Beauty brands seem to launch daily, but far too often, they overlook the needs of people with limited mobility or chronic pain. That’s exactly what inspired Aerin Glazer, a 21-year-old New York University student, to create an adaptive beauty brand that fills that gap. Enter TILT, which debuts today with two thoughtfully designed, ergonomic products: a grippy mascara that holds a curl like its job and hydrating lip balm, available in both tints and untinted options. TILT is already earning industry recognition, too, becoming the first beauty brand to receive The National Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Certification. And beyond its accessibility benefits, it’s also refillable, recyclable and gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Ahead, Glazer shares the inspiration behind the brand, the design process, and what’s next. Plus, shop the products at the end.
Can you tell us a bit about your personal journey with chronic pain and how it shaped your approach to beauty? Â
I’ve had Psoriatic Arthritis since I was young, and learned to manage the chronic pain that came with it. As a teenager, I discovered that beauty—specifically makeup—was a powerful tool for me. Despite the joy makeup brought me, I often faced challenges using products. Most were hard to use due to the strain they put on my hands and joints, or they irritated my skin.
This personal experience shaped my approach to beauty: I wanted to create products that were accessible and comfortable for people with joint mobility limitations or sensitive skin. This journey led me to start TILT, a brand that’s about making beauty inclusive, functional, and fun for everyone.
What challenges did you face as someone with chronic pain while using traditional makeup products?
Makeup products with hard, rigid plastic and small tools are difficult to hold. If I try to use products like this, it usually irritates my arthritis. And with shaky hands, it is difficult to apply things like mascara. No one wants to end up with mascara all over their eyelids. Dealing with these challenges firsthand gave me a really clear idea of what would be important to me when developing TILT.
Were there specific experiences or moments that sparked the idea to create this line?
I often found myself trying to modify my products to try to make them easier to use. I just thought, there has to be a better way. There are so many people living with joint mobility limitations and such a small number of beauty products specifically designed to work for this community. Creating TILT has been a dream of mine and something I’ve been working on for the past five years.
