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.