THERE’S A NEW VOICE IN BEAUTY... YOURS!
Boss moves JULY 2018
3 MUST-KNOW BOSSES TAKING OVER THE BEAUTY WORLD
THE LIP BAR’S MELISSA BUTLER THE HONEY POT’S BEA FELIU-ESPADA START YOUR DAY WITH SOME HOT COFFEE NYAKIO KAMOCHE GRIECO
ADVERTORIAL
contributor NEW VOICES: LETTER FROM RICHELIEU DENNIS
TOGETHER WE... It is such a humbling and exciting opportunity for me to contribute to this Essence mini-mag dedicated to promoting financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and wealth creation for women of color. The heart of all of this begins with my Grandmother Sofi Tucker and SheaMoisture’s Community Commerce purpose-driven model. Grandma Sofi taught us that we must invest our profits in our communities so that they may be viable and liberated. For 27 years, we have followed her model and helped to raise more than 16,000 women out of poverty in West Africa. Today with the $100 million New Voices Fund to invest in and empower women of color, we have the opportunity to impact the lives of even more women in our communities right here in the U.S. It is an incredible honor to introduce you to three amazing New Voices—entrepreneurs who are redefining the beauty landscape, creating jobs in our communities, breaking barriers and shattering ceilings for women like you to charge through. It’s a new day, and it’s time for a New Voice to be heard. Yours.
CHANGE THE GAME, LEVEL THE FIELD: ACCESS. CAPITAL. EXPERTISE. Starting a company? Own one? Looking to expand? Entrepreneurship among women of color has increased 322%, but only 0.2% receive access to the funding they need to grow their businesses. Still, women-led
businesses
that
receive funding outperform their male peers by 63%. New Voices is making it possible for women of color entrepreneurs to succeed like never before because economic inclusion
makes
communities
stronger. The New Voices Fund, a game-changing $100 million fund, provides unprecedented Access, Capital and Expertise to help sustain and scale your business. Together, we’re creating a new generation of community and wealth. For the latest updates or to apply, visit newvoicesfund.com.
2 BOSS MOVES JULY 2018
NEW VOICES: THE LIP BOSS
Lo Ud MoU t hs
MELISSA BUTLER EMPOWERS WOMEN EVERYWHERE TO GIVE THE WORLD BOLD LIPS!
“I need to find an influencer to help me get the word out about my products,” Melissa Butler was overheard saying to a friend at dinner who looked at her quizzically. If you saw Melissa Butler, you would understand why this statement was so puzzling. Clearly this woman is not just a pretty face, but she is definitely gorgeous. It’s hard to imagine anyone could be more compelling than when she talks about her beauty brand, The Lip Bar. “Look!” she says as she wipes her hand across her lips and then holds it up. “It’s organic and it doesn’t come off.” Melissa, a Detroit native, was a Wall Street broker before she journeyed from stocks and bonds into the world of
beauty. She was frustrated with a beauty industry that didn’t seem to help women feel good about themselves. Melissa also felt uncomfortable putting products on her skin that were made with complex chemical ingredients. It was her belief in health and inclusion that lead her to make lipstick in her kitchen and develop the vegan line.
affordably priced products with a high-end appearance.
“I WOULD NEVER ALLOW ANYONE ELSE BE THE AUTHORITY ON MY DREAMS.”
Check out Melissa’s new summer favorites, including Haute Mess, which is reminiscent of a pinkish- orange rose garden. Another must-have is her Party Girl lip gloss in neon pink.
Her goal is to empower women everywhere to be confident in their own skin by challenging traditional beauty standards through imagery and ingredients. She is also determined to make
Since launch, Melissa has taken The Lip Bar on Shark Tank where she didn’t get a deal; it didn’t deter her. She learned that “you shouldn’t spend time with people who aren’t ready for you. They were not my audience. I would never allow anyone else be the authority on my dreams.”
The Lip Bar is headquartered in Detroit and can be found in select Target doors, on Target.com and thelipbar.com. JULY 2018 BOSS MOVES 3
NEW VOICES: THE “V” BOSS
The V Spot HONEY POT’S BEA HAS THE SECRET RECIPES FOR YOUR SWEET SPOT
H
ow often have we heard the expression, it
be awry down there. They keep you feeling fresh
takes one to know one? Well when it comes to
and comfortable any time. And as Beatrice will
feminine
Feliu-Espada,
remind you, feminine hygiene isn’t just about
founder and CEO of The Honey Pot Company,
cleanliness and comfort, it’s also about female
had definite ideas about that! Bea suffered with
empowerment. “Feminine hygiene impacts
a bacterial vaginosis infection for eight months,
women deeply. We haven’t been great about
and a series of doctors brought her no relief.
teaching women and girls to be proud of their
Although
bodies and their natural functions. I want to
hygiene,
she
Beatrice
has
a
background
in
pharmaceuticals and natural foods, it wasn’t until an ancestor came to her in a dream with a recipe of natural ingredients that she was able to begin to care for herself. From that insightful dream, she created the formula for a healthy, clean feminine wash, and in 2014, The Honey Pot Company was born. The Honey Pot is a natural feminine care system that really works. Its full line includes washes,
BEATRICE FELIU-ESPADA, FOUNDER & CEO OF THE HONEY POT
wipes and pads. All of these products are
change that,” she said.
infused with natural goodness like organic
package that reads:
lavender, aloe, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar
vaginas for humans with vaginas. It takes one to
and even garlic. “Did you ever wonder why
know one. Yes, it certainly does!
garlic has been said to ward off evil spirits?” Beatrice said with a wink. These products aren’t just for when things may
4 BOSS MOVES JULY 2018
She hands over a
Made by humans with
The Honey Pot Company products are available at Target, Amazon and select Whole Foods in the southeast.
The Original Blend
NEW VOICES: THE BEAUTY BOSS
HER SKINCARE STORY STARTED WITH GRANDMA’S COFFEE…
Nyakio Kamoche Grieco, a first-generation American of Kenyan descent, learned her first beauty secret at 8 years old from her grandmother. “She was a coffee farmer. She would add crushed Kenyan coffee beans to oil, which she applied to her skin. I loved to watch her massage it in. She would then use a rod of sugarcane to exfoliate,” Nyakio shared. “Today naturals are ‘trending’ in beauty, but for me it’s always been a way of life,” Nyakio adds. It’s a way of life this entrepreneur wants all women to know about. Nyakio’s advice for women who want to pursue a career in skincare/beauty is to stay authentic to their own story, stay true to their dreams. THE NYAKIO BRAND HAS INGREDIENTS FROM 13 COUNTRIES AROUND THE GLOBE.
She also partners with Girls Inc., a nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for young women to dream big and never give up.
JULY 2018 BOSS MOVES 5
RED PALM OIL & COCOA BUTTER COCOA BUTTER Extra moisturizing butter helps replenish oils to dry hair
RED PALM OIL Rich in antioxidants and vitamins
FLAXSEED OIL Nourishes hair at the root and improves elasticity
NO Sulfates • NO Parabens • NO Phthalates • NO Propylene G lycol NO Mineral Oil • NO Paraffin • NO DEA • NO Animal Testing
NO SHRINKING CURLS!
NO Sulfates • NO Parabens • NO Phthalates • NO Propylene G lycol • NO Mineral Oil • NO Paraffin • NO DEA • NO Animal Testing
SheaMoisture.com
@SheaMoisture #SheaMoisture #ShowYourLength