In my teen years as a deeply pigmented, self-proclaimed makeup queen, finding the perfect blush and lipstick shade was a daunting experiment. Then came the discouraging hunt for the right hue of foundation and powder. Most deep or dark shades served as a glaring (and ashy) veiled reminder that not all skin tones are deemed worthy of a perfect makeup match.

Yet, I was merely one of many in the sea of Black and brown people looking for their ideal makeup palette in the one-size-fits-all beauty industry of the early 00s. This lack of inclusivity and representation is one of the key reasons Cece Meadows, founder-CEO of Prados Beauty, tapped into what is now her lifes work.

Inspired by her Xicana, Yoeme and Nmn roots, Meadows established Prados Beauty in 2018 to highlight that Indigenous representation in beauty is necessary and invaluable. Every facet of the company pays homage to Meadows culture from the companys moniker (prados means meadows in Spanish) to her brands charming hummingbird insignia.

The hummingbird has a special two-fold meaning for Meadows.

To many Indigenous people, the hummingbird is an important symbol, but it means different things to different people. First, it brings me a lot of peace when I see a hummingbird, she said. In Indigenous culture, hummingbirds are often associated with intelligence, beauty and love.

Hailing from a quaint farm town called Texas Hill outside of Yuma, Arizona, Meadows also recalls seeing hummingbirds throughout her grandparents yard. Since she loved singing as a child, her grandparents even gave her the nickname Bird.

Meadows mission to layer intention into every facet of her company stems from her experience shopping for cosmetics as a youth. I was raised by a beautiful Black woman, my godmother. I went to live with her when I was 15. We had the task of going to Walmart or Target and buying four shades. I have this range of two different colors because the melanin in my skin changes throughout the seasons and many people dont understand that, she said.

Despite the lack of product options, Meadows still describes buying cosmetics with her godmother as straightforward. So when someone comes to Prados Beauty, I want the experience to be easy, she explained. I want you to pick up a blush whether youre a redbone or a yellow bone, from Sudan, Haiti, Jamaica, Oaxaca, Cree from Canada or wherever, youll know our cosmetics will work for your skin tone.

Its important to know where you come from and respect that, because the products that work for someone else arent necessarily going to work for you. And so being inclusive, to me, is the ultimate thing, she said.