Tisha Thompson’s LYS Beauty Secures $15M To Fuel Growth

News

Published by Stephen Oluwadara at April 1, 2025

Meet LYS Beauty, Sephora’s First Black-Owned Clean Makeup Brand

Beauty industry veteran Tisha Thompson launched LYS — short for “Love Yourself” in 2021. She founded the company to redefine clean beauty with inclusive, high-performing products for all skin tones, types, and budgets.

LYS Beauty was the first Black-owned clean makeup brand to launch at Sephora. The beauty brand’s skin-first, vegan, and cruelty-free products have since expanded into every Sephora location in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. They are preparing for a relaunch in the U.K.

Since its debut, the Atlanta-based company has marked several notable achievements. Besides securing national and international retail distribution, the brand was named a finalist in the Glossy Beauty Awards for Best Use of TikTok, underscoring its digital marketing savvy and strong consumer engagement. The company has grown its team to 20 employees and expects to add 10 to 15 more by the end of 2025.

Among LYS Beauty’s highest-performing products is its No Limits Cream Bronzer Stick, which has doubled in sales at Sephora year over year. The brand has also seen a 200% increase year-over-year via the TikTok Shop and now ranks among its top 20 personal care brands.

Meet Tisha Thompson

Thompson’s journey in the beauty industry began during college when she worked as a makeup artist to support her education while studying accounting, according to Fortune.

After earning her degree, she secured an accounting role at PÜR Cosmetics, where she quickly advanced through the ranks, eventually becoming VP of Marketing and Innovation.

“During my tenure there, I wore many hats, similar to what I do now as a startup founder. I helped to innovate clean beauty product development, supported brand management and marketing, and also oversaw finance and operations,” she told the media outlet. Now, Thompson is successfully leading her business and has stacked on impressive wins.

How The New Fund Will Be Deployed

“Having the resources to scale as demand for LYS Beauty grows feels like kismet, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead,” said Thompson, who will remain majority owner, in a news release. “Now, in a time when many believe the beauty industry, especially minority-led brands, are losing momentum, we are not only thriving but securing the support of an industry-leading investor, Encore, with a proven track record of spotting high-growth potential brands early on.”

The funding will support the growth of its team, product innovation, marketing initiatives, and inventory scaling. The investment is on time as LYS Beauty prepares to launch 892 Sephora at Kohl’s locations beginning on April 8, 2025.

“We are thrilled to witness the continued growth of LYS Beauty since its launch in 2021. As the first Black-owned clean makeup brand to debut at Sephora, LYS Beauty is a leader in the space, offering accessible and inclusive beauty solutions that truly resonate with our clients, including their easily blendable cream stick formulas. We look forward to continuing our partnership with LYS and supporting their mission of promoting self-confidence through beauty, which aligns closely with Sephora’s own values,” said Alison Hahn, SVP of Makeup and Fragrance Merchandising at Sephora, in a news release.

Main Image: Tisha Thompson. Image Credit: LYS Beauty