Alima Cosmetics
Alima Pure was a Portland, Oregon-based clean beauty brand founded in 2004 selling mineral-based cosmetics—led by a four-ingredient Satin Matte Foundation in 45 shades—through direct-to-consumer e-commerce and curated retail partners. The company ceased operations in 2025 after 21 years of independent ownership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Alima Cosmetics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alima Cosmetics
- Legal name
- Alima Cosmetics, Inc.
- Website
- https://alimapure.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Alima Pure was a Portland, Oregon-based clean beauty brand founded in 2004 selling mineral-based cosmetics—led by a four-ingredient Satin Matte Foundation in 45 shades—through direct-to-consumer e-commerce and curated retail partners. The company ceased operations in 2025 after 21 years of independent ownership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alima Cosmetics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Natural Mineral Cosmetics
- NAICS
- Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Clean/Organic/Natural Makeup (Positioning-based Color Cosmetics) (CRABACAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Eye Makeup (Eyeshadow, Eyeliner, Mascara, Brow Products, Eye Primer) (CRABACAB), Lip Makeup (Lipstick, Lip Gloss, Lip Liner, Lip Stain, Lip Balm-Tint) (CRABACAC), Makeup Primers & Setting (Face/Eye Primer, Setting Spray, Setting Powder, Fixers) (CRABACAE)
Keywords
Where Alima Cosmetics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Alima Cosmetics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Direct Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of mineral-based cosmetics through alimapure.com website and subscription/recurring orders.
- Retail/Distribution Sales: Wholesale distribution through natural beauty retailers including The Detox Market, Beauty Heroes, and international partners.
- Refill Products: Refillable product system generating repeat purchases for replacement pans.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Direct e-commerce with free shipping threshold |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Alima Cosmetics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alima Pure designs, manufactures, and sells mineral-based color cosmetics formulated with minimal, non-toxic ingredients free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, dimethicone, petroleum, talc, bismuth oxychloride, and nanoparticles. The product line spans loose and pressed powder foundations, liquid foundation, concealers, blushes, bronzers, eyeshadows, lipsticks, mascaras, brow and eye pencils, highlighters, primers, finishing powders, application brushes, and shade-matching sample sets. The portfolio is built around a "less is more" philosophy, with signature offerings such as the 4-ingredient Satin Matte Foundation available in 45 shades across 5 undertones, and a refillable compact system that drives repeat purchases.
Product overview
Alima Pure is a natural cosmetics brand offering mineral-based makeup products organized into three core foundation formulas (Satin Matte Foundation, Pressed Foundation, Liquid Silk Foundation) plus color cosmetics for face, cheeks, and eyes. The product portfolio includes loose and pressed powder foundations, concealers, blushes, eyeshadows, lipsticks, mascaras, brow products, highlighters, primers, and finishing powders. The brand emphasizes clean, non-toxic ingredients with products free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, dimethicone, petroleum, talc, bismuth oxychloride, and nanoparticles. Key differentiators include refillable compacts for Pressed Foundation and Cream Blush, extensive shade ranges (45 foundation shades across 5 undertones), and minimal ingredient formulations. Accessories include professional-grade brushes and tools. The company operates primarily as an e-commerce direct-to-consumer brand with samples available through Find Your Match Sets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Satin Matte Foundation
- Pressed Foundation Refillable pressed powder foundation infused with Rosehip Antioxidant Complex, calendula, and argan oil. Delivers minimalist matte, weightless coverage suited to oily or combination skin. Sold with a refillable magnetic compact that supports sustainable packaging.
- Liquid Silk Foundation Liquid foundation formulated with hyaluronic acid and coconut oil for deeply moisturizing, sheer flexible coverage. Available in 10 shades with matching Cream Concealer companion shades, targeted at consumers preferring a dewy, hydrating base.
- Cream Concealer Cream concealer that pairs with Liquid Silk Foundation shades for dewy, uniform coverage. Contains avocado oil to support collagen production and skin hydration.
- Bronzer Loose powder bronzer formulated with three simple mineral ingredients (mica, iron oxides, titanium dioxide). Available in 3 shades: Maracaibo (fair), Mauna Loa (universal), and Trinidad (medium to deep).
- Loose Mineral Blush Loose mineral powder blush available in Satin Matte and Luminous Shimmer finishes, including shades such as Freja for a warm winter glow.
- Satin Matte Blush Buildable satin-matte blush delivering a natural flush, with shades recommended by undertone including Apple Blossom, Soft Plum, Mimosa, Honey Rose, Apricot, Melon, and Carnation.
- Luminous Shimmer Blush Radiant luminous blush with shades including Rosa, Leigh, Freja, and Lily.
- Cream Blush Refillable cream blush with a universally flattering shade (Bijou) and brighter trendy shades such as Crush, sold in a refillable compact format.
- Pressed Eyeshadow Pressed eyeshadow formulated with avocado oil for hydration and skin elasticity, available in shades such as Isla, Gamine, Luxe, and Zephyr, and can also be used as a highlighter.
- Loose Mineral Eyeshadow Loose mineral powder eyeshadow available in multiple formulas including Luminous Shimmer, Pearluster, and Satin Matte finishes.
- Velvet Lipstick Semi-matte lipstick with hydrating oils including sea buckthorn oil, avocado oil, and squalane. Available in shades Iris (terracotta), Lucy (peachy nude), Odessa (petal pink), and Olivia (poppy red). Reimagined and relaunched in 2018.
- Natural Definition Mascara Defining mascara that separates and lightly lengthens lashes, formulated with provitamin B5, jojoba oil, and natural beeswax for moisture. Available in black and brown.
- Natural Definition Brow Pencil Brow pencil available in Blonde, Brunette, and Raven shades, designed to be paired with the Alima Pure Spoolie for shaping and blending.
- Natural Definition Eye Pencil Eye pencil used to define eyes and lashes, available in Ink (black) for liner looks.
- Highlighter Highlighter products offered in Pressed, Cream, and Luminous Shimmer formats, in shades including Whisper, Lumina, Luna, Dolce, and Rosegold.
- Radiant Finishing Powder Finishing powder that adds luminosity to cheekbones and the brow bone, in shades Sedona and Augusta.
- Satin Finishing Powder Velvety, extra-smoothing finishing powder designed for formal events, providing a hint of extra coverage.
- Balancing Primer Powder Silky-smooth mattifier formulated with four ingredients including kaolin (China clay), providing ultra-lightweight, breathable, absorbent wear for the T-zone.
- Eye Primer Eye primer formulated with avocado oil for smooth texture and nourishment, designed to hydrate the delicate eye area.
- Smooth + Prime Face primer with avocado oil for smooth texture, keeping skin nourished and well-hydrated throughout wear.
- Concealer Concealer with zinc oxide for fuller coverage, applied by blending downward from the under-eye area to brighten and neutralize dark circles.
- Find Your Match Set Shade-matching sample sets featuring eight curated collections covering every tone within a certain depth, designed to make finding the perfect foundation shade match at home straightforward.
- Foundation Brush Best-selling brush for sheer to medium coverage powder foundation application, leaving behind a silky, diffused finish.
- Flat Top Brush Brush with densely packed bristles for fuller, even coverage and quick, easy application, creating a velvet matte finish.
- Liquid Foundation Brush Brush designed for blending liquid foundation.
- Concealer Brush Brush for precise undereye and spot coverage concealer application.
- Soft Focus Brush Super-soft vegan multitasking brush for blush, bronzer, or foundation application, gentle enough for sensitive skin.
- Spoolie Brow and lash grooming tool used to brush through brows and lashes before and after pencil application to shape and blend.
- Pencil Sharpener Sharpener designed to keep Alima Pure brow and eye pencils sharp for greater precision and control.
- Precision Angle Brush Brush used to apply eyeshadow as brow powder in upward strokes.
Companies that use Alima Cosmetics
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Alima Cosmetics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Alima Cosmetics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- B CorporationcoreCertified B Corp since early in company's history. First color cosmetics company to achieve B Corp certification, demonstrating commitment to social and environmental performance standards.
- 1% for the PlanetcoreEnvironmental pledge member since founding year, donating 1% of annual gross revenue (sales, not profit) to grassroots environmental organizations.
- Carbon FundcoreCarbon offset partner since 2008, offsetting 100% of corporate carbon emissions to maintain carbon neutral status.
- Green Source Renewable Power ProgramminorRenewable energy partnership powering company operations with 100% renewable sources including Solar, Wind, Biomass, Hydro, and Geothermal.
- Feeding AmericaminorFood security partnership donating 5 meals for every order placed during COVID-19 pandemic response.
- One Tree PlantedminorTree planting partnership through which Alima Pure sponsors planting of trees with each order placed.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Alima Cosmetics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ILIA Beauty: Clean beauty color cosmetics brand with comparable product categories (foundations, lipsticks, eyeshadows), strong sustainability narrative (recyclable packaging), and DTC plus Sephora retail distribution. Similar inclusive shade range strategy.
- Juice Beauty: Organic, clean beauty brand with color cosmetics portfolio including mineral foundations and CC creams. Comparable USDA organic and clean ingredient positioning with similar pricing tier.
- Beautycounter: Clean beauty brand with strong advocacy, certification-driven positioning, and direct sales plus DTC model. Competes for the same health-conscious, ingredient-aware consumer persona.
- RMS Beauty: Clean, ingredient-focused color cosmetics brand built around minimal formulations and naturally derived pigments. Closely mirrors Alima Pure's positioning with loose powder foundations, beauty oils, and refillable compacts in the clean beauty DTC channel.
- Jane Iredale: Mineral-based color cosmetics brand with strong spa, dermatology, and clean beauty positioning. Direct competitor in the natural mineral makeup category with refills and pro-channel distribution.
- Pacifica Beauty: Clean, vegan, cruelty-free color cosmetics brand with broad mass and DTC distribution. Competes for the same natural beauty consumer across face, lip, and eye categories.
Broad incumbents
- Bare Minerals: Original mineral-based color cosmetics pioneer with iconic Loose Powder Foundation. Operates as a much larger established brand (owned by Shiseido) with mass and department store distribution, serving as the legacy category incumbent Alima Pure competed against.
Emerging players
- W3LL People: Clean mineral makeup brand founded by a makeup artist, with similar minimalist-ingredient philosophy and foundation-first product architecture. Direct competitor in natural mineral foundation segment.
- cocokind: Clean beauty brand with sustainability-first positioning and ingredient transparency. Comparable ethos and DTC-first GTM with growing color cosmetics presence overlapping Alima's category.
- Kosas: Clean, ingredient-focused color cosmetics brand with strong editorial presence (Allure, Byrdie). Direct competition for the inclusive, clean beauty consumer with foundation, lip, and eye products.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Alima Cosmetics social profiles
Digital presenceAlima Cosmetics compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Alima Cosmetics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alima Cosmetics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Alima Cosmetics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alima Cosmetics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Alima Cosmetics
What does Alima Cosmetics do?
Alima Pure designs, manufactures, and sells mineral-based color cosmetics formulated with minimal, non-toxic ingredients free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, dimethicone, petroleum, talc, bismuth oxychloride, and nanoparticles. The product line spans loose and pressed powder foundations, liquid foundation, concealers, blushes, bronzers, eyeshadows, lipsticks, mascaras, brow and eye pencils, highlighters, primers, finishing powders, application brushes, and shade-matching sample sets. The portfolio is built around a "less is more" philosophy, with signature offerings such as the 4-ingredient Satin Matte Foundation available in 45 shades across 5 undertones, and a refillable compact system that drives repeat purchases.
Is Alima Cosmetics a public or private company?
Alima Cosmetics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently closed.
When was Alima Cosmetics founded?
Alima Cosmetics was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Alima Cosmetics based?
Alima Cosmetics is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Alima Cosmetics make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are retail/Distribution Sales and refill Products.
Who are Alima Cosmetics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ILIA Beauty, Juice Beauty, Beautycounter, RMS Beauty, Jane Iredale and Pacifica Beauty. Bare Minerals is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are W3LL People, cocokind and Kosas.
Does Alima Cosmetics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alima Cosmetics.
What industry is Alima Cosmetics in?
Alima Cosmetics's product category is Natural Mineral Cosmetics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRABACAJ, Clean/Organic/Natural Makeup (Positioning-based Color Cosmetics), with a secondary code of CRABACAB, Eye Makeup (Eyeshadow, Eyeliner, Mascara, Brow Products, Eye Primer). Its NAICS code is 456120 and its SIC code is 2844.