Before the Beautyblender sponge was a staple in every makeup bag, it was a clever DIY tool dreamed up on set by professional makeup artist Rea Ann Silva. Then came a hot pink hero product, a cult following, and a revolution in the beauty industry.

Today, Sammi sits down with Rea Ann to unpack how she turned her first invention into a multi-million dollar brand— and what it took to stay on top. They dig into the battle against dupes, the growing pains of scaling, and Rea Ann’s decision not to take outside capital. This is the story of a product that changed the beauty industry—and the founder who created the category.

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Here’s what Sammi covers today with Rea Ann:

00:00 Updates from Sammi

00:23 The Origin Story of Beautyblender

03:17 How Rea Ann Built Her Prototype

15:50 The Decision to Keep Operations In-House

22:45 The Process Rea Ann Used to Build Her Team

23:39 Rea Ann’s Decision Not To Fundraise

28:30 The Secret to Organic Marketing

30:23 The Rise of Dupes in the Beauty Industry

33:46 How To Educate Your Consumer

37:46 How To Cater To Different Customers

39:59 Milestones and the Smithsonian Museum Story

46:20 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

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Rea Ann Silva (Beautyblender) on Owning 100% of Her Company, Dupes and Creating a Category