Ulta Beauty Announces 8 BIPOC Beauty Brands to Participate in MUSE Accelerator

Ulta Beauty has officially announced the eight early-stage BIPOC beauty brands that will participate in its first MUSE accelerator this fall.

Launching September 12, the 10-week program will provide selected brands with time, resources, mentorship and the opportunity to learn from established industry leaders to help them prepare for retail.

The selected brands span a variety of beauty categories including wellness, skincare, haircare, makeup and fragrance and will each receive $50,000 in financial support to propel development as well as resources for long-term success.

“I’m very proud to welcome our first MUSE Accelerator cohort to Ulta Beauty. These brand founders have worked hard to get here, and our program will help them tap into more of their potential, fuel their growth, and reach new heights. “, said Monica Arnaudo, director of merchandising at Ulta Beauty. “As a leader in the distribution of beauty products, we understand the importance of greater inclusiveness in beauty and the responsibility we have to create fair opportunities for BIPOC brands to thrive in our industry. I am honored to accompany them on this journey and look forward to watching them thrive through the process.

The 2022 cohort of brands and founders includes:

• pound cake; Camille Bell and Jonathan Velazquez: A Black and Latinx-owned cosmetics company that creates products for people of different skin and lip tones, while authentically showcasing beauty lovers who are BIPOC, identifying fat, trans and non-binary.





• Squigs; Nikita Charuza: A headcare brand that creates skin and hair care for anyone who believes that good ingredients and a good mood go hand in hand.





• OUR SIDE; Keta Burke-Williams: Formerly known as Aspen Apothecary, the personal fragrance brand founded by sisters Katja and Keta is changing the conversation in the $47 billion category with scents that amplify who you are and who you are. evoke powerful emotions to bring us together.





• Fierce Bonita Candles; Melissa Gallardo: candles that represent, celebrate and elevate the diversity of the Latina multicultural community.





• Sade Baron; Rachel and Folosade Lambo: a mother-daughter duo creating highly effective and concentrated body care products for skin concerns such as eczema, contact dermatitis, psoriasis and chronic dry skin.





• YINA; Ervina Wu and Angela Gray: a beauty and wellness company inspired by East Asian medicine and rituals, offering consumers multi-faceted products that go beyond skincare and treat stress and imbalances.





• The Refig; Tanya Perkins: Making bottleless hair care for curls and beauty solutions that are easy to use, eco-friendly and effective.





• Beauty Dehiya; Mia Reddy: A diverse and inclusive beauty champion with a passion for creating highly effective plant-based skincare using ethically sourced, highly active, indigenous and wild botanic ingredients from across the diaspora.