In a powerful moment for the Australian beauty industry, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT recently hosted the first-ever Boundless Beauty Summit in Sydney—an event solely dedicated to making beauty more accessible for people with low vision or blindness. I had the pleasure of attending alongside Retail Beauty publisher, Nicci Herrera, as the summit brought together brands, disability advocates, content creators and accessibility experts to call for urgent change. At the heart of the day was keynote speaker Molly Burke, a global accessibility advocate who reminded the audience that inclusive design isn’t just good practice—it’s essential.

The event forms part of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT’s broader Boundless campaign — a bold vision to create a world without barriers for people living with low vision or blindness by 2030. While progress has been made in various sectors, the beauty industry continues to lag in areas such as packaging and product design, particularly in Australia.

“Brands overseas are beginning to embrace inclusive and universal design, but we’re lagging behind,” organisers said. “There’s a clear demand for change — 75% of Australian consumers want to see more accessibility built into everyday products. The time to act is now.”

Burke is a Canadian beauty influencer and globally recognised advocate for accessibility, inclusion, and disability rights. Blind since her teens due to a rare degenerative eye disease, Burke captivated the audience with her candid, often humorous reflections on navigating the beauty world as a blind woman.

“My biggest pain point every single day is going to the bathroom in public,” she shared. “Not because I’m pee-shy, but because the experience wasn’t designed for me. And that’s true of so many spaces, including beauty retail. Every time I go to buy a lipstick and I can’t read the label, I’m reminded: I wasn’t considered.”

Burke’s address combined vulnerability with a powerful call to action, urging the industry to rethink how it engages with disabled consumers. “The reality is that disabled people are one of the most discriminated against minority groups, yet disability itself does not discriminate. At any point — due to age, accident or illness — anyone can become disabled. So don’t you want the world to be ready for you?”

She offered practical suggestions for beauty brands — from tactile markings and high-contrast packaging to screen-reader-friendly QR codes and hiring disabled creators as advisors. “There’s no excuse anymore. We’re not hard to find. We’re already out there reviewing your products, creating content, and advocating. Put us on your PR lists. Include us in your campaigns. Invite us into your boardrooms. We don’t just bring a disability lens — we bring creativity, loyalty, and a valuable perspective.”

Burke also highlighted several beauty brands making strides in accessibility, including Too Faced, ILIA, Revlon and Rare Beauty, which she praised for incorporating accessible features and inclusive messaging.

The event featured a live panel moderated by ABC’s disability affairs reporter Nas Campanella. Speakers included:

  • Courtney Withers, app innovation specialist at Microsoft
  • Sandra Glynn, a renowned makeup artist with experience working with individuals who are blind or have low vision
  • Karlee Symmonds, a disability advocate with lived experience (Guide Dogs)
  • Kathleen Casford, founder of By Ninja Design and accessible brand Wilde
  • Alexandra Brayshaw, Accessible Design Manager at Arthritis Australia
  • Storm Menzies, founder of accessible beauty brand ByStorm
  • Lily Twelftree, beauty analyst at Barefaced Media
  • Molly Burke, global accessibility advocate

The summit also featured an “Inclusion Lab” – an interactive exhibition showcasing beauty packaging innovations like Braille labelling, tactile navigation tools, and audio QR codes. Inclusive local brands Okkiyo, Wilde, and ByStorm Beauty were also on show, demonstrating the potential of thoughtful design in action.

Backed by sobering statistics — over 5 million Australians live with a disability and 54% have a long-term eye condition — the event reinforced the commercial and ethical imperative for change.

“If you hand me a phone with a screen reader, I’m not disabled,” said Burke. “But if you give me a touchscreen with no accessibility features, now I need help. Not because I’m incapable, but because you didn’t consider me.”

Her emotional closing remarks brought the audience to their feet. “I’m not doing this for the brand deals or the views. I’m doing it for the five-year-old Mollies who dream of being on stage. For the girls too scared to wear makeup because they went blind. I’m doing this for a community far bigger than myself. And we deserve better.”

The Boundless Beauty Summit marks the beginning of a long-overdue industry conversation. For brands ready to lead, the opportunity is clear: inclusive design isn’t just better — it’s beautiful. Because beauty is for everyone. And that includes those who can’t see it.

Read the AUTUMN ’25 issue of Retail Beauty below:

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