Celebrating Clean Beauty: 5 LGBTQIA+ Owned Brands Using Non-Toxic Ingredients

In the beauty industry, a growing number of brands are prioritizing clean, non-toxic ingredients while also championing inclusivity and diversity.

Among these trailblazers are several LGBTQIA+ owned and founded brands that are making significant strides in both areas.

Here, we spotlight five such brands: W3ll People, JVN Hair, Good Light, Common Heir, and Alder New York. Each of these brands not only offers high-quality, clean beauty products but also embodies the spirit of inclusivity and representation.

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W3ll People

Founders: Shirley Pinkson, James Walker, and Dr. Renee Snyder

Source: Detox Market https://www.thedetoxmarket.com/blogs/news/well-people-brand-review-and-interview

Brand Mission and Story: W3ll People was co-founded by Shirley Pinkson, a lesbian makeup artist, James Walker, an advertising executive, and Dr. Renee Snyder, a dermatologist. The brand was born out of a desire to create high-performance, plant-based beauty products that are safe for both people and the planet. W3ll People emphasizes minimalism and natural beauty, aiming to provide products that enhance rather than mask.

Ingredient Guidelines: W3ll People is committed to using premium natural ingredients and avoiding potentially toxic chemicals, preservatives, and petrochemicals. Their products are cruelty-free, vegan, and EWG Verified, ensuring they meet stringent safety and health standards.

What Makes W3ll People Unique:

• High Performance: Products perform as well as conventional makeup.

• Clean Ingredients: Free from parabens, mineral oil, and other harmful substances.

• Accessibility: Available at major retailers like Target, making clean beauty more accessible.

Best-Sellers:

• Expressionist Pro Lengthening Mascara: A long-lasting formula that lengthens, defines, and creates fuller-looking lashes with natural volume.

• Bio Tint Moisturizer SPF 30: Provides light-to-medium coverage, hydrates skin, and protects from UV rays.

• Bio Correct Concealer: A creamy, full-coverage concealer that covers blemishes, corrects dark spots, and brightens the under-eye area.

• Multi-Use Blush Stick: A versatile product for adding color to cheeks and lips.

• Optimist Hydrating Lipstick: Offers high-pigment, long-lasting color with a satin finish and hydrates lips.

JVN Hair

Founder: Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness on using JVN to help de-gender the beauty industry. Source: https://www.glossy.co/beauty/jonathan-van-ness-on-using-jvn-hair-to-help-de-gender-the-beauty-industry/

Jonathan Van Ness on using JVN to help de-gender the beauty industry. Source: https://www.glossy.co/beauty/jonathan-van-ness-on-using-jvn-hair-to-help-de-gender-the-beauty-industry/

Brand Mission and Story: JVN Hair, founded by Jonathan Van Ness of "Queer Eye" fame, is a haircare brand that champions inclusivity, accessibility, sustainability, and efficacy. Jonathan's passion for hair and clean beauty led to the creation of a line that caters to all hair types and textures, promoting self-expression and confidence.

Ingredient Guidelines: JVN Hair products are formulated with clean, non-toxic ingredients. They avoid using harmful chemicals such as sulfates, silicones, and parabens, which are commonly found in conventional haircare products. They are also vegan and cruelty-free. The brand maintains transparency about their ingredient choices and formulations with a helpful ingredient library and disclose all ingredients listed in their fragrances. The brand is committed to using recyclable materials and aims to be 100% plastic-free by 2025.

What Makes JVN Hair Unique:

• Sustainable Ingredients: Uses hemisqualane derived from sugarcane.

• Inclusivity: Products designed for all hair types and textures.

• Effective Formulations: Focuses on hair concerns like moisture, strength, and volume.

Best-Selling Products:

• Nurture Deep Moisture Mask: Hydrates and strengthens hair, reducing frizz and improving manageability.

• Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner: Adds volume and body to hair while nourishing and strengthening.

• Complete Air Dry Cream: Enhances natural texture and reduces frizz without the need for heat styling.

• Undamage Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner: Repairs and strengthens damaged hair, restoring its health and vitality.

• Pre-Wash Scalp Oil: Nourishes and balances the scalp, promoting healthy hair growth.

Good Light

Founder: David Yi

Source: https://thefascination.com/blogs/the-edit/david-yi-founder-faves

Brand Mission and Story: Good Light was founded by David Yi, a beauty journalist and advocate for gender inclusivity. The brand's mission is to create personal care products that transcend traditional gender norms, celebrating beauty in all its forms. Good Light aims to provide a safe and inclusive space for all individuals to explore and express their beauty.

Ingredient Guidelines: Good Light products are formulated with clean, non-toxic ingredients that are vegan and cruelty-free. The brand focuses on sustainability and social responsibility, ensuring that their products are as kind to the planet as they are to the skin.

What Makes Good Light Unique

• Gender Inclusivity: Products designed for all gender identities.

• Clean Formulations: Free from harmful chemicals like BPAs, parabens, and phthalates.

• Sustainable Packaging: Uses 100% recyclable packaging.

Best-Selling Products:

• Moon Glow Milky Moisturizing Toning Lotion: Hydrates and balances the skin, preparing it for further skincare steps.

• Order of the Eclipse Hyaluronic Cream: Provides deep hydration and plumps the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines.

• Cosmic Dew Gel To Foam Water Cleanser: Gently cleanses the skin, removing impurities without stripping moisture.

• Luna Fast Acting Pimple Patches: Quickly reduces the appearance of blemishes and promotes healing.

• We Come In Peace Microbiome Serum: Supports the skin's natural microbiome, improving overall skin health.

Common Heir

Founders: Cary Lin and Angela Ubias

Source: https://mindovermango.com/beauty/skincare/common-heir-vitamin-c-capsules/

Brand Mission and Story: Common Heir was co-founded by Cary Lin and Angela Ubias, who share a passion for clean beauty and sustainability. The brand's mission is to create high-impact skincare products that are low-impact on the environment, promoting a more sustainable beauty routine.

Ingredient Guidelines: Common Heir is dedicated to using efficacious, clean ingredients that are free from silicones, PEGs, phthalates, parabens, and other harmful substances. Their products are vegan, cruelty-free, and packaged in biodegradable capsules to minimize environmental impact.

What Makes Common Heir Unique

• Plastic-Free Packaging: Uses biodegradable capsules for product delivery.

• High-Performance Actives: Focuses on ingredients like vitamin C.

• Sustainability: Committed to reducing plastic waste and supporting environmental causes.

Best-Selling Products:

• Vitamin C Serum: Brightens and improves skin texture while being gentle enough for daily use.

• Ceramide Barrier Boost Serum: Rescues and repairs through the magic of desert botanicals.
  

Alder New York

Founders: Nina Zilka and David Krause

What is Genderless and Hormone-Inclusive Skincare? Source: https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/F62ACA47-C608-4900-A93C-01188E97E4A0/search?ref_=ast_bln&store_ref=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto&terms=everyday

Brand Mission and Story: Alder New York was founded by Nina Zilka and David Krause, who met at Pratt Institute and shared a vision for creating a clean, gender-inclusive skincare line. The brand focuses on providing uncomplicated, high-performing personal care products that work for all skin types, ages, and genders.

Ingredient Guidelines: Alder New York uses plant-powered extracts and clean, dermatologist-approved ingredients. Their products are vegan, cruelty-free, and EWG Verified, ensuring they are safe for both the skin and the environment.

What Makes Alder New York Unique

• Genderless Skincare: Products designed for all genders and skin types.

• Clean Ingredients: Free from harsh chemicals and EWG Verified.

• Sustainable Practices: Uses recycled materials and local manufacturing.

Best-Selling Products:

• Cleansing Body Bar: A gentle, plant-based soap that cleanses without stripping the skin of its natural oils.
  

• Everyday Cleanser: A gentle, sulfate-free cleanser that removes impurities without drying the skin.

• Hydrating Oil: A multi-purpose oil that hydrates and nourishes the skin and hair.

Conclusion & Disclaimer

These five brands—W3ll People, JVN Hair, Good Light, Common Heir, and Alder New York—are leading the way in the clean beauty movement while also championing LGBTQIA+ representation and inclusivity.

By prioritizing non-toxic ingredients and sustainable practices, they are setting new standards for the beauty industry and proving that it is possible to create products that are both effective and ethical.

FTC Disclaimer: This blog post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of those product links and make a purchase, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to make content. I only recommend products that I trust, to the best of my ability, to be non-toxic. This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Always read product labels and use as directed. Manufacturers reserve the right at any time to change product ingredients. Thank you for your support!

Medical Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please contact your healthcare physician or a functional medicine practitioner for medical advice.