Support These Female Founders This Women’s History Month

Here’s a brand you know and love, owned and founded by Jenni Kayne herself. Think of her as a true tastemaker. The designer is the brainpower behind the movement of that modern California aesthetic —  think coastal Grandma chic, but more tailored to the west coast), packaged  as elevated basics in the highest quality materials, from clothing to fine jewelry to furniture. Just look to fellow Wake-Up Call readers – this cashmere sweater is a community favorite 

The idea of placing any product near our eyes, whether it’s skincare or mascara, may not always be a great idea for our health. That’s why ophthalmologist Dr. Diane Hilal Campo wanted to make safe options for all. Many lash growth serums can contain harmful  prostaglandin analogs (PGAs), which cause fat cells around the eyes to shrink,, leading to hollow undereyes and hyperpigmentation. But instead of ignoring the problem, Dr. Campo set out to launch her own beauty brand, stating: “I created twenty/twenty because I wanted makeup wearers of all ages to have healthy, eye-safe options, so no one would have to compromise their ocular health for their love of makeup.” 

If you’re going to wear shapewear, you probably want to consider a brand founded by a woman. After all, who knows the female form better? That’s what Sara Blakely figured out when she launched Spanx in 2000. She has since been named the youngest female billionaire by Forbes in 2012, all with an origin story that sought to encourage women to feel great about themselves. The brand has since expanded beyond shapewear, and its AirEssentials collection includes some of Katie’s favorite gear to travel in. 

Say hello to Bobbi Brown’s latest venture: Jones Road Beauty. The makeup artist launched Jones Road after recognizing there was a need for clean, strategic, high-grade formulations that work on every skin type and tone. Their products follow guidelines even more stringent than those of the E.U. and contain no phthalates, sulfates, petrolatum, PEGs… the list goes on. What does that mean exactly? Simple, smart products for all ages and skin types. This is the makeup brand for the person who doesn’t love to wear makeup and is trying to achieve that flawless no-makeup natural look. We recommend starting with their Miracle Balm, a face balm that can work as a moisturizing foundation, blush, or bronzer that our readers love. 

Meet Holly Thaggard: The woman who is changing the way we think about sunscreen. When Holly’s close friend was diagnosed with skin cancer in her early 30s, she learned how sun damage can start at a very young age. In 2007, she started Supergoop!, an SPF brand that is fun, clean, and feels good on the skin. Team KCM loves their Unseen Sunscreen — a totally invisible, oil-free formula that glides right onto the skin while providing broad spectrum SPF 40. 

Did you know that 14 billion pounds (that’s BILLION with a B) of trash are dumped into the ocean each year? Sarah Paiji Yoo, CEO and Co-Founder of Blueland, is seeking to fix that. She started Blueland, an eco-friendly cleaning product, when she became a new mom and saw how much plastic she was throwing away. Blueland reduces single-use plastic waste with its Forever Bottles. How does it work? Buy the bottle once and refill with cleaning tablets that dissolve with water. Get started with one of their Starter Sets — from hand soap to laundry detergent. 

Briogeo founder Nancy Twine wants to help you find the perfect hair care. She launched Briogeo out of her tiny East Village apartment with a few of her grandmother’s coveted beauty recipes. Mix up your hair care routine with one of Briogeo’s clean, high-performing ingredients that are personalized for your hair type. Team KCM swears by their Scalp Revival set. Not sure where to start? Begin by taking their Hair Quiz to find out which products will work best for your hair. 

You know you’ve heard us talk a lot about Daily Harvest. That’s because we’re obsessed with their female founder, Rachel Drori. She started Daily Harvest because she regularly found herself grabbing unhealthy, random snacks for meals instead of cooking nutritious, sustainable foods. Everything Daily Harvest makes is built on organic fruits and vegetables and crafted into delicious food that is actually good for you. They work directly with farmers to grow ripe, juicy produce, freeze it, and send it directly to you so you can have fresh, hardy foods every day.

KCM featured Clare Paint in our Black businesses roundup but we love to support Nicole Gibbons’s paint company year round. Clare Paint is reimagining the paint shopping experience with interior designer Gibbon’s as its leader. Each paint color is designer-curated, shipped straight to you, and the Clare Color Genius will help guide you to the perfect color. Don’t mess with ugly paint chips, just peel and stick the swatches straight to your wall. The best part is they’re Zero VOC, meaning there are less chemical emissions to create a healthier indoor quality. 

Probably best known for having a barrage of aesthetic-envy Instagram ads, Girlfriend Collective can be studied as a perfect model for a successful social media marketing internet-brand turned booming athleisure company. Girlfriend Collective was founded in 2016, and officially launched in 2017, by Seattle-based Quang Dinh and his wife Ellie when they saw a gap in the direct-to-consumer space for activewear brands. Ellie felt frustrated that she was unable to find an activewear brand with a responsible ethos that was sustainably sourced. They filled the hole in the market and created workout wear and leggings that are made from 25 recycled plastic water bottles from Taiwan. From there, they launched size-inclusive minimalist neutrals and gender-neutral loungewear during the pandemic. 

Heidi Zak was tired of having to choose between bras that were either sexy or comfortable. In 2013, she founded ThirdLove — a bra company that focused on feeling your best. With more than 80 sizes, ThirdLove can help you find the perfect fit bra that will make your girls look great and feel good. Get started with their Fitting Room Quiz to see what fit is best for you. 

Do you ever look in your closet and think you have way too much… stuff? Karla Gallardo and Shilpa Shah decided to launch a brand that was founded on the philosophy that fewer is better. Cuyana, a high-quality clothing and accessory line, encourages customers to buy fewer but better quality pieces that will last for years to come. We have our eyes on Cuyana’s Classic Leather Tote, which was made in Turkey at a woman-owned factory. It’s the perfect bag to take you from the office to your next weekend trip. 

We’ve all been stuck inside our homes for way too long. Why not make it a little happier with a plant from The Sill. Founded by Eliza Blank, The Sill aims to help people discover the perfect potted plant that is delivered right to your door. Eliza, who moved to New York City for college, struggled to find house plants at local nurseries In 2007, The Sill was born. Browse their ready-to-ship items for every plant lover. From a Coffee Plant to a beautiful Purple Orchid, you can brighten your day with The Sill. 

When Katerina Schneider was pregnant, she went looking for the ideal prenatal vitamin and struggled to find a supplement she trusted. So, she decided to build her own. Meet Ritual, the company that is reimagining the multivitamin. Ritual works with physiologists, biochemists, and dieticians to create simple and clean vitamins that are backed by science. Today, their Essential for Women vitamin has something for everyone — from the Multivitamin 18+ to the Multivitamin 50+.  

You’ve likely heard of Glossier, a skincare company founded in 2014 by Emily Weiss. The company was born out of a beauty blog site called ‘Into The Gloss,’ which invited users to share the products they love. Glossier aims to create the products you wish existed, and it’s doing a pretty good job. From minimalist makeup to yummy skincare, the global beauty brand is a go-to for every generation. Try Glossier You ($72), the brand’s perfume that smells like you, but better.