We were lucky to catch up with Katherine Lugo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Katherine, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

The idea came to me to start my cosmetics line because I was a makeup artist that was personally suffering from skin allergies and acne. I saw that my clients were suffering from similar issues and that a lot of makeup was making acne worse. So, I started researching ingredients and was so frustrated and shocked to find so many harmful chemicals and pore clogging ingredients in cosmetics. It was then that I became more conscious of the makeup and skincare I was putting on my body and started using mineral powders. I noticed they weren’t making me break out, but they also didn’t have the coverage and versatility I needed as a makeup artist. I thought to myself, “Wow, I really need to create something, and it has to be clean and natural”. So, I started taking classes on how to formulate natural products from scratch and researching manufacturing and how to develop products. Things kept progressing as ideas led to next steps, and that’s how Luka Cosmetics grew.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Katherine Lugo and I am the founder of Luka Cosmetics. I started Luka in 2008 when I saw that my clients were suffering from the same sensitivities and skin issues as I was. I wanted to create a brand that would help solve most women’s daily concerns when it came to makeup and be formulated with natural ingredients that clients could feel confident about putting on their skin. Ever since I was little, I was obsessed with formulating and creating “at home beauty remedies” like masks, scrubs, and hair products. As a Colombian, I was raised in a culture where creating all-natural products using the power of plants, was very normal and encouraged. I wanted to formulate a line that could take the harmful chemicals usually used in cosmetics and replace them with something natural that’s effective and soothing. Not only is Luka clean, but it was also very important to me to have products that met my standards as a makeup artist. It needed to be durable, high performance, and offer every level of coverage. With ingredients like aloe, peptides, and antioxidants-Luka benefits the skin while creating a flawless finish. I believe that sets Luka apart.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Luka was formulated for post-procedural skin, so it is recognized and recommended by plastic surgeons and dermatologists for sensitive skin.

Have you ever had to pivot?

We had opened retail locations offering makeup and eyelash services and although successful, I decided to pivot with the business and increase our distribution channel. We steered away from retail and now distribute our products internationally. It has been such a great shift.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lukacosmetics.com
• Instagram: @LukaCosmetics
• Facebook: Luka Cosmetics
• Linkedin: Katherine Lugo

Image Credits
Wilde Photography and Emagen Photography