Summary: KJ and Amanda are the founders of Mented Cosmetics, one of the first cosmetics brands to prioritize women of color. After searching for a nude lipstick that worked for their complexion they set out to make the first nude lipstick for dark-skinned women. They watched a YouTube tutorial and started experimenting with their own formulations in Amanda’s apartment in Harlem. Shortly after they perfected their product and launched Mented’s first line of nude lipsticks in 2017, which remains their brand staple. They began fundraising and in that same year, Amanda and KJ became the 16th and 17th black women to raise a million dollars in funding. Since then they’ve raised additional capital and scaled their business into the millions. The key to their success was formulating an exceptional product that answered a pain point the majority of women of color have felt at one time or another. They bet big on organic channels and influencer partnerships. And most importantly, they always put their customers first, making them the priority after so many other beauty brands treated them like an afterthought.
