Students Undergrad’s Nonprofit Gets Personal Care Products to Youth in Need Stories You May Like Alum’s Company Creates Cosmetics for Women on the Go ‘Dump and Run’ Turns Student Castoffs into Treasure Student-Run Farm Grows Crops—and Community Foundation Beauty solicits donations of cosmetics and hygiene items from top brands like Sephora, Fenty, and many more By Melissa Newcomb Beauty is more than skin deep—but for Isabelle Schwartz ’28, access to lipstick or face wash shouldn’t be a luxury. While still in high school, Schwartz created a nonprofit that gives high-end beauty and hygiene products to young people who might not otherwise have access to them. Since Foundation Beauty was founded in 2020, she says, it has distributed more than $2 million worth of donated goods. “Teenage years are a time of change, when people are exploring their identity and how they want to present themselves to the world,” says Schwartz, a biomedical engineering major. “It’s also a time of feeling insecure, having skin issues, and having hygiene needs. Everybody should have access to what they need to be confident, regardless of economic status.” Gift bags filled with donated products. Foundation Beauty aims to achieve that goal by partnering with other nonprofits that work with youth from a variety of backgrounds, including those that are economically disadvantaged, have disabilities, are LGBTQ+, or are teen parents. After ascertaining what beauty and hygiene products are most in demand by an organization’s clients, Foundation volunteers pack and decorate gift bags filled with items donated by top brands including Laura Mercier, Sephora, Fenty Beauty, Rare Beauty, Glossier, Glow Recipe, Nécessaire, and many more. The gift bags can be tailored to include cosmetics, personal hygiene products, or a mixture of both. The gift bags can be tailored to include cosmetics, personal hygiene products, or a mixture of both. The makeup packages feature everything needed to create a full face—from foundation, blush, bronzer, and highlighter, to eyeshadow, mascara, lip liner, and gloss. Hygiene bags can include shampoos, conditioners, bar soaps, body and face washes, lotions, moisturizers, and more. Why does a group called Foundation Beauty distribute products for personal hygiene? Schwartz says some teens have told her that because they lack access to them, they’ve been embarrassed to go to school—plus, offering items beyond cosmetics has allowed the organization to be more inclusive to boys. Loading bags for transport. Foundation’s donations have gone to numerous partnering organizations, such as a children’s aid group in Harlem, a YWCA in Western Massachusetts, a city schools program in Syracuse, and a Texas nonprofit that supports youth who’ve experienced sexual exploitation or trafficking. “Being part of making someone’s day by giving them the ability to lift their mood—it’s really amazing,” says Schwartz, who grew up in NYC. “And I learn a lot from everybody that I have the opportunity to meet.” Stories You May Like Alum’s Company Creates Cosmetics for Women on the Go ‘Dump and Run’ Turns Student Castoffs into Treasure Schwartz started Foundation Beauty when she was just 14 and stuck at home during the COVID lockdown, when her middle school moved classes online. Struggling to stay motivated, she began putting on colorful makeup each morning, finding that it brought her joy and added structure to her day. She knew she was fortunate to have quality products—and wanted to help other young people access them too. With help from her parents, she incorporated Foundation Beauty as a nonprofit and began cold-calling and emailing beauty brands. Being part of making someone’s day by giving them the ability to lift their mood—it’s really amazing. After many rejections, her living room started filling up with boxes of products—so many that she had to move them into a storage unit. She vividly recalls the first donation—from Fenty, the beauty brand founded by music superstar Rihanna—which sent a pallet of products. And subsequent deliveries from other sources were even more memorable. “I opened the door, and there was an 18-wheeler delivery truck with thousands of foundations in every single color,” she recalls of one. “It was like a dream.” As Foundation grew, she eventually enlisted hundreds of student volunteers at the Massachusetts boarding school (Deerfield Academy) she attended for high school to package and ship products. Schwartz (center) and volunteers during a packaging session. She has continued her work since matriculating on the Hill, where she pledged Kappa Delta sorority and is working toward a career in reconstructive plastic surgery. Says Schwartz: “My ultimate goal in life is to make people feel confident, happy, and able to achieve whatever they want to achieve.” Top: Schwartz in the Klarman Hall atrium (Noël Heaney / Cornell University). All other photos provided. Published March 31, 2025 Comments Man Thapa, Class of 1998 9 Apr, 2025 Great initiative Schwartz! Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Alumni Alum’s Documentary Profiles Famed Physician Anthony Fauci, MD ’66 Students From Food Network to TikTok, Hotelie Is a Gen-Z Culinary Star Quizzes & Puzzles May / June ’24 Trivia Roundup