Inspiring Conversations with Dr. Melodie Davis-Bundrage of LUV + CO COSMETICS

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Melodie Davis-Bundrage.

Hi Dr. Melodie , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey into conscious beauty as a brand founder began at the intersection of lived experience, academic rigor, and a commitment to beauty justice. With a PhD in International Merchandising and a concentration in Beauty Product Development, I spent over a decade as a higher education leader—serving as an Associate Professor of retail, fashion and beauty merchandising programs, former Chair of the College of Business, and director of entrepreneurship programs. I published scholarly work, including peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, focused on beauty justice for Black women—research that was deeply informed by personal and family health challenges and professional experience in the beauty industry, including working for brands that didn’t formulate products for melanated sensitive skin. Over time, I recognized a persistent gap: Black women were still underserved, unseen, and often harmed by mainstream beauty products and narratives.

That realization led to the launch of **LUV + CO**, a clean, conscious beauty brand created as a love letter to Black women and a declaration that their skin deserves safety, care, and affirmation. After winning the UGA Next Top Entrepreneur business pitch award, I officially brought LUV + CO to life, grounding the brand in non-toxic formulations, melanated skin expertise, and wellness-centered storytelling. Today, LUV + CO is recognized as a leader in conscious beauty—featured in outlets such as *Global Cosmetic Industry Magazine*, *Beauty Independent*, and *MindBodyGreen*, and included on trusted lists of the safest non-toxic beauty brands for Black women. From its clean beauty retail presence in Georgia to innovative concepts like the LUV Teen Clean Beauty Camp educational experiences, the brand continues to redefine beauty as a safe space—one rooted in love, justice, and holistic well-being.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road. Over the past 13 years, growing LUV + CO has required resilience in the face of systemic and industry-wide barriers that disproportionately impact Black-owned beauty brands. From the beginning, limited access to capital made it challenging to invest consistently in marketing, brand awareness, and the team infrastructure needed to scale. High minimum order quantities (MOQs) for clean and non-toxic product development created additional financial strain, slowing innovation despite strong consumer demand. Like many Black-owned brands, LUV + CO has also navigated limited visibility and gatekeeping within traditional retail, where shelf space, buyer access, and promotional support are often out of reach. Even partnerships with indie boutiques—while values-aligned—have been constrained by tight wholesale budgets and conservative buying patterns, making sustainable growth difficult. Despite these challenges, LUV + CO has persisted, proving that purpose-driven brands rooted in justice and wellness can survive and grow, even within an inequitable beauty ecosystem. We have created our own shelves in the form of a brick-and-mortar beauty boutique, a national independent cosmetics consultant program and funded our Amazon launch to be able to grow and fulfill more orders.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
LUV + CO is a conscious cosmetics brand specializing in certified non-toxic skincare, makeup, and body care intentionally formulated for melanated and sensitive skin. We are known for centering **beauty justice**—creating products that are not only safe and effective, but also affirming for Black women who have historically been overlooked or harmed by the beauty industry. Our formulations prioritize skin health, barrier support, and comfort, and our approach blends science, wellness, and storytelling to ensure our customers feel both seen and protected. Beyond products, LUV + CO offers education, custom experiences, and community-centered services that reframe beauty as care rather than correction.

What sets LUV + CO apart is the depth of expertise and intention behind the brand. Founded by Dr. Melodie Davis-Bundrage—an award-winning entrepreneur, professor, and beauty justice scholar—LUV + CO is built on both lived experience and academic research, not trends. We don’t simply create “clean” products; we advocate for safer cosmetics, transparency, and equity in beauty, while designing offerings that truly perform on melanated skin. Brand-wise, we are most proud of becoming a trusted safe space for our community—being recognized by national media, included on leading non-toxic brand lists for Black women, and growing from an idea into a respected clean beauty destination accessible in our neighborhoods. We want readers to know that LUV + CO is more than a beauty brand—it is a love letter, a wellness resource, and a movement committed to ensuring that Black women’s skin, stories, and well-being are never an afterthought. We want them to know that shopping with us funds black creatives that we work with, product development, and planned sustainable growth of additional locally owned/operated healthy beauty studio locations in melanated communities around the country.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory was my mother taking me to a Fashion Fair cosmetics class at the Hecht’s department store when I was a preteen. It was my first experience learning about skincare and covering dark spots. It was therapy to me because I suffered from a severe case of chicken pox in the early 1970’s before the vaccine that left severe hyperpigmentation on my face and was a constant source of teasing and feeling insecure. I’m now proud to be able to offer that same security and impact to my customers in a modern way, based on research results to minimize health inequities and an adaptive use of color theory for a better color matching system.

Pricing:

• Price Range from $14 – $48
• Discounted Skincare Bundles
• Teen Beauty Camps $499
• Cosmetic Studio Services/Workshops $10 – $45

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.luvandcompany.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luvandcobeauty
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luvandcobeauty
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@luvandcobeauty
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/luvandcobeauty