We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Skylar Taylor a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Skylar, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry?

Breaking the Corporate Mold: Why Listening Matters in Beauty & Wellness
By Skylar Taylor, Founder + Creative Director, Taylor Melrose

Corporate America in the beauty and wellness industry has a glaring weakness: a failure to listen. This disconnect—between leadership, employees, and consumers—stems from an outdated approach to business management that prioritizes hierarchy over strategic adaptability.

For too long, corporate structures have operated in rigid, top-down models borrowed from military hierarchies of past centuries. These structures may have worked in the industrial era when the focus was mass production and operational scale, but they don’t serve the needs of today’s consumer-driven, experience-focused market. Instead, they create managerial silos that stifle innovation, hinder strategic growth, and prevent companies from truly understanding their customers.

In my industry, beauty and personal care, this lack of adaptability means brands often miss the mark on inclusivity, ingredient transparency, and the evolving needs of diverse consumers. I’ve seen firsthand how large corporations prioritize scale over soul—pushing products without deeply considering the real impact on communities, the environment, or even their own workforce. The result? A disconnect between what consumers need and what companies deliver.

At Taylor Melrose, we operate differently. We see strategic growth as more than just increasing revenue—it’s about fostering meaningful relationships, staying responsive to cultural shifts, and aligning our brand with the values of our consumers. I believe the role of management should reflect company culture, the needs of consumers, and the world “our planet” as a whole. The future belongs to companies/innovators that listen, adapt, and create space for collaboration rather than control.

Corporate America has an opportunity to evolve. The question is: will they listen?

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Skylar Taylor: Designing Beauty with Purpose & Passion
Founder + Creative Director, Taylor Melrose

I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, but my heart has always belonged to the creative energy of Los Angeles. As an Afro-Latino and a West Hollywood transplant, my journey in beauty and design has been deeply personal—shaped by my family’s longstanding ties to the TV, film, modeling, and beauty industries. Growing up, I was surrounded by artistry, innovation, and an ever-evolving sense of style.

For the past 20 years, I’ve worked with some of the most iconic brands, My expertise focusing on marketing, packaging design, branding, and consumer experience. But my biggest motivator was always stability—for my son. I dedicated years to building a corporate career, ensuring his future came first. Now, as a empty nester, I’ve shifted my focus forward to my passion—designing beauty and wellness experiences that truly resonate with people.

My background in graphic design (BA, Art Institute) gave me the tools to translate creativity into commerce. Moving to Los Angeles amplified my opportunities, launching me into beauty and personal care packaging design—a field where I immediately fell in love with the tangible impact of my work. Seeing my artistry go straight to shelf was exhilarating. It was the perfect blend of creativity and technical expertise, and I quickly recognized opportunities within the industry that others overlooked.

Why Taylor Melrose?
After conducting extensive market research and SWOT analysis on competitors, I identified glaring white space and areas of opportunity in beauty and personal care. Yet, my ideas were often met with ego, resistance, and the classic “LA attitude.” Instead of waiting for a seat at someone else’s table, I built my own—launching Taylor Melrose as both a creative outlet and a brand rooted in mindful wellness.

Taylor Melrose is a love letter to self-care and inclusive beauty. We create affordable luxury products designed to be both efficacious and accessible. Our mission is to foster a community where beauty and wellness are not just indulgences, but rituals of self-love, empowerment, and authenticity.

What Sets Us Apart?
Intentional Formulations – Ingredient-conscious, high-performance products designed for diverse skin needs.
Luxury Without Limits – Premium quality, but without the exclusivity barrier. Everyone deserves to feel seen and celebrated.
Community-Centric Approach – We engage directly with our customers, ensuring their voices help shape the brand.
A Story-Driven Brand – Taylor Melrose isn’t just about products; it’s about the people, the rituals, and the cultural shifts that redefine beauty.
What I’m Most Proud Of
Beyond launching a business, I’m proud of the impact we’ve made—from partnering with Handle with Care LA, to donating time and products to Project Angel Food and funding to organizations supporting the reforestation. We plant a tree for every product purchased. Taylor Melrose stands for more than just skincare; we stand for equity, representation, and care that extends beyond the surface.

For those discovering us for the first time—welcome. Taylor Melrose is here to redefine beauty on your terms. We’re not just a brand; we’re a movement. A mindful, modern approach to luxury wellness.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience Through Creativity: A Founder’s Journey
By Skylar Taylor, Founder & Creative Director, Taylor Melrose

As an Afro-Latino, gay, and disability-owned business owner, my journey has been anything but easy. The road to success has been paved with adversity—some of it blatant, some of it subtle, but all of it requiring resilience, tenacity, and an unwavering belief in myself.

In corporate spaces, I quickly learned that I had to work three times as hard to be seen and heard. Even then my ideas and talents were cherry picked and not fully utilized. Whether due to my neurodivergence, my identity, or biases I couldn’t control, I often found myself having to overcompensate just to be taken seriously. The barriers—whether conscious or unconscious—were real. Yet, I refused to let them define me.

Like music and art, graphic design and beauty transcend barriers. Creativity is universal; it speaks in ways that words sometimes cannot. I poured myself into my work, using my artistry to carve a space where I didn’t just belong—I thrived. While advocating for others who felt unseen, I also had to self-advocate in ways that were exhausting but necessary.

There were moments when I felt like an underdog in my own industry, but I stayed steadfast in my personal and professional growth. I committed to learning, evolving, and turning obstacles into opportunities. And in the end, love conquers all. My love for beauty, for design, for storytelling—this love is what fuels Taylor Melrose. It’s a brand built on resilience, inclusivity, and the belief that everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and cared for.

My story isn’t just about overcoming adversity—it’s about creating something meaningful despite it. Taylor Melrose is proof that resilience, passion, and creativity can break through any barrier. Don’t just take my word for it check us out in Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Glamour, and even LA times. These are pinch me moments.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The Power of Asking: Lessons from My Creative Journey
By Skylar Taylor, Founder & Creative Director, Taylor Melrose

If there’s one resource I wish I had embraced earlier, it’s the power of asking for help. For so long, I believed in the idea of “fake it until you make it,” but in reality, that mindset can be limiting. Growth comes from being authentically you, owning where you are in your journey, and understanding that maturity—both creatively and professionally—takes time. What’s meant for you will come when it’s your time.

Asking for help doesn’t mean weakness; it means wisdom. It can be reaching out for mentor-protégé relationships, seeking guidance from industry veterans, or even volunteering in spaces where you want to grow. The truth is, we don’t know what we don’t know, and the only way to bridge that gap is to ask.

And when you hear “no”? Ask someone else. Keep asking. Keep learning. The creative industry thrives on connection, and sometimes, the right conversation can open doors you never knew existed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://taylormelrosebeauty.com
• Instagram: @taylormelrosela
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylormelrosela/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skylartaylor/
• Other: https://amazon.com/taylormelrose

Image Credits

All rights reserved. Taylor Melrose ®