Empowering Visionary Beauty Founders
Program Summary
The LIFT Beauty Accelerator, Rare Beauty Brands’ incubation initiative dedicated to bridging the funding gap for beauty brand entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds.
Participants will have the unique opportunity to forge a deep connection with our vibrant community, fostering a genuine bond that extends beyond business. This support includes non-dilutive cash funding, as well as practical, hands-on mentoring from Rare Beauty Brands and its partners. Moreover, winners will gain the invaluable opportunity to present their brands directly to leading national retailer JCPenney for potential distribution.
WHAT WE OFFER
In 2026, the LIFT Beauty Accelerator will offer three US-based, early-stage beauty brands from underrepresented communities practical resources, a network, and advice necessary to fulfill their potential.
Non-Dilutive Funding
- Minimum of $10,000 to each of our three program-winning brands.
Retail Opportunities
- Opportunity to pitch JCPenney for potential in-store or online product distribution
Practical Mentorship
- Cross-functional team of industry experts from Rare Beauty Brands and our Partners
- A focus on operational support and real-time coaching on practical startup challenges, not a rigid curriculum
- An open exchange of challenges, ideas, and support with fellow participants
In Kind Services
- The Benchmark Company: $20,000 worth of claims testing for each of the three finalists
- Validated Claim Support: $1,000 in kind services, including consulting + free product screening for each of the three finalists
- Consolidated Design West: $3,900 worth of services for each of the three finalists
SELECTION CRITERIA
A panel of industry experts and representatives from Rare Beauty Brands, JCPenney, and other sponsors will carefully evaluate each application based on several criteria, including:
Founder's Vision and Leadership
Our judging panel considers your passion, drive, and commitment to building a successful and impactful beauty brand that can scale in the competitive beauty products marketplace.
- Compelling founder story and authenticity
- Relevant experience and expertise in the beauty industry
- Passion and commitment to the brand’s mission
Business Concept and Product Innovation
We evaluate the uniqueness, innovation, and initial traction of your beauty brand and product offerings.
- Potential for disruption and innovation in the market
- Evidence of early customer engagement or sales
- Clarity and uniqueness of the brand’s selling proposition (USP)
Growth and Scalability Potential
We assess your business model’s scalability and potential for growth within the beauty CPG industry, including distribution strategy and market expansion plans.
- Market traction, social & community engagement
- Viable go-to-market strategy and channels for reaching customers
- Attractive unit economics and margin profile
SPONSORS
TITLE SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS
Kira Mengistu & Victoria Eisner
Hair Cultivated Hair Cultivated“We couldn’t be more thrilled to win the LIFT Beauty Accelerator Award. It sends the signal that the beauty industry is just as ready as we are to elevate women’s hair growth out of the drugstore aisle and into luxury science. It’s a major nod to our mission of making effective hair regrowth both glamorous and clinically proven. We’re most excited to tap into world-class mentorship that will help us scale boldly and bring the gold standard of hair growth to even more women.”
Amara Onwukaeme
Femigist Femigist“I am incredibly excited that Femigist was chosen for this year’s LIFT Beauty Accelerator Award. This isn’t just a win in business, but a win for women as we continue our mission to make hormonal wellness solutions that are gentle, innovative, and effective. This partnership will allow us to increase our visibility and secure the inventory necessary to get Femigist in the hands of more women. We are very grateful to be mentored by seasoned professionals and hope to pass it forward in the future.”
Eunice Cofie-Obeng
Nuekie Nuekie“It is a tremendous honor to be selected for the LIFT Beauty Accelerator Award. With the support of this program, we’ll be able to expand our marketing and connect with more people of color who are dealing with acne and hyperpigmentation. I look forward to working with the program’s mentors to positively shape the future of the beauty industry.”
Veena Krishnan
Daybird Daybird“We thoroughly enjoyed our experience with the LIFT Accelerator Program – from the mentorship, to the other brands in our cohort, and the services provided. We always left the monthly meetups with our other cohort members and the Rare Beauty Brands team, having learned something new and with helpful, actionable insights that were immediately applicable to our business.”
Jamila Powell
Naturally Drenched Naturally Drenched“Participating in the LIFT Accelerator Program was an incredibly valuable experience for me as a founder. The sessions were insightful, relevant, and thoughtfully led, and I especially appreciated how accessible the executive team was throughout the entire program. No question ever felt too small or insignificant—they truly created a safe, open space for learning and growth.”
Halima Wyatt
Bath Notes Bath Notes“The team at Rare Beauty Brands has been instrumental in preparing my business for the next level. The team’s unwavering support, responsiveness, and deep knowledge have made every step of the journey smoother. Their genuine dedication and expertise have been invaluable assets to my growth and success.”
Jordan Karim
Flora & Noor Flora & Noor“The program was amazing and provided incredible support in scaling my business. The Rare Beauty Brands team has continued to be there for me for support and collaboration and I’m so grateful. I couldn’t recommend the program enough!”
Kim Roxie
Lamik Lamik“Winning gave me so much confidence to know my customers really want to see us Grow and Expand! The money we won went straight to the production and preparation to launch onto the major retailer’s website without hesitation! To be honest, the best part of winning the competition was having the Rare Beauty Brands team on my side.”
FAQs
LIFT Beauty Accelerator is an incubation program designed to support innovative and inspirational beauty brand founders, with a focus on founders from underrepresented communities. Through comprehensive training, resources, and mentorship, the program equips participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to build and sustain successful businesses.
This program is exclusively for beauty brands that meet the following criteria:
- Applicant is 18+, from an underrepresented background in the beauty industry
- Company is US-incorporated
- Early stage – no institutional funding, limited distribution, less than $1m revenue
- Beauty products (cosmetics, skincare, haircare, fragrance, etc.) at least at prototype stage
- Previous applicants, excluding winners, are welcome to re-apply.
Please note: This program is not intended for service-based beauty businesses such as salons, spas, or individual beauty service providers.
Applications will be open from July 8, 2026, at 10 am EST to August 21, 2026, at 5 pm EST.
A panel of industry experts and representatives from Rare Beauty Brands, JCPenney, and other sponsors will carefully evaluate each application based on several criteria, including:
- Founder’s Vision and Leadership: Our judging panel considers your passion, drive, and commitment to building a successful and impactful beauty brand that can scale in the competitive beauty products marketplace.
- Business Concept and Product Innovation:We evaluate the uniqueness, innovation, and initial traction of your beauty brand and product offerings.
- Growth and Scalability Potential: We assess your business model’s scalability and potential for growth within the beauty CPG industry, including distribution strategy and market expansion plans.
The selection process aims to identify the most promising and innovative beauty brands led by passionate and dedicated founders who align with the program’s values and objectives.
Round 1: Applications will be open from July 8, 2026, at 10 am EST to August 21, 2026, at 5 pm EST.
Round 2: The selected finalists will be notified in or around September 15, 2026.
The Program Begins: The winners will be announced on or around September 21, 2026.
No, there is no cost for participants to submit their application or to participate in the program.
While the mentoring portion of the program is highly tailored to your unique needs rather than a rigid “curriculum,” there is a dedicated time commitment required to get the most out of the experience. The program includes group sessions and collaborative workshops running through the remainder of 2026. We will work with your schedule to find times that fit, but participants must be available, active, and fully prepared. This means dedicating time before each session to complete prep work, such as bringing specific questions and being ready for the meeting, so we can hit the ground running and maximize our time together.
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