Sisters Melissa Polanco and Lissa Martinez, who currently reside in Grand Rapids, MI, were both raised in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the States to pursue their college education. Growing up, the two struggled with confidence and also noticed a lack of representation when it came to Latinas that looked like them.
"We both, a long time ago, would start nonserious conversations about how awesome it would be to start our own makeup line. This was when we were younger and were into YouTube makeup tutorials and were obsessed with makeup," Polanco told us. "Then three years ago, we sat down and actually had a serious conversation about it because we noticed the lack of representation for women that looked like us or brands that would only portray what their standard of beauty was. We wanted to create a brand that would resonate with everyday women, a brand that would elevate other women, and a brand that would promote self-love."
When the sisters worked on the launch for their Ella's Eve Cosmetics, it was very important to them to emphasize that it is an Afro-Latina-owned small business and that the products are for everyone. They paid a lot of attention to the shades they were choosing in hopes that all their customers could find something that works well with their skin tones.
The brand's mission is to provide high-quality products while being inclusive and empowering others by reminding them that their beauty is unique and beautiful and that they have the power to exude confidence.
