, TikTok’s beloved beauty myth-buster and , is shaking things up with the release of his own , adding a touch of “skinification” to the blush game. This may be a new development to those unfamiliar with his career path, this isn’t just a regular product release, but rather an extension of his beauty journey. The Memphis native and Howard University grad knew early on that he was destined for a creative journey.
“I didn’t want to be a Med school student. I didn’t want to be a doctor or get a PhD, so I had to really research what other options were available to me,” Ford tells ESSENCE. While exploring the American Chemistry website, he discovered the personal care category, and it instantly sparked his interest.
“I thought this was cool because you could immediately get into the action and not have to wait eight years to see the fruits of your labor,” the chemist remarks. “This path was a two-year turnaround and you can see the impact that it has on everyday people, so I went for this route.” Even though his initial attempts to land an internship at big-name brands like L’Oréal and Estée Lauder didn’t pan out, he remained focused on his bigger ambitions and goals.
After years of working as a chemist, Ford decided to dive back into the lab just over a year ago. His mission? To create an orange blush that would eventually become a hit. “As a chemist, I wanted to prove that I could walk the walk and talk the talk,” he shares.
When his first atte.