Ulta Beauty names participants of Muse Accelerator program
Ulta Beauty has revealed the names of the eight early-stage BIPOC beauty brands that will participate in its inaugural Muse Accelerator program.
Launched on Sept. 12, the 10-week program provides the selected brands with time, resources, mentorship and the opportunity to learn from established industry leaders to help in preparing them for retail readiness, the company said.
Spanning across of categories that include wellness, skin care, hair care, makeup and fragrance, each of the selected brands will receive $50,000 in financial support to help in furthering development along with resources to aid in long-term success.
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The eight participating brands include:
- Pound Cake: Founded by Camille Belle and Jonathan Vasquez, this Black and Latinx-owned cosmetics company creates products for individuals with different skin and lip tones, and also highlights beauty-lovers who are BIPOC, fat-identifying, trans and non-binary;
- Squigs: Founded by Nikita Charuza, the brand creates skin care and hair care products for those who believe good ingredients and good moods go hand in hand;
- Ourside: Founded by Keta Burke-Williams, the brand was previously known as Aspen Apothecary. This personal fragrance company creates products that amplify the individual and evoke powerful emotions to bring people together;
- Bonita Fierce Candles: Founded by Melissa Gallardo, the company creates candles that represent, celebrate and elevate the diversity of the multicultural Latina community;
- Sade Baron: Founded by Rachel and Folosade Lambo, this mother-daughter duo creates body care products for individuals with such skin concerns as eczema, contact dermatitis, psoriasis and chronic dry skin;
- Yina: Founded by Ervina Wu and Angela Gray, the beauty and wellness brand is inspired by East Asian medicine and rituals. The company offers multifaceted products that venture beyond traditional skin care and address stress and imbalance;
- The Refig: Founded by Tanya Perkins, this bottle-free hair care line is for those with curls who are searching for eco-friendly beauty solutions; and
- Dehiya Beauty: Founded by Mia Reddy, the company creates plant-based skin care products that use ethically sourced, highly active, native and wild botanical ingredients from throughout the Diaspora.
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“I’m so proud to welcome our first Muse Accelerator cohort to Ulta Beauty. These brand founders have worked hard to get to this point, and our program will help them further ignite their potential, fuel growth and reach new heights,” said Monica Arnaudo, chief merchandising officer at Ulta Beauty. “As the leading beauty retailer, we understand the importance of greater inclusivity within beauty and the responsibility we have to create equitable opportunities for BIPOC brands to thrive in our industry. I’m honored we will accompany them on this journey and look forward to seeing them flourish throughout the process.”