Most people open a jar of moisturizer or apply lipstick without a second thought. But for people with limited dexterity, those routine interactions with cosmetics and skincare can be a daily struggle. Aiming to remove a few common barriers, Brazilian beauty conglomerate Grupo Boticário designed two simple accessories.
The first is a thin piece of natural rubber that resembles a flexible coaster. It can be used under a container to hold it in place or over a lid to provide extra grip. The second tool, also made of rubber, is a tube that fits over cylindrical packaging — like a mascara wand or a lip pencil — to create a thicker, more ergonomic handle for easier, steadier application.
Boticário is distributing the accessories free of charge and spent two years developing them in collaboration with Mercur, a Brazilian manufacturer of rubber products. The development process involved individuals with upper limb motor limitations, physiotherapists, designers, engineers and occupational therapists. Boticário's own Beleza Livre community, a co-creation group featuring people from marginalized communities, was instrumental in testing and improving the tools.
