Entrepreneurship

Beauty Pitch Alert: The Big Find returns at QVC and HSN

Beauty Pitch Alert: The Big Find returns at QVC and HSN

By Deanna Utroske

For the third year now, the video commerce and livestream retailer Qurate is running The Big Find pitch competition to discover founder-led brands across consumer product categories, including cosmetics and personal care.

Indie Beauty Profile Celeste Lee, Lorrie King, Caire Beauty

Indie Beauty Profile

Celeste Lee and Lorrie King, Caire Beauty

By Deanna Utroske

Celeste Lee and Lorrie King, Co-Founders of Caire Beauty, are on the leading edge of the menopause beauty movement. In their Indie Beauty Profile, the industry veterans share good advice on how to get good advice as well as on when to pivot.

Indie Beauty Profile Karima El-Hakkaoui, Six Gldn

Indie Beauty Profile

Karima El-Hakkaoui, Six Gldn

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile Karima El-Hakkaoui, CEO of Six Gldn, shares notes on the brand she and her co-founders launched during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic—a skin care brand that’s all about the golden hour.

Indie Beauty Profile Rajiv Chandra, Mum & You

Indie Beauty Profile

Rajiv Chandra, Mum & You

By Deanna Utroske

In his Indie Beauty Profile, Rajiv Chandra, CEO of Mum & You describes building a brand for both expecting and new mothers as well as for their young children. And he shares notes on the importance of having a team of employees that represents the...

Indie Beauty Profile Melodie Reynolds, Elate Cosmetics

Indie Beauty Profile

Melodie Reynolds, Elate Cosmetics

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Melodie Reynolds, Founder and CEO of Elate Cosmetics, talks about the importance and cultural significance of indie beauty. And she shares insight into how time and tech can be leveraged to make the impossible possible.

Indie Beauty Profile Deepika Vyas and Dr. Tanuj Nakra, AVYA Skincare

Indie Beauty Profile

Deepika Vyas and Dr. Tanuj Nakra, AVYA Skincare

By Deanna Utroske

In their Indie Beauty Deepika Vyas and Dr. Tanuj Nakra, Co-Founders of AVYA Skincare, describe the origins of a skin care brand that brings ancient Ayurvedic practices together with advanced medical science. And they share advice on what can be a long...

Indie Beauty Profile Ester Larrosa, Hyalurgie

Indie Beauty Profile

Ester Larrosa, Hyalurgie

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile Ester Larrosa, Founder and Formulator at Hyalurgie, shares the background and beginning of a luxury-basics skin care brand, which she expects to resonate with consumers over 40.

Carolyn Aronson launches Be A 10 color cosmetics brand

Carolyn Aronson launches Be A 10 color cosmetics brand

By Deanna Utroske

The makeup brand is not only new to the market for November, but Be A 10 Cosmetics along with It’s A 10 Haircare are picking up publicity this month as sponsors of both the 2020 Miss Teen USA and Miss USA competitions.

Indie Beauty Profile Ozohu Adoh EPARA

Indie Beauty Profile

Ozohu Adoh, EPARA

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Ozohu Adoh, CEO of EPARA, outlines the concept behind a luxury botanical skin care brand created specifically for women of color. And, she shares 3 top tips for cosmetics and personal care entrepreneurs at any stage of business.

Indie Beauty Profile Robyn Mclean, The Hello Cup

Indie Beauty Profile

Robyn Mclean,The Hello Cup

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Robyn Mclean of The Hello Cup offers advice on the best first step that every indie beauty brand founder should take; and she shares notes on how she and Co-Founder Mary Bond are building a brand that’s simultaneously about...

Indie Beauty Profile Ada Polla, Alchimie Forever

Indie Beauty Profile

Ada Polla, Alchimie Forever

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile Ada Polla, CEO of Alchimie Forever, talks about bringing her family’s Swiss skin care brand to the US, the power of patience, and why her team stays focused on safety and efficacy even as clean beauty trends evolve.

Indie Beauty Profile Tony Rechtman, INIKA Organic

Indie Beauty Profile

Tony Rechtman, INIKA Organic

By Deanna Utroske

In his Indie Beauty Profile, Tony Rechtman, CEO and Founder of Australia-based Total Beauty Network, the company behind the INIKA Organic brand talks about his work to make effective natural makeup and skin care a reality and about the sizable company...

Indie Beauty Profile Linda Dempah, Adeba Nature

Indie Beauty Profile

Linda Dempah, Adeba Nature

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Linda Dempah, CEO of Adeba Nature, describes the solid beginnings of the brand she’s built around a single, rare ingredient—Adjoba oil.

Indie Beauty Profile Dr. Ebru Karpuzoglu, AveSeena

Indie Beauty Profile

Dr. Ebru Karpuzoglu, AveSeena

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Dr. Ebru Karpuzoglu, Founder of AveSeena, describes how she’s bringing the wisdom of immunology to skin care for older, wiser clean beauty consumers.

Indie Beauty Profile Asel Hofgartner, Kana Vita

Indie Beauty Profile

Asel Hofgartner, Kana Vita

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Asel Hofgartner of Kana Vita (a very new CBD skin care and body care brand) gives a candid snapshot of the beginnings of business and shares a bit of insight into how she and Daren Hofgartner transitioned from being entrepreneurs...

Indie Beauty Up Close: Amy Carra launches Delight Beauty for UBP

CD Buzz Video

Indie Beauty Up Close: Amy Carra launches Delight Beauty for UBP

By Deanna Utroske

Universal Beauty Products is a privately owned portfolio of brands mostly in hair and men’s categories. Amy Carra joined UBP a little over 2 years ago; and the company’s new Delight Beauty skin care brand is the result of her work.

Kids’ blend-it-yourself bath brand Dabble & Dollop debuts on QVC

Editor's Spotlight

Kids’ blend-it-yourself bath brand Dabble & Dollop debuts on QVC

By Deanna Utroske

The past Saturday evening, the video commerce channel introduced the first Big Find pitch winner to its viewership. Cosmetics Design checked in with founder Stephanie Leshney about her experience pitching and presenting alongside show host Shawn Killinger.

How To: a collection of advice for indie beauty brand leaders

How To: a collection of advice for indie beauty brand leaders

By Deanna Utroske

Over the years, Cosmetics Design has covered numerous events on the independent beauty movement. Here is a selection of guidance for startups from insiders and experts who have spoken at those events as well as a few notes from the Cosmetics Design editorial...

Indie Beauty Profile Lili Fan, Dr Lili Fan Probiotic Skin Care

Indie Beauty Profile

Lili Fan, Dr Lili Fan Probiotic Skin Care

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile biochemist, microbiologist, practicing ophthalmologist, and long-time beauty innovator Lili Fan, Founder and President of Dr Lili Fan Probiotic Skin Care, shares insight into the growing microbiome beauty movement and succinct...

Indie Beauty Profile of Stephanie Leshney, Dabble & Dollop

Indie Beauty Profile

Stephanie Leshney, Dabble & Dollop

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Stephanie Leshney, founder of the blend-it-yourself kids personal care brand Dabble & Dollop, talks about how her experience in the cosmetics and personal care ingredient business informed the brand she is building now...

10 top tips: Building a Beauty Startup

Editor's Spotlight

10 top tips: Building a Beauty Startup

By Deanna Utroske

This past Thursday in New York City, the recommendation platform and entrepreneurship community Stacklist hosted a panel discussion among beauty business founders at the Amazon Web Services loft space. Cosmetics Design was there, along with some 250 aspiring...

Indie Beauty Profile Luca Burnett, YANTRA Beauty

Indie Beauty Profile

Luca Burnett, YANTRA Beauty

By Deanna Utroske

In his Indie Beauty Profile, Luca Burnett, founder of YANTRA Beauty, describes a hair care brand that puts the insights and experience of professional stylists into products for everyday consumers.

Indie Beauty Profile Melanie Cruickshank, da lish cosmetics

Indie Beauty Profile

Melanie Cruickshank, da lish cosmetics

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Melanie Cruickshank, founder of da lish cosmetics, describes the inspiration and effort behind one of the early color cosmetics brands to compete in the current clean beauty movement. And she makes the case for an entrepreneurial...

Cheekbone Beauty picks up $350k from Raven Indigenous Capital Partners

Cheekbone Beauty picks up $350k from Raven Indigenous Capital Partners

By Deanna Utroske

The Ontario, Canada – based color cosmetics brand announced a first funding deal with Raven Indigenous Capital Partners this week. The firm invests to support indigenous values and social enterprise. And while both the Cheekbone Beauty brand and the investment...

Indie Beauty Profile Dr. Marc Ronert and Janna Ronert, Hush & Hush

Indie Beauty Profile

Dr. Marc Ronert and Janna Ronert, Hush & Hush

By Deanna Utroske

In their Indie Beauty Profile, Profile Dr. Marc Ronert and Janna Ronert, founders of the luxury beauty supplements brand Hush & Hush, describe how they identified an opportunity in the wellness supplements market and emphasize how valuable the right...

Indie Beauty Profile Tish Bellomo and Snooky Bellomo, Manic Panic

Indie Beauty Profile

Tish Bellomo and Snooky Bellomo, Manic Panic

By Deanna Utroske

In their Indie Beauty Profile, Tish Bellomo and Snooky Bellomo, Founders of the bold, iconic hair color brand Manic Panic discuss their experience of running an independent business (for decades), share the product development advice that they give themselves...

Indie Beauty Profile Jasmine Lawrence, EDEN BodyWorks

Indie Beauty Profile

Jasmine Lawrence, EDEN BodyWorks

By Deanna Utroske

In her Indie Beauty Profile, Jasmine Lawrence, Founder of EDEN BodyWorks, shares insights and highlights about the hair care brand she launched 15 years ago this month. She’s grown the brand in that time to some nine product lines (including body care...