Happy International Women’s Day! Established in 1911, the annual event falls on March 8 in a bid to celebrate fellow women, champion equal rights and pay homage to the female powerhouses that came before us. There is no better time to support your fellow sisters than right now and if you’re looking for your next purchase, look no further than female-founded brands.
Now that you’re acquainted with the best female-owned fashion labels, below we’ve rounded up just some of our favourite beauty brands established by women.
Emma Lewisham
Founded in her homeland of New Zealand, Emma Lewisham has garnered cult status since launching the namesake brand in 2019 with luxurious skincare and circular, sustainable beauty. In addition, the brand supports Zonta International and the Malala Foundation that work to breakdown barriers and empower women across the globe.
Vida Glow
Vida Glow is a leading brand in ingestible beauty – and recently, skincare. Since its founding by Anna Lahey in 2014, the brand has gone on to become a 92 percent female-operated company. On International Women’s Day the beauty giant has pledged it will donate 100 percent of online profits to the Australian Red Cross and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Espressoh
Italian-born beauty brand Espressoh was catapulted to cult TikTok status thanks to its game-changing, dewy formulas. The woman behind the company is Chiara Cascella, who established the brand in 2018 in a bid to conceptualise simple products to highlight natural beauty – regardless of gender, skin tone or skin texture.
La Mav
La Mav Organic Skin Science was created by Dr Tarj Mavi who after suffering from skin pigmentation with the birth of her second child, struggled to find products that did not contain harsh chemicals. So, she made her own, utilising 25 years of experience in product development and research. The brand has since branched out into body tools and ingestible beauty.
Recreation Beauty
Recreation Beauty is a clean beauty company that specialises in luxe fragrances and oils based in Bondi Beach, Australia. The brand was founded by former magazine editor, Nedahl Stelio, who channelled her organic lifestyle into products that are ethically-sourced, vegan and cruelty-free.
Ouai
Ouai is the brain-child of celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin who says she created the company after struggling to find a brand she and her friends could “relate to”. On International Women’s Day, Ouai has announced it will take the day as a holiday while supporting organisations such as Women for Women and Planned Parenthood.
Glasshouse Fragrances
It is likely you have a Glasshouse Fragrance candle near by or, perhaps, it is currently burning. 15 years ago Nicole Eckles set her sights on establishing an internationally-recognised fragrance brand. Now, as the founder and CEO of Glasshouse Fragrances she is not only recognised, but a leader in the industry.
Pat McGrath Labs
You may recognise Pat McGrath as the mastermind behind a myriad of fashion week beauty looks and editorials globally. Using her expertise as one of the most sought out makeup artists in the world, she developed her eponymous brand, Pat McGrath Labs in 2015. Many of her products still sell out in record time.
Kopari Beauty
Kopari Beauty which has now launched in Sephora Australia has quickly become a coveted staple in bathroom vanities and showers. Founders Kiana Cabell and Gigi Goldman launched the brand in 2015 with the hope of utilising the powerful effects of premium coconut oil in our everyday beauty routines.
ETHIQUE
Founder and CEO of Ethique, Brianne West, created the brand in 2012 from her kitchen sink while completing a Bachelor of Science at university. Now a decade later, Ethique is sold in 22 countries worldwide and has prevented huge amounts of plastics ending up in landfill. All ingredients used in Ethique products are ethically and sustainably sourced, and the brand is 100 percent plastic free.
