The Rise of Women-Powered Brands in Clean Beauty: Meet the Leaders of 2026

In an industry often dominated by corporate giants, women entrepreneurs are leading a quiet revolution—one that prioritizes safety, transparency, and sustainability in beauty. Yet, despite their innovation and impact, women-powered brands still face challenges in gaining the recognition they deserve.

While women drive nearly 90% of consumer beauty purchases (Nielsen, 2023), only 29% of beauty brands are founded by women (Fashion Institute of Technology, 2024). The funding gap is even more alarming—women-led startups across all industries secured less than 2% of venture capital funding in 2025 (PitchBook, 2025), highlighting the barriers that still exist.

The 2026 Clean Beauty Awards is committed to changing that. By recognizing and amplifying the work of women-led brands, the awards provide a powerful platform for innovation to thrive. This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the founders, formulators, and visionaries behind some of the most groundbreaking clean beauty products today.

Discover the women-powered brands shaping the future of beauty—proving that when women lead, the entire industry moves forward.

1. Up Savvy™

Powered by: Eliza Desmarais - Founder, CEO and Master Formulator

Up Savvy™ by Sohma Naturals is led by a mother-daughter team of healthcare professionals, boasting over 70 years of combined health research and education. This women-led partnership turns a passion for waste reduction and skin health into transformative skincare, proving that women creators can drive sustainable innovation. Born from a love of science and caregiving, Up Savvy™ shows that sustainability can be luxurious and accessible, with a playful twist on “savvy” upcycling. The founder envisioned a brand that tackled excessive single-use packaging while meeting the demand for clean, nutrient-rich formulations. Up Savvy™ repurposes spent materials into functional products that nourish the skin while lowering environmental footprint, proving that sustainability and efficacy can coexist, and inviting every shopper to join a smarter, more responsible beauty routine, and to join the Upycle Revolution - answering the question, "How Up Savvy Are You?"

Up Savvy™ is proud to be the 2025 Mobius Award Winner for Innovator of the Year in Environmental Excellence, recognizing its leadership in sustainable beauty. It stands as the FIRST upcycled skincare line in Atlantic Canada, and the fifth in all of Canada. Among those five, Up Savvy™ is the third in all of a Canada to process spent waste into a value-added ingredient on-site at its manufacturing facility in Digby, NS. This combination of recognition and on-site waste valorization marks a defining milestone in the brand’s mission to redefine responsible skincare.

2. Lemongrass Spa Products

Powered by: Heidi Leist, Founder and CEO

Founded in 2002, Lemongrass Spa Products was created long before “clean beauty” became a mainstream movement. When founder Heidi Leist was pregnant with her first child, she became increasingly concerned about the harsh and questionable ingredients commonly found in everyday bath and beauty products. With the excitement and desire to protect her daughter, she began researching ingredient safety, reading labels, and formulating her own skincare and body care in small, handcrafted batches. What started as a personal solution quickly grew into a mission-driven brand dedicated to offering safer, high-quality alternatives rooted in transparency, simplicity, and trust.

It was our pleasure to be awarded 3rd place in the Clean Beauty Awards in April 2025 for our Bakuchiol Cloud Creme in the facial moisturizer category. That product along with it's counterpart, Bakuchiol Serum were among top selling skincare products for the brand since their inception. Lemongrass Spa products have been featured and endorsed by Breast Cancer Prevention Partners since 2022 as advocates for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

3. Organic LEIGH

Powered by: Kristy L. Biede, Founder & Master Formulator

Organic LEIGH was created to address a common gap in the beauty industry, where skincare is often either effective but irritating or gentle but underwhelming. The brand was founded on the belief that visible results should never come at the expense of skin health or comfort. By pairing potent, proven actives with soothing organic botanicals, Organic LEIGH delivers formulas that are both high-performing and skin-supportive. Each product is designed to restore balance, strengthen the skin barrier, and transform daily routines into intentional moments of care.

One of Organic LEIGH's most meaningful milestones has been the real-world results its products deliver for sensitive and compromised skin. Customers have shared powerful testimonials, including one from a cancer survivor who experienced relief and healing while using the brand post radiation treatment. In just two years, Organic LEIGH has built a loyal customer base around hero products like Facelift in a Bottle and Brighten + Correct, alongside favorites such as Essence Face Mist, and Nourish Renewal Moisturizer, with consistent repeat purchases and organic word of mouth growth. The brand has also earned early industry recognition through Clean Beauty Awards "Brands to Watch" and an upcoming hero product spotlight, signaling strong momentum within the clean beauty space.

4. True Naturals

Powered by: Kris Gemelli, Founder/CEO

After witnessing the negative effects of harsh chemicals on both her body and her beloved pet, Kris embarked on a journey to redefine clean living through all natural, artisanal handmade body products and home cleaning solutions. Inspired by nature's bountiful offerings and the powerful properties of essential oils, she envisioned a world where everyday products could be both luxurious and beneficial, creating an all-natural haven for homes and bodies alike. This vision inspired her to create True Naturals : a line of products that indulges the senses and nurtures the well-being of both people and pets.

As we approach our two-year anniversary in May 2026, True Naturals is on track to double our sales year-over-year. This exciting milestone is a testament to the quality of our products and the amazing loyalty of our growing community. To keep up with customer enthusiasm, we're thrilled to be expanding our collection with new product offerings debuting every few months.

5. REIMI Botanicals

Powered by: Raymi Taylor, Master Formulator, Founder and CEO

Raymi is inspired by her work as a Health and Wellness Coach to develop non-toxic beauty products that support women facing metabolic disorders, perimenopause, and prediabetes. Every REIMI Botanicals formula is crafted without parabens, phthalates, formaldehydes, or other known endocrine disruptors. The result is clean, client-centered skincare designed to nurture both wellness and naturally radiant skin.

REIMI Botanicals is excited to announce its first retail partnership with a local, low-waste, eco-focused shop in Portland, Oregon. This milestone supports the brand’s mission to champion low-waste packaging, clean beauty ingredients, and environmental stewardship. REIMI Botanicals aims to build more partnerships that share these values and deepen its positive impact.

6. Bonuderm

Powered by: Cecilia Osorio, Founder & CEO

Bonuderm was created out of necessity. When founder Cecilia Osorio struggled to find products that truly calmed her sensitive skin due to harsh and undisclosed ingredients, she went back to basics and created a simple soap using coconut oil, almond oil, and shea butter. That philosophy still guides the brand today: fewer, smarter ingredients, enriched with natural oils and plant extracts. Bonuderm focuses on transparent labeling, concentrated formulas with less water, and low-waste solutions that are gentle, effective, and intentional.

Bonuderm’s biggest accomplishment has been building a trusted, fast-growing brand in the clean beauty space starting from a single handmade soap. The brand now serves customers nationwide through e-commerce, maintains strong customer ratings, and has expanded into multiple product categories, including skin and hair care, as well as curated gift sets. As a women-owned business, Bonuderm has proven there is real demand for truly gentle, transparent, and low-waste personal care. The most meaningful milestone continues to be the steady stream of customers who say they’ve finally found products their sensitive skin can use with confidence.

7. Aralia cosmétiques

Powered by: Farah d'Aralia, Founder & CEO

ARALIA Cosmetics is a company specializing in the development and production of natural hair products. Our commitment to carefully selected natural ingredients allows us to create effective solutions for all hair types. We firmly believe that nature offers an infinite source of riches to enhance the hair appearance of our customers. Each product we design is the result of a deep commitment to natural beauty, with an unwavering desire to draw on natural resources to offer effective and environmentally friendly hair solutions.

The biggest accomplishment is to receive the joy of my clients whose said my hair is softer, healthy and stronger. We want to inform and help clients the importance to buy good product for their health.

8. Corbin Rd

Powered by: Wendy Nowell-Usticke, Founder

Founded in 2019 by industry insider Wendy Nowell-Usticke, Corbin Rd. began as a personal mission to simplify and repair a broken system that left her skin overwhelmed by excess products and overly active ingredients. Built on the belief that less is more for beautiful skin, the brand takes the confusion out of choosing safe and effective skincare with a three-step system, clean beauty formulas, and proven results. By formulating multipurpose products with all your skin needs in just the right strength, for strong, healthy, radiant skin.  Corbin Rd delivers clarity, not complexity—less waste, less confusion. Today, its full retail, spa, and amenities range is trusted by New Zealand’s top salons, spas, and destination lodges as their preferred clean beauty partner.

"Most of us have been bombarded with a product for every ailment, and a treatment for every age and stage," she explains. "It was liberating to realise I could do so much more for my skin with so much less - a de-cluttered routine based on clean beauty ingredients designed to strengthen skin, and simple tools to get those ingredients to work well."

9. Formulary 55

Powered by: Kecia Hielscher, CEO

Formulary 55 is a modern botanical aesthetic with sophisticated fragrances focused on the wellness space. For 10+ years, our handmade & hand-wrapped shea butter soaps, hand & body cremes, body oils, bath tablets & soaks, face & body treatments are well known nationally & globally with a strong, loyal following. Handmade in our makery in Pueblo CO with only the best ingredients, vegan & organic whenever possible. Our brand ethos 'trifecta' is our clean, sophisticated proprietary fragrances, luxurious quality natural ingredients thoughtfully packaged by hand with great pride and care in our beautiful signature modern black & white botanical packaging.

These women-led brands are redefining clean beauty with their dedication to safer, more transparent, and innovative products. Their stories highlight the passion, resilience, and expertise driving independent beauty brands forward.

The 11th Clean Beauty Awards recognizes and amplifies the work of these founders and formulators, giving them a platform to showcase their achievements. By supporting these brands, you’re celebrating the creativity and commitment behind clean beauty. Follow their journey in the Clean Beauty Awards via Instagram @CertCleanInc!