Barbara Walden (born 1930) is an American former actress, dancer and businesswoman who founded one of the first American cosmetic companies offering products for Black women to be sold in major department stores. She was inspired to create these cosmetics after discovering a lack of suitable makeup during her Hollywood dancing and acting career. Quotes “There was no makeup that worked on my skin. Dark pancake made me look purple. It streaked. It was awful.” “They wanted pretty girls; they didn't mention color. Three hundred girls applied, I was the only black chosen." “I didn't mind playing maids, but the dialogue was ridiculous.” “The timing was right in the early 1970's. Black women were getting better jobs, had more money to spend and were interested in their looks.” "Once ham, always a ham.” Cosmetics for Black Women: The Timing Was Right July 8, 1978 "Our skin is different from white skin. For one thing, there is a wider variety of skin colors among blacks. Do you know that we have undertones of browns, oranges, reds and golds—and even purple—in our skin? But never pink, which is the most common undertone in white skins and white makeup." Barbara Walden cosmetics article on the need for cosmetic products specifically formulated for Black women’s skin shades and textures. External link Official Barbara Walden Cosmetics Website – Internet Archive Category: living people Category:African-American business executives Category:1930s births Category:Businesswomen from the United States