Lion Pose debuts exclusively at Sephora
Lion Pose, a beauty brand looking to raise industry standards of clinical testing and research for underrepresented voices, is making its retail debut at Sephora.
The brand’s female founders, Madhu Punjabi and Nisha Phatak, are two BIPOC Silicon Valley software alums and Harvard MBA graduates with personal experiences with hyperpigmentation, dark spots and scarring.
A participant of Sephora Accelerate and Y Combinator, Lion Pose was able to raise $3 million from investors and celebrities, including Ignite XL, Precursor Ventures, Mindy Kaling, Rob Lowe’s LH Capital, Howard Klein, Talia Frenkel and Ben VandeBunt.
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Developed with Harvard-trained and practicing dermatologists Dr. Laura Scott and Dr. Tia Paul who specialize in diverse skin and serve as active members of the Skin of Color Society, they helped create the brand’s debut product—Unspotted 4X Acid Jelly Night Serum.
The serum is designed to tackle hyperpigmentation, dark spots and scarring safely on all skin tones, and contains a 15% blend of azelaic, glycolic, lactic and tranexamic acids. It is also formulated with antioxidants like glutathione to lift away dead skin cells and improve the evenness of the skin, the company said.
In addition to being an investor, the brand announced that actress Mindy Kaling will also serve as brand ambassador.
“My decision to come on board Lion Pose was simple. I found an unbeatable product that was backed by a vision I have always believed in, and one that has informed everything I do in my career. That representation and inclusion are just good business. Madhu and Nisha are deeply committed to the idea that inclusivity in clinical skincare is not the goal, but the requirement for any good product,” said Kaling. “In raising the standards for clinical testing and research in beauty, Lion Pose has created better, more effective products, for even more skin colors and types. And I can say this first hand as one of their earliest adopters. From the moment I tried Lion Pose, I knew it was something special and wanted in on the success!”
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Free from cyclic silicones, synthetic fragrances and dyes, as well as endocrine disruptors, Lion Pose will be part of the Clean at Sephora roster.
Sephora mobile app users can purchase Lion Pose’s Unspotted 4X Acid Jelly Night Serum. The product will be available July 18 at Sephora.com and beginning Aug. 28 will be carried in select Sephora stores nationwide.