A new paradigm for beauty and wellness has arrived in Lagos. Dr. Bolaji Mogaji, founder of Rubellite Cosmetics, has unveiled Rubellite—a first-of-its-kind holistic beauty experience space in Victoria Island. More than a salon or studio, Rubellite is a manifesto for change, built on the core principles of collaboration, inclusivity, and community for women of colour.
During the launch event, Dr. Mogaji issued a powerful call to action, urging stakeholders across Africa’s beauty and cosmetics industry to shift from competition to cooperation. “Collaboration and inclusiveness are not just nice-to-haves; they are the bedrock for the sustainable growth of our entire sector,” she stated. This vision responds to a fragmented industry where services are often siloed, and community is an afterthought.
Filling a Critical Gap: The Holistic Haven
Rubellite was born from Dr. Mogaji’s personal journey navigating the beauty industry as a Black woman entrepreneur. “Throughout my journey, I found it difficult to access everything I needed in one place,” she explained, highlighting a common pain point. “As women of colour, we are often not the first people to be considered in global beauty standards.”
Rubellite directly addresses this by integrating a comprehensive suite of services under one roof:
- Beauty Services: Expert hair styling, makeup, nails, and lashes.
- Content Creation: A dedicated photography studio, offering free content creation opportunities to empower clients and influencers.
- Wellness & Community: A focus on mental wellness and connection through monthly themed events designed to foster networking and knowledge sharing.
“Hundreds of women come into beauty spaces daily but hardly know one another,” Mogaji noted. “We are changing that narrative by creating a community where women connect, share, and grow together.”
Beyond the Service: A Vision for Africa’s Beauty Economy
Dr. Mogaji’s ambitions extend far beyond a single location. She positioned Rubellite as a microcosm of the vast, untapped potential within Africa’s beauty industry—a multi-million-dollar sector ripe for innovation.
Key pillars of her vision include:
- Affordable Quality: Products are deliberately priced to cater to diverse income levels without compromise, challenging the notion that quality must be exclusive.
- Ingredient Sovereignty: “The future of beauty in Africa lies in developing our own skincare ingredients,” she asserted. “In the next 10 years, African brands will dominate because we understand our problems and are building the solutions.” This points to a future less reliant on imported formulations and more on indigenous, scientifically-backed resources.
- Tech-Enabled Service: She underscored the role of technology, such as automated booking and digital reminders, in enhancing client experience and operational efficiency—a crucial step in modernizing the industry’s infrastructure.
The Personal Journey: Resilience Realized
Recounting her nearly decade-long path, Dr. Mogaji described the launch as the realization of a profound dream. “It feels like a Barbie dream come true; this has been seven years of perseverance, focus, and resilience,” she shared. This personal narrative underscores the tenacity required to build a concept that challenges the status quo and paves the way for others.
Rubellite stands not just as a new business, but as a beacon for a more connected, empowered, and self-defined African beauty ecosystem. It invites collaboration at every level—from the clients in its chair to the entrepreneurs and brands across the continent—to co-create a future where beauty is synonymous with community and collective growth.
Edited by Sandra Umeh
