
The Top LGBTQIA+ Beauty Brands To Shop in 2025, Per Cosmo Editors
It's officially Pride month, which means there's no better time to support and shop from LGBTQIA+ owned and founded brands (even though you should definitely be doing that year-round...support for the LGBTQIA+ community isn't limited to 30 days, people!)
To celebrate these incredible brands and founders, many of whom also give back to LGBTQIA+ charities, we're highlighting all things beauty. Think: a queer-owned press-on nail brand with the chicest designs (and brand founder) and unique summer fragrances that'll turn heads and rack up compliments wherever you go.
Ahead, we've rounded up the best LGBTQ-founded beauty brands guaranteed to elevate your vanity and all your summer glam moments.
"I think I tell someone to try Quickies press-on nails once a day, if not more," says beauty editor Beth Gillette. Prior to Quickies, founder Bailey Stanworth was constantly getting gel manicures, but had to stop when COVID shut down nail salons. Her answer was developing her own press-ons that were similar to the trendy designs she'd get done at the salon, which she eventually turned into a whole brand in 2021. "I really love how many different shapes and lengths are offered," Gillette continues. "The mini length is fantastic for me, since I like to keep my nails quite short—lesbian core, TBH." Plus, $1 of every single order is donated to LGBTQ+ foundations all year round.
Quickies even launched a whole Pride collection, featuring new press-ons (like the Love is Love set that I'm currently obsessed with) and cute tees and tanks. "My faves overall, though, are the mini length sets, which I've pretty much exclusively worn for the past few months," says Gillette.
Peace Out Skincare
Peace Out is beloved for their overnight pimple patches, but I just want to note that the founders are the cutest couple I've ever met in my life. Enrico Frezza hails from Milan (thick Italian accent and all), and he and his husband, Junior Scott Pence, created the brand a decade ago to help acne-prone skin. Peace Out offers a bunch of different treatment patches, including Dark Spot Brightening Dots to Early Stage Pimple Patches that target baby blemishes (the Early Stage patches are a 2024 Cosmo Acne Award for their ability to shrink and calm breakouts).
There's no better time to stock up on queer-owned Boy Smells than now. And no, it's not just because it's Pride Month. The cult-favorite brand can be credited for birthing a candle renaissance a few years back with their iconic LES scent and collabs with celebs like Kacey Musgraves. Recently, they launched a major rebrand featuring revamped scents and fresh takes on their beloved candles. Oh, and did we mention they're more affordable now? We love a thoughtful, consumer-forward glow-up. And for that, this is a brand to support well beyond June.
If I'm gonna trust anyone with my face, it's gonna be Patrick Starrr. The celeb makeup artist and licensed aesthetician knows glam like nobody else—and his brand, One/Size, proves it. Home to Beyoncé's go-to setting spray, longwear complexion heroes, and makeup that always delivers, this line is made for everybody (hence the name). Whether you're going full drag glam or keeping it minimal, the formulas are that flexible.
The viral On 'Til Dawn formula was also crowned best setting spray in Cosmo's 2024 Readers' Choice Awards for its impressive staying power. It's a favorite of Gillette, she calls it her "going out secret weapon."
Here at Cosmo we've loved Mara Beauty long before knowing founder Allison McNamara was queer. The Sea Sculpt Body Oil is a two-time Cosmo Clean Beauty Award winner. "It's great for smoothing, firming, and nourishing skin thanks to marine actives like kelp sea oil and plankton,' says beauty director Lauren Balsamo. The underlying theme of the entire brand is algae, which is infused into every product with a proprietary blend hand-collected in Ireland and France that's loaded with minerals and vitamins your skin loves. Cool, right? "Every product I've tested is fire, but my absolute favorite is the new Pearl Peptide Glaze Hydrating & Brightening Facial Essence, which makes my skin sooooo glowy," says Gillette.
David Yi is not only the author of Pretty Boys; a writer for Vogue, WWD, GQ, and more publications; and a GLAAD and Webby nominee—he's also the founder of Good Light (and an editor for the brand's media platform, Very Good Light). As a non-binary, queer founder, he's created a brand that works to also exist beyond the binary. All of the brand's skincare products, marketing, and imagery are gender inclusive. Also, 1 percent of all sales are donated to True Colors United, an organization focused on helping LGBTQIA+ youth homelessness.
Winner of a Cosmopolitan Acne Award, the Alphabet Oil is fantastic for moisturizing skin without clogging pores. "I never thought I could be a face oil person with my acne-prone skin, but I'm a changed woman after testing this lightweight formula." says Gillette. "After using it for months, I can confidently say it hasn't clogged my pores or led to breakouts—but even better, it's made my skin seriously glowy and soft.'
Obvi, we love that Undefined Beauty is helmed by an LGBTQIA+, Black founder... but we also really love that its big focus is on being a clean, conscious brand too. Their products make skincare feel simpler (you won't see complicated product names that don't explain what they'll do for your skin), all using a mix of plant-based botanicals and active ingredients that are proven to work. Super cool, though: They partner with female-founded, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ businesses across their supply chain. "I love the whole line," says Gillette, "but I'm partial to the sunscreens, specifically the SPF 50 Sun Serum." Beauty editor-at-large Julee Wilson named their Sun Elixir one of the best SPFs for deep skin. "It's unlike anything I've tried—a broad spectrum chemical SPF 50 that's literally sheer magic on melanin-rich skin," she writes. "It glides on like silk, hydrates like a serum, and protects like a boss."
Hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons is known for his work on Khloe Kardashian, Madonna, Demi Moore, Megan Fox, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey—you name the diva, he's probably worked on their hair. And on every single client, he's used his eponymous haircare line, complete with shampoos, conditioners, texture spray, curl cream, hairspray, and leave-ins. "I've been using this line since it first launched—when I was a baby beauty editor, no less—and it's become a mainstay in my fine hair routine," says Gillette. "My go-to is the Body Volume Blow Dry Hold Spray, which makes it look like I have genuinely double the amount of hair I actually have, and with the Aprés Sexe Texture Spray, it's a match made in heaven for a big blowout."
Not to mention, Fitzsimons' brand is hella dedicated to giving back, especially to the trans community. They partner with the Trans Wellness Center and London LGBTQ+ Community Center by sending product donations, plus the brand also offers all of their retail partners pronoun training workshops for store associates.
If you're looking to step into the world of all things at-home LED, Solawave is one of the best places to start (especially if you're looking to support a queer brand). I'm personally obsessed with the brand's Red Light Wand, which won a Cosmo Holy Grail Award (it's ideal for on-the-go LED and targeting small areas) and their innovative product lineup of eye, face, neck, and chest devices. The LED Eye Mask recently won a 2025 Holy Grail Award for its quick three-minute treatment time and ability to address crow's feet, puffiness, and dark under-eyes.
Solawave makes once-pricey treatments that were only available during in-office appointments, actually accessible. And for that, we have no choice but to stan.
Founded by two West End dancers, AKT London first launched a deodorant (it's a 2025 Clean Beauty Award winner) that was clean and truly effective for all-day activity. The brand has now expanded into all types of bodycare, including scrubs and washes, elevating our shower experiences immensely. Balsamo is obsessed with the brand's new scrub, saying that it "makes my skin so soft and smooth and is a delight to use in the shower." Not to mention, every product smells incredible too, so I'd even argue the products can double as a signature scent.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You'll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it's usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles' entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Auditor general finds F-35 costs soar amid project delays, pilot shortages
OTTAWA - The estimated cost of Canada's incoming fleet of advanced stealth fighters exploded by nearly 50 per cent in just a few years, auditor general Karen Hogan said Tuesday in a new report. The fighter jet audit was one of eight tabled in the House of Commons by Hogan and environment commissioner Jerry DeMarco. The reports flag problematic procurement contracts, a backlog in applications for First Nations status and a delay in reducing the amount of federal office space. An investigation by the auditor general concluded that costs associated with the F-35 advanced fighter jet program are running $8.7 billion higher than the original estimates. And it warns the program is being plagued by delays and critical shortfalls — including a lack of qualified pilots. The report lands in the middle of an active review ordered by Prime Minister Mark Carney to examine possible alternatives to the F-35. He ordered the review in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war with Canada. National Defence said in 2022 the base price for the F-35s would be $19 billion. Just two years later, the number has climbed to $27.7 billion. That estimate does not include figures for infrastructure upgrades or weapons. The report says the department's 2022 estimates relied on outdated data from 2019 — despite the availability of better estimates showing 'that costs of the aircraft had already increased substantially.' The audit says issues associated with the global pandemic — such as runaway inflation, rising costs for facilities and munitions and volatile foreign exchange rates — pushed the price tag sky high. Defence Minister David McGuinty's office sent out a written statement to media that blamed the increased costs on 'external economic conditions driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, including global supply chain disruptions, workforce shortages, and increased inflation and foreign exchange rates.' 'In combination with increased global tensions and related impacts on the availability and demand for materials, we would not have been able to deliver the full scope of this project under our previous budget,' he said in the statement. But Hogan also warned Tuesday that the program faces 'significant risks that could jeopardize the timely introduction of the new fleet.' She said the department successfully identified the risks but has not planned appropriately to mitigate them. Construction of two new fighter squadron facilities — in Cold Lake, Alta., and Bagotville, Que. — is running three years behind schedule. The report says the facilities will not be ready until at least 2031 because the department needs to 'redo important elements' of their design. The department started planning the new facilities in 2020 before the government had settled on the F-35. The aircraft comes with significant infrastructure security requirements. 'Costs to develop an interim solution to support the new jets will further increase infrastructure expenses,' the report warned. It said the department produced a contingency plan to operate the aircraft from temporary facilities but the plan fell short because it was incomplete and offered 'no proposed actions nor a cost estimate.' Canada is also still short of qualified pilots to fly the advanced aircraft — despite being warned about this in 2018. The report said the F-35 program lacks measures to minimize potential risks and the department failed to produce robust contingency plans. It notes that the department identified cost overruns from inflation and currency fluctuations as potential risks to monitor, but plans to track those risks were never approved by officials. The Liberal government announced in 2017 it planned to purchase 88 new fighter jets. It signed a contract with Lockheed Martin for the F-35s in 2023. The modern jets are needed to replace Canada's aging CF-18 fleet, which is nearing the end of its service life. The fighter jets are expected to be delivered between 2026 and 2032. Over the next two years, the initial eight will be sent to a U.S. air force base in Arizona, where Canadian pilots will be trained to fly them. The rest will be delivered to Canada starting in 2028. The report said the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office conducted various assessments that uncovered 'significant issues,' such as 'insufficient departmental engineering personnel to service support equipment for both the CF-18 Hornet and CF-35A during the transition.' The audit said that at the end of the last fiscal year in March, National Defence earmarked $935 million for the U.S. government for the first four jets and related items needed to produce another eight aircraft. It says about $197 million has been paid out already. On top of that, National Defence spent another $516 million on the project, including $270 million in infrastructure costs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 10, 2025.

Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
'I'm 53, $50K in Debt, and I Want a Divorce': Truck Driver Tells Dave Ramsey He Has Nothing Saved And Owes IRS — 'You're in a Jar of Pickles'
At 53, Donnie from Fayetteville, North Carolina, called into "The Ramsey Show" with a brutally honest update: "I'm 53, have nothing for retirement, $50,000 in debt, and want a divorce." That was the actual title of the episode — and pretty much the entire plot. A truck driver with decades on the road, Donnie laid out his financial and emotional dead ends in one breath, prompting Dave Ramsey and co-host John Delony to react with a mix of concern, tough love and a few chuckles at the sheer weight of it all. "Man, it's an honor to talk to you," Donnie began optimistically. "Dave, I'm in a pickle." Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. That's putting it mildly. "I'm 53 years old, have absolutely nothing for retirement, I'm $50,000 in debt... and I want a divorce," he confessed in one breath. "Sounds like you're in a jar of pickles," Ramsey quipped. The trouble started slowly, Donnie said. After 32 years of marriage, things had been slipping — both emotionally and financially. As an over-the-road trucker, Donnie spent most of his time on the highway while his wife handled the finances back home. "We were doing great," he recalled. "COVID hit, I was home. We got debt free, paid off everything we had. I had six months of living expenses saved up." Then things swerved. "She just got a wild hair up her britches," Donnie said, "wanted to move into a house and doubled our rent. Emptied the savings. Then she got crazy and went and got all these credit cards." Trending: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: . And just when it seemed like things couldn't get worse, they did. "I found out I'm $30,000 in debt to the IRS for years of taxes that she didn't pay," he added. "I guess I should've been a little more on top of it." Ramsey didn't sugarcoat it. "You didn't achieve y'all's goal. You achieved your goal," he said. "She got debt-free for you." The lack of financial alignment — and communication — was obvious. Donnie admitted he had introduced his wife to Ramsey's famous "debt snowball" method and pushed hard for a financial overhaul. "I just sort of put my foot down and said, 'Look, this is the way it's gotta be,'" Donnie said. But Ramsey wasn't impressed with the forceful approach: "You stomped on her toes... you didn't really do anything." Delony added, "You've been doing the dance of the victim. 'She did this to me.' 'He left me.' That dance keeps you stuck."Despite their financial success during the pandemic, the marriage kept unraveling. Donnie described himself as being in "full panic mode" since turning 50. Still, he showed up to the call with humility and humor, asking for a clear path forward. "My biggest issue right now is figuring out what to do about these taxes," he said. Ramsey offered a starting point, advising Donnie to connect with a qualified tax professional who could help him negotiate a payment plan with the IRS. But he warned Donnie — without alignment in the marriage, financial recovery might not mean much. "You're going to continue to have financial problems as long as you're not communicating and aligned," Ramsey said. "Aligned doesn't mean demanding. It means we both see the same future and both agree on how to get there." The message was clear: no amount of money will fix a relationship built on miscommunication, mistrust, and misaligned goals. If Donnie can't get his wife back on the same team, Ramsey added bluntly, "You are divorced. And then you get to go fix your money problems." Feeling stuck like Donnie? You're not alone. If you're staring down $0 in retirement, mountains of debt, or financial betrayal, all hope is not lost. A licensed financial advisor or tax professional can help you make sense of the mess and create a plan that actually sticks. And if your relationship is part of the problem, it might be time to have the hard conversations — together. Even when you're "in a jar of pickles," there's a lid... and a way out. Read Next:Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article 'I'm 53, $50K in Debt, and I Want a Divorce': Truck Driver Tells Dave Ramsey He Has Nothing Saved And Owes IRS — 'You're in a Jar of Pickles' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
Trump's trade war could drag global economic growth to the lowest since the 1960s, World Bank says
The 2020s could be the weakest decade for economic growth since the 1960s, the World Bank said in a report on Tuesday. The culprit for the potential bout of sluggish expansion? Tariffs, the organization said. "Only six months ago, a 'soft landing' appeared to be in sight: the global economy was stabilizing after an extraordinary string of calamities both natural and man-made over the past few years. That moment has passed," wrote World Bank Chief Economist Indermit Gill and Deputy Chief Economist M. Ayhan Kose in the report. The economists continued: "This year alone, our forecasts indicate the upheaval will slice nearly half a percentage point off the global gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate that had been expected at the start of the year, cutting it to 2.3 percent. That's the weakest performance in 17 years, outside of outright global recessions. By 2027, global GDP growth is expected to average just 2.5 percent in the 2020s—the slowest pace of any decade since the 1960s." Gill and Kose laid out three ways to boost growth from current projections. One would be to restore trade relations. Global GDP this year and next would be 0.2% higher if tariffs dropped by half from their May 2025 levels, the economists said. Second, governments need to rein in fiscal deficits. "In the era of easy money that preceded the COVID-19 pandemic, governments opted to take too many risks for far too long," Gill and Kose wrote. "The bill is now due: fiscal deficits so far in the 2020s have averaged nearly 6 percent in developing economies, the highest level of this century. Interest costs alone account for about a third of the deficits." Finally, governments, particularly those in developing economies, should focus on job growth. Working-age populations in regions like South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are expected to rise by hundreds of millions, the economists said. The World Bank joins the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in dropping GDP forecasts. OECD now sees 1.6% growth in the US in 2025 instead of 2.6%. Federal Reserve forecasts for US GDP growth are also lackluster. The central bank's Federal Open Market Committee sees a median of 1.7% growth in 2025 and 1.8% growth in the "long run," though the projections were made before many of Trump's tariff proposals. Trump's 90-day pause of his "Liberation Day" tariffs will end on July 9. Countries have been meeting with the Trump administration to renegotiate current trade deals in an effort to avoid the proposed steep import duties on their goods. The jury is still out on how tariffs are affecting the US economy. Consumers and small businesses have reported heightened uncertainty, but the labor market has so far held up, adding 139,000 jobs in May.