The Hustle Grant names Beauty Forr Ashes founder as August 2026 recipient

The Hustle Grant has awarded a $1,000 micro-grant to Tiana McMillan, founder of Beauty Forr Ashes, a handmade skincare brand built around eczema relief. The funding is meant to help her scale production and test paid social marketing as she expands beyond soaps.

Why it matters: - The Hustle Grant is putting cash directly into a women-owned business that has grown without outside investment or paid advertising. - The award gives Tiana McMillan new capital to lower production costs and test marketing channels that could help Beauty Forr Ashes scale. - The grant also spotlights a founder building a skincare brand from a personal need: finding a gentler option for eczema care.

What happened: - The Hustle Grant named Tiana McMillan of Beauty Forr Ashes its August 2026 grant recipient on Aug. 15, 2026. - McMillan will receive $1,000 for her handcrafted, eczema-focused skincare line. - The Hustle Grant supports women-owned businesses across the United States through monthly $1,000 micro-grants.

The details: - McMillan is a licensed practical nurse who started developing her own soap after her son was diagnosed with eczema. - She wanted a natural alternative instead of prolonged steroid cream use. - Beauty Forr Ashes took shape in 2023, McMillan began producing bars in 2024, and sales launched in 2025. - The brand name comes from Isaiah 61:3. - Each bar includes sea moss, aloe vera, turmeric and senna leaf. - McMillan selected those ingredients for their effect on inflammation and itching. - McMillan said her son has had minimal flare-ups since using the soap. - Customers have reported similar results, including one mother who used the soap on a newborn with eczema-prone skin. - McMillan has grown the business without outside investment or paid advertising. - Beauty Forr Ashes has earned nine five-star Google reviews. - A cost-plus pricing analysis led McMillan to raise prices from $10 and $8 to $17 and $11 per bar. - McMillan plans to use half the grant for bulk production materials to reduce per-unit costs. - She plans to use the other half for her first paid social advertising test on Instagram and TikTok. - McMillan handles production, marketing and business development herself.

Between the lines: - The grant appears aimed at founders who have already shown traction but need modest capital to improve margins and reach more customers. - Beauty Forr Ashes has already moved through several early-stage milestones, but McMillan is still operating as a solo founder. - The pricing change suggests the business is shifting from hobby-level pricing toward a more sustainable retail model.

What's next: - McMillan plans to expand Beauty Forr Ashes into shave oils built on the same sea moss base used in her soaps. - She will also test whether paid social ads can convert attention into sales on Instagram and TikTok. - The Hustle Grant will continue selecting monthly winners for its micro-grant program.

The bottom line: - Beauty Forr Ashes is moving from bootstrapped startup to a business with funding, clearer pricing and a growth plan.