San Antonio's Toni Lee Jimenez is taking her life mission to empower women a step further with makeup.
Starting in November, Jimenez's clients will be able to start their day with a dose of confidence she hopes they find in the upcoming ChicaBeauty makeup kits. The beauty brand celebrating "Real Girls. Real Life. True Beauty" will launch online on Nov. 13, but Jimenez gave mySA.com a preview of what she and her sister, Mei-Lon Jimenez, have been developing.
Toni Lee Jimenez's entrepreneurial career includes ChicaGirl, a digital magazine celebrating the stories and successes of young San Antonio Girls, and Scholar Sox, a sock brand. The pair envisions the next brand becoming the "go-to" for on-the-go beauty. Toni Lee Jimenez recognized the amount of makeup products can be overwhelming and confusing. Each of the ChicaBeauty kits will contain two items intended to be staples of an everyday makeup routine that can be quickly tossed in a purse, work tote or luggage.
Toni Lee Jimenez said narrowing down the products to be included in a line of six kits that will be released for the first year has been a challenge.
"It makes things harder for us because we're simplifying things," she said. "But it's worth it because we know we're simplifying lives."
Though the products have San Antonio influence, ChicaBeauty ships anywhere. Toni Lee Jimenez hopes each customer who buys a kit will feel part of a "sisterhood."
Speaking of her own sisterhood, she is also excited to be working with her sister, whose career in product development has been an integral part of the process. Toni Lee Jimenez says her budding business has also been armed with the support of San Antonio.
Another locally launched beauty brand, Kavi Cosmetix, has also benefited from local interest, according to its founder Xelizabeth Cervantes. The skin care line has also been growing with the help of the Alamo City the last couple of years. Cervantes is also working to simplify the beauty business with her face polishes, exfoliators and hair oils.
"Local businesses are in," Cervantes said. "The support they (San Antonians) give us back is beyond what we expected, we are thankful to be a part of this growing city."
On the eve of her big launch, Toni Lee Jimenez says she wants to "shout from the rooftops."
Those interested in being the first to add the kits to their vanities can register online for newsletters to find out when sales will go live. Each kit will be $28.
Each of Toni Lee Jimenez's businesses have supported scholarships through sales — the magazine alone has awarded more than $380,000. The kits will fall in line with the Jimenez Family mission to give back to the community and a portion of each sale will benefit a different charity with every release.
Madalyn Mendoza is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @MaddySkye