Welcome to Lessons In Cool, a new series all about the people we’re constantly inspired by. They are tastemakers, curators of style, thought leaders, and well, just cool.

Alicia Scott is the founder and CEO of Range Beauty, a clean beauty collection that was developed for the “forgotten shades.” While working various fashion jobs after she graduated, she noticed a pattern of Black models arriving on set with their own makeup kits due to the lack of products available for their skin tones. Scott’s own experience with eczema and acne also made it difficult to find products that worked for her, and Range Beauty was born.

The collection is made with soothing botanicals that calm sensitive skin and come in a wide range of shades to suit every skin tone. We caught up with the founder to hear more about her must-have products and what cool means to her.

Name & Occupation:

Alicia Scott, Founder/CEO of Range Beauty

Describe yourself in 3 words:

Creative, Insightful, Loving

First thing you do when you wake up:

Lately, I've been really bad at checking my phone! I open it right to my emails. Working on it though.

The 5 beauty products you can’t live without:

These are really my night and day beauty go-tos. With my sensitive skin and eczema, I'm very careful about what I reach for and the ingredients. All of these products are really great to my skin, keep it hydrated, and help when my skin is irritated.

1. Farmacy Green Clean

2. Betranscendent Skin Nourish Moisturizer

3. Range Beauty True Intentions Hydrating Foundation

4. Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

5. Cerave Healing Cream

Your style uniform is:

I like to wear a lot of neutral colors. I prefer fitted clothing mixed with a comfortable piece, leggings with an oversized sweatshirt and jacket or a bodysuit with sweats. I like showing off my slight curves so something in the outfit is typically catering to that because I love my shape. Overall, comfy and minimal but chic and polished. I've also been loving sneakers lately, especially the Nike ZoomX Vista Grind. I have them in 5 colors and always have a pair on.

The song you have on repeat:

"Do You" by Ryan Destiny

Recipe you’ve perfected:

Hands down my shrimp tacos and guac with homemade chips. My shrimp tacos are just the best, I enjoy eating them but also making them for others and seeing their reaction. I fry corn tortillas, add a fresh mango habanero salsa, season the shrimp with my special spice blend and make the guac and chips alongside black beans and yellow rice. Wow I want some right now!

Last person you texted:

My dad! He asked if I was okay in the snow. I’m in Atlanta and the snow melted before it even hit the ground.

What does “cool” mean to you?

Cool to me means choosing to do the right thing even when others are doing wrong.

For more from Alicia, follow her at @alicia.aes and @range_beauty