These women didn’t just create makeup they built beauty empires.
From inclusivity to self-love, discover the inspiring stories behind global makeup brands started by powerful female founders.
Huda Beauty by Huda Kattan
Huda Kattan, an Iraqi-American makeup artist and blogger, started out by sharing makeup tutorials and product reviews on Instagram and YouTube. Her talent for makeup and love for sharing beauty tips quickly gained attention. In 2013, she launched Huda Beauty, starting with false eyelashes. They became an instant hit worn by celebrities like Kim Kardashian and the brand began to grow.
Today, Huda Beauty is known for its bold eyeshadow palettes, full-coverage foundations, lip contours, and viral product drops. Huda connects deeply with her fans, often sharing her own skin struggles and journey. Her brand is glamorous, high impact, and built on transparency, making Huda one of the most successful beauty entrepreneurs in the world.
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna
Rihanna didn’t just want to create another celebrity beauty brand. When she launched Fenty Beauty in 2017, she wanted to solve a problem lack of shade diversity in makeup. The brand’s first launch included 40 shades of foundation (now over 50), catering to every skin tone from the lightest to the deepest.
The impact was immediate. Fenty became a global hit and sparked a movement for inclusivity in beauty. Beyond foundation, the brand offers glowing highlighters, lip glosses, and vibrant pigments that suit everyone.
Glossier by Emily Weiss
Emily Weiss started with a blog called Into The Gloss, where she interviewed real women about their beauty routines. From that insight, she realized something was missing in the beauty world products made for real life, not just advertising. So in 2014, she launched Glossier.
Glossier is about skin-first beauty simple, effective, and easy to use. The brand’s bestsellers like Boy Brow, Milky Jelly Cleanser, and Cloud Paint became cult favorites. With soft pastel packaging and a minimal, fresh approach, Emily created a community-first brand that listened to its users and built a beauty empire based on honesty and ease.
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez founded Rare Beauty with the mission to break down unrealistic standards of beauty. She wanted to create a brand that focused on mental health, self-expression, and self-love. Rare Beauty encourages people to embrace their uniqueness—to feel rare.
The products are designed to feel weightless and breathable, like the Soft Pinch Liquid Blush and the Liquid Touch Foundation. They enhance natural beauty instead of covering it up. Her brand is as thoughtful as it is beautiful showing that kindness can be part of the beauty business.
Pat McGrath Labs by Pat McGrath
Pat McGrath is one of the most influential makeup artists in the world. For years, she was the creative force behind major fashion shows, magazine covers, and couture runway looks. In 2015, she launched Pat McGrath Labs her own makeup brand full of drama, luxury, and creativity.
Known for ultra-pigmented eyeshadows, high-shine lip glosses, and velvety skin products, Pat McGrath Labs feels like high fashion in a compact. Pat brought the artistry of editorial makeup to everyday beauty lovers. Her fearless use of color and texture made her brand a top choice for those who want to stand out and express themselves without limits.
Beauty Bakerie by Cashmere Nicole
Cashmere Nicole’s journey is one of strength and determination. After battling breast cancer, she created Beauty Bakerie, a brand known for its sweet dessert-themed packaging and inspiring story. With product names like “Lip Whip” and “Flour Setting Powder,” the brand brings fun and charm to the beauty world.
But it’s not just about cute packaging Cashmere’s products are high performance and long lasting. Beauty Bakerie has a strong message: beauty can be playful and powerful. The brand also supports social causes and health awareness, making Cashmere a true example of turning adversity into empowerment through creativity.
Flower Beauty by Drew Barrymore
Actress and producer Drew Barrymore launched Flower Beauty in 2013 with the belief that beauty should be accessible to all. She wanted to bring professional-quality makeup to the drugstore aisle without the high-end price tag.
Flower Beauty is all about joy, kindness, and cruelty-free formulas. From colorful lipsticks to luminous foundations, the products are affordable and easy to use. Drew brings her authentic personality into the brand, promoting self-love and confidence. Flower Beauty is a celebration of inner beauty and outer fun just like Drew herself.
Women Changing Beauty
These women have done more than start beauty brands they’ve reshaped the entire beauty industry. With authenticity, inclusivity, and vision, they created companies that reflect real people, real stories, and real needs. Whether it’s about mental health, diversity, clean beauty, or affordability, their brands are built on meaning and mission.
In a world that often tries to define beauty for us, these founders reminded us that beauty is what we make it. They’ve proven that when women lead with heart and purpose, they don’t just follow trends they set them.
