Mmatlala Mabotja the founder Fancy Sapphire Cosmetics chats to us about turning her love for lipstick into a thriving business.
By Fundiswa Nkwanyana
My love for lipstick started at a very young age. When I was a little girl, I used to secretly apply my mother’s lipstick when she was not around. I loved lipstick so much that I begged my mother buy me lip gloss because she said I was too young for lipstick. I couldn’t wait to grow up and finally wear lipstick every day. At the age of 14, I finally bought my first lipstick.
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I now wear lipstick every day. I love it because it completes my look and complements any outfit that I’m wearing. It also gives me the confidence to peruse my dreams. I just love how happy it makes me feel.
In 2016, I decided to start making my own lipstick from scratch. My curiosity for lipsticks led me into a fun filled adventure of experimenting with different colour lipsticks. I decided to conduct in-depth research on how to make lipsticks and the ingredients that I needed. Afterwards, I started making my own lipsticks from my kitchen. I sold it to my friends and they were happy with my product.
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Getting my business up and running was not easy. Making the lipsticks on my own was time consuming and expensive and I decided to find an affordable manufacturer to make them for me in bulk. Some customers were sceptical to try my lipstick because it was an unknown brand but through word of mouth, people have warmed up to the idea.
I’m excited to be selling high quality lipsticks. They feel great on the lips, are water and smudge proof and come in a variety of colours. I’m working hard to make my lipsticks easily available nationwide. My long-term goal is to distribute to retail stores globally because at the moment, they can only be purchased from Fancy Sapphire Cosmetics Facebook and Instagram pages.