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If there’s one thing I love more than rolling around on the world’s largest blanket, it’s supporting women-owned businesses. Whether I’m shopping at a local boutique or picking up amazing products made by women for women, I love embracing my inner Leslie Knope and supporting women-run ventures.
We’ve tested quite a few top-selling products that everyone is obsessed with in our labs and homes, from the life-changing Revlon one-step hair dryer to that cute pair of sustainable flats you saw on Instagram this week. It’s no surprise that dozens of your favorite products, subscription services, and companies were invented by women.
Support your favorite female entrepreneur this month and check these cult-favorite products you can’t get enough of that were created by women.
1. Sips by
Created by: Staci Brinkman
Created in: 2017
If you love tea, this one’s for you—Sips by is a woman-owned subscription box service that delivers four premium teas chosen based on your personal taste. Boxes come with recipes and lessons from tea experts, as well as unique tea brands you may have never heard of (or had a chance to try yet). Our managing editor Meghan Kavanaugh tested and loved Sips by, saying it was a great way ton introduce new flavors and brands of tea into her everyday rotation.
Get a one-month subscription to Sips by for $15
2. Be Free by Danielle Fishel
Created by: Danielle Fishel
Created in: 2019
That’s right—the queen of ‘90s hair goals, Topanga Lawrence (whose real name is Danielle Fishel) created her own haircare line. And people are obsessed. I am in the process of testing the Be Free by Danielle Fishel shampoo, conditioner, and scalp refresh, and so far, I have been nothing but thrilled with my results. All products are made without harmful chemicals like sulfate, phosphate, and parabens. My hair is silkier, shinier, and—as one of my coworkers put it—more “voluminous” than before. Plus, you can buy a T-shirt with Danielle on it—what more could you want in life?
Get the Be Free by Danielle Fishel Total Package Combo for $60
3. Outdoor Voices
Created by: Tyler Haney
Created in: 2012
Active wear that’s functional, stylish, and good for the environment? Sign us up. Writer Sara Hendricks was impressed with her selection of active wear from Outdoor Voices, noting that the pieces she tried weren’t restrictive, they kept her comfy, and they did a great job at concealing sweat. Her favorite product she tried was the TechSweat leggings, saying they “seem to whisk sweat away as soon as it seeps out of my pores, so they hold up to HIIT classes and long runs.”
Get the TechSweat leggings from Outdoor Voices for $85
4. Billie razor
Created by: Georgina Gooley and Jason Bravman
Created in: 2017
Razors are expensive, especially once you start buying replacement blades (which cost about $25 for five blades). Enter Billie: A razor made for women that only costs $9. Writer Jessica Kasparian tried Billie and loved it, saying: “Billie stays true to its initial cost and lives up to its expectations of being an affordable, quality razor.” Users can sign up for a monthly subscription, which delivers new blades on an ongoing basis depending on how often you shave—and a pack of four only costs $9, leading up to a measurable cost savings over time.
Get a subscription to Billie starting at $9
5. Bandelettes
Created by: Julia Abasova and Rena Abramoff
Created in: 2012
You know what’s fun? Wearing dresses in the summer. You know what’s not fun? The thigh chafing that accompanies warm weather. But thankfully, I’m not the only woman in the world who’s ever experienced this—Bandelettes crated a solution by developing thigh bands that prevent that painful summer chafing. Our video producer Melissa Rorech tried Bandelettes and said they’re definitely worth it if you love dresses, but don’t quite enjoy painful chafing that may accompany your favorite outfit.
Get the Unisex Bandelettes on Amazon for $18.95
6. Spanx
Created by: Sara Blakely
Created in: 1998
Spanx makes highly-rated shapewear, leggings, and even dress pants—and nearly everyone on staff who’s tried their products can’t stop talking about them. Spanx has been around for more than two decades, and in that time, branched out to encompass an array of apparel and shapewear for both women and men. Staff writer Rachel Murphy particularly obsesses over the Spanx Faux Leather Leggings, which have nearly 2,000 five-star ratings at Nordstrom.
Get the Spanx Faux Leather Leggings from Nordstrom for $98
7. Wubbanub
Created by: Carla Schneider
Created in: 1999
Got a fussy baby that won’t hold onto their pacifier? Well Carla Schneider did back in the late ‘90s, and instead of buying and losing dozens of pacifiers over the months, she invented the Wubbanub, a cult-favorite product among our on-staff parents. Combining soft, plush stuffed animals and comforting pacifiers, the Wubbanub keeps babies and parents happy by giving kids a reason to hang on to their pacifiers.
Get the WubbaNub Brown Monkey Pacifier from Amazon for $13.85
8. beautyblender
Created by: Rea Ann Silva
Created in: 2003
The beautyblender is a small yet mighty tool that’s well-loved among beauty enthusiasts all over the world. It’s a specially crafted beauty sponge designed to keep makeup lasting longer—instead of featuring flat sides and harsh angles like other sponges, the beautyblender is shaped like an egg, which apparently makes all the difference.
9. Bee’s Wrap
Created by: Sarah Kaeck
Created in: 2012
We love products that are eco-friendly, and once writer Tessa Bahoosh got her hands on the Bee’s Wrap reusable plastic wrap, she knew it was love. Using bee’s wax instead of plastic, Bee’s Wrap offers a more environmentally friendly option for food storage. You can shop Bee’s Wrap from large retailers, like Amazon and REI, but you can also shop directly from founder Sarah Kaeck’s online store—and regardless of where you buy, you can rest easy knowing each wrap is handmade from her Vermont-based company.
Get the Bee’s Wrap Variety Pack at REI for $42
10. Reformation
Created by: Yael Aflalo
Created in: 2009
Reformation is a clothing brand hot with influencers on Instagram, but we are happy to report that it’s just as good as the social network makes it out to be. Reformation sells high-quality and sustainable apparel, from jeans to shoes to floral dresses we can’t get enough of. Writer Sara Hendricks says, “I love almost everything I’ve ever gotten from Reformation. The clothes are great quality, feel good on, and last a long time. It’s a little on the pricier side, but it’s my go-to if I need a new turtleneck, jeans, or a dress to wear to a wedding.”
11. Mejuri jewelry
Created by: Noura and Majed Sakkijha
Created in: 2015
It’s easy to drop by Claire’s or Amazon, spend $20, and end up with a handful of cute rings. But if you want jewelry that will last, you’ll need to invest—which is where millennial-focused jewelry company Mejuri comes in. We saw it advertised all over Instagram and wanted to find out if its jewelry was actually any good—and according to editor Cassidy Olsen, it is: “After testing five different pieces from Mejuri over four months’ time, I can say that most of its jewelry is well worth the price.”
12. NoseFrida
Created by: Chelsea Hirschhorn
Created in: 2014
What’s the most effective way to get rid of your child’s boogers? Sucking them out. No, really—the NoseFrida has more than 13,000 reviews on Amazon, and our writer Rachel Murphy swears by it: “I’ve had lots of luck with the snotsucker for both of my kids.” The device—which hygienically allows parents to suck boogers out of their children’s noses with a tube—was actually invented by Chelsea Hirschhorn’s neighbor, but Chelsea adapted it for the U.S. market.
Get the NoseFrida Snotsucker from Amazon for $14.39
13. The Sill
Created by: Eliza Blank
Created in: 2012
Managing editor Meghan Kavanaugh, a self-described plant killer, was excited to try plant delivery service The Sill to see if it stood up to its slogan: “Can’t kill it. Just try.” The Sill allows both those gifted with green thumbs and those of us envious of plant enthusiasts to peruse and purchase an array of plants, with options to get recurring subscriptions, consult with a virtual plant expert, and even buy fake plants. And nearly six months later, Meghan’s plant—Branche Deveraux—is still thriving.
Get one of The Sill’s live plants starting at $5
14. Summersalt
Created by: Reshma Chamberlin and Lori Coulter
Created in: 2017
Summersalt released a line of swimsuits that claimed to flatter nearly all body types, debuting with a swimsuit that had a 10,000-person waitlist—so naturally, we had to try it. Our audience development director Samantha Matt tried three swimsuits from Summersalt, which prides itself on the fact that it took 1.5 million body measurements from women of all sizes. The results? “Summersalt came through with its flattering patterns and adequate compression, and that has made me feel confident and carefree while wearing its swimsuits. Now, I just need more of them.”
15. LOLA
Created by: Jordana Kier and Alexandra Friedman
Created in: 2015
LOLA started by selling organic tampons, and in the last five years, they’ve expanded to an entire line of feminine care products, a period kit, sexual wellness products, and even cramp-relieving oils. Editor Amanda Tarlton said she was hooked after just one month, while writer Sara Hendricks pitted LOLA against Cora to see which organic tampon subscription reigned supreme.
Shop feminine products at LOLA
16. Sheertex
Created by: Katherine Homuth
Created in: 2017
Indestructible panty hose? We’ve only been asking for that for, I don’t know, 100 years. And finally, Sheertex has a solution—we tried the indestructible panty hose and discovered that they are, in fact, nearly impossible to destroy. Writer Sara Hendricks enjoyed testing Sheertex with our technicians, and found that while they did eventually break, it took far more effort than a normal person would exert (unless you normally have two grown men stretching your panty hose before you get dressed? No judgement).
Get the Classic Sheers from Sheertex for $59
17. The Mirror
Created by: Brynn Putnam
Created in: 2016
The Mirror was invented for those of us who want to work out, but don’t really want to go to a gym—or, in the case of inventor Brynn Putnam, those who are too pregnant to get a good workout at the gym. This piece of high-end fitness equipment is a mirror that projects a fitness instructor, who leads you through a workout. Think Pelaton, but a mirror. Editor Courtney Campbell tried The Mirror and found that it’s well worth its high price tag if you think of it as an investment (and replacement for your monthly gym membership).
Get the Mirror for $1,495 and $39 per month for a subscription
18. Fabletics
Created by: Kate Hudson, Adam Goldenberg, and Don Ressler
Created in: 2013
I’ve loved Kate Hudson since she starred in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” so when she released her own line of athletic wear, I was excited—and so was Rachel Moskowitz, our audience development manager, who tried Fabletics and ultimately fell in love with it. “I practically live in my leggings from Fabletics,” she explains. Unlike other retailers, like Lululemon and Everlane, Fabletics requires you to sign up in order to purchase, but Rachel says it’s worth it in the end for the high-quality apparel you ultimately receive.
Try Fabletics with the two leggings for $24 deal
19. Rent the Runway
Created by: Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss
Created in: 2009
Self-described clothing addict and director of audience development Samantha Matt used Rent the Runway Unlimited and enjoyed her experience, while writer Jenni Gritters highly enjoyed her experience using Rent the Runway Unlimited for maternity clothes. The service allows you to rent a set number of pieces a month for a flat fee ($159), making it a great investment for those who enjoy having a dynamic wardrobe. You can also use the RTR Reserve service if you’re just looking for a nice dress or outfit to rent for a specific event, like a wedding.
Try Rent the Runway Unlimited for $99 a month
20. Thinx
Created by: Miki Agrawal, Antonia Dunbar, Radha Agrawal
Created in: 2013
The worst part about any period? Ruining your underwear after a leak. But with period panties, which have grown in popularity over the years, you don’t have to worry—they’re meant to be a replacement for period products, like tampons and pads. And when we tested, we thought Thinx was the best, as their underwear looked like regular panties and provided the best results from our crop of testers.
Get the Hiphugger Panties from Thinx for $34
21. Megababe
Created by: Katie Sturino
Created in: 2017
You already know how I feel about thigh chafing (not favorable), but if you’re not looking to invest in Bandelettes, there’s another option—Megababe’s Thigh Rescue. Writer Rachel Murphy says: “Living in Florida where the humidity is high almost year-round, I basically sweat constantly, which isn’t so great for the parts of my skin, like my thighs, that rub together throughout the day. But Megababe’s Thigh Rescue Anti-Chafe Stick has been a lifesaver when I’m out and about to prevent chafing. It goes on smooth, doesn’t have an overpowering smell, and is made from non-toxic chemicals.”
No surprise this one was invented by a woman, because it literally sounds like a life-changing addition to my summer beauty routine.
Get the megababe Thigh Rescue from Ulta for $14
22. Fluide
Created by: Laura Kraber and Isabella Giancarlo
Created in: 2018
Makeup is incredibly fun, which is exactly what prompted Laura Kraber and Isabella Giancarlo to launch their own beauty line made for everyone, including all gender expressions, identities, and skin tones. We love shopping women- and LGBTQ-owned brands like Fluide, whose products are named after queer spaces around the globe and meant to provide awareness and support for the LGBTQ community.
23. Ruggable
Created by: Jeneva Bell
Created in: 2010
When writer Rachel Murphy found out about Ruggable—a company that sells machine-washable, waterproof and stain-resistant rugs—she was skeptical. As a mother of two children and three pets, she was the perfect tester, and according to her review, Ruggable stands up to the hype. “Dirty paw prints, red wine, water, milk, dog pee—the Ruggable has stood up to it all in my house and I can’t recommend it enough to my friends and family,” Rachel says.
Shop for washable rugs at Ruggable
24. ClassPass
Created by: Payal Kadakia and Mary Biggins
Created in: 2013
Love attending yoga classes, but don’t feel like signing up for a gym just to go have access to a class? You may love ClassPass, a subscription service that allows you to purchase a number of credits to attend fitness classes each month. We tried ClassPass in three cities to see if it was worth it, and found that it’s a great solution for people looking for great deals on fitness classes in their area.
25. Maison Miru
Created by: Trisha Okubo
Created in: 2017
Maison Miru landed on our radar after running an Instagram promotion that promised free earrings to anyone who wanted (all you had to pay was shipping). Writer Sara Hendricks finally caved and got the earrings—and discovered a pretty cool jewelry company in the process. Maison Miru sells a variety of jewel-studded and minimalist jewelry pieces, from earrings to rings. And great news—you can still get those free earrings.
Shop for earrings at Maison Miru
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
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