Jacqueline Lee/E!Happy (almost) Independence Day!
The American Dream is alive and well, and today's beauty industry proves it. Beauty entrepreneurs have tapped into the power of our diverse nation and entrepreneurship, sparking innovation and inclusion within the space. The pioneers within makeup and beauty come from all different backgrounds, using their unique perspective to bring creative techniques to mainstream attention. An average American's typical beauty routine can easily includes beauty practices that stem from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and beyond.
Whether you're thinking about starting a business or wanting to connect the dots between your favorite products and their conception stories, background information on the beginning of your favorite brands is necessary. Keep scrolling for 11 all-American beauty brands.
This celebrity aesthetician started her training in France, perfecting their anti-aging practices. Now, she combines traditional European skin care with modern technology to give her clients the Hollywood glow. Practicing out of Los Angeles, the expert has created an eco-friendly line that allows everyone to achieve radiant skin.
Rose Glycolic Masque, $65
Let's be frank: Most beauty lovers want natural-looking makeup on a day to day. That's where American businesswoman and Bare Escentuals CEO Leslie Blodgett's brand bareMinerals came in. Known for its loose mineral powder foundation, the brand has created a reputation for providing coverage without irritating the skin. Its headquarters are in San Francisco, and the brand continues to innovate within the natural-based beauty market.
The line of natural products started in a Brooklyn kitchen. In 1993, with motivation from her mom, Lisa Price started making hair and skin products for her friends and family. "I started with butter and bath oils and I took them out to craft fairs," she revealed. "Repeatedly, women would come up to the table and ask, 'What do you have for hair? I need something that's going to make my hair softer. I need something that's going to make my hair grow." After reaching the mainstream market, the entrepreneur sold the business to L'Oréal, joining Kiehl's and Urban Decay.
Hair Milk Nourishing & Conditioning Styling Pudding, Now $8.40
If you're obsessed with nails, then you're most likely familiar with Essie Weingarten, "the Queen of Nails." The Fashion Institute of Technology alum started the line in the early 1980s in Las Vegas, Nevada. "I went door to door in Las Vegas and sold the colors myself," she told Nails Magazine. "After all, the people who worked in Vegas—the showgirls, dancers, dealers—needed to take care of themselves and look good for their jobs." Now, the company is a household name with over 250 colors and 250,000 salons carrying the polish.
Aruba Blue, $9
Who said you can't turn your beauty obsession into cold hard cash? Certainly not Emily Weiss. The entrepreneur started Into the Gloss, while she had a full-time job at Vogue. Obsessed with products and beauty routines, the blogger woke up at 5 a.m. every day to work on her side hustle, building a loyal following. Now, the brand has grown into Glossier, Inc, which includes both the online platform and a beauty collection.
In 1851, John Kiehl opened a pharmacy in the East Village of New York City. During that time, he oversaw the development of Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion and Creme de Corps, which are both sold today. For the next 150 years, the brand sold products out of their flagship and in a host of department stores, such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys. Now, after selling to L'Oréal, the brand has numerous stores and globally-loved products.
Ultra Facial Cream, $27.50
There aren't many who aren't familiar with the Marc Jacobs brand. The New York-born fashion designer has been working in the industry since he was 15. Now, he owns and operates his namesake brand and Marc by Marc Jacobs. This includes a beauty collection that's equally luxurious and innovative, similar to the designer's style. The success of all of his lifestyle pursuits has landed him on Time's "Most Powerful 100" list and Out's "50 Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America."
If you struggle with painting your own nails (one hand always looks better than the other, right?), this brand is for you. "When NCLA started in 2010 in Los Angeles, our initial vision was to provide women with nail wrap designs that were better than anything on the market," the co-owner and Director of Sales, Elin Dannerstedt told Galore. Now, the nail company offers out-of-the-box polishes and a large assortment of nail wraps.
Nyakio Kamoche Grieco has made global beauty practices more accessible to the American consumer with her namesake brand. "When I was a girl, I spent a lot of time in Africa with my family of medicine men, farmers and educators," her packaging reads. "My favorite memory is of my grandmother teaching my mother and me to crush coffee beans and rub them on our skin using a piece of sugarcane to remove dry skin." Now, her brands includes the Kenyan Coffee Face Polish and Body Scrub.
This brand was truly created for the American woman. Beyond a beauty company, the lipstick line defines itself as "a social justice movement for change, progress and equality." With one singular product (that promises to compliment every skin tone), the brand donates 100 percent of net profit to Planned Parenthood.
Almost 20 years ago, venture capitalist and co-founder of Cisco Systems, Sandy Lerner met makeup addict and businesswoman Wende Zomnir and decided to shake up the beauty industry. The result: a colorful makeup brand with an ad campaign that read, "Does pink make you puke?" The owners credit the success of Urban Decay to the idea that beauty lovers crave hues outside of pink, red and beige.
Although the brand started with vibrant colors, the Naked palettes have become a cult-favorite. The hues of eye shadow perfectly enhance all skin tones. For makeup lovers that prefer a more natural look, these products are an easy go-to.
Inspiring, right?
Happy Fourth of July!