Making lip gloss started out as a fun activity for Kenyata Gant and her daughter. At the time, she didn’t envision that 10 years later, her lip products would be sold in Target stores.  

Gant founded Pink Lipps Cosmetics in 2011 and her first batch of lip products sold out immediately.

“Then, I thought, what else can I do to add value to my business?” Gant said. 

She taught herself how to apply makeup and began offering her makeup artistry services to her Pink Lipps customers. She sold her lip products at pop ups and vending events, and provided makeup services in a small studio until she opened her Pink Lipps Cosmetics storefront at 1112 E. 47th Terr. in 2016.

Since acquiring the storefront, her product line has grown from just lip products, to skin care, accessories, concealers and eye palettes. Her business has also grown to include six other makeup artists available for makeup appointments in store.

Some of Pink Lipps’ most popular products are their Everlasting Matte Liquid Lipsticks in shades:

• Cherry Bomb, a bright red shade

• Don, a dark brown shade

• After Party, a nude shade

• Fearless Queen, a pink, purple shade. 

The matte lipsticks last up to 13-plus hours and there is little to no transfer to surfaces, like napkins or clothing.

“I really want women to feel empowered when they wear our products and to feel good and to feel confident,” she said. “That’s what I love about Pink Lipps — the platform that it gives me to empower women to help build confidence.”

Department store Target started to take notice of Pink Lipps Cosmetics and they reached out to her last year to include her products in 41 Target stores across the country. 

The nearest Target to Kansas City that Pink Lipps will be available at is Florissant, MO.

Gant’s goal is to continue to make her products more widely available in retail stores.

“I want the world to know Pink Lipps,” she said. 

Shop Pink Lipps Cosmetics: https://www.pinklippscosmetics.com/.