Kendra Kolb Butler: Building a Brand & Betting on Yourself

Esmeralda Hernandez: Building Family Legacy, the Sacrifice Mothers Make, & Living for Your Inner Child

On this episode of The Beauty Manifest, host Melinda - former Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and professional speaker - sits down with Esmeralda Hernandez, founder of Beauty Creations. Esmeralda shares her inspiring journey of building a family legacy from the ground up, reflecting on the sacrifices she and her mother made along the way and what it means to stay true to your inner child while chasing success. Esmeralda Hernandez is the founder and CEO of Beauty Creations, the Latina-owned, self-funded beauty brand known for high-quality, affordable cosmetics. Born in Mexico and raised in the U.S. by a single mother, Esme started her entrepreneurial journey at age 12, reselling Barbies at swap meets before moving into the beauty space and discovering her passion for accessible, luxury-inspired products. In 2016, she launched Beauty Creations to fill a gap in the market, offering inclusive, high-quality cosmetics at fair prices. The brand reached $75 million in revenue in 2025, sells in 47 countries, and operates a 92,000 sq-ft headquarters in Santa Fe Springs, CA. Recognized as a 2025 HOLA! Latina Powerhouse in Beauty and named to the 2025 Entreprenista 100, Esme's story is a powerful example of resilience, vision, and a mission to make beauty accessible to all. Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty together.  **This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional. The information provided in this podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, and you use it at your own risk. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from using the information provided. Edited by Nicolas Spearman: https://bit.ly/4eXMGqL

Kendra Kolb Butler: Building a Brand & Betting on Yourself

The Beauty Manifest host, Melinda, former Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and professional speaker, has a conversation with Kendra Kolb Butler, founder and formulator of Alpyn Beauty. They discuss Kendra’s impressive career in NYC, how she left to build her own brand, and what it means to bet on yourself.  A move to Jackson Hole, WY, to open a beauty apothecary uprooted everything Kendra Kolb Butler knew from her 20-year career in clinical skincare. Even the most high performance formulas packed with clinically-proven ingredients were no match for her clients' high-altitude skin concerns, most notably extreme dryness. Kendra was determined to find a solution. It turns out, the solution was growing right in her backyard: Wyoming mountain plants with amazing survival instincts that have thrived for thousands of years despite the relentless climate. These mountain plants intuitively know how to bank moisture, concentrate nutrients and optimize life force. Their survivalist lifestyle inspired Kendra to infuse them into skincare formulas. Alpyn is the first skincare brand to sustainably hand-harvest mountain plants at their peak potency and punctuate their power with proven clinical actives. This wild-meets-clinical combination amplifies results and solves skin challenges at the deepest level. Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty together. **This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional. The information provided in this podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, and you use it at your own risk. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from using the information provided. Edited by Nicolas Spearman: https://bit.ly/4eXMGqL

Dahvi Shira: Unexpected Career Pivots, ADHD, & Trichotillomania

The Beauty Manifest host, Melinda, Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and professional speaker, has a conversation with Dahvi Shira, Los Angeles-based writer and journalist. They discuss Dahvi’s unexpected career pivots as well as her experiences with ADHD and Trichotillomania.  Dahvi Shira is a Los Angeles–based writer and journalist covering beauty, wellness, and more. Her work has appeared in leading publications including Forbes, Glossy, and Mane Addicts, where she brings a thoughtful, trend-aware perspective to topics at the intersection of lifestyle and industry. Known for her clear voice and sharp insights, she explores everything from emerging brands to broader shifts shaping modern beauty and culture. Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty together. **This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional. The information provided in this podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, and you use it at your own risk. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from using the information provided.Edited by Nicolas Spearman: https://bit.ly/4eXMGqL

Tisha Thompson: Purpose Driven Work & the Importance of Representation for Imposter Syndrome

The Beauty Manifest host, Melinda, Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and professional speaker, has a conversation with Tisha Thompson, founder of LYS Beauty. They discuss the purpose driven work and the importance of representation and how it relates to imposter syndrome. Tisha Thompson, founder and CEO of LYS Beauty, is a beauty industry veteran with over 20 years of experience developing and marketing clean beauty products. As a trained makeup artist and seasoned executive, her career is marked by uncovering today’s beauty consumers’ needs, from skin concerns to financial priorities. In 2021, Tisha launched LYS Beauty to redefine clean beauty with inclusive, high-performing products for all skin tones, types, and budgets. Her expertise in complexion has driven viral, cult-favorite products, solidifying her as a leading voice in the beauty industry. Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty together. **This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional. The information provided in this podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, and you use it at your own risk. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from using the information provided.

Josie Maran: The Power of the Matriarchy & Manifestation

The Beauty Manifest host, Melinda Solares, Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and professional speaker, has a conversation with Josie Maran, founder of Josie Maran Beauty. They discuss the power of the matriarchy and manifestation through Josie’s vulnerability, sharing her own life experiences and the journey that brought her to where she is today.  Josie Maran is a model, entrepreneur, and longtime advocate for conscious beauty who built her brand on one simple truth, feeling good is the truest form of beauty. After discovering the power of pure Argan Oil during her travels, she was inspired to bring this nutrient-rich ingredient to the center of modern skincare.   In 2007, she founded JOSIE MARAN®, creating high-performance products powered by sustainably sourced Argan Oil and rooted in transparency. What began with a single bottle of 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil has grown into a full collection of skin, body, and hair essentials designed to deliver visible results while honoring people and planet.   As the leader of a B Corp certified beauty house, Josie has championed traceable sourcing, refillable packaging, and partnerships with women-led Argan cooperatives in Morocco. Her approach blends efficacy with responsibility, proving that luxury and sustainability can live in the same jar.   Today, Josie continues to shape a brand where glow is earned through care, impact is measured through action, and beauty feels joyful, inclusive, and real. Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty together. **This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional. The information provided in this podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, and you use it at your own risk. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from using the information provided.Edited by Nicolas Spearman: https://bit.ly/4eXMGqL