Have you ever regarded for the right nude lipstick? Amanda E. Johnson had been looking for three years when she lastly vented her frustration to Ok.J. Miller, a buddy and fellow Harvard Business School graduate. Zeroing in on the precise impartial is a notoriously tough activity — however for Johnson and Miller, each Black girls, “nude” meant one thing completely different than the make-up shades usually marketed to Caucasian prospects.
“That was an ‘aha’ moment for both of us,” Miller informed Yahoo Life. “We realized the opportunity was much bigger than just lipstick. Ultimately neither of us felt that there was a premium brand really speaking to our beauty needs as women of color.”
The pair’s enterprise proposition appears easy: Every girl ought to be capable of see herself on the earth of magnificence, irrespective of her pores and skin tone. Yet Black girls have been woefully underserved by the cosmetics business, even though extra Black, Hispanic and Asian girls purchase cosmetics than white girls do. Johnson and Miller realized that in the event that they needed the business to deal with girls of coloration, they needed to take issues into their very own arms.
Meeting the wonder wants of all
That’s how Mented was born. Short for ‘pigmented,’ the cosmetics model contains all the pieces from eyeshadow and blush to basis and setting powder — and lipstick, in fact — for pores and skin tones in numerous shades of tan, brown, crimson and pink. There’s definitely no scarcity of shades within the quest to your good match, both. Skin by Mented basis stick, for instance, is on the market in 10 shades — many are in medium and darkish browns with numerous undertones, similar to heat, cool and even crimson. It comes with a brush, too, for $40 (could be $45, bought individually).
Those who know, know. And they’re grateful. As one five-star reviewer wrote: “…It really does feel light on your face, yet has full coverage. I have hyper-pigmentation on my cheek and under my right eye. I feel like I don’t need an extra concealer for this….Thanks for producing quality make up for people of color.”
The founders are so captivated with ensuring each buyer identifies essentially the most exact shade that they’ve developed a 60-second on-line quiz to steer you in the precise course. If that’s not sufficient, you possibly can all the time use the Shade Comparison Guide, which compares Mented shades to these by different main cosmetics strains that cater to girls of coloration, similar to Fenty and NARS.
In truth, Mented’s inclusive mission was initially created for girls of coloration, however the enterprise has grown to serve anybody who wears make-up. “We’ve evolved beyond ‘women’ to really all people searching for a makeup line that celebrates and prioritizes diversity,” Miller defined.
Make no mistake, although: Mented owns a really particular area of interest within the magnificence class. If you’re searching for lipstick in a cool coloration or jewel-toned eyeshadow to make your peepers pop, you’ve come to the improper place. “Our focus on nudes and neutrals for a broad range of skin tones is what truly sets us apart,” Miller told Yahoo Life.
The brand is determined to be the go-to for women of color looking for makeup that blends — without having to physically blend shades to get there.
Ethically made, expertly formulated
Mented products aren’t just genius, they’re also kind and gentle. All Mented cosmetics are cruelty-free, vegan, paraben-free and nontoxic. So you can feel good about investing in a line of neutrals that will become the foundation of your makeup routine…quite literally.
Don’t be surprised if Mented cosmetics become an addiction, too. Miller and Johnson may be Mented’s founders, but they’re also two of the brand’s biggest fans. They truly get it.
“I cannot live without our High Brow pencil in Brow Down, our Send Nudes gloss and Skin by Mented foundation in shade M40,” Miller informed Yahoo Life. Everyone will discover their very own favorites.
One HSN shopper said of the three-piece lip set: “This is a improbable lipstick. Love the colours on me and the creaminess. When I put it on it feels prefer it’s treating my lips. It’s actually a lipstick balm that makes your lips really feel mushy and delightful. So far, I’ve been very happy with all of Mented merchandise. Would extremely suggest.”
For Johnson, the search for the perfect nude lipstick is over; she’s developed it herself. The COO said the shades are a “unique blend of brown and pink to enhance your multi-hued lips.” Try one of Mented’s deeper shades for $16.50 or buy a three-pack neutrals for $36 at HSN.
Want to draw attention to your cheekbones or brows? The Mented Skin Silk Loose Setting Powder is there for you. Just set it and forget it. You’ll get a gorgeous glow from this four-shade palette and an angled applicator brush to boot!
“I like my look to be pure,” shares one shopper. “These colours are GREAT for that, however are additionally versatile and buildable to create a extra dramatic look if I’m within the temper.”
Go ahead and browse Mented cosmetics at HSN to find your own truest shades. Oh, and if you don’t want to pay all in one go, HSN will allow you to pay in installments instead. Plus, first-time HSN shoppers can grab an extra $20 off their purchase of $40 or more with code HSN2022.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Originally published
