BEAUTY ENTREPRENEUR, EDWINA KULEGO LAUNCHES A VEGAN LIPSTICK
Born and raised in Sweden by Ghanaian parents, in 2007 Kulego became a resident in the U.S. and earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Business at Berkeley College. Since residing in the United States over a decade ago, Kulego has experienced the exciting opportunity to intern with Essence Magazine.
“It’s so funny how things are becoming full circle now,” Kulego says. “Essence was my first internship and now I’m being featured on their platform.”
So, how did this Sweden native, go from a career in International Business to creating and launching her own beauty collection? Edwina admits it all started as a personal struggle in finding the perfect nude for her skin tone is what inspired her to create her first lip color, the “Nogah lipstick”.
“After struggling to find a good nude color or bold red this birthed the idea of creating the everyday nude.”
Recently, Edwina launched her first collection “Essentials by Edwina,” a vegan, cruelty-free, beauty collection for the everyday woman.
This collection featured shades LaLa, Shiraz, and the infamous Nogah for the perfect everyday nude tone. After Kulego’s much success and demand for more shades, came the birth of her second beauty collection line, “The Legacy Collection”.
In creating both lip collections, Edwina made a vital decision to make it vegan.
“It was important to me to have a collection that doesn’t harm animals or contain harsh chemicals,” says Kulego.
The Legacy Collection is a six color, vegan crème lipstick collection inspired by the success of the top-selling color “Nogah” from her first collection.
The colors: Liberia, Egypt, Ghana, Angola, Congo and Yaounde are all inspired by and represent a destination in Africa. The colors vary from a deep, pigmented chocolate hue to an Über Kaaa-ute beige, the colors of The Legacy Collection are perfect for achieving a natural look or serving jaw-dropping fierceness for a night on the town.
The “Legacy Collection” features the faces of Fashion Favorites and Beauty Bosses including celebrity hairstylist, Ursula Stephen, Liberty Fairs partner, Sharifa Murdock, and menswear stylist, Rachel Johnson.
For years, many brands in the beauty industry failed to focus on diversity and lacked cosmetics for darker complexions. However, “The Legacy Collection” has bridged the gap for aesthetic colors and tones that women of darker skin can now take pleasure in the shopping experience.
What more can you expect from the beauty founder? We were able to find out what the beauty entrepreneur’s 2019 goals are for the brand and what she plans for her business in the future.
What can we expect from “The Legacy Collection” in 2019?
20 new colors eventually! 4 new colors by Spring. We’re creating new colors for women, undertones and pigments. The more variety we have, the happier customers will be.
Do you want to do more than lipsticks?
Yes. I want to have eyeshadows, highlighters, and foundation. I’m educating myself on essential oils and really want to keep the integrity of the vegan brand.
Is your brand only available in the U.S?
No. My brand is sold in all 50 states, and in Canada, Scandinavia and in the U.K.
What do you want for your brand in the future?
We’ve just been given the opportunity to be apart of Trade Beauty week in Dubai. I want to cross new borders with the brand. I want a Middle-Eastern and South African market. Overall, more options for women of color and growing on a global scale.
Get started today! Let’s join the exciting wave ladies! To learn more about the beauty entrepreneur and shop “The Legacy Collection” here👇!
Follow Edwin: @edwinakulego | Photo Credit: @islandboiphotography | Makeup: @enchanted26
