Female Brand Founders and Executives Share Their Must-Have Beauty Products

This month, we celebrate women. The women who have paved the way in the beauty industry, who have stepped outside the norm and coined a new idea, who have transformed creativity into innovation, and who have inspired us to work hard enough to leave a footprint that’s anywhere near the size of theirs.

With this in mind, we’ve asked ten brand founders and executives to share their must-have products from their own lines and reveal the can’t-live-without products from other innovative brands that they use every day. Included on their heavily stacked vanities: everything from chemical-free and vegan hair care to lash-lengthening mascaras that someone says, “is the best formula I’ve ever used.”

Read on to get in on the girl talk and discover these female owned beauty brands for International Women’s Day.

Olivia Chantecaille, founder of Chantecaille

A born-and-raised beauty guru, Olivia Chantecaille knows a thing or two about achieving flawless skin. “I can’t live without the Chantecaille Pure Rosewater,” she tells us. “The first thing I do when I wake up and the last thing I do at night is spray my face with it. It comes from the magical Rose de Mai sourced in Grasse, France. This refreshing face mist is instantly soothing and uplifting for my skin and my mood.” According to her, this rosewater was created after meeting a rose farmer, who encouraged Olivia and her mother (and co-founder!), Sylvie, to use the magical petals in their skin care. Fast forward to now, the formula contains 400 petals in each bottle, and it’s the ultimate skin hydrator for those days when your skin needs a drink.

In terms of makeup products from the brand, Olivia is currently fangirling over her Cheek Gelée and the Faux Cils Longest Lash Mascara. “A must-have to get out the door quickly is Cheek Gelée in Happy… I dab it onto my cheeks with my fingers for a healthy flush of rose-petal pink. Also, Faux Cils Longest Lash makes my lashes look longer and thicker with one stroke. It is enhanced with a peptide that nourishes the lashes and helps boost their growth. It took us 5 years of research and test it until we had all the components working together for this master formula: the brush, the wiper, and the nourishing rose oil.”

Of course, the beauty queen can’t forget to nourish her long, beautiful hair. “I like my hair products to be vegan, clean, and chemical-free, just like my skin care,” she says. “I use a lot of Virtue products. The Virtue Polish Un-Frizz Cream keeps my hair feeling and looking silky, hydrated, and healthy.” She also tells us she’s a fan of Christophe Robin’s Regenerating Mask with Prickly Pear Oil, because it instantly repairs and smooths and her with “delicious and healing ingredients.”

Loretta Ciraldo, MD, FAAD, founder of Dr. Loretta

While Dr. Loretta is all about skin, she knows that oral health matters. “The Foreo-Issa-3 UltraHygienic Silicone Sonic Toothbrush is the closest thing to a dental cleaning,” she tells us. “I love it!” And, to match her pout with her clean and shiny pearly whites, she tops her lips with the Chantecaille Lip Tint Hydrating Balm from fellow female owned beauty brand founder Olivia Chantecaille. “This plumps my lips by smoothing their texture, and I love the subtle tint.”

Moving on to her complexion, Dr. Loretta tells us that one of her all-time favorite products is the Dr. Loretta Gentle Hydrating Cleanser. “This is a beauty editor favorite that gently cleanses away debris, makeup and even tiny surface pollutants.” She agrees with us that it leaves skin feeling velvety and soft with every use. Before head-hits-pillow, she likes to apply the Dr. Loretta Beauty Sleep Set, which includes the Tightening Eye Gel and Tightening Detox Mask that plumps and brightens the skin while you snooze. And, speaking of snoozing, the dermatologist-turned-brand founder can’t go to sleep without her Slip Silk Pillowcase. “This has eliminated my waking up with pillowcase wrinkles and keeps my hair satiny-smooth.”

Heather Hickman, vice president of education at Dermalogica

Heather Hickman tells us she recently hit a milestone birthday, and explains that while age is just a number, combatting skin laxity becomes real once you hit a certain generation. “Combatting signs of skin aging has become my number-one daily focus,” she says, adding that Dermalogica’s new Dynamic Skin Retinol Serum has been on rotation in her daily lineup. “Any time I get compliments about my skin, I can guarantee it’s the morning after I’ve used this product.” Another must-have on her list: Dermalogica Daily Glycolic Cleanser. “I’m always looking to create a bright complexion and favor dewy foundations. But, to get the best glow, it really starts with your skin.”

Explaining that she’s had fine hair for her whole life, Hickman says, “I’m constantly challenged with finding styling products that control frizz without weighing it down or leaving it crunchy. Grow Gorgeous Intense Thickening Spray helps to eliminate frizz and give volume without adding any sticky, heavy feeling.”

Margaret Ancira, founder of PCA Skin

When it comes to PCA SKIN, Margarent Ancira has her top five favorites nailed down. “You can’t go wrong with the best lathering gel cleanser around,” she says, referring to the PCA SKIN Facial Wash. “This cleanser leaves your skin soft and fresh…Lighter, tighter, fresher, brighter!” Next comes the Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum. “What an impressive result that this product gives me on diminishing visible freckles and brown spots.” Another essential in her anti-aging lineup: the cult-favorite ExLinea Pro Peptide Serum, which she coins as her “anti-aging kicker.” Finally, Ancira toutsPCA Skin’s ReBalance Moisturizer for its calming and redness-reducing properties and the Perfecting Neck and Décolleté because of its ability to smooth the neck and improve the surface of the skin.

While Ancira is all about the skin, she’s also big on fragrance. “Lumirä Cuban Tobacco Black Candle has a really sexy aroma that men like,” she tells us. “Also, Veronique Gabai Jasmin de Minuit Eau de Parfum has a sweet, fresh, aroma that reminds me of romantic summer days in Texas. Those were the days!”

Jamie Sherill, founder of Nurse Jamie

If there’s anyone that knows ingredients, it’s Jamie Sherill, and she says peptides and EGF (epidermal growth factor) are the “it” ingredients in skin care right now. “Peptides are amino acids that can penetrate through the skin barrier and aid in your body’s natural production of collagen from the inside out,” she says. On the other hand, Epidermal Growth Factors from plant stem cells help to tighten the skin. When combined, these two powerhouses will offer complexion perfection.” And, since Sherill is the beauty tool goddess, she, in her typical fashion, likes to pair hard-hitting ingredients with beauty tools to “enhance absorption and optimal results.” Take her EGF Resurfacing Kit for example: “It’s a combination of an at-home microexfoliation stamp and a powerful and effective face cream that is formulated with peptides and EGF.” It’s also a celebrity cult-favorite (hint: Kate Hudson, Jenna Dewan and Lisa Rinna are major fans for the treatment of “barcode lines!”).

Outside of her favorite power-packed tool, Sherill is “obsessed” with the RevitaBrow Eyebrow Conditioner. “I like to apply it to my eyebrows and eyelashes,” she tells us.

Karina Sulzer, founder of Skin Gym

Another tool connoisseur, Karina Sulzer revolutionized the face tool industry by bringing medical-worthy tools into the homes of consumers. A few of her own favorites from the brand are the Revilit, the Ice Facial Kit and the Glass Cupping Set. “I absolutely love LED! We wanted to create an LED tool that could be used for targeted treatment based on the individual’s concerns. The Revilit is the ultimate solution for an at-home all-over body LED experience. Our Ice Cool Kit allows you to take advantage of the full benefits of an ice facial in the comfort of your own home, and the Glass Cupping Set helps exercise facial muscles to promote circulation.”

To go alongside her tools, she of course uses her own skin care products, but she also loves BeautyStat’s Universal C Skin Refiner and anything from Kevyn Aucoin to top off her already-glowing skin.

Jan Marini, founder of Jan Marini Skin Research

Jan Marini struggled with acne well into her adult years. But, instead of dwelling on the downside of it all, she made a skin care brand that targeted the skin issues she struggled with for years. And, as it turns out, many other women were struggling with the exact same concerns. While her whole line targets different skin care woes, the JMSR Skin Care Management System is what Marini calls the “core” of her skin care program. “I also have my go-to retinol products, which are Luminate Face Lotion and Duality, which I apply at night.”

When Marini is stuck in the cold, she layers Age Intervention Cream over Transformation Face Cream at night. And, for additional resurfacing, she uses Clean Zyme and Skin Zyme several times per week. “This gives my skin that extra refined, glass-like, reflective surface that we all crave.” As for the hair, it wouldn’t be Marini without that luscious shine and slick-straight ‘do. To give my hair the extra glossy look I love Olaplex No.7 Bond Oil.”

Tera Peterson, co-founder of NuFACE & microcurrent aesthetician

After starting NuFACE with her mom and sister back in 2005, Tera Peterson has learned a thing or two about female owned beauty brands. As a microcurrent aesthetician, Tera also learned the formula for the perfect skin care routine. NuFACE microcurrent devices work where skincare can’t—the muscles, to tone, lift and contour the face and neck.” Also from her brand, Tera loves the Silk Crème Activator—a must-have to deliver microcurrent to the muscles—and Super Peptide Booster. She says the clinical-grade ingredients in Super Peptide Booster work even better as part of a microcurrent routine because microcurrent pushes the peptides more efficiently into the skin.

After her Trinity facial lift, it’s time for Tera to finish off her skincare routine. “My go-to SPF is the iS Clinical Extreme Protect and I also love the iS Clinical Youth Intensive Cream because it never lets your skin get dry.” She sounds off on her other skin favorites: First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser, Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner, Jan Marini Bioglycolic Bioclear Cream and Arcona Wine Hydrating Mask

Mary Fisher, CEO of Colorescience

When it comes to Mary Fisher, the word “unstoppable” is an understatement. As the previous CEO of SkinMedica, Fisher has paved her way through the industry, making a name for herself and women leaders. One thing she can confidently say after years of hard work: “my neck has never looked better!” She thanks Colorescience PEP UP Collagen Boost Face and Neck Treatment and shouts out the All Calm SPF 50 and the Even Up Even 50. “I am one of those lucky ones who struggles with both hyperpigmentation and redness, so I customize by treating the areas of redness, primarily my cheeks and nose, with All Calm and the rest of my face with Even Up.” As for the secret to her wrinkle-free eyes, it’s all about the Total Eye 3-in-1, which she calls “magic.” And, to pair with these skin care favorites from her current workplace, she goes back to her roots with the SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum.

Both are the first and only treatment specific spf products that provide color correction. They are serious multi-taskers.

SkinStore Editors

Writer and expert

Our team of beauty experts cover everything from skincare to makeup, picking out the most effective products from the best brands and latest trends. Stay up to date on everything beauty with the SkinStore blog, and find all your essentials in one place.