Page 74 - S Fall 2024

76 4.5.6 Skin
Skincare is a science. To be its most effective, it requires research and education. Unfortunately for people of colour, that research is typically undervalued, ignored, or never done in the first place. Noelly Michoux is changing that with her innovatory brand, 4.5.6 Skin.
Michoux was born in Cameroon but raised in France. Throughout her years in Europe, she struggled to find solutions for her skin concerns. Years later, when she settled in New York, Michoux says she expected to find a plethora of products that would work for her. Instead, she found her concerns validated.
“For makeup, the [reason] was clear: limited shade ranges and undertones. But when it came to skincare—a colourless product—why was there such profound dissatisfaction among consumers?” she wondered to herself. “This question led me on a deep exploration of skin physiology and the skincare industry’s inner workings.”
Michoux spent three years building the world’s first Skin Tone Research Lab, working with leading dermatologists and skin tone scientists to develop and manufacture high-performance skincare that addresses the specific needs of melanated skin.
The name 4.5.6 comes from phototypes IV, V, and VI. Phototypes are used to categorize skin tone based on the amount of melanin pigment in skin—with IV, V, and VI containing the densest amount. Michoux’s products use technical vectors and transportation systems that allow ingredients to actually penetrate darker skin tones and promote cellular turnover.
Additionally, 4.5.6 Skin’s assortment of products focuses less on typical anti-aging ingredients (skin tones within the IV to VI range contain more elastin and collagen), and instead deal with hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, and brown or dark spots.
As a first-time entrepreneur and mom of two under three, the process hasn’t always been easy. Michoux admits that at times she’s been naive. But her vision has always been clear: to create something truly meaningful for women of colour.
“Melanin is a genetic privilege,” she says. “One that deserves to be nurtured, cherished, and protected.”
Shop 4.5.6 Skin at 456skin.com.
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Photos courtesy of 4.5.6 Skin.