Brand That Introduced Nude Lipstick for Women of Color Now Has a Nude Nail Polish That’s Equally Amazing
In March, Yahoo Beauty reported on the incredible launch of Mented Cosmetics, a lipstick line started by two Harvard graduates who felt there was a void in the cosmetics industry when it came to nude lipstick options for women of color. Their original line is now highly celebrated, and the brand is launching a line of nude nail polishes that once again keep women of color top of mind.
“Just like with lipsticks, we created this line both because of our personal desire for the perfect nude nail colors, and because we kept hearing from women of color how difficult it was to find fully pigmented nude nail shades,” Kristen Jones Miller, co-founder of Mented Cosmetics, shares with Yahoo Beauty. “We’ve all had that experience where you try on a pink or a beige polish thinking it will look perfect, but four coats later you’re left with a streaky mess. Our nail lacquers are highly pigmented and super shiny, and give women of color the true nude shades we’ve been craving.”
Mented Cosmetics wants to make products that are not only adored by their customers, but that are also environmentally friendly, as well as safe on skin. With those goals in mind, the new Nude Nail Collection includes three carefully crafted neutral-toned shades that are vegan and cruelty-free. “Staying true to beauty products that are vegan and cruelty-free is important to us as a brand that values our customers,” Amanda E. Johnson, the other co-founder of Mented Cosmetics, tells Yahoo Beauty.
The shades include “Pinkish,” which is soft clean pink; “Yes We Tan,” which is a rich true nude; and “Brown & Bougie,” a warm chestnut-like brown. As most people have experienced, nude can mean a variety of different things, and that’s why Miller and Johnson did their homework to come up with three standout colors that would wear perfectly as nudes or neutrals. After testing out different hues, Miller said, “it was easy to align on a soft, everyday pink, a gorgeous tan, and a warm brown. In all of our focus groups, these were the shades that received the most love.”
Hunting for cosmetics that are flattering on darker skin tones is not as daunting as it once was, and Mented Cosmetics is playing a key role in this change. “Launching products is both scary and fun, and we had a hunch that our girl would love the shades and finish. We did a limited run of the nail polish to prove our theory. So far, the Mented girl is loving the nail shades and ordering the entire collection,” shares Johnson.
So will there be any other cosmetics coming down the pipeline from the brand? Yes, Johnson revealed. “We are always thinking ahead, and we are working on our lip gloss collection to launch fall 2017,” she says. “This collection will provide the great nude shades Mented is known for with a smooth and nonsticky base.”
Until the glosses get here, women of all different skin tones can enjoy this new line of lacquers. Check out the collection here.
Read more from Yahoo Style + Beauty:
10-Year-Old Bullied for Her Dark Skin Becomes Role Model and T-Shirt Designer
9 Foundations for Dark Skin Tones to Upgrade Your Fall Makeup
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