From Lash Artist to Multinational Brand Owner: The Inspiring Story of CosmoGlo’s Rise

Mary’s path to entrepreneurial success was anything but linear. What started as a passion for lash artistry evolved into the creation of a global beauty brand that is transforming the industry. Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, calculated risk-taking, and a relentless drive to solve problems—all while maintaining a lifelong love of travel.

After high school, Mary embarked on a series of adventures, working multiple jobs to fund her globetrotting lifestyle. “I’ve always had this insatiable desire to explore the world,” she explains. “I would work two jobs, save up, and then take off for months at a time, traveling to places most people wouldn’t even consider.”

From the Philippines to the coasts of Africa, Mary’s wanderlust led her down an unconventional career path. She dabbled in various beauty services, from hair to waxing and facials, always keeping one foot in the service industry to support her travels.

It wasn’t until Mary settled in California that she found her true calling in lashes. She immersed herself in the craft, taking multiple training courses to hone her skills until she became a master lash technician. This expertise led her to open her own salon, where lashes quickly became the star service, outpacing all other offerings.

Lighting Challenges

But Mary’s entrepreneurial ambitions didn’t stop there. During her time as a salon owner, she encountered a persistent challenge—the lack of a truly effective lighting solution for lash services. Dissatisfied with the options on the market, Mary took matters into her own hands, designing a revolutionary lash light that addressed the pain points of service providers.

“I remember looking around my salon and thinking, ‘There has to be a better solution,’” Mary recalls. “That’s when the idea for CosmoGlo was born.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Mary navigated the troubling period by focusing on bringing that idea to life. While her salon faced temporary closures, she saw the forced downtime as a chance to pursue her lighting invention full-time. With her salon income no longer a safety net, Mary knew she had to make CosmoGlo a success.

“I had to make a choice,” she says. “I could either go back to the salon and continue the status quo, or I could take a leap of faith and see where CosmoGlo could go. It was a scary decision, but I knew I had to try.”

Mary’s willingness to take calculated risks paid off. She filed for patents, secured manufacturers, and launched CosmoGlo, initially offering pre-sales to fund the first production run. To her delight, the product was an instant hit, with each batch selling out faster than the last.

Lessons in Financial Management

Being a salon owner, and running a global brand like CosmoGlo, has afforded Mary a unique education on financial management and business operations. One of the key takeaways she shares with other aspiring entrepreneurs is the importance of not trying to do everything alone, especially when you are running different businesses.

“I’ve come to learn that failures have to happen, and if people are too afraid to fail, you’re actually doing yourself a disservice,” Mary explains. “Fail as fast as possible on the smallest scale, because those lessons will save you so much time and money in the long run.”

Mary also emphasizes the power of education and continuous learning, a lesson she learned firsthand from her salon days.

She recalls one of her biggest career turning points, which came when she attended a salon training program that provided invaluable insights into business operations and financial management.

“For the first time, I understood the numbers,” she says. “They put it all down for me—my pricing, my hours, the percentage of services I needed to make my rent. It was a game-changer.”

Armed with this newfound knowledge, Mary was able to restructure her salon, replace her rental spaces with employees, and become profitable within six months. This experience not only transformed her salon but also laid the foundation for her future success with CosmoGlo.

From Salon to Global Reach

Today, CosmoGlo is a thriving multinational brand, with products available in over 80 countries. Mary’s unwavering focus on innovation and customer needs has propelled the company’s growth, and she shows no signs of slowing down.

“I’m still in awe of how far CosmoGlo has come,” Mary says. “But I know there’s so much more we can achieve. The beauty industry is constantly evolving, and I’m excited to be at the forefront of that change.”

As CosmoGlo has grown into a multinational brand, Mary has remained steadfast in her commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions. The company’s product line has expanded, and Mary has strategically partnered with retailers around the world to bring the CosmoGlo experience to a global audience.

“When I first started CosmoGlo, my goal was to sell maybe 30 lights a week,” Mary recalls. “Now, the demand is so high and we’ve expanded into markets around the world. It’s been an incredible journey.”

Embracing the Entrepreneurial Journey

Mary’s path to success has been paved with both triumphs and challenges, but her unwavering spirit and resilience have been the driving forces behind CosmoGlo’s rise.

“There’s no secret to this,” she says. “It’s just about doing it. Fail fast, learn the lessons, and keep moving forward. Failures are part of the journey, and you have to be willing to embrace them.”

One of the key lessons Mary has learned is the importance of not trying to do it all alone. She emphasizes the value of outsourcing, hiring employees, and working with coaches or mentors to achieve faster growth and scale.

“You can’t do it all yourself,” Mary advises. “Understand where you need help, and be willing to bring in the right people to support your vision. That’s what’s going to allow you to truly thrive as an entrepreneur.”

As Mary looks to the future, her message to aspiring entrepreneurs is clear: embrace the journey, learn from your mistakes, and never stop pursuing your passions. With the right mindset and a willingness to take calculated risks, the path to success may be closer than you think.

“If I can do it, so can anyone else,” Mary says. “Just start. The rest will follow.”

Read the original interview here: American Lash Assocation