Back from a successful business trip to Barbados, and celebrating an even more triumphant start-up anniversary, Dianne Plummer is eager to introduce her True Shade Cosmetics, a line of make-up products formulated for any skin type.

The Jamaican-born chemical engineer left Jamaica for Stockholm, Sweden in 2011 to pursue a master’s degree in sustainable energy engineering, then moved to Helsinki, Finland to complete her studies.

A lover of beauty and cosmetics, Plummer struggled to find make-up that matched her skin tone and didn’t affect her eczema or cause breakouts. Armed with a BEng in chemical engineering, Plummer did the research ahead of creating her own line of all-natural cosmetics — True Shade Cosmetics. Under the Dryer sits down with the ardent Dianne Plummer.

Under the Dryer (UTD): How did the True Shade Cosmetics idea come about?

Dianne Plummer (DP): I decided to start making my own make-up. I did the research, and the first product I made matched my skin tone perfectly. Once my friends caught on they wanted their own make-up too. My first big break came from Colours International in Helsinki, a salon owned by a Jamaican woman who decided to retail True Shade Cosmetics. I thought to myself, “Why produce in someone else’s country when I can come home and make history, rather than join the many cosmetic brands in Europe?” After graduation, I returned home, registered my company, and started production.

UTD: Give us the breakdown of a day in the life of Dianne.

DP: My day is usually quite hectic. I am also a chemical engineering lecturer at the University of Technology. Whenever I find free time, I head to the lab in Richmond Park and continue production or sort packaging for export, among other things, so it’s usually a very busy day. Because I love both jobs, my only challenge is trying to balance a social life, my work life, and the business.

UTD: What kind of ingredients do you use?

DP: I only use natural ingredients, and as such all my products are mineral-based. I use as many local-grown ingredients as possible, from all-natural minerals to essential oils such as coconut or annatto oils, and aloe vera, to name a few.

UTD: What’s next for True Shade Cosmetics?

DP: I just came back from Barbados where I was promoting the line during their annual crop-over season, for about two weeks. My sister, Marcia Weekes is a film-maker in Barbados, and through her contacts I got the chance to meet with local entrepreneurs and companies that I’ve introduced to True Shade Cosmetics, that’s how we found Exotica — a cosmetics store at the Dacosta Mall in Bridgetown, Barbados — which now distributes Your True Shade. We had a product launch in the store just last week, and it was very successful. I also did a showcase on Good Morning Barbados. People were so intrigued; we started selling immediately. Viewers were calling in, trying to find the product, offer congrats, and share how excited they were that a young entrepreneur from the Caribbean was manufacturing her own line of cosmetics. The next step is for me to ensure that Your True Shade becomes a household name in Jamaica, and further, branching off into the Caribbean and internationally. My sister will be using Your True Shade in her upcoming productions, and I’m also sending samples to a film producer in Antigua who is interested in using Your True Shade for her next movie.

UTD: Where can our readers purchase your products?

DP: Nicole’s Beauty Supplies in York Plaza offers our make-up brush cleaner; DVine Living Essentials in Montego Bay carries loose powders, moisturisers, and foundations. Nettle & Moss Cosmetics & Beauty Supplies store and the Things Jamaican corporate offices in Kingston have a more extensive line of Your True Shade products. Rêve Jewellery & Accessories at Devon House was the very first local retailer of Your True Shade Cosmetics, and they still have products as well.

To find your true shade, contact:

Dianne Plummer

CEO/Founder

True Shade Cosmetics Limited

(876) 872-8812/906-7766

e-mail: info@yourtrueshade.com

facebook.com/trueshadecosmetics

On Instagram and Twitter @yourtrueshade