PEORIA MAGAZINE April 2023

S P O T L I G H T

THE SK-EYE LINER IS THE LIMIT From the kitchen to cosmetics,

the LaHoods are proving themselves nothing if not adaptable with ColorForge

BY LISA COON PHOTO BY RON JOHNSON

John LaHood, (left) Caroline LaHood and Richard LaHood

While the brothers continue their daily responsibilities with the family business in the Peoria area, Quincy and Decatur – Richard serves as president, John as general manager – the recipes consuming them of late go beyond the sweet bread and savory meat sauce offered at their 13 restaurants. ColorForge has the first patented 3D binder jet printing process to manufacture powder-based cosmetics and product casing simultaneously. Those cosmetic lines include eye shadow, pressed and finishing powder, and bronzers. John is president, Richard vice president and Caroline heads up operations. Robin Albin, formerly with Estee Lauder, serves as an

advisor, and Kate Black, a professor of manufacturing at the University of Liverpool in England, is a consultant. HOW IT BEGAN You could say the brothers’ journey into the world of cosmetics began when they were the only boys in a home with seven sisters. “They were always around makeup. Always waiting for their sisters to finish getting their makeup on,” Caroline said. In 2014, John and Caroline found themselves at an additive manufacturing conference, where they saw printed food for the first time. “John thought, if they can do that, maybe we could print cosmetics,”

R ecipes are taking on a whole new meaning for brothers John and Richard LaHood these days. Together with John’s wife Caroline, the LaHoods are branching out from the kitchens of LaGondola Spaghetti House, the family business started by their father, Dick, 41 years ago, and mixing things up in a new industry. ColorForge, their startup company, is revolutionizing the way cosmetics are made.

24 APRIL 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE