About

Manifesto

We’re a small team dedicated to bringing affordable, fun, and high quality products into the serious world of cosmetics. So why choose just one lipstick, eyeliner, nail polish, eye shadow, lip gloss, (you get the point!) when you can try them all? 

Here’s how it all started!

2001

essence was started by Christina, a fearless entrepreneurial woman, who wanted to make a different cosmetics brand – a really fun brand that offers both great quality and excellent prices.

2002

Launched in its first country – Germany.

2007

essence becomes #1 in Germany and is sold in 50 other countries.

2008

essence finally crosses the pond and lands in New York!

2009

Our first successful test in the United States with Ulta Beauty.

2010

We reach $1 million in North American sales and word begins to spread.

2011

We win the first of many Allure Best in Beauty Awards.

2012

We decide to go north to Canada and launch in Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix.

2015

New year, new essence!

2016

We launch in select Loblaw stores in Canada.

2017

We launch in select Meijer, Bed Bath & Beyond and Harmon stores. Lash princess false lash mascara goes viral!

2018

We DOUBLE our assortment in Ulta Beauty stores!

2019

Launched in select CVS stores across the country.

Beauty philosophies

Beauty is being who you are, who you want to be and having fun while doing it.
We think real beauty with a real story is inspiring – which is why we love our consumers!
Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, it doesn’t have to be so serious, it should be fun.

We believe in high quality makeup and great prices

Beauty doesn’t have to cost a lot. We prove every day that excellent quality and innovation is not a question of price.
95% of our products are manufactured in Europe.
Our ingredients comply with the strict standards of the European Union Cosmetics Directive and United States FDA.

We do not test on animals

The contracts with our clients state that they must manufacture products in compliance with European union law, which strictly prohibits testing on animals. Learn More

Giving back

Product donation to Operation Prom

Established in 2005, Operation PROM provides resources, opportunity and mentoring to students in need. Services are available to children in financial need, those who are homeless, sick, or disabled. School supplies and scholarships are available in addition to our regular donations of Prom dresses and tuxedos. Operation PROM was originally established to help low-income students attend their Proms by providing free Prom dresses and tuxedo rentals. It has since expanded to include regular donations of clothing and school supplies to students who are sick, homeless or live in shelters and do not have family to assist them

Product donation to Feeding America

Feeding America’s mission is to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.

Product donation to Dress For Success

The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life

Product donation to Family to Family

Family-to-Family (F-to-F) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3), non-profit national hunger and poverty relief organization dedicated to connecting, one-to-one, families with enough to share to impoverished American families with profoundly less. Our program creates a bridge between communities with “more” and some of our country’s poorest areas.