31 best female owned beauty brands to champion this International Women’s Day (and every damn day)

Out of all the beauty, skincare and hair products, how many do you think are produced by female-owned beauty brands or beauty companies led by women?

The beauty industry has an average of just 29% female leadership across boards and executive teams, meaning that we are miles from equal influence over the big decisions made at the top of beauty brands that we shop at every day.

As we continue the fight to level up the gender pay gap, gender health gap, and gender pain gap – we want to see better representation in the beauty industry.

So, this International Women’s Day, it’s time we turn our attention (and hard-earned cash) towards supporting women-owned/led skin, hair and makeup brands. March 8 is a day that not only celebrates the achievements of women but also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality. And while there are many ways to support this important cause, one of the easiest (and most effective) is by choosing wisely where your spending power goes.

With an endless list of both established and up-and-coming beauty brands with women at their forefront, you can use now use your economic clout to support other women – without sacrificing quality. ASOS alone has over 900 products on-site from female-owned beauty brands, from the likes of Ouai’s cult hair products to Indeed Labs must-have skincare and Florence by Mills beauty line (courtesy of our fave, Millie Bobby Brown.)

Our round-up of the best beauty brands to support on International Women’s Day and beyond also includes some of the best black female-led brands in this space, from Boucleme founded by Michele Scott-Lynch (we love their curl-defining gel) to Karen Cummings-Palmer 79 Lux for indulgent body products and Nett Exfoliator’s life-changing (and highly in demand) body exfoliator.

Although there still aren’t anywhere near enough women-founded or led brands in the beauty space – or women in the broad rooms of major brands, it seems – rounding up our favourites is essential to the cause.

Scroll down for the best female-owned beauty brands to shop this International Women’s Day.