# Thrive Causemetics: Karissa Bodnar. How a Beauty Business Made Millions for a Mission

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2026-09-14
- Length: 48m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-09-14-thrive-causemetics-karissa-bodnar-how-a-beauty-business-made-millions-for-a-miss

## Summary

Karissa Bodnar, founder of Thrive Causemetics, explains how the death of her friend Christy Lamond inspired her to leave L'Oréal and build a beauty brand with a mission to give back to cancer patients and other causes. She details the formulation of specialized false eyelashes and waterproof adhesatives free of toxic ingredients, funding early production through her life savings and a full-time job at Bulletproof while pitching major retailers like Sephora and Nordstrom who rejected the vision. After years of struggling with near-zero sales, a viral moment driven by customer advocacy for her Infinity Waterproof Eyeliner propelled the company to $30 million in revenue, leading to a strategic decision to remain direct-to-consumer and privately held to maintain control and focus.

## Chapters

- [0:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-09-14-thrive-causemetics-karissa-bodnar-how-a-beauty-business-made-millions-for-a-miss#t=31) Introduction: Karissa Bodnar and Thrive Causemetics
- [3:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-09-14-thrive-causemetics-karissa-bodnar-how-a-beauty-business-made-millions-for-a-miss#t=206) Early Formulation and Career at L'Oréal
- [14:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-09-14-thrive-causemetics-karissa-bodnar-how-a-beauty-business-made-millions-for-a-miss#t=854) The Catalyst: Christy Lamond's Death and Mission
- [23:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-09-14-thrive-causemetics-karissa-bodnar-how-a-beauty-business-made-millions-for-a-miss#t=1384) Product Development: Lashes and Adhesives
- [26:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-09-14-thrive-causemetics-karissa-bodnar-how-a-beauty-business-made-millions-for-a-miss#t=1597) Funding, Rejection, and Early Sales Struggles
- [29:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-09-14-thrive-causemetics-karissa-bodnar-how-a-beauty-business-made-millions-for-a-miss#t=1787) The Viral Moment and Operational Scaling
- [34:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-09-14-thrive-causemetics-karissa-bodnar-how-a-beauty-business-made-millions-for-a-miss#t=2062) Fundraising Strategy and Direct-to-Consumer Model
- [38:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-09-14-thrive-causemetics-karissa-bodnar-how-a-beauty-business-made-millions-for-a-miss#t=2287) Product-Market Fit, Mission, and Future Vision

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Thrive Causemetics (company)
- L'Oréal (company)
- Sephora (company)
- Nordstrom (company)
- Bulletproof (company)
- Clara Sonic (product)
- Infinity Waterproof Eyeliner (product)
- Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara (product)
- Good Housekeeping (company)
- Good Morning America (company)
- Tom's of Maine (company)
- Look Good Feel Better (company)
- Ship Station (tool)
- Vitamix (tool)
- Allure (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [021: Using Public Research to Develop WINK Lash and Brow Oil with Megan Cox of Amalie Beauty](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-10-04-021-using-public-research-to-develop-wink-lash-and-brow-oil-with-megan-cox-of-am) (Product Startup)
- [From turning down Shark Tank offers to raising $2.7 million for Nopalera with Sandra Velasquez (2023)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-10-17-from-turning-down-shark-tank-offers-to-raising-2-7-million-for-nopalera-with-san) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [019: Organic haircare products with Susana Stewart & Caroline Maina of Fro Butter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-20-019-organic-haircare-products-with-susana-stewart-caroline-maina-of-fro-butter) (Product Startup)
- [Founder Feature: Jesrina Arshad of PurelyB](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-08-08-founder-feature-jesrina-arshad-of-purelyb) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Akua Boakye Okunseinde of Karité](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-02-21-founder-feature-akua-boakye-okunseinde-of-karite) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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