Kristen is the Founder, CEO, and Lead Product Developer of KES Innovation. An award-winning beauty product developer, she previously worked at Estée Lauder, Shiseido, and leading brand incubators, where she brought innovative products to market across global beauty brands. She brings over a decade of expertise across skincare, color cosmetics, hair care, and nail care, with launches spanning luxury to mass retailers.

Francesca was the first team member to join KES Innovation and has played a key role in the company’s growth. She works closely with Kristen and directly with brands to support product development and project execution. With a background in beauty product development and training from the Fashion Institute of Technology, she helps guide projects from concept through launch across multiple beauty categories.

Alejandra Balzac brings experience in brand strategy and creative development, with a background spanning innovative consumer brands and startups. Based in Brooklyn, she collaborates with the KES Innovation team to support creative strategy, brand development, and product storytelling.

We collaborate with a trusted network of strategic partners across regulatory, formulation, packaging, and manufacturing. These long-standing relationships allow our team to access specialized expertise and best-in-class resources, helping bring innovative beauty products from concept through launch efficiently and seamlessly.