Beyond Boundaries: On the Essence of Inclusive Beauty

The excitement surrounding the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games has spread far beyond Italy, resonating across the globe.

The athletes’ powerful performances are being embraced not simply as stories of “overcoming obstacles”, but as moments of genuine cultural inspiration. The Paralympics are no longer seen as merely someone else’s story; they have become a stage where we can all watch, connect, and be moved together. At the heart of that stage is a spirit of barrier-free participation, unrestricted self-expression, and a profound respect for difference.

The Paralympics remind us that beyond physical conditions, there is human possibility, dignity, and the power to express life in one’s own way. Today, those values are influencing not only sports but also the way we think about everyday life, consumption, and even beauty itself.

This barrier-free confidence is now weaving its way into the beauty industry. Have you heard the term "Inclusive Beauty"?

Inclusive beauty is a movement that embraces people of all skin tones, ages, genders, physical abilities, and sensory differences. It ensures that everyone—regardless of their background—has the opportunity to express beauty in a way that feels true to them. It is not about narrowing beauty into one rigid standard, but about honoring differences as they are.

This movement goes far beyond simply expanding shade ranges. It asks us to rethink what we often take for granted: Is a bottle too slippery to open? Is an applicator too difficult to use for shaky hands? 

At the heart of these questions lies the value of "Independence".

Makeup and skincare, which once may have required someone else’s help, can now become acts of self-care and self-expression done on one’s own terms. Being able to choose your own colors and apply them with your own hands brings a powerful sense of joy and dignity. To me, being able to explore without limitation is true equality—and ultimately, happiness.

Beyond changing packaging or product design, there are people and brands expanding the possibilities of independence and self-expression in beauty. These examples show what inclusive beauty can look like in real life.

1️⃣ Winnie Harlow and the Beauty Standard She Helped Expand

Winnie Harlow is a symbolic figure in inclusive beauty, having stepped onto the global stage without hiding her vitiligo. She gained major attention as the first model with vitiligo to walk in the 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Through high-profile campaigns and media appearances, she has challenged the long-held notion that only even, uniform skin can be considered beautiful. 

Her presence proves that inclusive beauty is not just about offering more products—it is about fundamentally expanding the way we perceive beauty itself.

Founded by Selena Gomez in 2020, Rare Beauty is built on the philosophy of embracing and loving what makes each person unique. Having spoken openly about living with lupus, Gomez recognized that even something as simple as opening a makeup bottle can be a physical barrier. 

Rare Beauty’s signature rounded, ball-shaped caps are not merely an aesthetic choice; they were thoughtfully designed to be easier to hold and open for people with limited grip strength or joint pain. Beyond physical design, the brand consistently frames beauty as something deeper than outward perfection—it’s about self-acceptance, mental health, and the freedom to express oneself comfortably.

3️⃣ L’Oréal’s HAPTA: Beauty Tech That Steadies the Hand

L’Oréal’s HAPTA demonstrates the incredible possibilities when beauty and technology converge. HAPTA is a handheld, smart makeup applicator designed to assist those with limited hand and arm mobility. Using motion-stabilizing technology, the device compensates for tremors and limited range of motion, allowing for precise and steady application. It makes us pause to consider that an act as ordinary as applying lipstick may have been a struggle for many. 

HAPTA is meaningful because it returns the power of choice and independence to those who may have felt excluded from beauty routines due to physical limitations.

This commitment to a more inclusive way of living connects naturally with the philosophy of Slow Recipe. We carefully evaluate a brand’s authenticity and user experience before curation, and Talitha Koum is a brand that embodies these values at its very core.

Talitha Koum did not begin as a pursuit of fleeting trends. Instead, it was born from the founder’s personal, long-standing struggle with chronic hereditary keloids.

This deep-seated need for relief led to a mission of discovering "products the world truly needs—products that didn’t yet exist."

At the heart of Talitha Koum lies the Korean White Dandelion. While others focused on temporary fixes, the founder saw this resilient plant’s potential to fundamentally improve the skin environment. This wasn’t just a claim; by pioneering its registration as an official ingredient and securing patents in Korea and the U.S., the brand set a new global standard for plant-based skincare.

This innovation is what makes Talitha Koum truly inclusive. By prioritizing sensitive and distressed skin—often overlooked by the mainstream—the brand ensures that "self-care" is a right for everyone. As the founder says, "True luxury lies in products that bring the most comfortable moment one truly needs." When we solve a real problem for one person, we create a more beautiful world for all.

March 20 is the International Day of Happiness, as designated by the United Nations. I believe true happiness becomes possible when no one is left out—when everyone can participate in their own way and express who they are in their own color.

The courage and confidence shown by Paralympic athletes, and the inclusivity that defines inclusive beauty, ultimately point in the same direction: a world where everyone gets to live as themselves. And perhaps that is the most beautiful landscape we can create together.