About us
Like all great stories, ours started with one bold idea: makeup should be fun, fearless, and accessible for everyone. When our founder, Christina Oster-Daum, launched essence in 2001, she had a clear mission: make high-quality makeup affordable and never boring. She believed beauty wasn’t about perfection, rules, or price tags. It was about play, creativity, and self-expression. So, she built a brand that would shake up the industry with cruelty-free, trend-forward products that anyone could afford and everyone could enjoy. We are driven by these core pillars.
High Quality Makeup, Affordable Price Tag
Who says amazing makeup has to cost a fortune? Not us. At essence, we believe everyone deserves top-tier formulas that deliver—without the luxury markup. Our products are tested (never on animals) to perform, so you can slay your look and still afford your coffee.
Accessible For All
Makeup should be for everyone: all skin tones, all styles, all vibes. Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve got a pro-level brush kit, essence is here to make beauty easy, inclusive, and totally fun. No gatekeeping. No pressure. Just you, doing you.
Worry-Free Beauty
You’ve got enough to think about, your makeup shouldn’t be one of them. essence is proudly cruelty-free, vegan, and compliant with strict EU standards, banning over 1,500 harmful ingredients. We’re honest and transparent—check each product page for full ingredient details. We’re all about feel-good beauty that’s kind to your skin, your wallet, and the planet.