Monika Deol plays with colour
Monika Deol is getting into the beauty business.
The former MuchMusic VJ, and host of the popular ’80s and ’90s show Electric Circus, is the force behind a new (Canadian-made!) beauty brand. Dubbed Stellar*, the collection is chock full of beauty products for women of all skin tones — especially those with “medium” hues.
Deol says she came up with the idea to start a line catering specifically to mid-toned skin after she watched makeup artists struggle to find a perfect match for her skin during her on-air days.
Q What made you want to start a cosmetics line?
A I am an absolute beauty junkie. I love makeup and love how it’s transformational — physically and mentally. It doesn’t mean you have to wear a lot. Just little things can give you an easy, polished look. I left television at the top of the ferris wheel to raise my four children and I wanted to go back to work and learn something new.
Q Is there a story behind the name Stellar*?
A It means something is fantastic. I wanted the line to be the highest quality possible, high performance and payoff. No two women are alike, and no two stars are alike. Beauty is universal and the Stellar* colour range is universal. The dot in our name is a beauty mark and it represents the North Star, a consistent, guiding force that we trust.
Q What makes Stellar* different from other brands?
A We deliver to all skin tones. The way that we present our products is different. It’s about undertones.
Q I’ve read one of the main missions of Stellar* was to offer a wider range of product options for different skin tones. Why was this so important?
A Medium skin tones make up two-thirds of the world’s population. We are the fastest-growing
demographic in North America. We are Indian, West Indian, First Nations, Chinese, Filipino, Hispanic, Latina, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, light to medium Afro-Canadian/American, Jamaican, mixed race and more.
Q The products are all made in Canada. Why is domestic production important to you?
A It’s important to me because I love this country. It has given my family a life. It’s given me a life I could never have dreamed of anywhere else. To be able to have an all-Canadian product, from manufacturing to branding to photography to models. To be able to create jobs and contribute to the economy. When you manufacture in Canada, the world knows that you have a quality product ... because Canada has such high standards.
Q What is the price point?
A It’s important for us to be accessible, so all the products range from $26 to $45.
Q Where can people find them?
A We are on Sephora.ca and Sephora.com and are in select Sephora locations in Vancouver and Toronto.