To commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8, we’ve rounded up a selection of new and iconic beauty products from brands that were founded by fearless females.
1 Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum
In 1946, Mrs Estée Lauder founded her cosmetics company with her husband in New York, and it remains one of the largest beauty giants to this day. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum, $141, is the anti-ageing hero of the brand and fights all the signs of ageing while you sleep.
2 Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator
US Vogue editor Carol Phillips and Evelyn Lauder (daughter-in-law of Estée) worked with a dermatologist in 1968 to create Clinique and its iconic three-step skincare system. Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator, $79, is a bestseller and has been given a makeover to deliver twice as much hydration as it did before.
3 The Edit Luminous Drops Day Cream
After working as a globally recognised make-up artist for 25 years, Michelle Devereux decided to harness her knowledge and create a capsule collection of eco-luxe skincare essentials made in NZ. The Edit Luminous Drops Day Cream, $95, leaves skin feeling plump, dewy, nourished and calm, and contains sweet almond oil, shea butter, macadamia oil and Kakadu plum.
4 Dermalogica Daily Mircofoliant
Jane Wurwand started her career at 13 at a Dorset salon and went on to become the founder of the world’s leading professional skincare brand, Dermalogica. The award-winning Daily Mircofoliant, $112, polishes and brightens skin with a blend of rice enzymes, papain and salicylic acid.
5 RawKanvas Sol Hydrating Gel Moisturiser
RawKanvas was built around the shared goals of two best friends, Shannon and Simona,
who sought to create high-quality, natural, vegan and cruelty-free skincare that was fun to use and worthy of a #shelfie. Sol Hydrating Gel Moisturiser, $59, is lightweight and ideal for breakout-prone skin.
6 Caci The Retinol Booster
Caci founder Jackie Smith wanted to create a skincare range to extend the care the clinics offer, so Skinsmiths was born. The Retinol Booster, $99, is the perfect starting point for women new to the incredible power of this anti-ageing powerhouse.
7 Emma Lewisham Supernatural 72-hour Night Crème with Collagen Peptides
Emma Lewisham’s eponymous skincare brand was born from her desire to create 100% natural, luxurious and scientifically backed products to rival the biggest brands. Supernatural 72-hour Night Crème with Collagen Peptides, $141, is ultra-rich and contains 30 high- performing natural ingredients for deep hydration and a major collagen boost.
8 Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Skincaring Foundation
Florence Nightingale Graham – who went by the business name Elizabeth Arden – built her cosmetics empire in America and opened the first Red Door Salon on Fifth Avenue in 1910. The new Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Skincaring Foundation, $69, is available in 40 shades and contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E to nourish while providing lightweight, buildable coverage.
9 Sophie Cooper Sweet Orange & Grapefruit Handcrafted Solid Moisturiser
Kiwi Sophie Cooper was pregnant with her daughter Beau when she purchased the soap manufacturing company she’d been working in, and in two years launched Ahhh, a handcrafted range of vibrant, playful, luxurious bathroom beauties. This Sweet Orange & Grapefruit Handcrafted Solid Moisturiser, $12.99, comes in compostable packaging and is equal to two 500ml lotions.
10 Hourglass Cosmetics Veil Translucent Setting Powder
Carisa Janes first debuted her brand Hourglass Cosmetics in 2004 at Barneys New York, and sold it to Unilever in 2017 for a reported $300 million. The Veil Translucent Setting Powder, $74, is a finely milled powder with a light-reflecting, soft-focus finish that instantly sets make-up and blurs the appearance of fine lines, pores and wrinkles.
11 Lulu Rose Cosmetics Lipstick in Clio
Taking inspiration from old Hollywood glamour, Shelley Houston created Lulu Rose Cosmetics, a natural, organic and vegan make-up range. Clio, $39.99, is a peachy nude lipstick with a creamy, smooth formula and nourishes naturally with castor seed oil, jojoba extracts and apricot kernel extract.
12 Karen Murrell Blushing Rose Lipstick
Kiwi lipstick queen Karen Murrell was inspired by a brilliant red display of pōhutukawa blossoming at Takapuna Beach when she created her first shade of premium, natural lipstick. Blushing Rose Lipstick, $32, is a subtle nude pink, while the Nude Lip Palette, $50, contains five best-selling shades.
13 Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks in Fresh Melon
Makeup artist Bobbi Brown founded the brand in 1991 and has gone on to become a household name, author and entrepreneur – with one of her lipsticks sold every minute. Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks in Fresh Melon, $58, is a multi-purpose cream colour that leaves a flattering sheer stain.
14 Aleph Cheek Lip Tint in Ascend
Throughout her career as a professional make-up artist, Emma Peters endeavoured to find make-up that stood up to her values of supporting human health, and that of the planet. So she created Aleph, a highly curated cosmetics range, to satisfy her vision of sustainable, cruelty free, high performance beauty. Cheek/Lip Tint in Ascend, $55, can be layered for electric coral or applied lightly for a soft peach colour, and can be worn on the cheeks, lips and eyes.
