The Top LGBTQIA+ Beauty Brands To Shop in 2025, Per Cosmo Editors
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
UPI
4 minutes ago
- UPI
Qantas ordered to pay record fine over COVID-19 layoffs
Qantas has been ordered to a nearly $60 million fine over mass layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. File Photo by Brent Winstone/EPA-EFE Aug. 18 (UPI) -- An Australian court on Monday fined national flag carrier Qantas nearly $60 million for illegally firing more than 1,800 ground workers and then outsourcing their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia's Transport Workers Union said in a statement that it was the largest employer penalty in Australian corporate history. "Against all odds, TWU members have sent a $90 million warning to corporate Australia: you can't break the law and get away with it," the union said, referring to the amount Qantas was fined in Australian dollars. Federal Court Justice Michael Lee said a little more than half of the penalty should be paid to the TWU, while the recipients of the remaining sum will be decided at a later hearing, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. Lee said that while Qantas has expressed "genuine regrets" about the situation, he believes that "this more likely reflects the damage this case has done at the company rather than unique remorse for the damage done to the affected workers." He said that the airline "resisted until it could resist no more." Qantas said the Monday judgement holds the company "accountable for our actions." "We sincerely apologize to each and every one of the 1,820 ground handling employees and to their families who suffered as a result," Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson said in a statement. "The decision to outsource five years ago, particularly during such an uncertain time, caused genuine hardship for many of our former team and their families. The impact was felt not only by those who lost their jobs, but our entire workforce." The ruling brings an end to a five-year fight by the TWU over Qantas's firing of some 1,800 workers and then outsourcing their jobs in 2020. Qantas appealed through the Australian court system, with the High Court affirming that the airline had acted illegally by outsourcing the employment. The Monday fine is on top of the roughly $78 million that Qantas agreed to pay eligible workers in December, after its failed bid arguing that it should not have to offer workers compensation. "Qantas was not sorry to workers when it illegally outsourced these workers, many finding out they'd lost their jobs over loudspeaker in the lunch room. It was not sorry when it dragged them all the way to the High Court, or when it argued it should have to pay them no compensation at all," TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said in a statement. "Qantas is only sorrow now that it has to pay the larges penalty fine of any employer in Australian corporate history." The announcement comes about 14 months after Qantas reached a settlement with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to pay a multi-million-dollar fine for booking flights that had previously been canceled.
CNBC
an hour ago
- CNBC
Qantas to pay record fine of $58 million for pandemic sackings criticized by judge
A court ordered Australia's largest airline, Qantas Airways, on Monday to pay a record fine of A$90 million ($58.64 million) for illegally sacking 1,800 ground staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and criticized it for a lack of contrition. In imposing the penalty, the largest ordered by a court on a company in the history of Australia's labor laws, Federal Court Judge Michael Lee also inveighed against the airline's litigation strategy. While Qantas made changes to its board and management team, Lee said subsequent expressions of regret seemed more aligned with "the damage" the case had done to the company than remorse for the harm caused to workers. "I accept Qantas is sorry, but I am unconvinced that this measure of regret is not, at least in significant measure ... the wrong kind of sorry," he added. Lee said the size of the penalty, about 75% of the maximum he could have set, was important to ensure it "could not be perceived as anything like the cost of doing business". He said A$50 million of the fine would be paid to the Transport Workers' Union, which brought the case against Qantas. After the decision, Michael Kaine, the national secretary of the TWU, said, "Against all the odds, we took on a behemoth ... that had shown itself to be ruthless, and we won." Monday's decision follows a December agreement on a compensation fund of A$120 million struck by the airline and the sacked workers. During the pandemic in 2020, Qantas' senior management decided to lay off 1,820 ground staff and shift their work to contractors. Qantas said it was a commercial decision, but the Federal Court in 2021 held the move to be "adverse action", preventing staff from exercising their workplace rights and unionising, in breach of Australia's Fair Work Act. Assessing Qantas' actions, Lee said he was unconvinced it was truly contrite and criticized its culture, public relations approach and litigation strategy. For example, he said Qantas had announced it would appeal to the High Court against the 2021 court decision "without any time passing", to consider the 431-paragraph judgment. When its appeal failed, Qantas issued a statement "spinning" the outcome, however, and overlooking findings on its unlawful conduct, he added. He also criticized Qantas' conduct during litigation, such as opting to keep out of the witness box, Vanessa Hudson, its current chief executive and former chief financial officer. "It is one thing for the 'Qantas News Room' to issue press releases by a CEO saying sorry; it is quite another for written assertions of contrition, recognition of wrong and cultural change to be tested in a courtroom," Lee said. The penalty was the largest ever ordered by a court for violations of Australia's labor laws, said Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, which represented TWU. "This record-breaking penalty reflects the monumental scale of Qantas' wrongdoing," the firm's principal, Josh Bornstein, said in a statement. The fine also reflected the unprecedented finding of adverse action against so many workers, said Shae McCrystal, a labor law professor at the University of Sydney. "Adverse action cases are risky," she said. "It signals a message to employers that if they break the law, then trade unions may receive those penalties in order to assist them in enforcing the act." Qantas said it would pay the fine as ordered. "We sincerely apologise to each and every one of the 1,820 ground handling employees and to their families," Chief Executive Vanessa Hudson said in a statement. Qantas shares were down 0.4% at A$11.58 in early trading.
an hour ago
Qantas fined $59M for illegal pandemic layoffs
MELBOURNE -- A judge on Monday fined Qantas Airways 90 million Australian dollars ($59 million) for illegally firing more than 1,800 ground staff at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The penalty is in addition to the AU$120 million ($78 million) in compensation that Australia's biggest airline had already agreed to pay its former employees. Australian Federal Court Justice Michael Lee said the outsourcing of 1,820 baggage handler and cleaner jobs at Australian airports in late 2020 was the 'largest and most significant contravention' of relevant Australian labor laws in their 120-year history. Qantas agreed in December last year to pay AU$120 million ($78 million) in compensation to former staff after seven High Court judges unanimously rejected the Sydney-based airline's appeal against the judgment that outsourcing their jobs was illegal. The Transport Workers Union, which took the airline to court, had argued the airline should receive the largest fine available — AU$121,212,000 ($78,969,735). Lee ruled that the minimum fine to create a deterrence should be AU$90 million ($59 million), noting that Qantas executives had expected to save AU$125 million ($81 million) a year through outsourcing the jobs. Lee questioned the sincerity of Qantas's apology for its illegal conduct, noting that the airline later unsuccessfully argued that it owed no compensation to its former staff. 'If any further evidence was needed of the unrelenting and aggressive litigation strategy adopted in this case by Qantas, it is provided by this effort directed to denying any compensation whatsoever to those in respect of whom Qantas was publicly professing regret for their misfortune,' Lee said. "I do think that the people in charge of Qantas now have some genuine regret, but this more likely reflects the damage that this case has done to the company rather than remorse for the damage done to the affected workers,' Lee added. Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson, who was the airline's chief financial officer during the layoffs, said in a statement after Monday's decision: 'We sincerely apologize to each and every one of the 1,820 ground handling employees and to their families who suffered as a result.' 'The decision to outsource five years ago, particularly during such an uncertain time, caused genuine hardship for many of our former team and their families," she said. 'Over the past 18 months we've worked hard to change the way we operate as part of our efforts to rebuild trust with our people and our customers. This remains our highest priority as we work to earn back the trust we lost,' she added. Lee ruled that AU$50 million ($33 million) of the fine go to the union, because no Australian government agency had shown interest in investigating or prosecuting Qantas. 'But for the union … , Qantas' contravening conduct would never have been exposed and it would never have been held to account for its unlawful conduct,' Lee said. 'Hence the union has brought to the attention of the court a substantial and significant transgression of a public obligation by a powerful and substantial employer,' Lee added. A hearing will be held at a later date to decide where the remaining AU$40 million ($26 million) of the fine will go. Michael Kaine, national secretary of the union that represents 60,000 members, said he felt vindicated by Monday's ruling, which ends a five-year legal battle that Qantas had been widely expected to win. 'It is a significant — the most significant — industrial outcome in Australia's history and it sends a really clear message to Qantas and to every employer in Australia: Treat your work force illegally and you will be held accountable,' Kaine told reporters. 'Against all the odds, we took on a behemoth that had shown itself to be ruthless and we won,' Kaine added. Qantas has admitted illegally dealing with passengers as well as employees in its responses to pandemic economic challenges. Last year, Qantas agreed to pay AU$120 million ($78 million) in compensation and a fine for selling tickets on thousands of cancelled flights. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, a consumer watchdog, sued the airline in the Federal Court alleging that Qantas engaged in false, misleading or deceptive conduct by advertising tickets for more than 8,000 flights from May 2021 through to July 2022 that had already been canceled.
