The Lip Bar was rejected by Shark Tank, but now
Melissa Butler
In 2012, founder and owner, Melissa Butler started The Lip Bar (TLB) out of simply being frustrated with not only the limited choices in the beauty industry, but also how most cosmetics were being produced with harmful and unnecessary chemicals and having a very narrow view of what beauty means. With her determination and passion, Butler was on a mission to change the status quo and narrative of what beauty means by creating an inclusive cosmetics brand.
Butler states, “Everywhere I looked beauty companies, magazines and the TV were telling women that you need to look a specific thing to be considered beautiful. I hated that. So I started making lipstick in my kitchen because I believed beauty shouldn't compromise health and because I was determined to not change the way I looked to fit into some superficial or trendy beauty standard. F*ck that. There is no standard.”
The Lip Bar is about inclusivity and reminding people that they don't have to settle for anything. The goal is to ensure that everyone is represented. “You don't have to transform to look like the next "It Girl." You don't have to do anything but be you, because you are enough, says Butler.”
After pitching her brand on Shark Tank, a TV show that gives budding entrepreneurs a shot at securing a business deal, Butler was rejected by the sharks. One of the critics from the sharks were that women wanted to try on the makeup before they purchased it. Now, TLB has a Virtual Try Before You Buy, that allows anyone to virtually see how the makeup would look before they purchase it online. In addition, you can take a 30 second Complexion Quiz online to determine what products work for your skin complexion.
TLB is now in over 1,000 stores nationwide and now available in 750 Target Stores, 500 Walmart Stores, and their Flagship Store in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. They offer a variety of products for a diverse range of complexions, which have even been worn by stars like, Taraji P Henson and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Butler definitely had the last words.