Our latest Beauty Boss is Christina Kao, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Le Mini Macaron—an at-home gel manicure nail brand with a French aesthetic. Tired of spending a lot of money on regular visits to the nail salon, she wanted to find an easy and affordable way to recreate her salon manis at home. She and her business parter, François-Xavier Humber, founded Le Mini Macaron in 2015 to give people the freedom to recreate salon-quality nails anytime without breaking the bank.

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Their innovative gel manicure nail kits feature unique portable macaron-shaped LED lamps and 9-free, cruelty-free gel nail polish in a wide range of colors that make it easy to have a manicure anytime, anywhere in just minutes. Le Mini Macaron products are available at key retailers including Target, Nordstrom and ULTA, and the line has expanded to include nail accessories, polish removers, foot care, and more.

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We chatted with Kao who shared the inspiration behind the brand, secrets for success, beauty tips, and much more.

When was Le Mini Macaron founded and what does the name mean?

We launched the brand in January 2015 (on Kickstarter)! My partner is French and I'm American so our brand identity is a mix of French aesthetic and style with American personality. Our gel manicure kits come with a macaron-shaped LED lamp that you can use to cure your gel polish. We were inspired by the iconic French macaron (hence the name)!

What inspired the creation of the brand?

Before starting the brand, I used to love getting gel manicures—I was going in every two or three weeks to the salon. While I adored the gorgeous, glossy results (and long, chip-free lasting), I wasn't a fan of taking time to book appointments and go in, how expensive it was, and having to go back for removal. I really wanted a solution that was affordable and convenient that I could do by myself. 

Does Le Mini Macaron have a hero product?

Our mini Gel Manicure Kit is definitely the most famous (we're viral on TikTok)! It's our all-in-one kit to do gel manicures at home in just 15 minutes. You've got your lamp, gel polish, little tools, and a USB so you can plug it in anywhere. It even comes with gel removal wraps so when you're ready to take it off, you can easily do a soak-off removal (also takes about 15 minutes). 

What are your favorite products from your brand?

The Gel Manicure Kit is a must-have. And we are always launching fun new shades so a lot of our customers collect them! Our gel removal wraps are great to stock up on (they remove our gel, but also salon gels!) and I love pairing them with removal clips and the metal removal tool to make the whole process more efficient. Also, when you need a little TLC for your cuticles, our Lunegloss black jelly nail serum works like a dream (this is a best seller at ULTA!)

Where are your products sold?

On our website as well as in over 600 Target stores. And we just launched in all ULTA stores in the checkout bin—you can find our Pearlescence gel manicure kit as well as the Lunegloss nail serum. 

Future plans for the brand?

Lots of innovative new products coming! Our team is always doing fun marketing activations and events, so stay tuned there. And we are working on some exciting collabs for 2024. 

Who inspires you?

My mom! She’s creative, curious, loves life, and loves people. She's my biggest supporter and always told me I could achieve anything.

Secret to success?

It really is about hard work, dedication, and keep on keepin' on! There are so many ups and downs. But just keep going and make sure to build up a good group around you—amazing team members to support the business, friends, and other founders who are doing the same so you can share experiences, and a family and close friends group to keep you grounded and remind you of what's important. 

Beauty secrets?

SPF, water, less is more makeup, and a great manicure (this is the best pick-me-up!)

Wellness tips?

Getting seven to eight hours of sleep and some kind of physical movement daily.

Best advice?

Always be willing to learn and grow.

Favorite way to relax?

A great dinner with close girlfriends and lots of laughter and wine!

For more information about Le Mini Macaron, visit their website and follow on Instagram: @leminimacaron

[Images courtesy of Le Mini Macaron]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk