As a child, I read comic books as an escape. The bold colors and superheroes allowed me to daydream, and soon I was drawing my own characters. As I grew up, I swapped my pencils for makeup brushes and found a new medium for creative self-expression.

As an adopted Korean Jewish American, I grew up with beauty standards that didn’t reflect the face I saw in the mirror. I turned to makeup for an authentic outlet of creative expression, first as a hair and makeup stylist and later, as a product developer for major brands like MAC, AVON, and Bobbi Brown. After graduating with an MBA from Columbia University, it was time to take everything I learned and create my own brand. Emilie Heathe is my effort to redefine the growing sustainable beauty market with luxury and inclusivity.