Mindy Kaling has always invested in skin care. At first, it was with her time — over the years, she’s cultivated a multi-step routine from which she rarely waivers — and now, it’s with her money. The actor and producer is an investor in and ambassador for Lion Pose, a new brand that seeks to meet the unmet skin needs of people of color. To mark the launch of the brand into Sephora with its debut product, Unspotted 4X Dark Spot + Hyperpigmentation AHA Serum, we had a phone call with Kaling to talk about the disparity in dermatological care for people of color, how makeup helped her get into character on The Office, and why her five-year-old daughter is her biggest beauty inspiration.
SAG-AFTRA members are currently on strike; as part of the strike, union actors are not promoting their film and TV projects. This interview was conducted prior to the strike.
Allure: So many celebrities have found their way into the beauty business in one way or another, but this is the first time you’ve signed on with a brand. Why Lion Pose, and why now?
Mindy Kaling: I hear what you’re saying. There’s a lot of celebrities with their own lines, but what I think is different about this is that this is a line that existed and I’m an investor in it. I love this product so much I’m investing my own money in it. I’m so impressed by Nisha [Phatak] and Madhu [Punjabi] who are the founders of Lion Pose. They’re these two hyper-educated, young female Indian entrepreneurs who had had all these successful businesses in the past and they did a presentation for me.
The presentation is a presentation, but [when I started using] Unspotted 4X [with a blend of azelaic, glycolic, lactic, tranexamic acids], I loved it. I use it every day. I’ve always struggled with hyperpigmentation and I’m always trying to find products that help with my acne scars and dark spots, but that don’t also change my skin tone. I feel incredibly lucky that I’m someone who’s celebrated for my dark brown skin. And I did not want to change that. And so this is something that just really works for me. So that’s why I came on as an investor, not just as an ambassador or whatever. And I just selfishly wanted in on their success and I was lucky that they found room for me.
Allure: You mention that you’ve struggled with hyperpigmentation. What has that journey involved for you?