Trujillo has eight employees, yet she does the marketing, designs the packaging and creates the products with the help of a chemist. She also tests each item for several weeks to make sure it does what it should and doesn't bother her skin before approving it for mass production.

Maria B has been receiving national notice, including write-ups in Self and Women's Day magazines and it all began during Trujillo's childhood in Highland Park.

"I was into makeup as a child because of my mom," Trujillo said. "She was the type of person that the latest skin care would come out and she'd go spend $1,000. We used to have these excursions to Saks Fifth Avenue, where we'd get all dressed up, me and her friend and her daughter, and we'd go for the whole day, like we were going to Vegas."

In 2003, she launched Maria B Face Couture with 30 shades of red lipstick and a few other cosmetics. Trujillo selected Maria because it is a universal name, with B for bella, the Italian word for beautiful.

"The base of the line is the color range," she said. " I've made it the quest for the perfect red lipstick."

Maria B reds encompass all tones, including blues, true reds, corals, oranges and browns. The lip paints are in pots so they can be used with a brush as lipstick or finger-applied as stain and blush.

The line's foundations are all yellow-based and mixed with other pigments to help cover and balance the skin tone. If you purchase Maria B from a cosmetics counter, the assistant can even mix a custom color.

"I do a lot of silicone-based foundations," Trujillo said. "It adheres to the skin so it almost looks like you're not wearing foundation."

The skin care system has a detox cleanser, toner, a decongesting serum, which is also a clarifying agent, and a detox cream. There is also Young and Fabulous, a "super moisturizer" with peptides and collagen for a rejuvenated, lifted look, plus two wrinkle creams. Miss Royalty fights fine lines for women becoming concerned about wrinkles and Skin Rehab claims to reverse skin damage and aging.

Trujillo is married and has two children and two dogs. She plans to keep expanding her line so there will be even more ways for women to feel beautiful.

"I think that women are fabulous and I created this line because I think that makeup is that one little pleasure that makes you feel good about yourself," she said. "A great lipstick, a great lip gloss and a great foundation will make you feel just fabulous."

The Maria B Face Couture line ranges from $14 for a single eye shadow single to $32 for bronzer. The popular Lip Paints are available in 30 colors for $16 each. The collection is sold at Curacao department stores in Los Angeles, Chino and Santa Ana, and will soon be available at local Macy's stores. Shop online at www.mariabcosmetics.com.

LOOKING YOUR BEST

Mina Trujillo of Maria B Face Couture knows makeup and she suggests three tips for looking your best.

1. To find your right lip color, test the tint on the inside of your wrist and see how it goes with your skin tone. This area should be the closest to the true color of your face.

2. When selecting a foundation, go to the cosmetics counter and ask for assistance in determining your skin tone. From there, you can find the correct shade or have one created for you.

3. To have perfect makeup, you have to start with the skin, so good skin care is key. A great face wash and moisturizer are the most important items.