Mindy Kaling-Backed Beauty Brand Lion Pose Launches at Sephora — Retail Bum

Lion Pose, a science-based beauty brand backed by actress Mindy Kaling, has launched its products in Sephora stores nationwide.

The launch comes on the heels of its participation in Y Combinator and Sephora Accelerate. The brand also recently raised $3 million in an investment round backed by beauty and wellness fund Ignite XL, Precursor Ventures, Kaling, L Brands’ founder Talia Fenkel, and Ben VandeBunt, the former CEO of Guthy Renker, among others.

The brand, founded by Harvard grads Madhu Punjabi and Nisha Phatak, aims to provide consumers easy access to clinically tested and dermatology-grade beauty products.

According to the brand, approximately one dermatologist is available per 30,000 people in the U.S., making it very hard for most people to access treatments and recommendations from dermatologists. This problem, in turn, forces them to turn to over-the-counter skincare products that are not clinically tested, let alone tested on diverse skin tones.

Kaling, who is also taking on the role of Lion Pose’s brand ambassador, said she was inspired to support Lion Pose after testing the products on her own skin to address acne problems and hyperpigmentation.