About Rella
OUR MISSION
Empowerment. Confidence. Radiance. Self-care.
For everyone.
We’re committed to bringing confidence & self-care to women around the world through our buy-one-give-one model. With every lipstick purchased, one is given to a woman in need somewhere in the world via one of our giving partners.
What we want to remind you is that this isn’t about needing makeup to be a certain way. This is about the fact that so many of us wake up every day, put on a bit of makeup or hair product or perfume/cologne, whatever it may be - and it gives us an added sense of confidence & readiness. For so many women, a pop of color on the lips is an instant pick-me-up.
We all have our pick-me-ups. For our founder, her can’t-live-without items are under-eye concealer/corrector, mascara and lipstick.
They receive "necessities" as they're defined by society, but what about the necessity of simply feeling good about yourself?
OUR PARTNERS
Dignity not Despair
Dignity not Despair (DnD), founded by Kristen Gibson and Stacy Lee, donates makeup and hygiene products to female refugees around the world. DnD believes that even a seemingly small deed can have a major impact on one’s state of mind. By donating these items, they aim to help these women maintain their dignity and a sense of normalcy, and as a result, promote emotional and mental well-being. To date, DnD has reached women in the U.S., Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon, Greece, Indonesia, Mexico and Tanzania.
“In March 2016, we volunteered as humanitarian aid workers in Greece to assist with the Syrian refugee crisis. While handing out donations, two women pulled us aside and shyly asked us if we had any makeup. We were struck by this request, and it continued to resonate with us after we came home. Providing food, shelter and clothing in crisis situations is essential, but we realized that there is a need for goods that help provide something equally important, which is one's dignity.” - Stacy Lee & Kristen Gibson
https://www.dignitynotdespair.org/
Project Glimmer
Project Glimmer inspires at-risk teenage girls and women to believe in themselves by letting them know their community cares, through gift-giving, events, Glimmer Drives and community building. Project Glimmer gives meaningful gifts such as beauty products, jewelry, accessories, journals, wellness items, tablets and gift cards to celebrate accomplishments and holidays, helping women feel inspired, loved and worthy.
“When a girl feels valued on the outside, she feels worthy on the inside, and this makes all the difference in choosing her future.” - Project Glimmer
“It’s more than just jewelry or make-up, it’s part of the healing process... Receiving something and accepting that you are of worthy of a beautiful gift." -Homeless Prenatal Program, Project Glimmer
https://www.projectglimmer.org/
Dress for Success
Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 150 cities in 25 countries and has helped more than one million women work towards self-sufficiency.
Laura’s House
Laura's House provides support and shelter to women and children facing domestic violence situations. Over the past 24 years, Laura's House has provided shelter and supportive services to more than 5,000 abused women, men and children, and counseling, life skills education and legal advocacy to over 55,000 persons.
Today, Laura's House continues to be the only state-approved comprehensive domestic violence agency in South Orange County. Annually, Laura's House provides residential shelter services, transitional housing, counseling and workshops, and legal services to thousands of individuals.
OUR PRODUCTS
Our launch collection features three beautiful shades:
Confidant: a warm-toned beige that’s truly dynamic and easy to wear
Darling: a classic, cult-favorite red
Soul Sister: an adventurous, deeper berry hue
Our products are made in Italy, a world leader when it comes to beauty. Rella Beauty lipsticks are always vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. Plus, we want to avoid ingredients that aren’t the best. This lipstick is free of silicones, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, talc, phenoxyethanol, BHT, BHA, formaldehydes and artificial fragrances.
OUR FOUNDER
Raisa started working on Rella Beauty with a focused vision of empowering women around the world to feel more empowered and confident, through the gift of beauty. After learning how impactful small luxuries can be, she was inspired. Her goal is to make sure Rella Beauty promotes intentional buying through good quality product with a strong, tangible social impact.
A note from Raisa: Not many people know this, but I met a girl during my trip to India in 2018 that really affected me: Sana, age 15. Her day to day was assisting her mother in house cleaning services & she had been doing so since a young age. I was getting ready one day and noticed her watching me. She said I looked nice. I offered to curl her hair, but she shyly declined because she said she had to finish her work. She continued watching me and cleaning, simultaneously. Truthfully, I couldn’t get it out of my head. I wanted her to feel the bliss of having her hair done, a little pampering. I wanted to see her reaction when she saw herself, hair done, in the mirror. This interaction stuck with me & prompted so many swirling thoughts and ideas in my head. What about her right to self-care, to feel confident, beautiful, special... the list goes on. For me, my getting ready regimen is something I enjoy, it makes me happy. Simple as that. There’s something to be said about the small things that can really affect your state of mind, whether it’s your solo morning coffee time, journaling, stretching, working out, doing your makeup, reading, taking a walk away from your desk, praying, etc. We all owe self-care to ourselves. Where we can, let’s encourage each other to take the time we need, the things we need. And we’re all allowed to have different definitions of “need.” Meeting Sana was the catalyst for me taking this beautiful risk, Rella Beauty.