The beauty and health industry has come a long way in creating an extensive array of products for women. Different colors, shades and innovative products are available in the market but a huge gap is still there. Latina skin pigmentation is unique due to the diverse mixture of cultures and races. Many Latina women feel frustrated at the cosmetic counter because they cannot find the right match in color for their makeup foundation.

This is where, armed with lipstick, great natural ingredients and colors, Maria Eugenia Bermúdez Price, CEO and founder of Mía Mariú, a direct sales beauty and health company based in Dallas, TX, comes into the picture and turns this void into a business. Born in Mexico, daughter of a diplomat, raised in the U.S. and with studies abroad, Maria Eugenia has all the qualities an entrepreneur needs to create the first network marketing company exclusively dedicated to meeting the beauty and health needs of Latinas of every background. Her 20+ years of experience in the networking marketing industry for companies such as Home Goods and Mary Kay, plus her opportunity to be in contact with Hispanic women, gives her a deep understanding of what their unique needs are.

Mía Mariú products are sold thru “independent associates” following the model of companies like Avon. Mía Mariú offers the opportunity to Latina women to generate an income with the highest of technology and with a product of great quality. They offer a targeted line of make up that flatters Latina skin tones, plus wellness products and nutritional supplements inspired by ingredients that our “mamas” and “abuelas” have been talking about for ages and that are known in the Latino culture to be good for you. As you know…”Beauty comes from inside out.”

Q: Where does the company name come from?
A: “Mía” means “my” in Spanish and “Mariú,” is a nickname for my name, Maria Eugenia.

Q: When did Mía Mariú’s idea come to life and how long did it take to realize?
A: It was a dream of mine. It took me several years to really bring it to life and to put together the complete and comprehensive concept.

Q: How did your personal experience help you build the core of the company?
A: I had always struggled with finding the right colors of foundation and just overall makeup, that was always a challenge for me, and even though you know I worked for major cosmetics company, I still had issues with it. There is a lot of frustration out there. I couldn’t understand what it was about my tone that I couldn’t quite address. Two to three years ago, I left the corporate world and decided to take a sabbath and create my own company with what I felt was a real need in the marketplace – and that’s when the focus on Mía Mariú came from.

Q: Why target Latinas?
A: I am a Latina myself here in the US. I am originally from Mexico City, but grew up the vast part of my life here (over 30 years). Growing up as a Latina and understanding what were the needs not necessarily filled by general market brands and the fact that we are very unique within our own segment – spending a lot of time talking to a lot of Latina women from different cultural backgrounds – I realized there’s a huge gap here in terms of cosmetics. If you really think about it, it’s hard to believe we are in the most competitive market in the world, in terms if what is available, but we have some very unique needs because of our cultural backgrounds and diversities and mixes of cultures that make up the Hispanic Market in the US today! So, really being able to focus 100% on celebrating Latina beauty and not be a subset of a major brand, but really created from conception from the ground up addressing specifically our needs in terms of health and beauty – that’s how the idea came about.

Q: Do Latinas have special needs that other companies don’t know about? How is Mía Mariú different from Mary Kay or Avon?
A: First of all, our product line is different in terms of all the ingredients and formulations, but most importantly: our identity is unique. Our color line is very targeted to meet Latina skin tones and needs. A lot of our work is meeting and understanding differences in pigmentation for Latinas and the wide variety of cultures that we have. Also, the focus on color. We teach a lot of techniques. We teach women to do a professional makeup application.
We have tested on many hundreds of Latina women from different backgrounds. So, the choices of colors are very accurate.

Q: Tell me about the networking and marketing part of Mia Mariú.
A: The direct sales angle came through because I have been in the industry for twenty years. So, I knew that in addition to having the right product line, our mission is really providing a business opportunity. It is really about focusing on how to empower Latinas to be able to develop their own business without cultural barriers or limitations or anything like that. It’s really a two prong approach – not only the products side, but the opportunity.

Q: Would you say that part of the company’s strategy is to use natural products that come from our heritage and culture?
A: That’s exactly right, and to create a company that would empower “mujeres Latinas,” and give an opportunity. We are in an emerging market with a need to move our community forward. It’s not about whether you are a subset of a company. But, here is an opportunity with the most relevant of technologies, the most relevant of earnings plans, and compensation plans created specifically for you. That’s the key mission of our company.

Q: As a Latina, myself, I know how important it is for women to bring an income home besides taking care of the house and family. I think it is remarkable how you have blended concepts of empowering Latina women with a business opportunity and selling a great quality product – a product that not only focuses on unique Latina needs, but that also is based on cultural beliefs and traditions – much like the natural ingredients you use – natural extracts of plants that our “mamas, abuelitas, tías or anybody we know are still talking about.”
A: It’s really a product that is very focused. It really sets the stage for a pretty unique combination. Our “abuelitas” have been talking about Aloe Nopal for ages. When we say that we focus on Latina needs, we look at the whole product side of things, such as product ingredients. We say these products have been working in our culture for years and years and take those natural based ingredients that have been handed to us by our “mamas, tias, abuelas”. These are ingredients that are good for you. We have developed products that really embody the greatest characteristics of those wonderfully nourishing, natural ingredients and botanical extracts. We don’t use chemical binders or harsh chemicals of any sort. The Latino culture in general – we like to use natural based products.

Q: Please talk about the ingredients that Mía Mariú uses. I know you have taken into consideration that they are good for you.
A: We have eliminated any kind of harsh chemicals that you would typically find in general market products. We have been very diligent in focus on selecting the type of natural ingredients and extracts that will give us the same or better type of delivery in terms of what you put on the skin. If you look at our Wellness line, we have developed a liquid vitamin that’s made of Papaya and Nopal Cactus, Peach Extract. That was very specifically designed to address our needs. We deal with cardiovascular disease, including diabetes. The Nopal Cactus has been known for centuries to help regulate blood sugar. These products, made with juice extracts, are different from taking a pill. There is a lack of education on what we need to take care of ourselves and how nutrition affects our bodies and what you are doing for your family. You might have heard from your “abuela,” “if your are not good on the inside, you are not going to feel good on the outside.” That’s our whole philosophy based on that.

Q: I see that the quality of the packaging you have developed is “on par” with any other that you would find at a major department store, like Nordstrom, for example.
A: Our packaging is very high end. It’s a pewter, metallic box and the feel is very high end gloss for the skin care package. The other packages are gold metallic with our logo in red. When you open the boxes we are even branded in the inside of the box with our “mm” pattern. The packaging has a very high end touch and feel. Our graphic and catalog designer just won the “American Graphic Design” award from Graphic Design USA. Our design company is called USFI and they received an award for the design work on our website, catalogue and packaging.

Q: Maria Eugenia, thank you very much for your time and chatting with Ask Marivi. You have a bright and successful future ahead of you. Las mejores de las suertes! -MC

Ask Marivi also talked with Edna Rodriguez, one of Mía Mariú’s associates and asked her about her experience being a member of the company. Find out more about Edna’s insight in a future discussion!

For more info: http://www.miamariu.com

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