Lip Esteem

Lip Esteem is building a national brand of plant-based, gluten-free and cruelty-free beauty products that are created with a specific focus on women of color for whom products are rarely developed, while also empowering all individuals to confidently live their own truth. At present, Lip Esteem’s products include customized make up services and 40 shades of lip stick colors, gels, liners, and glosses that are manufactured in the U.S., with aspirations to eventually expand to providing a complete line of makeup products.

Lip Esteem is Black woman-owned and operated and was featured on the Small Business Revolution show in Season 6, Episode 3. Its founder, Tameka Jones, received the Entrepreneur of the Year/”The New Kid on the Block Award” from the City of Saint Paul, the Black Business Enterprises “Startup of the Year” Award, and NAWBO-MN’s “Emerging Woman Business Owner of the Year” in 2022. Of note, Black women in the U.S. alone spend $40B annually on beauty products. However, the beauty industry is very competitive with huge consumer packaged goods (CPG) company participants. Only ~2% of beauty companies are Black- woman-owned businesses.

The primary purpose of this PRI is to promote social welfare by bringing economic development to the Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul, catalyzing investment in and creating additional jobs in the community.