This 13-Year-Old Founder Is Redefining Skin Care For Her Generation

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In an oversaturated skin-care market, Coco Granderson has quickly shown why her company truly stands out from the rest. At the tender age of 13, Granderson comes with a fresh approach to the industry, having launched her own brand, Yes Day, in partnership with Rhode chemist Ron Robinson and her mom, Danielle. It was inspired by Granderson’s personal experiences with irritation after using products formulated for adults that she saw on YouTube and TikTok. Reflecting on her own experience and those of her friends, she noticed a void in age-appropriate options. It wasn’t long before she set out on a mission, developing a line of products that not only make tweens feel confident about skin care, but are genuinely good for them, too.

Ahead, the founder opens up about balancing the demands of being a CEO and a teenager, what makes her feel most confident, and how the brand promotes gentle, simple, and age-appropriate skin care, helping young people feel seen and confident without the complicated regimen.

Popsugar: Can you tell us about your first experience with beauty?
Coco Granderson: I started using skin-care products just for fun, and really loved taking care of my skin.

PS: When did you first start thinking about creating your own beauty brand, and what made you want to go for it?
CG: I started looking up routines on TikTok and YouTube, but that’s when my skin started to get irritated from using adult products. My mom told me I should use products for my age and that’s when I began searching. There weren’t a lot of things for my age group. Maybe some had good packaging, but not the best ingredients, or [they] had good ingredients, but not the best packaging. So I wanted something that ticked off all the boxes, something that was truly meant for me.

PS: What inspired the name, Yes Day?
CG: It was my sister’s birthday, and we do a thing called “Yes Day,” where everyone says yes to the birthday girl. She would always say, “It’s my yes day, it’s my yes day.” And we decided that’s such a good name for a skin-care brand. On your “Yes Day,” you feel like you’re the boss; you’re the queen.

PS: Has your relationship with skin care changed since starting Yes Day?
CG: Definitely. Since I understand it more and know that I actually need it now, I’m using way less products and not just for fun. I’m doing it more because my skin needs it.

PS: What does a typical day look like for you as both a teenager and a business owner?
CG: I feel like I’m still a normal teenager. But, it’s kind of hard to balance the brand, going to school, hanging with friends, and volleyball. Sometimes, my mom would get me during study hall or lunch to do a meeting, but I know I have to make sacrifices sometimes.

PS: People have a lot of opinions about skin care for tweens. How does Yes Day encourage kids your age to have a healthy, fun relationship with beauty?
CG: We’re really focused on gentle, simple routines because at 12 and 13, you actually need skin care. You’re going through all these hormonal changes, and it’s better to start a little younger, rather than just when you get a pimple. When I got my first one, I didn’t know what to do and put on all this stuff that really angered my skin, so it’s easier if you start earlier.

PS: If you had to use five beauty products for the rest of your life, what would they be?
CG: The Yes Day Whip Dream Face Moisturizer ($32) because it’s lightweight, the Yes Day Lip Sweetie Hydrating Lip Mask ($15), and the Kosas DreamBeam Comfy Smooth Broad Spectrum Sunscreen ($40). Also, I can’t go a day without curling my lashes, so I use the Shiseido Eyelash Curler ($28), and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Mini Brow Gel ($16).

PS: What do you hope Yes Day helps change for kids who are just starting to get interested in skin care?
CG: I hope it makes them feel seen and not like they have to use all these products to feel confident. You only need a couple of things for your skin to feel amazing.

Naomi Parris is the assistant shopping editor at Popsugar, based in New York. With over eight years of experience and previous roles held on the brand’s Beauty and Operations teams, she enjoys telling stories that merge fashion, beauty, and Black culture. Naomi has also lent her skillful pen to Essence Girls United, Elle, Bustle, and Elite Daily. When she’s not crafting shopping roundups, high-profile features, beauty op-eds, or trend guides, you can find Naomi behind her blog “Eli-Nay,” where she inspires readers through style guides, cultural pieces, and innovative content on her Instagram.