These Woman-Owned Beauty Brands Deserve a Spot in Your #Shelfie
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Women’s History Month! To commemorate International Women's Day on March 8, we're showing support to our fellow ladies by putting our money where our mouths are (literally!), and highlighting some incredible women-owned beauty brands.
After all, the economic impact of female business owners couldn't be more evident: The U.S. Census Bureau found that women-owned businesses made almost $1.8 trillion in sales, shipments, receipts, or revenue. They're also responsible for paying 10.1 million employees a casual $388.1 billion dollars.
Still, the fight to get here wasn't easy. Around 35 years ago, women needed a male relative to cosign a business loan until President Ronald Regan signed the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 into federal law. And while things aren't perfect — female entrepreneurs have definitely experienced gender bias and pregnancy discrimination — we wanted to spotlight inspiring beauty bosses.
We researched a diverse group of female founders, including Black-owned beauty brands, AAPI women, and entrepreneurs whose reported sales cemented their network into billionaire status. From protective mineral sunscreen to the finest pubic hair oil around, check out the top 50 woman-owned beauty brands we'll be shopping all month long (and beyond)!
KNC Beauty
Founder Kristen Noel Crawley has always had a thing for pampered lips, so when she realized there were no natural lip masks on the market, she took matters into her own hands. Now creating the world's first all natural collagen-infused lip mask, her brand has completely taken off as a staple on every famous pout in Hollywood (they were even shouted out by Beyoncé in 2020).
➥ Best Pick: 10-Pack All-Natural Collagen Infused Lip Mask, $40
Mented Cosmetics
Creators KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson wanted to create the perfect nude lipstick for everyone. So, instead of waiting on another brand to create it, they decided to make it themselves. Now with a full line of lipsticks, bronzers, and more that work to complement a variety of skin tones, this brand has cemented itself as one of the first to put inclusivity ahead of the curve.
➥ Best Pick: Mented Cosmetics Bronzer, $22
Glisten Cosmetics
If you're all about vibrant colors and cosmic creations, then this upcoming cosmetics brand should be at the top of your list. Founded across the pond in the U.K. by Natalie Chapple, this brand has started to gain a cult following of Instagram it girls who just want to have some fun with their makeup.
➥ Best Pick: Glisten Cosmetics Wet Liner in Blueberry, $7
LYS Beauty
LYS Beauty was the first-ever Black-owned clean makeup brand sold at Sephora. Founder Tisha Thompson, a makeup artist with 15 years of experience, sells some of our favorite inclusive complexion products — like her liquid foundation (available in 35 shades), cream blush, and bronzers that are deep enough for darker skin tones. Our favorite part about LYS Beauty? Everything costs $22 or less!
➥ Best Pick: LYS Beauty Aim High Pressed Highlighter Powder, $19
HigherDOSE
Lauren Berlingeri, a certified holistic nutritionist and health coach, and Katie Kaps, a startup executive and entrepreneur, want to help elevate your at-home beauty routine with their collection of tech-focused wellness products and accessories. They make everything from a dry brush and compact PEMF mat to their signature item: an infrared blanket. (Even Lady Gaga and Lea Michele swear by HigherDOSE's ultra luxe infrared sauna treatments!) The founders also created an LED mask that can help minimize signs of aging, reduce redness, and add a glow to your face in as little as 10 minutes.
➥ Best Pick: HigherDOSE Red Light Face Mask, $299
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury is a world-renowned celebrity makeup artist (MUA) who’s worked with the likes of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Jennifer Aniston, and so many more — so starting her own makeup line was an inevitable next step. This celeb MUA’s beloved beauty brand became a household name almost instantly, and is most well-known for its Pillow Talk collection.
➥ Best Pick: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk, $35
KOSAS Cosmetics
Kosas has become a cult-favorite woman-owned beauty brand for its fun play on bright hues and nudes alike, while keeping its formulas clean and free of any harmful toxins. And who do we have to thank for these squeaky-clean beauty products? Its female founder Sheena Yaitanes, of course, who created the brand back in 2015.
➥ Best Pick: KOSAS Tinted Face Oil Foundation, $42
True Botanicals
She-E-O and founder Hillary Peterson launched this skincare brand after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer because she wanted a cleaner alternative to the beauty mainstays on the market. Fast-forward to now, and the cult-favorite brand has become a staple for a plethora of celebrities, including their Band of Activists trio: Zazie Beetz, Laura Dern, and Olivia Wilde.
➥ Best Pick: True Botanicals Renew Pure Radiance Oil, $110
KORA Organics
You've probably known about Miranda Kerr the supermodel for a while, but now, it's time to meet Miranda Kerr the beauty entrepreneur. She was one of the first celebs to launch her own beauty label, and she focused on organic and all-natural ingredients way before the clean beauty craze took off.
➥ Best Pick: KORA Organics Noni Bright Vitamin C Serum, $73
BeautyBlender
This beauty sponge brand is legendary for completely changing and revolutionizing the way we think about applying our products, and it's all thanks to Latinx founder and makeup artist Rea Ann Silva: She spent years doing makeup for major names like Brandy, Eve, Tupac, and Dr. Dre before starting her beloved brand. Now, you can see these egg-shaped sponges all over the world in an array of colors (but we'll always have a soft spot for the O.G. hot pink shade).
➥ Best Pick: BeautyBlender the original beautyblender, $20
Henry Rose
Don't let the name fool you! This clean-fragrance brand is actually fronted by none other than iconic actress Michelle Pfeiffer. So, why would an Academy Award-nominated actress diverge into clean fragrances? Because, like many of us, Pfeiffer became concerned about all of the toxins hidden in traditional perfumes and colognes, and decided to take matters into her own hands. The result: a fan-favorite, unisex, intoxicating fragrance line made with nothing to hide.
➥ Best Pick: Henry Rose Jake's House Eau de Parfum, $120
Paintbox
We're currently obsessed with this modern take on nail studios and nontoxic polishes, which is headlined by Eleanor Langston, former beauty editor for major publications like Cosmopolitan, Self, and Fitness. What you'll get out of this brand is curated, runway-inspired designs for your nails — even at home.
➥ Best Pick: Paintbox Power Couples Like Mystery + Like Magic Nail Lacquer Duo, $40
Summer Fridays
This Insta-famous brand was started by Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores Ireland, a powerhouse duo with a knack for millennial-friendly packaging and standout skincare products. Their most famous product, a rejuvenating mask cheekily named “Jet Lag,” became an overnight success, with everyone running to get their hands (and their faces) on it.
➥ Best Pick: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask, $49
OUAI
You can thank celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin (a longtime friend of the Kardashian-Jenner clan and the queen bee of Fashion Month) for this best-selling haircare brand. Not only is the minimalist design perfect for every #shelfie moment, but these products also work to give your hair the salon-quality treatment it's been waiting for ... without the luxury price tag. They also have body care and fragrances, so you can embody the OUAI aesthetic from head to toe.
➥ Best Pick: OUAI Scalp & Body Scrub, $40
Supergoop!
Supergoop's founder Holly Thaggard found a way to make sunscreen cool again. Her mission was simple: to safeguard against skin cancer by making sunscreen a little more sexy for everyday use. The end product is an array of SPF-packed skincare products that don't leave any greasiness, white cast, or breakouts, all tied together in playful packaging.
➥ Best Pick: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40, $48
Glossier
Glossier is more than just another woman-owned beauty brand: It created a whole movement. Glossier brought millennial pink hues and the “no makeup” makeup trend to the mainstream, and it’s all thanks to founder Emily Weiss. Her brand created a cultural movement in the beauty universe — and to that we salute you, Weiss, with our Boy Brow wands held up high to the sky.
➥ Best Pick: Glossier Boy Brow, $17
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez
Singer and actress Selena Gomez launched a beauty brand inspired by her third studio album "Rare" in 2020. The result is a cult-favorite beauty line filled with products meant to highlight who you are. The company advocates for self-acceptance, inclusivity, and mental health awareness with one percent of sales going to the Rare Impact Fund to increase access to mental health services.
It's inspiring and unique, and that's just the way we like our makeup to be.
➥ Best Pick: Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, $23
Kristin Ess
Celebrity hairstylist Kristin Ess decided to hop onto the other side of the salon chair and create her own affordable, playful line of haircare products. Still, this line goes way beyond shampoo and conditioner — from French pins to brushes and professional-grade blowdryers, Ess's high-quality products have everything that your hair needs, all at budget-friendly price points.
➥ Best Pick: Kristin Ess Scalp Purifying Micellar Shampoo, $15
Tatcha
From their best-selling primer to their just-as-beloved exfoliating Rice Enzyme Powder, Tatcha was the forerunner to bring Japanese beauty to the masses. Founder and “Chief Treasure Hunter” Vicky Tsai wanted to bring these clean J-beauty products and ingredients to the rest of the world, allowing everyone to experience the magic they bring to complexions. (Tsai’s products even helped to clear up her own acute dermatitis!)
➥ Best Pick: Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas Featherweight Protective Primer, $54
Tower 28 Beauty
Tower 28 Beauty's founder, Amy Liu, wants you to know that it’s OK to be sensitive — sensitive-skinned, that is. Liu's fledgling brand is less than a year old, but has already taken mainstream beauty by storm, thanks to its extremely gentle formulas. In fact, they're the only makeup brand that adheres strictly to the National Eczema Association’s ingredient guidelines! Tower 28 Beauty is 100% clean, vegan, and free of every known skin irritant. Finally, a beauty brand we all can trust.
➥ Best Pick: Tower 28 BeachPlease Tinted Lip + Cheek Balm, $20
Juvia’s Place
Founder Chichi Eburu had one dream: to create a beauty line that truly celebrated the beauty of African women and culture. From this concept came Juvia's Place, a cosmetics brand that has inclusivity and diversity rooted in every pigmented eyeshadow and concealer you slather on. What's more beautiful than that?
➥ Best Pick: Juvia's Place The Saharan Eyeshadow palette, $20
Joanna Vargas Skincare
Joanna Vargas is one of the most iconic celebrity facialists in history, so it only makes sense for her to create a skincare line that’s just as legendary. Vargas’ products give your skin the same TLC at home that she puts into her legendary facials that have Hollywood’s best (such as Tessa Thompson, Mindy Kaling, and Elizabeth Moss) running back for more.
➥ Best Pick: Joanna Vargas Bright Eye Firming Mask (5 pair), $60
Then I Met You
Founded by Korean beauty expert Charlotte Cho (who also created the ever-popular K-beauty site, Soko Glam), this brand focuses on elevating your skincare routine into ritual. What does that mean? Whatever you want it to — Cho's ethos is to make your skincare routine all about you. So, take a deep breath and give your pores some extra love with these clean beauty, Korean-inspired essentials.
➥ Best Pick: Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm, $38
JINsoon
There's a reason why JINsoon nail polishes embody luxury and sophistication. It's founded and run by none other than Jin Soon Choi, one of the most iconic celebrity and editorial nail artists to ever grace the planet. Need we say more?
➥ Best Pick: JINsoon Quintessential Collection Nail Lacquer in Coquette, $18
Lipstick Queen
Lipstick Queen was founded by the fabulous Poppy King, who has one of the most impressive closets you'll ever see in NYC. So, it's only fitting that her makeup brand is as vibrant and colorful as her daily outfits. The shade-shifting Frog Prince will always be one of our favorites to stash away.
➥ Best Pick: Lipstick Queen Sinner Lipstick, $16
Supernal
Chances are, you've seen this chartreuse-hued facial oil popping up everywhere in your Instagram feed. It has not only gained fame for its aesthetically pleasing bottle — this facial oil's unique blend of all-natural botanical ingredients is definitely a game-changer.
Founder Melissa Medvedich decided to set aside her lucrative career as a creative director (hence the aesthetically pleasing designs) to become a certified aromatherapist and botanical beauty formulator. The fruit of her hard labor is this crown jewel facial oil, aptly named the Cosmic Glow Oil. This brand only needed one product to reach the top of the totem pole of beauty, and we can't wait to see what else Medvedich has up her couture sleeves.
➥ Best Pick: Supernal Cosmic Glow Oil, $108
NEST New York
From its initial launch in 2005 to now, creator Laura Slatkin's luxury fragrance line has become a behemoth in the industry. Not only do they have an array of perfumes to choose from, but you can also have your whole home smelling like a luxury aromatherapy house, thanks to their vast selection of candles, diffusing rods, and more.
➥ Best Pick: NEST New York Madagascar Vanilla Perfume Oil, 1 Ounce, $98
Glow Recipe
Who doesn't love a dynamic duo? This K-beauty brand created by Christine Chang and Sarah Lee skyrocketed to success, thanks to their adorable packaging and high-powered skincare products — the most iconic one being their Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment.
➥ Best Pick: Glow Recipe Avocado Soothing Skin Barrier Serum with Ceramides, $44
Fenty Beauty
Do we really need to explain why Rihanna's global beauty brand deserves a spot on this list? The RiRi-fronted beauty brand shook the Earth with its initial unveiling back in 2015:
The “Fenty effect” has even set a new standard for complexion products to have a wider range of shades for all skin tones. Last summer, it was reported that her 50-percent ownership of Fenty Beauty is valued at $1.4 billion. We just have one question for Rihanna: When's the album coming out?
➥ Best Pick: Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Longwear Liquid Concealer, $30
Westman Atelier
You know you can trust that a beauty brand is clean when it's backed by Gwyneth Paltrow's go-to makeup artist, Gucci Westman. The celebrity MUA — who's also a favorite of Jennifer Aniston — created her namesake brand after finding that there weren't enough luxury brands with pure, toxin-free formulas. Now, Westman Atelier is a staple for beauty addicts everywhere who are just looking to invest in true quality cosmetics.
➥ Best Pick: Westman Atelier Lip Suede, $85
Go-To Skincare
This bubbly skincare brand was started by Australian beauty editor Zoë Foster Blake. Her plan? To bring simplicity (and fun!) back into skincare. The result is an internationally renowned beauty brand with a serious cult following for their clarifying face washes, oils, and more.
➥ Best Pick: Go-To Skincare Fancy Face Nourishing Oil Cleanser, $45
ILIA
This certified-clean woman-owned beauty brand is a favorite of every “it” girl you could think of, and it’s all due to the mastermind behind the brand — Sasha Plavsic. Not only did Plavsic go above and beyond with her highly curated ingredient list to craft a line of “skincare-powered makeup,” but she also raised the bar for other brands by using sustainable packaging through the use of recycled aluminum, glass components, and responsibly sourced paper.
➥ Best Pick: Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation, $48
Deborah Lippmann
This 10-free nail polish brand is led by one of the coolest celebrity nail artists to ever exist, Deborah Lippmann. Fun fact: On top of styling the nails of every major name in Hollywood (think: Cher, Laura Dern, Lupita Nyong'o), Lippmann is also a musician!
➥ Best Pick: Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Polish, $20
Fur
Laura Schubert and Lillian Tung teamed up together to combat the stigma around pubic haircare, thus creating one of the most popular modern beauty products: an all-natural pubic hair oil meant to soften, nourish, and prevent ingrown hairs. Now, the brand has extended into a variety of body hair products, including a luxury shaving cream and vintage-style bath drops.
➥ Best Pick: Fur Oil, $52
House of Wise
We get it: There are so many CBD brands out there nowadays. But House of Wise is so much more than that. Founder Amanda Goetz launched this Miami-based luxury CBD wellness line with cheeky candles and delicious gummies. Notably, she sources her CBD from USDA-certified farms in Colorado.
What we love most about her company is that she offers grants for women and children, and partnered with The Last Prisoner, a nonprofit focused on supporting justice reform for people who are dealing with cannabis incarceration.
➥ Best Pick: House of Wise Smells Like Strength Candle, $35
Juice Beauty
Founder Karen Behnke was inspired to dig deeper into the world of skincare and cosmetics after getting pregnant, when she realized there were a lot of red flags hiding in our beauty routines. From there, she launched Juice Beauty in 2004, and it became one of the first successful clean beauty brands to hit the mainstream.
➥ Best Pick: Juice Beauty STEM CELLULAR Anti-Wrinkle Booster Serum, $80
Playa
Before launching this clean haircare brand, founder Shelby Wild was working as a successful fashion stylist in NYC. But she decided to leave the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple behind and migrated to sunny California, where she studied herbalism to reconnect with nature. From there, she fell in love with organic, all-natural beauty, and created her popular brand that gives all hair types an effortless, naturally beautiful feel.
➥ Best Pick: Playa Endless Summer Spray, $12
Circumference
Circumference is making waves in the clean beauty industry, with stars and estheticians alike raving about founder Jina Kim's botanical formulations. Kim's brand strikes the right balance between scientifically formulated and all-natural, using only the highest-grade, plant-derived ingredients to give your skin the treatment it deserves.
➥ Best Pick: Circumference Active Botanical Refining Toner, $60
Pat McGrath Labs
As one of the most iconic makeup artists in the world, Pat McGrath is a celebrity in her own right — which is why it's only fitting that she would create one of the most successful luxury makeup lines to ever exist. She brought her creative eye for cosmetics to the masses, and every product the brand pumps out automatically becomes an overnight success.
➥ Best Pick: Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Setting Powder, $32
Briogeo
Briogeo shook the masses with its line of playful and impressive haircare products. So, who do we have to thank for such a staple haircare brand? Nancy Twine, the creator of this all-natural hair brand and former Goldman Sachs finance executive, who used her grandmother's secret haircare ingredients to create the popular formulations.
➥ Best Pick: Briogeo Destined For Density Peptide Conditioner, $32
UOMA Beauty
One of the most impressive woman-owned beauty brands to come out of the 2010s is definitely UOMA. Not only are the shades of this vibrant brand ultra-pigmented and long-lasting, but there's also a special meaning behind every shade you swipe on. This skin-tone-inclusive brand was started by Sharon Chuter, a Nigerian-born, LA- and London-based former beauty executive whose sights are set on reconfiguring outdated beauty standards.
➥ Best Pick: UOMA Beauty Double Take Contour Stick, $40
Victoria Beckham Beauty
As one of the most fashionable celebrities of all time (and even having her own luxury fashion label), it only makes sense that Ms. Posh Spice would start her own beauty line. And just as you'd expect, it’s extremely luxurious — Beckham's line is a splurgeworthy one.
➥ Best Pick: Victoria Beckham Beauty Lid Lustre, $36
Tata Harper
The namesake brand from Tata Harper was started when she wanted to find a 100% clean, all-natural line that, well, actually worked. What came from her initial thought is now a cult-favorite skincare and cosmetics brand that none of us can seem to get enough of.
➥ Best Pick: Tata Harper Resurfacing BHA Glow Mask, $68
Slip
Slip founder Fiona Stewart let the world know that cotton pillowcases are a big no-no for good hair. What started as a line of beloved silk pillowcases now extends into a plethora of silk products: hair ties, sleep masks, face masks, and more.
➥ Best Pick: Slip Silk Pillow Case - Standard/Queen, $89
Schmidt’s Naturals
Founder Jaime Schmidt couldn't find a natural deodorant that actually worked for her, so she took the DIY route and made her own in her kitchen. What started out as a grassroots concept became one of the best-selling all-natural deodorants on the market, providing safe ingredients at an affordable price.
➥ Best Pick: Schmidt's Deodorant Rose and Vanilla, $16
Naturopathica
Founder Barbara Close was inspired by her childhood trips to French apothecaries with her aunt, which introduced her to natural healing at a young age. She started Naturopathica in East Hampton back in 1995, and 25 years later, it has become one of the frontrunners in setting the bar for natural beauty.
➥ Best Pick: Naturopathica Sweet Birch Magnesium Bath Flakes, $42
Volition Beauty
According to Forbes, cofounders Patricia Santos and Brandy Hoffman met while on a business trip to Southeast Asia — they brainstormed a beauty brand that crowdsourced ideas for products that women actually want. Thus came Volition, a skincare brand with squeaky-clean ingredients and an Insta-worthy style.
➥ Best Pick: Volition Beauty Strawberry-C Brightening Serum, $42
Honest Beauty
What did Jessica Alba do when she couldn’t find a fully transparent brand? She made her own. Honest Beauty was one of the first cosmetics brands to bring clean, nontoxic beauty to the masses at an affordable price point.
➥ Best Pick: Honest Beauty Tinted Lip Balm, $9
Beauty Bakerie
Inspired by her own mother's love of beauty — plus a battle with breast cancer — founder Cashmere Nicole whipped up her delectable (and organic!) makeup line back in 2011. What birthed from a tiny indie brand became a global phenomenon that gave the beauty industry the sweet kick it needed.
➥ Best Pick: Beauty Bakerie Face Flour Baking Powder, $24
Starface
As a former beauty editor, Julie Schott knew exactly what the skincare industry was missing: some fun! So, she took the concept of the usual plain-Jane acne patches and transformed them into adorably bright yellow stars, thus creating Starface.
➥ Best Pick: Starface Hydro-Stars, $15
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