The beauty industry rarely considers the unique needs of people with disabilities when creating products. This leads to all kinds of packaging and applicator designs that are needlessly difficult to open or use.
“The greatest struggles with beauty products have to be application,” says GiGi Robinson, a digital artist and wellness advocate who is living with chronic illness. “Oftentimes, my hands hurt and it’s hard to get the kind of coverage and to make sure it’s even.”
“I wish there was something ergonomic that worked…” says Robinson.
The industry has a lot of room to grow and improve. Robinson mentions that while some brands may have adapted their products, representation is also still an issue. Without using chronically ill and disabled models in their campaigns, people like her aren’t able to connect with those brands.
While the industry has a very long way to go, today, we highlight the brands and products transforming the industry. First, check out our favorite accessible beauty products, some of which are more intentional than others. Then, we included a few tips and tricks to help those with limited mobility enhance their beauty routine.
In this article:
Best Accessible Beauty Products Overview
Our Picks for the Best Accessible Beauty Products
For beauty to be accessible, brands need to consider elements like ease of use, comfortable packaging, and better applicators. These are some of the products that stand out to us as more disability-friendly. Keep reading to find out why each one made it to the list.
1
Best Eyeliner
Guide Beauty Eyeliner Duo
Guide Beauty
Verishop.com
$50
Guide Beauty was founded by makeup artist Terri Bryant after she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Over the course of a few years, she lost the stability and control a makeup artist needs to create perfect eye makeup. Guide Beauty products are designed to allow for precision, even if you don’t have stable hands or the ability to grip.
The biggest game-changer from the brand is the Guide Wand, an innovative eyeliner applicator. Instead of a hard-to-control brush, the wand is fitted with a rounded silicone applicator that fits easily over the lash line. A flared-out ‘skirt’ at the top acts as a stabilizer that rests against the cheekbone, instead of the user having to rest their elbow awkwardly on a table or bench. It’s especially helpful for anyone who can’t stabilize their hand or wrist. The silicone applicator itself is tilted forward, which allows the user to come up close to the mirror – a dream for anyone with nearsightedness!
The eyeliner cream itself is a solid gel liner that can be used both on the lash line and in the waterline. It’s nicely pigmented and easy to use, although the waterproof formula can smudge if your eyelids tend to get oily. Buy it from Verishop!
Key Features:
- Product Type: Eyeliner and applicator
- Accessibility: Special applicator designed with mobility impairment in mind
- Shade Range: 2 colors
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
- Brand created by a makeup artist with mobility impairment
- Innovative eyeliner applicator helpful for a stable, precise application
- Forward tilt design perfect for nearsightedness
- Comes with darkly pigmented, waterproof eyeliner cream
- Comes in black and brown colors
2
Best Blush
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Rare Beauty
Sephora.com
$20
Everyone knows who Selena Gomez is, but not everyone is familiar with her struggle with Lupus. Two of the symptoms of this auto-immune disease are pain and reduced grip strength, which can make it difficult to open or hold small makeup products.
That’s why Rare Beauty products are packaged with accessibility in mind. The containers are larger for a more comfortable grip. Many products are fitted with a rounded ball on top of the lid to make opening easier. Our favorite product from the brand is the Liquid Blush.
Aside from having a comfortable grip and an easy-to-use applicator, the blush is simply stunning! The formula is creamy, and you can use your fingers or a sponge to easily blend it out. It’s quite pigmented, so it might be intense for some, but it doesn’t set too fast, so you do have time to work it into the skin. It’s available at Sephora in 8 shades.
Key Features:
- Product Type: Liquid blush
- Size: 0.25 oz.
- Accessibility: Easy-to-open package and ball-grip applicator
- Shade Range: 8 colors in 2 finishes
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
- Large, easy-to-open packaging
- Comfortable ball grip
- Creamy, easy-to-blend formula
- Pigmentation might be a little intense
3
Best Mascara
Guide Beauty Lash Wrap
Guide Beauty
Verishop.com
$26
Another winning product from Guide Beauty is the brand’s Lash Wrap mascara. It’s a phenomenal tubing mascara with some clever touches that make it extra easy to use.
First, as a mascara, this product is fabulous. It’s not very volumizing, but it does offer the lashes dramatic length. The tubing formula is great for those with sensitive eyes since it’s very oil- and water-resistant. But then, it comes off easily at the end of the day with no need for aggressive rubbing.
As for accessibility, the applicator is fitted with a ring for a comfortable grip. This makes holding and applying the mascara an easy and painless process, with less of a risk of smudging. You can get it from Verishop!
Key Features:
- Product Type: Tubing mascara
- Accessibility: Unique ring-grip applicator
- Shade Range: 1 color
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
- Very lengthening mascara
- Tubing formula is water- and oil-resistant
- Easy to remove at the end of the day
- Accessible ring-grip applicator
4
Best Makeup Brushes
Kohl Kreatives Brush Sets
Kohl Kreatives
Kohlkreatives.com
$61.57
The British brand Kohl Kreatives is making a difference in the makeup brush world. This label has designed brushes that solve some common issues for people with visual impairment or mobility disabilities.
You can’t go wrong with any Kohl Kreatives brush, which is why we’re happy to recommend the brand’s sets. For those who are all about eye makeup, the Feast Your Eyes Collection is fantastic. The small brushes come in a few shapes and sizes for all kinds of eye makeup looks. They have square handles to prevent them from rolling away, and each brush is marked with braille to make it easy to identify.
The Flex Collection is designed with unique, curved handles that make them easier to hold but with a flat base so they can stand upright. The set includes options for both face and eye makeup, but the cool thing is that brushes aren’t labeled based on suggested usage. This gives a lot more creative freedom to users, although it might confuse newcomers to makeup.
Every brush from Kohl Kreatives is with vegan fibers, and many of them are even constructed out of recycled plastics. They’re still super soft and pleasant to use. You can get them directly from Kohl Kreatives.
Key Features:
- Product Type: Brush set
- Accessibility: Wide range of accessibility details for both visual and mobility-impaired users
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
- Feast Your Eyes set has square handles so brushes don’t roll away
- Brushes are marked with braille
- Flex Collection has easy-grip handles
- Vegan, soft fibers
- Recyclable materials
- Creative approach to brush use may confuse beginners
5
Best Styling Tool
CHI Spin N Curl Hair Curler
Styling tools can be heavy and complex to maneuver, which is why the Spin N Curl is a welcome innovation. This unique hair curler does most of the work on its own – it grabs the hair, spins it around a heated wand, and beeps when each curl is done setting.
It’s still a somewhat heavy hair curler, but it saves you the need to hold and twist. In fact, the tulip-like design allows you to hold it with two hands while styling, which can be incredibly helpful if you have a weak grip. It can also be used one-handed if you only have mobility in one hand. Curling the hair will still take you a long while, but it’s not any more time-consuming than a traditional curler.
Ease of use aside, this hair curler still offers common styling tool features. It has 3 heat settings, adjustable heating time, auto-shutoff, and a very long swivel cord. You can use it for perfect ringlets, or you can shake your head out after using it for looser waves. Order it in one of the 6 colors available on Amazon!
Key Features:
- Product Type: Hair curler
- Size: 16 inch
- Material: Ceramic
- Accessibility: Self-spinning, can be gripped with one or two hands
- Spinning hair curler doesn’t require awkward maneuvering
- Can be held comfortably with one or both hands
- Includes important features, like multiple heat settings and auto-shutoff
- Versatile curls
- Still a little heavy
- Time-consuming process
6
Best Eyeliner Stamp
The Quick Flick Eyeliner and Stamp
The Quick Flick
Amazon.com
$29.99
When it first came out, all of the beauty bloggers were excited to try The Quick Flick, seeing it as a gimmicky product that’ll generate clicks. While most able-bodied bloggers didn’t stick with it, it’s a fantastic product for those who have either vision problems or struggle with the dexterity needed to draw an eyeliner wing with a traditional pen.
Simply put, the product is a chubby pen with a traditional felt liner tip on one end and a stamp on the other. The black liner formula is dark and waterproof, although it’s not great for those with very oily eyelids.
The size of the pen makes it easier to grasp, while the stamp does all of the work for creating a perfect eyeliner wing. It comes in a few sizes, so you can opt for whatever wing size you prefer.
You’ll still want to practice things like placement since the stamp can’t guarantee that you’ll apply the wing symmetrically on both eyes. You’ll also still need to use the felt tip over the lash line. However, if you find that it’s specifically the wing that you have a hard time with, it’s a wonderful solution. You can get it from Amazon.
Key Features:
- Product Type: Eyeliner stamp
- Accessibility: Large handle, stamps on eyeliner wing
- Shade Range: 1 color
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
- Chubby pen is easier to hold
- Stamp creates wing for you
- Waterproof formula
- Not great for oily skin
- Still requires practice for perfect use
7
Best Foundation
Dior Airflash Spray Foundation
If dealing with twist-off lids, droppers, and even pumps is a pain for you (literally or otherwise), a spray foundation might be for you. It comes in 24 shades, which isn’t as large a color range as we’d like but is enough for many of our readers to find a color match.
It has full coverage, so you might be able to skip the concealer, and a natural finish that works well for all skin types. It photographs beautifully, which is another bonus!
The spray applicator on this foundation is incredibly useful. It allows for easier one-handed applications since it’s possible to dispense product on a sponge or directly on the face with just one hand. Buy it at Sephora!
Key Features:
- Product Type: Spray foundation
- Size: 2.3 oz.
- Accessibility: Sprays are the easiest applicators for many users
- Shade Range: 24 colors
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: No/No
- Easy to use one-handed
- Can be used straight on the face or with sponge
- Full coverage saves the need for concealer
- Shade range is a little smaller than ideal
8
Best Eyeshadow
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eyeshadow
Laura Mercier
Sephora.com
$29
Cream eyeshadow sticks make it easier to achieve a glamorous and more involved eye makeup look with minimal effort. The application itself can be a simple, one-handed swipe, and then blending is simple, thanks to the cream formula. They can be blended with fingers, a sponge, or a brush, so it’s convenient no matter which applicator you prefer.
A lot of brands have shadow stick offerings these days, but Laura Mercier’s Caviar Sticks continuously wow us. They have excellent longevity all on their own, and the color range itself is stunning. The sticks come in every shade and finish, so they can be used for both soft, natural looks and darker or more glamorous ones. Get them at Sephora or Ulta!
Key Features:
- Product Type: Stick eyeshadow
- Size: 0.05 oz.
- Accessibility: Easier to use one-handed, easy to blend with wide-range of applicators
- Shade Range: 31 colors in 3 finishes
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: No/No
- Gorgeous shade range
- Easy to blend with any tool
- Great longevity without setting
- Easy to apply one-handed
9
Best Contour
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Match Stix Matte Contour Skinstick
Fenty Beauty
Sephora.com
$26
Sticks can also be a great choice when it comes to complexion makeup. Just like stick shadows, they allow for an easy single-handed application and are very easy to blend out, so there’s a lower risk of over-application.
Sticks can work for every complexion step, from foundation to blush to highlight. But since contouring has become such a staple in our beauty routines these days, we thought it was best to focus on one of the best products for the job.
The Match Stix from Fenty is as good as it gets, with a great color range so anyone can find a product that’ll fit them. They have a demi-matte finish that’s perfect for contouring and that holds well even without powder. They’re available at Sephora.
Key Features:
- Product Type: Contour stick
- Size: 0.25 oz.
- Accessibility: Can be used single-handed, blendable with any applicator
- Shade Range: 7 colors
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/No
- Easy to use and blend
- Can be applied single-handed
- Excellent color range
- Long-lasting demi-matte finish
10
Best Grip Aids
Vive Foam Tubing
Dedicated grip aids can help you with your makeup routine without forcing you to shop from specialty brands. It’d be much better if all makeup companies kept usability in mind, of course, but since the industry has a long way to go, this is a good option in the meanwhile. Thankfully, most grip aids are quite affordable!
For those whose main issue is gripping things comfortably or dealing with pain, foam tubes can make a huge difference. They’re the perfect size to slide over makeup brushes or small pencils, and they make holding on to your tool much more pleasant.
For those who don’t have a comfortable way to grip even thicker or larger applicators, a hand strap with a pocket can work. It fits over your hand, and you can slide tools and products of various sizes through it. You can pick up both the foam grips and hand straps from Amazon.
Key Features:
- Product Type: Grip aids
- Accessibility: Wider grip for greater control
- Make it possible to use products from mainstream brands
- Versatile to help with many different products and tools
- Very affordable
- It’d be better if the industry didn’t make these necessary
A Few More Accessible Beauty Tips to Perfect Your Look
Accessible products can definitely help, but you might also find these tips useful when doing your makeup or shopping for new products.
Get Inspired Online
“My favorite tip is to watch IG reels/TikTok/Youtube shorts of makeup transformations to get inspiration,” says GiGi Robinson. Afterward, she turns to longer-form videos on YouTube or IGTV to see the process done from beginning to end.
There is no shortage of influencers and beauty educators out there. Here are some of our favorite makeup artists and influencers who also happen to be living with disabilities:
Keep It Natural
“I also think going the more natural route and doing makeup that looks effortless is a great way to build natural confidence,” suggests Robinson.
Natural makeup looks are often easier to create, as they require more blending but less precision. The other bonus is that they look suitable for any occasion. At the same time, while mastering the natural beauty look is useful, you should still feel free to experiment with colors or more dramatic techniques.
Applicators are usually the biggest hurdle and the least inclusive part of the beauty industry. However, using a tiny brush isn’t mandatory for beautiful makeup. A lot of influencers and beauty enthusiasts who struggle with grip suggest using the hands as an applicator, whether it’s to apply eyeshadow or blend out foundation.
There are many professional makeup artists (including Pat McGrath) who also prefer the finish they get when using hands or fingers to blend.
Keep It Creamy
Many makeup lovers with disabilities prefer cream products over powders. Creams are often easier to place and blend, with less of a risk of fall-out and no need for careful layering. Thankfully, nowadays, nearly every product comes as a cream, including sticks that can be used one-handed.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All
This tip comes to us from this excellent post by lifestyle blogger Kimberly Minto. She suggests looking at products and applicators closely and working to figure out which sizes work for you. For her, it was all about smaller applicators that make it easier to achieve some precision. For others, the trick might be larger applicators or unique shapes that are easier to grip.
Photos via Sephora, Amazon, Instagram