The founder and CEO of OYT Cosmetics, Courtnei Lee, may be a six-foot goddess, but nothing can stand in the way of an empowered leader fighting for change. Now, her new trans-owned all-inclusive make-up line aims to create a movement among all individuals in the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities – a space where anyone can feel safe, supported, and comfortable in their skin.
Despite being historically relegated as a feminine or female industry, fashion and glamour have had the power to start revolutions. However, it has been hard to find a space where trans communities can define beauty on their terms, have access to resources, and feel safe and supported as a united tribe. But not anymore.
Our world is slowly recognizing that people are never more beautiful than when they’re doing something they love – especially when it involves feeling confident and beautiful in your unique skin. In the global make-up market, which is estimated to be worth about $85 billion by 2024, the act of defining yourself has never been more decisive.
This is because painting your canvas is not about connecting to the overall movement – it’s about committing. Whether you’re a professional, an at-home expert, or just a dabbler, there’s something in the makeup world for everyone. While cosmetics can undoubtedly boost your confidence, for others, it acts like a form of “armor” or a “shield,” but for Vancouver-born Courtnei Lee, it was her way of saying to the universe that she identified as a female.
“I’d spent 25 years living in the wrong body, but I was too terrified to do anything about it because of the weight of society that I felt came with transitioning,” she reflects. “It couldn’t be put off anymore.” As a young trans woman diving into the alien world of beauty and makeup, Lee was shocked to discover that she was struggling to find any educational content geared toward trans women.
So, after stepping into the French retailer Sephora, Lee, who was still “male presenting and transitioning” at the time, fell in love with the beauty products on display and how they made her feel when a life-changing employee paved the way forward. This was the affirming experience that ignited a curiosity and passion for cosmetics.
Now, not only is Lee on a mission to create a space for inclusive beauty and deliver high-end beauty products, but she aims to encourage comprehensive behaviors and build a safe environment. From Optimus-Primer, Cover Your Sins Foundation, to Totally Trans-fabulous Toner, the names of the divine make-up line OYT Cosmetics (OYTC) will have anyone in the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities quaking.
Why? Because “beauty is anything and everything and shouldn’t be limited,” shares Lee, the company’s founder, and CEO. OYTC is committed to delivering cruelty-free, impactful, ethical beauty products that inspire inclusion around the globe representing and honoring marginalized communities.
When finding inspiration for palettes and tones, Lee captures pigment samples from the world around us. Not to mention, all the top-notch products that started from the ground up are custom-made by only the best. With clean beauty at the forefront, ethical, vegan, and environmentally friendly ingredients were a must-have for the business.
But it’s not just about the make-up for Lee; it’s about the movement.
By disrupting the beauty industry and creating radical inclusivity in how we perceive beauty, OYTC aims to ensure that no one gets left behind. “This is a space where we are breaking down barriers and are creating conversations to bring us closer to form a more connected and compassionate world,” shares Lee.
What makes OYCT so unique is its paying-it-forward system. This is where one act of kindness can inspire similar actions in others who witness it, creating a cascade of behavior. Specifically, the creditor offers the debtor the option of paying the debt forward by lending it to a third person instead of paying it back to the original creditor. Here 100% of the donations are given out each month to those in need.
Students, single parents, and recovering addicts that can’t afford to buy makeup will receive free products thanks to your donations. And any remaining gifts will be given to a local charity called Rainbow Refugee. This supports LGBTQ+ refugees trapped in unsafe conditions “in countries where it’s illegal to be who they are.”
“Our community still has much growing to do, too.” Lee emphasizes that it’s essential for the community to stand together rather than tear itself apart: “If we start going in between our groups and spreading hate and harassment, it’s only going to divide us further, which works against us in the long run.”
Even though OYTC started in the corner of a 400 sqft apartment, it has grown into something that Lee would never have imagined. Fuelled by a boundless passion for impacting the world and making beauty and makeup approachable, Lee’s vision is to create the products, representation, and educational content she wished she had access to when beginning her transition.
“This is just as much our space as anybody else’s. We’re here, we’re queer, we’re gender fluid, we’re whatever you want to call it, and we’re not going anywhere. We deserve this space just as much as any straight, white, cis-gendered, six foot one, gorgeous model does.’”
OYT Cosmetics is not just a “Queer company who rainbow-washes their brand during June;” they serve great products to people in need and give back to communities that they believe are important. Most of all, it is a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth and more.
For more information, head over to OYTC’s website; Oytc.ca.To apply to receive makeup, please email info@courtneilee.com.
