20 Queer Owned Beauty Brands You Need to Try

You’ve seen the pride collections by all your favorite, and least favorite, brands, but what the mainstream is missing are the collections from queer owned beauty brands. Pride isn’t just about rainbow t-shirts and sneakers, it’s about celebrating your identity and loving who you are.

These beauty brands are all about that pride, the kind that exists year round. While many of them are continually supporting lgbtq+ organizations, every purchase is a donation to queer creations. We’re all about brands that promote sustainability with their inclusivity too, so here are our faves for clean beauty you can support with pride.

All products featured on No Kill Mag are independently selected by our writers or editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Fempower Beauty

Fempower is run by Alexis Androulakis and Christina Basias, “partners in business and in life.” This brand is all about education and empowerment, whether that be through their vegan and cruelty free lipsticks or their “Affirmation Application” practice.

“We design our products for all women, woman-identifying, woman-bodied, non-binary individuals, and allies,” their website states, “and use our platform to champion marginalized members of society through our partnerships and give-back philosophy.”

Product Pick: Mirror and Lipsticks

@fempowerbeauty


Alder NY

Brooklyn born, Alder NY is a queer and woman owned brand making high quality, gender neutral skincare. Their ingredients follow the standards of the Environmental Working Group and promise no chemicals harmful to your skin or the planet.

Owners Nina Zilka and David Krause have received praise from major publications like Elle, and Gwenyth Paltro’s Goop– we’re joining in to show our love! Whether you’re looking for a face mask or serum, a texturizing hair product or a facial roller, Alder NY is for you. @alder_new_york

Product Pick: Everyday Cleanser

Good Light

Good Light is working towards pushing beauty past the binary. Their products are also cruelty-free and vegan.

“We are focused on moving culture forward by promoting a more inclusive definition of beauty through product and purpose. We strive to reflect the diversity and fluidity of the world we live in today, advocating for change. We believe all are deserving to step into their light and be celebrated for their authenticity.”

Good Light is also Bi-POC owned and gives a percentage of sales to True Colors United, “an organization that implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community.”

@Good Light

Product Pick: Order of the Eclipse

NOTO Botanics

This gender neutral skincare and cosmetics brand is made “to sustainably need less but have it all in a movement towards radical self care.” Owner Gloria Noto started this brand in their kitchen, and the brand stays true to these roots by making everything in small batches.

“I became excited to use all of the skills I had learned over the years to create a line that celebrated the identities I felt I wasn’t seeing in the clean beauty industry at the time,” Noto said. “Queer bodies, non-binary bodies, trans bodies and more BIPOC bodies. I wanted to hear their stories and celebrate their lives.”

NOTO even offers a refill station at their flagship store in LA, but all bottles are made of glass and post consumer recyclable plastics, so their products are clean inside and out. They give back, too – a percentage of all sales from their Agender oil goes to organizations supporting the lgbtq+ community, Black Lives Matter, the planet and more. @noto_botanics

Product Pick: Rooted Oil: Body + Hair

about-face

Launched in 2021 by Halsey, this vegan and cruelty free brand is made to let the inner artist out. The collections span across treats for our faces, eyes and lips, all full of vibrant colors made for all skin tones and skill levels, and meant to have the versatility to create any look – for every one, for every way. 

“We are built on the truth that no one is just one thing,” their website states, “humans are weird, complex, and entirely beautiful because of it.” @aboutfacebeauty

Product Pick: Pearly or Matte Shadowstick

Common Heir

Common Heir was started by Angela Urbias, who is the brand’s lesbian co-founder alongside Cary Lin, both women of color. Their mission prioritizes sustainability in creating clean, plastic-free skin care. Their products are also cruelty-free and biodegradable.

@commonheir

Product Pick: Common Heir Ceramide Barrier Boost

BIOGLITZ

We LOVE glitter. But we hate the toll it takes on the planet – traditional glitter is made of plastic and takes thousands of years to break down. Enter Bioglitz.  Founders Rebecca Richards and Saba Gray met in 2015 and have spent the past seven years developing an impressive glitter collection based completely out of eucalyptus tree pulp fibers.
Bioglitz offers us sparkles in all shapes and colors, so we can ‘shine responsibly’ this pride month – and all year round! @bioglitz

Product Pick: It’s A Party Mix

Malin and Goetz

Co-Founders Matthew Malin & Andrew Goetz opened their first apothecary in NYC back in 2004. Since then, the duo has treated us to nearly two decades of luxurious and uncomplicated skincare – always using natural ingredients. Deemed the “first couple” of grooming by GQ magazine, Malin & Goetz continue to surprise us with goodies for face, body, hair, and even a line of scented candles!

@malinandgoetz

Product Pick: Eucalyptus Deodorant

Trixie Cosmetics

On show at RuPaul’s DragCon in May 2019, Trixie Cosmetics glows with glitter and heart shaped accessories reminiscent of our fave childhood toys. Seriously, she enlists toy makers for her product package designs! Trixie bases her lineup off her experience as both a makeup artist and drag queen, so her products is the real deal. What’s more, with her cruelty free products she donates a portion of sales to The Bee Conservancy. How bee-autifully fabulous!

@trixiecosmetics

Product Pick: Flower Power Bronzers

Freck Beauty

Freck Beauty is a celebration of inclusivity, individuality, and – you guessed it – freckles!!! It’s seriously weird that the beauty industry has spent so long telling us to cover up these little skin sparklers – freckles are the best! Company founder Remi changed all this in 2017 when she launched the cosmetics line, which describes itself as “the bold, clean beauty brand for anyone that cares about the ingredients, respects the process, and doesn’t care about the rules.” Sign us up!

@freck


Ghost Democracy

Founder Rex Chou spent years working in the beauty industry, marketing and developing products for big brands. The behind-the-scenes access left him disillusioned – big beauty was taking dirty little shortcuts in supposedly clean product production. Rex envisioned a skincare line that was as transparent as its ingredients, and in 2014, Ghost Democracy was born. All about the people, the brand uses high quality, clean ingredients we can feel good about putting on our faces.

@ghostdemocracy


W3ll People

W3ll People is the love child of queer makeup artist Shirley Pinkson, self-proclaimed tree-hugging entrepreneur James Walker, and dermatologist Renee Synder. Back in 2008 the three combined their expertise to create a line of plant-powered, ethically sourced beauty products – think green tea and broccoli seed oil, but before these things became all the rage. Fourteen years later, W3ll People continues to pioneer products that encourage all people to be well people.

@wellpeople


Volition Beauty

Founders Brandy Hoffman and Patricia Santos launched Volition in 2016 with an inspiring and inclusive idea: fans submit their own product ideas for review, and the winning concept is introduced to the brand’s lineup!

Volition is cruelty free, vegan, and eco-conscious. Wary of plastic packaging impacts, their products come in ecofriendly parcels. Products they offer go from exfoliators, masks, mists moisturizers and way more. Might we add, their website is the prettiest. Check it out!

@volitionbeauty


KimChi Chic Beauty

Another RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni, Kim Chi first gained renown as one of the drag community’s most talented makeup artists. The move towards creating her own makeup line seemed only natural, fuses Kim Chi’s two passions – makeup, and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Since its launch in 2019, KCC has partnered with organizations like The Trevor Project, which works to end suicide for LGBTQ youth, and the National Asian Pacific American Women’s forum.

@kimchi_chic


Kiss my Face

Kiss My Face first surfaced in the early 1980s, when couple Bob MacLeod and Steve Byckiewicz had the idea to create giant olive soap bars on a 200-acre farm in upstate New York. 40 years on, the two are still going strong, and so is their company – they offer 200+ products that are, yes, cruelty free! Their OG product, the 86% olive oil bar soap made from Greek olive oil, is still a best-seller.

@kissmyfaceusa

Product Pick: Mask Rescue Detox Pads

Jecca Blac

Trans people look to Jessica Blackler for a supportive space to learn about the ins and outs of makeup. Her personal brand Jecca Blac is devoted to the celebration of our true identities, and the role makeup can play here. Staples of the brand include primers, beard cover-up makeup, contour creams and probably anything else you can think of.

These products stand for beauty lovers of all expressions, genders, sexualities, abilities, pronouns, shapes and sizes. As well as providing cruelty free makeup products, JB also brings our beautiful community together with how-to and tutorial content.

@jeccablac

Product Pick: Glow Drops Primer

Sappho


Founder JoAnn Fowler first learned about the importance of organic makeup ingredients back in 2007, when she was working as head makeup artist on TV’s The L Word. Disturbed by the common use of toxic chemicals in our products, she launched Sappho, a safe beauty alternative to this ugly practice. The product lineup counts foundations, concealers, luminizers, lip glosses, and eyeshadows – all clean and green!

@my_sappho


Snif Fragrance

Snif was born when founders Phil Riportella and Bryan Edwards sought to create a genderless scent brand that stood out from the tired industry standards of super pricey, generic fragrances. We’d say they nailed it – their wide array of scents are made from clean, natural ingredients and come at accessible prices. But wait – there’s more! Their ‘try before you buy’ program allows customers to test out their products before committing to the purchase, so you can truly find the scent that’s right for you.

@snif.co


JVN Hair

JVN Hair is a sustainable haircare line started by the man with the amazing tresses, Jonathan Von Ness. The brand strives for inclusivity, self-care and environmental change in the beauty industry. All products are clean, vegan and cruelty-free.

@jvnhair

Product Pick: Instant Recovery Serum

Kaleidoscope Hair Products

Kaleidoscope is best known for its Miracle Drops, aka the liquid gold of hair products. But the brand goes beyond giving our locks a lightweight shine – founder and CEO Jesseca “Judy” Dupart is is on a mission to empower everyone she encounters. The influencer (@darealBBjudy AND @judydroppingknowledge) is all about breaking the rules, and her success (see TV star, mentor, teacher, investor, non-profit founder + CEO) is proof that, as she likes to say, if she can do it, we can do it!

@kaleidoscopehairproducts

Product Pick: Leave In Miracle Drops

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