15 female-founded skincare brands you need to know about

The world of skincare is constantly evolving, and some of the most exciting developments in the industry are coming from women who have built brands rooted in personal experience, scientific expertise, and innovative thinking. These female founders are reshaping how we think about self‑care — from effective formulas to barrier‑supporting essentials and ritual‑inspired products.

This post highlights 15 standout skincare brands founded by women, why they’re worth your attention, and hero products to try. Whether you’re upgrading your routine, searching for gentle actives, or looking for niche brands with real personality, this list has something for every skin journey.

*This post contains some affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page*

1. Drunk Elephant

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Drunk Elephant has become synonymous with effective, non‑irritating skincare. Founded by Tiffany Masterson, the brand focuses on biocompatible ingredients that support your skin’s natural ecosystem. Drunk Elephant, which is cruelty-free, focuses on science-backed active ingredients that make your skin look and feel healthy. I’ve loved every single product I’ve tried from Drunk Elephant!

Why it’s worth trying: A balanced blend of actives and skin‑friendly ingredients.

Hero products: T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum and D-Bronzi Bronzing Drops

Price range: Mid to premium

2. Tatcha

Founded by Vicky Tsai, Tatcha blends traditional Japanese beauty practices with modern science. Its formulas are cruelty-free, gentle, luxurious, and sensorial. Tatacha’s products always have exceptional and expensive packaging, feel amazing on the skin, and spotlight Japanese botanicals with clinically-backed ingredients. I’m a huge fan of the brand’s moisturisers, which are worth the premium price tag.

Why it’s worth trying: Hydration, elegance, and rich ritual heritage.

Hero products: The Water Cream and The Dewy Skin Cream

Price range: Premium

3. Glow Recipe

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Created by Sarah Lee and Christine Chang, Glow Recipe embodies the fun, fruit-forward side of K-beauty with hydrating and glow-boosting formulas. These products are aesthetic, focus on dewy skin, and frequently go viral on TikTok for their standout, cutesy, and vibrant packaging. Glow Recipe is also vegan and cruelty-free. To this day, Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner is still one of my favourite exfoliating toners.

Why it’s worth trying: Glowy skin with a fresh take on skincare.

Hero products: Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops and Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner

Price range: Mid

4. Summer Fridays

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Founded by Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores, Summer Fridays focuses on simple, effective products that make skin feel cared for and hydrated. Summer Fridays’ products focus on versatility, highlighting natural beauty and multipurpose use. These products simplify your beauty routines and ensure your skin looks and feels its best. Summer Fridays is vegan and cruelty-free.

Why it’s worth trying: Perfect for minimalists.

Hero products: Jet Lag Mask and Lip Butter Balm

Price range: Mid

5. Paula’s Choice

Founded by Paula Begoun, Paula’s Choice pioneered accessible, science-forward skincare with a focus on evidence-based formulations. Products are cruelty-free and backed by extensive independent research and consumer testing to deliver proven results, time and time again. As well as its clinical formulas, the Paula’s Choice skincare ingredients dictionary is a go-to resource for everything you need to know about particular skincare ingredients.

Why it’s worth trying: Proven formulas and clear guidance.

Hero product: Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Price range: Mid

6. Kate Somerville

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Created by aesthetician Kate Somerville, this brand mirrors clinic-grade skincare designed to tackle congestion and dullness. Also founded by Kate, the Kate Somerville Medical Esthetics Skin Clinic has been a hub of skincare innovation for the past 20 years to deliver visible, clinical-grade results. Kate Somerville‘s line of high-performance skincare products is designed to safely deliver clinic results at home. Her products feel premium, have glorious textures, and are kind to your skin. Kate Somerville is cruelty-free.

Why it’s worth trying: Results-driven and high-performance.

Hero products: ExfoliKate Cleanser and ExfoliKate Glow Moisturizer 

Price range: Premium

7. Pestle & Mortar

Founded by Sonia Deasy, Pestle & Mortar is minimalist and effective, offering hydrating staples suitable for sensitive skin. Pestle & Mortar’s formulas are designed to work for all skin types and are inspired by Indian natural healing. The brand is cruelty-free and vegan.

Why it’s worth trying: Gentle, hydrating essentials.

Hero products: Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum and Hydrate Lightweight Moisturiser

Price range: Mid to premium

8. Beauty Pie

Created by Marcia Kilgore, Beauty Pie delivers luxury skincare formulas through an accessible membership model. Instead of paying premium price tags, Beauty Pie members get access to beauty products formulated in world-leading labs for great prices. There are tonnes of fantastic formulas available. The Plantastic Apricot Butter Cleansing Balm is still one of the best cleansing balms I’ve used!

Why it’s worth trying: High-end formulas at better prices.

Hero products: Triple Hyaluronic Acid and Youthbomb 360° Radiance Concentrate Serum

Price range: Affordable to mid

9. Maysama

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Founded by Bev May, Maysama focuses on antioxidant-rich green rooibos technology to soothe and protect. All of Maysama’s products are vegan and cruelty-free, and the brand focuses on advanced LED light therapy solutions, healthy skin, and meeting the needs of all skin types and tones. I adore every Maysama product I’ve tried, as they genuinely deliver excellent and visible results.

Why it’s worth trying: Unique antioxidant-led approach.

Hero products: ABP11+ Green Rooibos Gentle Resurfacing Toner and Head2Heart LED Combo

Price range: Mid

10. Sachi Skin

Created by Farah Naz, Sachi Skin offers dermatology-led formulas that focus on inclusivity, especially for melanated and sensitive skin. Sachi Skin blends the heritage of Ayurvedic healing botanicals and the precision of advanced dermatology to deliver visible, clinically proven results. The brand is vegan and cruelty-free.

Why it’s worth trying: Barrier-friendly and targeted actives.

Hero product: Triphala Pigmentation Corrector

Price range: Mid to premium

11. Alpha-H

Founded by Michelle Doherty, Alpha-H is known globally for its transformative resurfacing products. This cruelty-free skincare brand takes a straightforward approach to skincare routines with minimalistic formulas that are designed to keep skin healthy, without any fuss.

Why it’s worth trying: Reliable chemical exfoliation.

Hero product: Liquid Gold with 5% Glycolic Acid

Price range: Mid

12. ARK Skincare

Co-founded by Tamsin Styles, ARK Skincare creates age-adapted formulas based on real actives. This vegan and cruelty-free brand offers a large range of products, all with fantastic ingredients that are sure to target your skin concerns. I’ve tried loads of ARK Skincare products and am impressed with most of them.

Why it’s worth trying: Thoughtful age-intelligent skincare.

Hero products: Skin Perfector Radiance Serum and Age Defy Nourishing Moisturiser 

Price range: Mid

13. Beauty of Joseon

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Founded by Sumin Lee, Beauty of Joseon blends traditional Hanbang ingredients with modern skincare science. This popular cruelty-free Korean skincare brand is known for creating glowy, gentle, and moisturising products that look and feel amazing on your skin. I love that even though these products are very reasonably priced, they deliver the same results as many premium brands. I’m obsessed with the Beauty of Joseon SPFs. They’re the best!

Why it’s worth trying: Lightweight, gentle, and heritage-inspired.

Hero products: Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh and Dynasty Cream

Price range: Affordable to mid

14. Haruharu Wonder

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Founded by Jae Won Jeong, Haruharu Wonder is best known for fermented black rice formulas that hydrate and soothe. This K-beauty brand offers vegan, cruelty-free, and skin barrier-friendly products. Its products are designed to fit in seamlessly with everyday routines while being gentle, simple, effective, and affordable. I love Haruharu Wonder, as it delivers standout formulas.

Why it’s worth trying: Gentle antioxidant-rich hydration.

Hero product: Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner for Sensitive Skin and Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence

Price range: Affordable to mid

15. Tea & Tonic

Founded by Sarah Strang, Tea & Tonic blends adaptogens and botanical actives for holistic skincare. This natural-led skincare brand boasts carefully selected British-grown actives to deliver specific nutrients for unique, effective, and interesting products. All products are vegan and cruelty-free.

Why it’s worth trying: Beautiful botanical blends.

Hero product: Saving Grace Balance Facial Oil

Price range: Mid

Sarah Sarsby is the owner of A Woman's Confidence. With over 7 years' experience of writing in the fields of beauty and lifestyle, Sarah is passionate about all things content, makeup, skincare, wellness, and lifestyle. She has combination skin, is obsessed with lip gloss, and loves cookie dough.