Our names are: Marie Kouadio Amouzame and Alice Lin Glover.
We’re known for being: Co-founders of EADEM.
We’re talking about: Our brand new skincare line for women of color.
You can find it: On our website, eadem.co.
Before we created this line, we were:
Marie Kouadio Amouzame: Alice and I were actually marketing colleagues at Google and met nearly eight years ago. We got along super well right off the bat and became fast friends and work soulmates. Even though our cultural backgrounds are very different (I’m French and born in West Africa and Alice is Taiwanese American), we had so much in common as women of color— struggling to find skincare that suited our skin’s needs being one of them! After Google, I went on to Airbnb Luxe as the head of strategy & brand, but always knew that eventually Alice and I would come together to create a brand.
Alice Lin Glover: Working in tech, Marie and I were often the only people of color in the room, and that experience really bonded us. Marie taught me everything there is to know about French Pharmacy products and together we learned about the newest skincare trends in Asia, but, when we returned to the US (with very overweight luggage!), we realized that there was a real need for cleaner beauty made for our melanin-rich skin. I took a sabbatical that allowed me time to think about what I wanted to do next and, after consulting for a few brand agencies and startups, it was time to make our dreams a reality and launch EADEM.
What inspired us to launch it was:
ALG: I’ve had “bad skin” for a long time now (specifically acne and hyperpigmentation) and have tried a ton of products. For years, I had been using products that contained hydroquinone, a popular ingredient that’s actually banned in several countries. After learning more, I went on a hunt for safer skincare to help address my hyperpigmentation and could’t find anything out that was safe, effective and clinically tested on melanin-rich skin. With EADEM, we have created a first-of-its-kind technology called “Smart Melanin Beauty” that keeps our skin’s needs and melanin in mind. Marie and I were tired of being disappointed by products that were never intended for our skin in the first place.
EADEM is made by women of color chemists, vetted by women of color dermatologists and tested on skin of different shades. Our first product, the Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum, uses amber algae, niacinamide and encapsulated vitamin C to gently fade hyperpigmentation in melanin-rich skin without lightening the natural tone.
How it works is:
MKA: The combination of ingredients in our Smart Melanin Technology. Amber Algae is a sustainably harvested active which works to preserve your natural tone and target excess pigmentation. Niacinamide works to brighten and improve your skin’s overall texture, while stopping the transfer of existing melanin to superficial cells. Our encapsulated vitamin C boosts collagen and protects against free radical damage and dark spots, which means the serum won’t get tacky and turn orange. While fading dark spots takes time, our Milk Marvel works immediately to improve your skin's overall texture and level of hydration with ingredients like crambe abyssinica, niacinamide and pineapple and papaya enzymes. The serum is a true multitasker that works seamlessly into your existing routine.
What makes it special is:
MKA: Because women of color have historically been an afterthought in beauty, we’ve had to completely break from the “norm” and start from scratch with EADEM. This line is our way of centering women of color and their beauty. By introducing Smart Melanin Beauty, we are creating skincare uniquely formulated for skin of color. From formulation to testing to creative, everything needed to be challenged and overturned to make women of color the priority. No more token beauty here!
One thing you can’t miss is:
ALG: When people think of a results-driven product, they’re often worried it’s going to be harsh and difficult to incorporate into their regimen. Marie and I actually used the Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum all throughout our pregnancies, and it’s gentle enough to be incorporated with your already existing skincare routine (yes, even retinol products!), while still effectively fading dark spots without changing natural skin tone.
My favorite secret detail is:
MKA: Alice and I are both extreme perfectionists and went through a ton of iterations (around 25!) of the serum to get the formula and user experience to meet our high standards. The milky gel serum will absorb nicely into the skin, no matter your skin tone.
For us, “clean” or “conscious” beauty means:
MKA: We know that, historically, women of color are more exposed to beauty product-related environmental chemicals, often because of marketing practices which idealize European beauty standards such as lighter skin and straighter hair. “Clean” holds more weight in our community. We worked closely with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ann Brewer, who has extensive experience with skin of color, to create a formula that is hydroquinone-free, EU-compliant, pregnancy-safe, Sephora clean, vegan and cruelty free.
One ritual you can practice with this line is:
ALG: We believe skincare is self-care—a sacred moment to yourself (no children, roommates, pets, partners!). From our packaging to the way our serum effortlessly seeps into the skin, we wanted the entire experience to feel enjoyable and luxurious. It should be something you look forward to at the start and end of your day.
Personally, I love to double cleanse in the evenings. Then, on damp skin, I gently pat in a few drops of our Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum before applying my nighttime moisturizer. My skincare routine can’t be rushed, and everyone in my family allows me that time to myself.
It can help you live your process because:
MKA: EADEM is our love letter to women of color. Our products will brighten dark spots, never change your natural tone and we hope help create a world where women of color can finally be, feel and look like themselves, with bare skin confidence.