beautyADDICTS founder Adam Gerstein has long had a fascination with design and product development. His passion for innovation led him to UC Berkeley, where he graduated with a degree in engineering. His initial work in strategy consulting gave him the opportunity to explore the world in regions as diverse and colorful as Africa, Turkey, South America and Europe.
In 1997, he helped start Neurosmith, an award-winning high tech toy company, where he helped develop elegant and colorful playthings such as the highly acclaimed Music Blocks. In 2000, he moved to London and co-founded TexYard, an internet business that streamlined the manufacturing process for international fashion retailers. Returning to New York, Adam turned his focus to the unique challenges of the makeup market. Drawing on his experience and philosophy of finding beauty through simplicity, Adam put together a team of talented chemists, make-up artists, and designers to create a solution to the cosmetic market chaos, and In 2005, beautyADDICTS was born.
MARIA ASHE
Founder & CEO
Maria fell in love with cosmetics at an early age, and pursued her passion throughout college, studying stage and special effects makeup in undergraduate and into graduate school at the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts. Maria began her professional career as a commercial casting director working with top beauty clients Revlon and Clairol.
She later transferred her skills to the legal field and served as the Executive Director of two major New York City firms for over 12 years. In 1997 she relocated to Frankfurt , Germany, where she served as president of the German branch of Europe 's largest non-profit, non-political expatriate organization. Returning to New York in late 2000, Maria rediscovered her cosmetic roots, and co-founded Preti Cosmetics, a prestige makeup line with over 100 SKU?s. A devoted spa and salon enthusiast, she later served as General Manager of a high-end, 5th Avenue salon and consulted to some of the top spas in New York City before joining beautyADDICTS was born.
