8 Female-Run, Direct-to-Consumer Brands That Prove Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves

Perhaps no beauty brand has done more for the direct-to-consumer model — or the color millenial pink — than Glossier. Founded in 2014 by Emily Weiss as an extension of the blog Into the Gloss, the brand sells It-girl-approved makeup in ubiquitous bubblewrap packaging. And it's paid off big time: the brand has since raised over $34.4 million in venture capital. From a cream blush that would convert even the most staunch powder-phile to a chemical exfoliant that takes the guesswork out of cosmetic acids, Glossier consistently delivers in both quality and aesthetics — which accounts for the brand's robust social media presence.

Ah, ColourPop — an empire built out of $5 eye shadows. The millenial-favorite brand has become a staple in the affordable makeup-sphere, and we can trace it all back to a pair of siblings. Laura Nelson is the president and cofounder (with brother John) of Seed Beauty, an incubator that produces different cosmetics brands. One of these labels is ColourPop, and although it's now sold at Sephora, it first became (very) popular as a direct-to-consumer line. Want to know another brand that's part of Seed Beauty's lineup? That would be none other than Kylie Cosmetics. Which brings us to . . .

. . . King Kylie herself! In 2016, when Kylie was only 18 years old, the teen mogul launched her eponymous line of lip kits. In just two years, Kylie has made over $420 million in product sales alone. WWD estimated that the new mother's beauty ventures will rake in a billion dollars by 2022. But the life of Kylie Cosmetics hasn't always been easy — the owner has been accused of copying a vlogger's palette, and was dragged on social media for releasing a $360 makeup brush set. Despite these challenges, Kylie soldiers on.

Not to be outdone by her younger sister, Kim launched a line of (what else?) contour kits in 2017. She later expanded her brand to include glitter pigments and lip glosses, fragrances, and a fabulously-marketed Valentine's Day heart-shaped perfume. According to industry experts, during her first roll-out of the contour kits, Kim made $14 million in under three hours. And that, my friends, is how you become a beauty boss.

Mom and wife Gregg Renfrew founded this multi-level marketing company that you may have seen be sold by representatives via Facebook or other social media. Although the MLM system is a controversial one, Beautycounter has transcended that status through its superior, healthy products. One of Renfew's goals with the line was to give customers a way to buy chemical-free beauty products. The brand even has a "Never List" of harmful ingredients that you won't find in its lineup. Plus, the products — which range from lip gloss to moisturizer — are luxurious and effective.