Close your eyes. Now, picture in your mind what you think Too Faced's Headquarters looks like. Are you envisioning floor-to-ceiling pink? Do you see a giant peach hanging from the ceiling? Is there glitter or sequins involved? Does the unofficial mascot Clover the Chihuahua make an appearance somewhere? If your head is nodding yes, well done — you are close to what co-founder and Chief Creative Officer Jerrod Blandino dreamed up for his cosmetics company's home base. But in reality, the office, located in Orange County, California, is much sparklier, much pinker, and far more fabulous than you could have ever imagined.
This isn't the first time I've been invited to visit Too Faced HQ. Last December, I was greeted by life-size tubes of Melted Lipstick and a glitzy wall of gold sequins with Too Faced's logo on it. I got to peek into Blandino's office, decorated with gorgeous French antiques, pink velvet armchairs, and white orchids. I was wowed by all of the small, yet ornamental elements that covered every inch of the office, down to the pink file folders. But even that couldn't have prepared me for what Too Faced's new expansion would look like.
On July 17, I had the exclusive opportunity to tour the newly expanded office, and let me tell you, Blandino and co. spared no expense.
"Are you ready?" Blandino asks me excitedly, holding the door handles to the space's new lobby.
When he pushes them open, I really can't help but squeal a bit. It's in-your-face adorable, from the towering Sweet Peach Palette-adorned tree to the larger-than-life Better Than Sex mascara tube dangling in the window. Oh, and yes, there are huge, smiling peaches hanging from the ceiling and a giant plush Clover seated on a fake grass turf next to a pink fire hydrant.
"We had to have a Sweet Peach and Better Than Sex moment, right?" Blandino smiles widely. After all, they are the company's best-selling products.
Even after just a few minutes being here, I quickly realize that everything is custom-made for Too Faced. Case in point: Across the peach tree is a panel covered in a toile-like, hand-painted wallpaper that Too Faced had originally done for its lipstick boxes.
"We want this to really encompass all of us, we want to be surrounded by everything that is Too Faced, from the beautiful color palettes to the products to the whimsical inspirational quotes and imagery," Blandino tells me. "We wanted it to be glamorous, but modern. A nod to the past, but very much about the future and about being modern and being a powerful woman."
Next, Blandino takes me to the staircase. On each (pink) step is an inspirational quote.
"It's just to remind everybody as they come to work, who we are and what makes us unique as a brand and any visitors how we're an emotional brand and we're doing more than just making you look beautiful — we're hopefully helping you feel beautiful from the inside out," Blandino says. "It's our hope that you'll treat others better because you'll feel better and it's the right thing to do."
At the top of the stairs is a glittering gold wall with Too Faced's logo imprinted in the middle. "I like things that sparkle. Just a little fun," Blandino says coyly.
I am then led to the actual office space, which feels very much like an office — it's quiet, there are file cabinets and cubicle dividers everywhere, and people are diligently working behind computer screens — but still, it's the most glamorous office I've ever stepped foot in.
Below, the carpet is a pink tweed print inspired by a Chanel jacket and above are different ornate crystal chandeliers hanging from shiny white coffered ceiling tiles.
There are various colorful conference rooms, some of which are named after products, while others are named after women whose makeup moments inspire the brand (like Britney, Madonna, and Dolly).
Every (pink) wall is plastered with a phrase inspired by one of Too Faced's popular products (like "Glitter For Breakfast" or "Never Dim Your Light"). And every few steps you take, you'll find a decorative display of makeup products, like glosses or lipsticks on a silver platter, or a few stuffed unicorns and Clovers.
In short, it's a lot of fun in here. But that doesn't mean serious work doesn't get done.
"We're a happy brand. We're about positivity and strength. We're about having fun while also taking over the world. We're a serious makeup brand that knows how to have fun. That's the core of it all," Blandino explains.
Some would argue that it's over the top, but Blandino doesn't see it that way. He wants to create more trends, not follow trends, and the only way he believes the company can do that successfully is to be reminded of the company's DNA and to be "immersed in every glittery, sparkly thing that you can so it makes you feel a part of what you're doing."
"When you're in the middle of a hard day or things aren't going your way or you're overly stressed, you can look around and be reminded that, OK, we're Too Faced. We're unabashedly pink," Blandino explains. "We celebrate the fact that it's fun to be a girl. Do not forget who we are. And do not forget how blessed we are to be able to be a part of women's lives the way we are. I don't take that for granted."
"For all the success that we've been able to have over the years, I just feel so grateful for it. I just want everyone to feel the light and the love of our brand. I want to feel like you're immersed in the brand," he continues. "We all have different styles, but ultimately, when you come here, there's a Too Faced energy and vibe that's so important to our world, to our retailers — there's nothing else like us."
And truly, you'd be hard pressed to find an office quite like Too Faced's Headquarters anywhere else in the world.
