It goes without saying that every emerging beauty brand dreams of landing a spot on Oprah's coveted Favorite Things List, but very few actually receive that honor — let alone just two years after launching. But that's exactly what happened to Bossy Cosmetics, a BIPOC-owned brand whose ultra-matte, long-lasting lipsticks made the competitive cut this year.
Sure, the striking gold packaging and seductively bold shades had something to do with it, but we had a hunch there was something more to the Bossy Cosmetics brand that caught Oprah's eye, so we chatted with founder and CEO Aisha Dozie to probe a little deeper.
Shop now: $20, bossybeauty.com
"Our lipsticks are vegan, cruelty-free, and deliver a matte, velvety finish with key ingredients like watermelon seed oil for hydrating benefits. But what's really special is our brand promise — which is to empower women to look, feel, and do good. More than anything, it's essential to me that my customers feel powerful, strong, and confident when they wear my products," Dozie tells InStyle.
Shop now: $20, bossybeauty.com
That may very well explain why she named her lipstick shades Hustle, Bravery, Fierce, and Focused, among others. We should add here that if you're looking for soft, subtle, and demure colors, you won't find anything of the sort in the Bossy Power Woman Essentials Collection. These lip hues are rich, radiant, and meant to turn heads.
"I started Bossy Cosmetics to ignite confidence in women. I wanted to create a beauty brand that celebrated ambition and cared more about how women feel than how they look," she says. "Working in a male-dominated industry throughout my career in finance, lipstick was the superpower ingredient and the 'war paint' that I put on to boost my confidence as I walked into meetings full of men on Wall Street." And we all know what a great lipstick can do for your mood with a single swipe.
Shop now: $20, bossybeauty.com
Bossy's bullet lipsticks not only look amazing, but they stand for empowerment. "Like many other ambitious women, I was often told that I was bossy as a little girl. What I know now is that being called bossy is a sign of a young girl with a voice that someone is attempting to silence. When I pivoted my career and decided to pursue my true purpose of inspiring women through beauty, I wanted to reclaim the word 'bossy' to be a term of empowerment that elevates women, rather than making them feel ashamed," she explains.
Shop now: $20, bossybeauty.com
And as for what it means for Dozie to be recognized by Oprah herself, the beauty boss was overcome with pride: "Oprah's story is one of resilience, grit, determination, faith, and consistency. She has shown the world that Black women can create something from nothing, and delight a vast and diverse audience. This is a huge milestone for me as a founder and my brand."
Let's keep the warm, fuzzy vibes going and support this very deserving female-owned brand. Start your holiday shopping early and scoop up several Bossy bullet lipsticks to gift all of your friends this year.
Source: Read Full Article
