LGBTQ Beauty Brands
The Surprising LGBTQ+ History Behind Some of Your Favourite Beauty Brands
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Pride is more than rainbow flags and Ben & Jerry's Hubby Hubby ice cream (although, these are indeed welcome, especially when enjoyed while humming Lady Gaga's "Born This Way") — but it's also a time to reflect on the progress, and room for growth, needed to support the LGBTQ+ community. A good place to start: the workplace.
After all, under federal and most states' laws, LGBTQ+ people aren't explicitly protected from discrimination. That's why entrepreneurship in the community matters and, in an industry where people are seeking, celebrating, and demanding inclusivity now more than ever, there's no better time to commemorate the -queer-owned hair, makeup, and skincare companies out there.
What are you waiting for? Click ahead for a list of beauty brands you should be proud to add to your stash.
Volition Beauty
Volition — everyone's favourite new clean skincare brand at Sephora — was cofounded by queer entrepreneur Brandy Hoffman. "One of our top priorities when founding the company was to create a platform where anyone could have a say in creating their beauty and skincare products," she told POPSUGAR. "We believe at our core that the only way to be an inclusive beauty brand is to start with their ideas and share in that process. Our community, their needs, and their creativity are what drive our product development and ensures that an array of voices are represented by Volition."
Evidence of Hoffman walking the walk: she also tapped LGBTQ+ blogger Aja Jones Aguirre to help create the Volition Prismatic Luminizing Shield SPF 50 ($35).
MAC
One of the makeup world's biggest power players also has LGBTQ+ roots. As a brand rep told POPSUGAR, MAC founders Frank Angelo and Frank Toskan had a vision to change the LGBTQ+ community (of which they were both part of and active in) through their passion of makeup. The company's first Viva Glam campaign was born in 1994, which intended for all proceeds of a MAC Viva Glam Lipstick ($19) be donated to the MAC Aids Fund. "We developed a great lipstick colour we called VIVA GLAM," said Toskan. "This little lipstick gave people dignity and saved lives."
And while Angelo and Toskan are no longer part of the company, their mission for change lives on: MAC has raised approximately $500 million (!) toward HIV/AIDS research in the years since.
Malin + Goetz
The skincare brand you've likely seen in every Flywheel locker room, Delta Airlines Sky Club bag, and hotel rooms across the country actually has a storied background: Malin + Goetz is the brainchild of cofounders (and couple) Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz. The company got its start in 2004 as a local apothecary shop in NYC, and has since expanded from face, body, and hair care to fragrance and candles. One of our favourites? The Malin + Goetz Peppermint Shampoo ($22).
W3ll People
Out lesbian makeup artist Shirley Pinkson cofounded W3ll People, which was born out of her experience working with other LGBTQ+ clients. "I've worked with a lot of lesbians who don't want to wear makeup," she told Curve Magazine. "But what they do want is, they all want to look good. Everybody wants to look good." Enter W3ll People, a cruelty-free cosmetics company that sells simple, no makeup-makeup staples like the best-selling Nudist Multi-Use Cream Stick ($24).
Fluide
Co-founders Laura Kraber and Isabella Giancarlo cofounded the beauty brand Fluide last year. The gender-neutral company was bred in dedication to the queer community, and markets its lipsticks, 7-Free Polishes ($15 each), and glitter pigments for people of all genders.
Kiss My Face
According to longtime partners (and founders behind Kiss My Face) Bob Macleod and Steve Byckiewicz, the brand's secret ingredient is "love." The couple has been together for nearly four decades and founded an all-natural, mostly vegan skincare line in the 1980s that's famous for its decadent range of products, like the Kiss My Face Sun Spray Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 Sunblock ($18).
Soapwalla
Rachel Winard set out to create a clean skincare line she could use after she was diagnosed with lupus — and has made it a point to give back to the LGBTQ+ community along the way. Her brand, Soapwalla, has a workforce in which nearly half of her employees self-identify as queer (herself included) and donates 10 percent of its net proceeds from products like the Organic/Vegan Deodourant Cream ($16) to organisations like the Astraea Foundation, the Ali Forney Centre, and SAGE.
Formula Z
The newly launched Formula Z is the byproduct of gay entreprenuer Zach Dishinger (who, it's worth noting for all you Gen-Zers out there, is only 17.) ""At the heart of Formula Z is a belief that makeup is empowering and a form of self-expression for everyone, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation or race," he said. His first foray into the space emphasises lips, with a lineup of Luxe Diamond Glosses and Forever Lips liquid lipsticks (which is where you'll find the shade
Cabaret, $18).
Otherwild
This NYC and LA-based store has made a commitment to funding many different LGBTQ+-friendly organisations, such as The National Centre for Transgender Equality and Planned Parenthood. Otherwild stocks Fat & The Moon, which has an All Salve ($14) made from calendula, St. John's wort, and homegrown yerba mans. This multipurpose balm is a must for rough Winters that leave skin needing some soothing TLC.
