- POPSUGAR Australia
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- These Aussie Women Are Conquering the Beauty Industry One Perfectly Pedicured Step at a Time
These Aussie Women Are Conquering the Beauty Industry One Perfectly Pedicured Step at a Time
by
Basmah Qazi
Instagram / @johorgan.mecca
International Women’s Day is coming up on Tuesday, March 8, so what better time to celebrate the exceptional achievements of women than right now? We believe the work women do to help push society forward should be acknowledged all the time, but having an entire day to commemorate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women is a start. It’s a day for everyone to join forces and call for change while also reflecting on the progress that has been made so far.
In the lead up to IWD, POPSUGAR Australia wanted to shed light on the beauty brands that have been founded by women. These businesses are redefining the cosmetic and wellness space and have earned a lasting place in our routines.
Jo Horgan – Mecca
You can’t have a list of high-powered women without mentioning Jo Horgan. The CEO of Mecca has without a doubt changed Australia’s approach to beauty since opening the doors to her first store in 1997. Today, Mecca has over 98 stores throughout Australia and New Zealand in the form of four retail destinations: Mecca Cosmetica, Mecca Maxima, MECCA and mecca.com.au.
Mecca now stocks big name brands such as NARS, Charlotte Tilbury and Hourglass, with business booming and customers piling in, and Jo is showing no signs of slowing down.
Nicole Eckels – Glasshouse Fragrances
If you love a good candle then you’ve most definitely come across Glasshouse Fragrances. The Australian brand is the brainchild of Nicole Eckels, who launched the business in 2006. Now, years later, the fragrance company has quickly grown to become a local and international favourite. Nicole first identified a gap in the market while shopping for candles at David Jones. And it was at that moment Glasshouse Fragrances was born.
Kirsten Carriol – Lanolips
As the granddaughter of sheep farmers, Kirsten Carriol chose to take her family’s legacy forward but in a more innovative way. After noticing how soft her grandfather’s hands were during shearing season due to the lanolin in the wool, Kirsten knew from a young age that the ingredient was capable of miracles. Launching Lano in 2009 with the famous 101 Ointment, the brand is now booming and contains a wide range of products from tinted lip balms to hydrating hand creams.
Sand & Sky – Emily and Sarah Hamilton
You’ve most definitely come across iconic Aussie beauty brand Sand & Sky on social media, with influencers raving about their hugely popular pink clay mask. The women behind the label are Emily and Sarah Hamilton, twins and entrepreneurs. The siblings wanted to create a unique skincare brand that was packed with Aussie botanical ingredients and was 100% natural and organic. They’re working mothers and leaders in the industry, and we can’t wait to see what they get up to next.
SŚAINT Fragrances – Ciara Mahoney and Elle Wallace
Chic, elegant and refined are the words we would use to describe SŚAINT, the fragrance brand started by Ciara Mahoney and Elle Wallace. Finding inspiration from all over the world, the label features a number of unique scents that have been carefully curated to awaken the senses and take you back to your most memorable moments.
Frank Body – Jess Hatzis and Bree Johnson
First crossing paths at university, Jess Hatzis and Bree Johnson quickly became friends. Something that would prove to be a good decision later on in life when they decided to co-found Frank Body, a natural beauty brand that originally only sold one product: A coffee scrub. Now, the brand has over 20 products and made over $20 million in brand sales in 2016 alone.
LAMAV – Dr Tarj Mavi
She’s the woman behind Australia’s first certified organic skin care range which infuses bio-actives, and Dr Tarj Mavi is just getting started. Her brand LAMAV is inspired by her own South Asian heritage and brings together modern science and Ayurvedic practices to create some seriously effective products.
Recreation Beauty – Nedahl Stelio
With over 20 years experience in the beauty and fashion industry, Nedahl Stelio started the brand Recreation Beauty in Bondi Beach, which specialises in luxury vegan and cruelty-free fragrances and oils. Around 10 years ago, Nedahl was struggling to conceive, and rid her home of toxic chemicals. The one thing she couldn’t throw away, however, was her luxury fragrances. That was when she recognised the gap in the market and decided to start a clean formula of fragrance that wouldn’t affect her health.
