Laura
Writer and expert8 years ago
We know that the beauty industry has been shaped by incredible women over the years and now there is a new wave of female entrepreneurs taking the beauty industry into their own hands. Where there has been a gap in the market, they have stepped in to make the beauty products that they couldn't find for themselves.
We're filling you in on some of the incredible brands at Lookfantastic that all began with a great idea, from women who love beauty. These are the beauty brands made for you!
1.
Gallinée
Gallinée are one of the newest brands to launch on Lookfantastic and we are so excited about it. Gallinée look at skincare in a different way, using pre and pro-biotic ingredients to help support the bacteria which looks after our skin.
Gallinée is the brainchild of Marie Drago and Anaïs Lombard. Marie is a scientist who has worked in the skincare industry for over 15 years and wrote a thesis on the Microbiome, the good bacteria that live on our skin. Anaïs is a former beauty editor who has worked for the likes of Shiseido, Dior and ELLEgirl.
Together, they have built an incredible new brand, taking skincare in a different direction. Marie actually designed the formulas and has patented the unique complex in all the Gallinée products. They also launched their beauty brand using Kickstarter, getting over £10,000 of orders from people who fell in love with the brand and products. We have been totally inspired by the passion and expertise of these women and we can't wait for you to fall in love too.
Try the brand: The La Culture Foaming Facial Cleanser is an incredible gentle cleanser that leaves skin squeaky clean but protected thanks to the brand's patented Biotic Complex.
2.
Real Techniques
Real Techniques are known for their gorgeous makeup brushes and they were the brainchild of sisters Sam and Nic Chapman.
Both Sam and Nic are makeup artists, who have worked in the industry on fashion weeks and creative shoots for decades. They started doing beauty tutorials on YouTube as Pixiwoo in 2000 and over the years have gained a huge audience thanks to their advice and videos.
The Real Techniques brushes came about after the sisters realised that there was a gap in the market for high quality, affordable makeup brushes. They spent months and months developing brushes that would do what they wanted to give a gorgeous result. Their work now means we can all get the makeup artist finish at home.
Try the brand: The Core Collection Kit has everything you need to get started with makeup brushes and comes with a stand and case too.
3.
Balance Me
Balance Me has become one of our best-loved brands but it started small. Sisters Clare and Rebecca Hopkins left high powered jobs and started making beauty products in their kitchen.
They wanted to push the boundaries of natural beauty, creating accessible products with brilliant results without nasty ingredients. They wanted natural beauty products that would work for busy women, inspiring the name Balance Me.
Balance Me products are all still made in the UK and the brand has continued to discover new ways to combine science and natural ingredients for incredible results. Now over 10 years later, Clare and Rebecca still own the company and have won over 40 industry awards. Impressive, no?
Try the brand: The Super Moisturising Hand Cream was one of the first products made by Balance Me and Clare says it is her desert island product she couldn't live without.
4.
Pixi
Pixi has become a bit of a cult brand, with their Glow Tonic flying off the shelves as fast as they can make it and celebrity fans like Jourdan Dunn.
The brand was started by Petra Strand. A makeup artist who grew up in Sweden, Petra began Pixi because she was missing multipurpose products in her makeup kit. She wanted makeup that would work in lots of different ways, to enhance natural beauty instead of looking heavy.
Now Pixi has become known for their incredible multi-tasking makeup and naturally derived skincare. Petra has been a huge part of the move towards natural beauty, creating products which help other women feel their best. No wonder that they are now bestsellers!
Try the brand: The H20 Skintint is one of Petra's favourite products, which cools and calms the skin for a velvety finish.
5.
Lipstick Queen
Lipstick Queen is one of those beauty brands that has a huge celebrity following, but its success is the result of a lot of work by founder, Poppy King.
Originally from Melbourne in Australia, Poppy couldn't find the bold, rich colours of lipstick that she wanted. At just 18 she started a company, Poppy, which got stocked in Barneys before Poppy was approached by Estée Lauder to work for them. After years in the beauty industry, she returned to her first love and created Lipstick Queen.
Poppy is a huge advocate for women finding beauty products that make them feel good, developing products to suit everyone and give women choice. She didn't want other women to feel the frustrations she did when looking for makeup that let her express herself. That is an idea we can get on board with!
Try the brand: The Frog Prince Lipstick turns from emerald green to a soft pink that is custom to you for the perfect shade.
Want to find out more about women in beauty? Read our post celebrating the original beauty innovators and you can also meet our ambassadors who are currently shaking things up with their unique perspectives on beauty.
Laura
Writer and expert
Major fan of scented candles, Make Up brushes and Highlighter. I’m always on the hunt for those Holy Grail products and my dressing table is covered in more beauty products than I like to admit. As an adopted Northerner originally from Brighton, I spend most my days wondering what all this rain is about. My hair isn’t grateful for the move.
Currently loving: NIOD Photography Fluid
