Jon Stojan
Image credit: Arielle Ross
In Los Angeles, you can’t walk down Melrose or scroll through Instagram without seeing it: beauty influencers with their phones angled just right, snapping photos of freshly swatched eyeshadows or dewy-finish foundations. It’s the city of sunlit selfies and brand collabs, where the latest “must-have” products are launched almost weekly, and makeup is a part of the culture as much as palm trees and traffic.
Arielle Ross loves this world. As a makeup artist in Los Angeles, she saw firsthand how a simple touch of eyeliner or a bold red lip could change how someone carried herself. “There’s real power in makeup. It’s this amazing blend of artistry and self-expression,” she says. But for Arielle, the allure of beauty products was always paired with a desire to create something more meaningful.
When she launched Relevation Beauty, she wasn’t just looking to stand out in the crowded LA beauty scene—she wanted to bring depth to it. “Makeup has always been about more than just looking good,” Arielle explains. “It’s about feeling empowered, creative and inspired.”
A New Kind of LA Beauty Brand
In a city defined by beauty trends and influencer collaborations, Relevation Beauty carves out its niche with purpose-driven products beyond glamour. Arielle’s flagship Dream Palette doesn’t just offer ten vibrant, versatile shades; it’s part of her mission to empower women worldwide. With every sale, 10% of proceeds support Speak Up for the Poor, a nonprofit working to keep girls in Bangladesh in school and out of forced marriages. “When you buy from Relevation, you’re not just buying a product—you’re investing in a young girl’s future,” Arielle says.
And while most brands would tout empowerment as a marketing hook, for Arielle, it’s the reason she started the business in the first place. “Now more than ever, businesses drive culture as much as they drive sales,” she says. “I want Relevation to be part of that change—a beauty brand that gives back and actually does true good in the world.”
Sustainability as a Foundation, Not an Afterthought
Arielle’s commitment to impact isn’t limited to social causes; it’s woven into every aspect of her brand, from ingredient sourcing to packaging. Relevation Beauty’s products are vegan, cruelty-free, and crafted with ethically sourced ingredients. Every component of the Dream Palette, right down to the shipping materials, is designed to be fully recyclable. “I’ve always believed that how we operate matters,” she says. “Relevation’s mission is to empower women, but it’s also about doing right by the planet.”
In partnership with a carbon-offset shipping provider, every Relevation order is shipped with a net-zero carbon footprint. “It’s not enough to empower women if we’re not also thinking about the environment they’ll inherit,” Arielle explains. For her, sustainability isn’t a branding tactic; it’s a necessity.
In a city like LA, where beauty brands constantly compete for attention, Relevation stands out for its commitment to making beauty that’s kind to both people and the planet. By prioritizing ethical production and environmental responsibility, Arielle shows her customers that beauty can force positive change.
Image credit: Arielle Ross
A Movement for Modern Beauty
While Arielle’s impact reaches girls in Bangladesh, she’s equally committed to making a difference at home in Los Angeles. As Relevation grows, she’s working to develop programs that support women in underserved communities, from financial literacy workshops to career-building resources for those in shelters. “Empowerment isn’t just about looking good,” she says. “It’s about creating real opportunities for women to build stable, independent lives.”
Through Relevation Beauty, Arielle is bridging the gap between glamour and substance, proving that makeup can be as transformative for the world as it is for the individual. She’s building the “Relevation Revolution”—a beauty movement that goes beyond aesthetics, engaging customers in a cause they can believe in.
For those tired of empty “empowerment” buzzwords, Relevation offers something tangible. Arielle’s brand isn’t just another LA beauty line; it’s a commitment to social impact, sustainability, and making beauty truly meaningful. And as more Angelenos join the Relevation Revolution, Arielle’s dream of a brighter, more inclusive world is coming to life, one palette at a time.