Beauty without barriers

Storm Menzies is the founder of ByStorm Beauty, a startup dedicated to accessibility and inclusion in the beauty industry. What began as a personal challenge has grown into a mission to transform how beauty products are designed - and who they are designed for.

At I2N's Startup Stories on Wednesday 4 September, Storm described how a broken hand exposed the hidden design flaws in everyday makeup products. For someone with mild cerebral palsy affecting one side of her body, losing function in her dominant hand made even basic tasks difficult - and applying makeup nearly impossible.

One conversation stayed with her. When Storm asked a friend how she used makeup, the reply was simple and devastating: “Makeup is not made for people like me. And why would it be? No one sees us as beautiful.”

At Startup Stories, Storm brought this message to life by inviting the audience to wear simulation gloves that restricted hand movement. Participants quickly discovered how difficult it is to open or apply standard makeup products. The lesson was clear: beauty isn’t accessible for everyone. But it can be.

Top takeaways

• Recognising an overlooked need can spark a business grounded in real-world purpose.

• Inclusive design begins by centring those most often excluded from mainstream products.

• Accessibility in beauty is about more than usability — it’s about identity, dignity, and belonging.

• Open conversations with users lead to better solutions and more authentic brands.

• Designing for more people can also challenge and shift industry standards.

Storm’s motto is “Do it scared” - and she’s doing exactly that. She isn’t just inspired by the disability community; she’s designing with them. Bystorm Beauty is creating the world’s first adaptive makeup tools that are easy to grip, easy to open, and easy to use.

Since launching in July 2025, Bystorm has already sold more than 2,000 products, secured a collaboration with Celeste Barber’s Booie Beauty, and been featured in Marie Claire, Retail Beauty, Beauticate, and StartUp Daily.

The vision is bold: build products that work for more people, create a brand that reflects a wider range of bodies and abilities, and remind the industry that everyone deserves to feel beautiful.

If you missed it, catch up on Storms' story here.

The University of Newcastle's I2N works with individuals and organisations from across the Hunter region and beyond to turn ideas and challenges into opportunity. As a leading driver of economic and business growth, the I2N cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset that is behind many of the region's most innovative businesses and leaders.

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