Why a cosmetics empire co-founder became a Catholic priest

From a monolithic quality empire to Catholic Mass — Scott Vincent Borba co-founded e.l.f. Cosmetics, but recovered helium inactive felt unfulfilled successful his beingness path. Then helium turned to God, leaving it each down to go a antheral of the cloth.

Before heading to seminary and taking up the priestly collar, Borba enjoyed reddish carpets and nonrecreational acclaim for his concern acumen. 

"Was I created conscionable to enactment and to enactment and to repetition and past die?" Borba recalled wondering amid his success. 

Borba was raised by a profoundly Catholic household successful Visalia, California. He said helium archetypal felt called to articulation the priesthood erstwhile helium was 10 years old.

"I knew God was telling maine … helium wanted maine to beryllium his priest. But I instantly challenged it backmost and said, 'I americium not that guy,'" Borba remembered. "I ran distant from him for rather a agelong time." 

Borba moved to Los Angeles, hustling with 3 jobs. 

One day, helium was watching women load up connected discounted cosmetics astatine a 99 Cent store erstwhile the thought for e.l.f. Cosmetics struck him: "Sephora-based prime products for a dollar."

"It's truthful humbling to recognize that thing that started retired with specified a elemental conception could beryllium truthful uniquely successful," helium said.

Borba turned e.l.f. (short for Eyes, Lips, Face) Cosmetics into a "lucrative business" worthy galore millions – but helium said it inactive wasn't capable to fulfill him.

"I ever wanted more. It was ne'er satisfying enough," Borba said. "I couldn't marque capable money. I couldn't beryllium connected capable reddish carpets. I couldn't beryllium exposed capable connected TV oregon successful magazines. It was insatiable."

Then heartbreak arrived: Borba's father, Anthony Borba Sr., was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Borba headed location to attraction for his ailing dad. 

"I ne'er saw my begetter frightened before. He said, 'I request to adjacent retired my beingness earlier I go. Will you assistance maine with that?' I said, 'Dad. We're going to bash this unneurotic and I'm going to find you the champion doctors ever.'"

In 2010, Anthony Borba Sr. died. 

Borba said his beingness began to unravel with the nonaccomplishment that "broke maine isolated emotionally."

He began partying much arsenic a mode to escape.

It was during 1 of those parties astatine his location successful Hollywood Hills that Borba experienced his "mystical" come-to-Jesus moment.

"I retrieve looking around. I was truthful unhappy … I looked up to heaven. I retrieve I asked God to assistance maine beryllium the antheral helium created maine to be, but I couldn't bash it without his help. It changed my life," helium said. "I kicked everyone retired of the house. I packed my container and I went down to a hotel. I fell to my knees close earlier I walked into the door, I started crying and I said, 'This is not the antheral God created maine to be. This is not the antheral my parent and begetter raised.' And that's erstwhile this beauteous aureate portal opened up and our Lord was walking successful and I conscionable knew intuitively that it was him."

At that moment, helium knew helium would go a priest. Borba said helium gave distant his wealth, backing churches and charities. Then helium entered seminary.

"I privation to beryllium determination for radical that are suffering due to the fact that I recognize suffering," Borba said.

Borba's household fractured aft the decease of his father, driven isolated by decisions made by Borba successful those last days — but connected the time helium was ordained, Borba's relatives came unneurotic to observe his decision. 

"I felt truthful proud," his mother, Evelyn, said.

The household gathered to enactment his archetypal Mass. 

"If you're searching retired for emotion and bid successful your beingness and families and businesses retired successful the world, travel to him. Go successful bid and bring glory to your lives," Borba shared.