NYX Cosmetics founder Toni Ko, who sold the corporate to L’Oréal in 2014 for a reported $500 million, is making her return to beauty with Bespoke Beauty Brands, an “incubator” partnering with influencers to launch area of interest beauty brands.

“My life goal is to construct one other successful company,” said Ko, who’s based in Los Angeles. “…I got here here after I was 13 years old, a first-generation immigrant.”

With parents within the cosmetics industry, in retail and later working as wholesalers, Ko was immersed within the business growing up and would find yourself working for them full-time. On the age of 25, she saw a spot out there and, after receiving a $250,000 loan from her parents, began NYX Cosmetics.

Any regrets about selling the corporate?

“No, my life motto is to not have regrets in the choices you make,” said Ko. “I do wish I had the corporate for an additional 12 months or perhaps two. But L’Oréal is an incredible buyer for the brand. I used to be just in Scotland walking down a random street, and I look over and see like a four-foot display of NYX Cosmetics in a random store in Scotland. I used to be like, ‘I can’t consider it that is my baby.’ It’s so exciting to see it change into such a world brand.”

Nowadays too many brands are under “one umbrella,” she said. “They fight to hit every market.”

“With CBD, I just noticed even NYX has a CBD line,” she continued. The cannabis ingredient, which is derived from the hemp plant and helps treat pain, anxiety and insomnia, has been a breakout trend in beauty this 12 months. “Whenever you try this, I believe you lose that specialty in that certain ingredient. If I do a CBD-infused cosmetics line, I need a brand that’s solely dedicated to that. I believe that’s what’s lacking, the dearth of specialty.…For me to fill that gap is to launch smaller, more boutique brands that specialize.”

Ko — who appeared on Forbes’ “America’s Richest Self-Made Women” for the third time this 12 months — plans to just do that together with her newest endeavor now that her non-compete with L’Oréal is behind her, expiring on July 30. Bespoke Beauty Brands projects $2.5 million in sales the primary 12 months with a double-digit increase annually following, the corporate shared.

As she continues to act as chief executive officer of Thomas James LA, a sunglass company she founded after she sold NYX Cosmetics, Ko is on the point of release her first launch, a partnership with Kim Chi — the stage name of fellow Korean-American Sang-Young Shin. Shin, an influencer with 1.8 million Instagram followers, is best known for competing on season 8 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

“He’s amazing,” said Ko, who was a fan of the fact star. “I just adore him a lot.…I need to work with people who find themselves nice. I’d much reasonably work with someone who’s more real, more organic, just that nice core person than with any person who has a gazillion followers.”

Shin shared his excitement for the chance and respect for Ko. After she reached out, it was a no brainer to say yes. “It was at all times my dream to have a beauty brand. It means a lot to me, and I’m so excited for the discharge.”

Kim Chi Chic, which launches on Oct. 16, is a playful and colourful collection of products: three “High Key Gloss” lip colours, eight glittery “Diamond Sharts” liquid shadows, a “Rainbow Sharts” eye shadow palette and two hand-held, LED-lit mirrors. The all-pink packaging features a limited-edition collaboration with Ketnipz, the Instagram cartoon with 1.3 million followers.

“If you happen to feel the load of the palette, it’s very substantial, and it’s only $29,” Ko said. Like NYX Cosmetics, she plans to maintain the pricing competitive. The attention shadows retail for $8 each; the lip glosses for $9, and the mirrors for $25. “We aren’t the $50 palette. We’re not your $25 lip-gloss company.”

She and Shin will next release a rice powder-based setting powder named “Puff Puff Pass,” a cream eye shadow line, “Pot de Crème,” and concealer palette, “Undercover Hoe.”

“That’s what I mean by it won’t be for everyone,” said Ko with fun. “We’re going to drop every three to 4 weeks. It’ll be on the Kim Chi Chic site, and under the Bespoke brand, we’ll have it as a person [limited liability company]. Each of the entities can have its own site but will operate under Bespoke Beauty Brand.”

It’s an equity deal, she said. “I take a look at it as a portfolio,” she continued of the corporate. “My goal is to launch two brands a 12 months…I’m an entrepreneur at heart. I can’t sit still and do nothing. I really like constructing corporations, but I really like creating product. That’s where my real passion is.”

A second brand she’ll be launching in about three months isn’t with an influencer, nevertheless, she shared. “I need to check out the 2 different concepts, but I actually love having an influencer partner. They’re the ceo’s of their brand and the marketing engine behind it.”

She’s focused on the U.S. market, and together with CBD and clean beauty, she sees opportunities in vegan-friendly cosmetics and men’s: “On this line we now have some products which are vegan, but I’m talking about a complete line focused and dedicated to being vegan. I also see a possibility in men’s grooming. I’m not talking about eye shadows or lip glosses. I’m talking about light cosmetics products, grooming eyebrows, spot treatments, concealers and a give attention to skincare usually because men are different today. This recent generation of men is far more into their looks.”

“I learned loads on what to do with my first company, NYX Cosmetics,” she continued. “I learned loads on what to not do in my sunglass company, which I still have but didn’t go so well for me. Now I’m mixing the 2 knowledges and implementing that into this third company.”

She currently has a team of six.

“I’m self-funding currently,” she said. “I do have that advantage. Also, I already do have that relationship with my suppliers. I don’t should go and source additional suppliers…I’m doing product development myself, and I actually have a graphic person. I need to herald loads of amazing influencer partners. I need everybody to have the opportunity to be very financially independent.”

Ko can also be the founder and ceo of Butter Ventures, a firm that invests in start-ups, particularly those created by women.

“I like working with loads of female founders and feminine entrepreneurs,” she said. “Hopefully, after this or along the way in which, I’ll be constructing a team, and after I’ll have just a little little bit of down time, my goal is to dedicate my time to the speaking circuit or being an inspirational role model for female entrepreneurs, minorities.”