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9 LBGTQ-owned beauty businesses you should know today

Shannon Cooper
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Queer inclusivity in the beauty industry has come a long way in the past few years. From supporting LGBTQ organizations to featuring queer models, businesses are beginning to embrace all sexualities and genders. While many mainstream companies are only just welcoming queerness, some brands live and breathe it every day. These businesses are made by and for people of all identities, giving the members of their community a place to shop and experiment with all things beauty. You can support queer entrepreneurs by shopping from these LGBTQ-owned beauty companies.

Taya Beauty

Taya Beauty is a queer-owned, environmentally friendly beauty brand. It sells hair products and accessories as well as skincare products. All of its products are made of 100% vegan, non-toxic rainforest botanicals, and are also non-GMO and not tested on animals.

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The world’s first openly lesbian Latina supermodel, Patricia Velasquez, owns the company. In addition to supporting LGBTQIA+ and environmental causes, she is also committed to supporting indigenous communities.

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Hi Wildflower

This fragrance and make-up brand was founded by community organizer and novelist Tanaïs. All of Hi Wildflower’s products are made using natural ingredients, utilizing the founder’s knowledge of herbalism and Ayurveda, resulting in rich and luxurious scents and colors. Plus, all of the packaging is biodegradable. Tanaïs is a queer Bangladeshi woman whose inclusive and intersectional values radiate through every aspect of the brands, and Hi Wildflower also supports organizations like Arte and Resistance Education and Girls Write Now.

Two women wearing minimalist make-up
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Non Gender Specific

This beauty brand was inspired by the division between men’s and women’s beauty products and routines. Andrew Glass, the founder of Non Gender Specific, wanted to create a skincare brand for all people, no matter their gender or skin tone. The minimalist brand focuses on simplicity and sustainability, offering beauty products that are vegan, cruelty-free, and created with eco-friendly sourcing techniques.

Noto Botanics

Noto Botanics sells multi-use products designed for people of all genders. Started by Gloria Noto, a queer make-up artist, this brand focuses on simple products with natural and organic ingredients. As a bonus, its cosmetic line is vegan and cruelty-free. Noto Botanics also emphasizes giving back to society. A portion of every sale of its Agender Oil goes toward charities that help vulnerable communities, the environment, and the arts–they’ve already donated more than $22,000.

SAPPHO New Paradigm

SAPPHO New Paradigm is a luxury cosmetics company, previously known as Organics by Sappho, owned and operated by Emmy-nominated make-up artist, Joann Fowler. You can shop for all sorts of products on its website, including make-up and application brushes. The brand is committed to producing products that are free of synthetic preservatives, vegan, and cruelty-free. Its products are manufactured in Canada in a carbon-neutral facility.

Volition Beauty

As one of the first fully crowd-sourced beauty brands, Volition lets anyone submit ideas for beauty products. Then, the community votes on which products they want the company to make and sell, and the products that receive the most votes are produced by the company and sold on the site. Everything Volition sells is certified clean with no sulfates, parabens, or animal cruelty. Its products are also sold at large retailers like Cult Beauty and Sephora.

Fluide

If you’re looking for bold colors, maximalist style, and tons of sparkles, look no further than Fluide. The company produces make-up, nail polish, glitter, and more for people of all gender expressions and skin tones. All of its products are cruelty-free and vegan. Plus, they’re free of parabens, formaldehyde, and phthalates, too. Fluide also emphasizes social justice initiatives by partnering with and donating to LGBTQ health and advocacy non-profits.

Jade and Fox Co.

Formerly known as Beelux Goods, Jade and Fox Co. creates and sells skincare products. The brand uses scientific research and natural, food-grade ingredients to hand-make all of its merchandise. Each item is packaged in a beautiful, minimalist container. This company is based in Atlanta, GA, and is run by Ashley Johnson.

Freck Beauty

Freck Beauty is a queer-owned cosmetics and skincare company. The business rose to popularity because of its unique product, Freck OG, which gives you long-lasting faux freckles. All of its products are cruelty-free, gluten-free, and vegan. It also makes cosmetics and skin products that are alcohol-, paraben-, and phthalate-free. Nasera Alayon, a queer graphic designer and the company’s co-owner, is the mastermind behind the business’ awesome branding.

These are just a few of the fantastic queer-owned cosmetic and beauty brands out there. Next time you are looking for new beauty products, consider buying from one of these LGBTQ-owned shops. Or you might also want to check out black-owned beauty brands for even more variety. You will not only get a great product, but you can rest assured knowing your money is going toward supporting marginalized communities.

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Canola oil
Canola oil is a multipurpose cooking oil that is relatively inexpensive. There are mixed opinions, however, on whether the oil is healthy or not. Keep reading to learn about canola oil.
Versatile uses
This oil is widely used in cooking, baking, and commercial food production. Its versatility is largely thanks to its mild and neutral flavor. Canola oil also has a high smoke point, which means you can cook it at very high heat without burning or smoking it. You can use canola oil for grilling, stir-frying, sautéing, and more. People also use it as a fat when baking desserts to produce the optimal moisture and texture.
High in healthy fatty acids and phytosterols
Determining whether canola oil is healthy or not is complicated. The oil is exceptionally high in omega-6 fatty acids, which can be great for heart health when consumed in moderation. However, when you have a diet that’s too high in omega-6 fats, it can actually increase systemic inflammation in the body leading to diabetes and other chronic ailments. Canola oil is also high in phytosterols, which absorb cholesterol. However, research has also found that increased consumption of this oil can be harmful to memory. A study looked at the impact of canola oil on mice with symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers discovered that the oil had a detrimental effect on their learning ability and memory. So, there are both pros and cons to the impact canola oil has on human health.
Low-cost cooking
Canola oil is one of the most affordable cooking oil options you can find at the grocery store. A one-gallon bottle of this cooking oil from Target costs between $5.59 and $6.99. The low price makes it an excellent option for most amateur cooks who don’t want to spend a fortune on cooking supplies.
https://www.target.com/p/canola-oil-1gal-128oz-good-38-gather-8482/-/A-78376310#lnk=sametab
https://www.target.com/p/crisco-canola-oil-128oz/-/A-47094915#lnk=sametab
Olive oil
While it’s often praised for its health benefits, olive oil is less versatile and more expensive than canola oil. Read on for more information.
Limited uses
While canola oil can be used to bake or cook almost anything, olive oil has much more specific uses. It has a low smoke point and a distinct, moderate flavor. This makes it challenging to use when baking or cooking recipes that require high heat. However, it is perfect for sautéing and roasting foods. Olive oil is also delicious when used as a salad dressing base or a topping for already cooked foods like grilled vegetables, pasta, and chicken.
Heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory, and more
Most experts agree that olive oil is generally a healthy option. It is naturally anti-inflammatory, thanks to the oil’s high levels of antioxidants like oleic acid and oleocanthal. Olive oil is also heart-healthy. It is high in monounsaturated fats and low in polyunsaturated fat. One study even found that regularly consuming olive oil lowered the chance of cardiovascular disease by 48%. Other studies have found links between eating olive oil and improved memory and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
Higher costs
Olive oil is also more costly than canola oil. For example, the largest bottle Target sells is about 50 fluid ounces (compared to 128 oz of canola oil). And though this container is smaller, it costs more, selling for $11.89. https://www.target.com/p/pure-olive-oil-50-8oz-good-38-gather-8482/-/A-77603776#lnk=sametab If you are making a recipe that calls for olive oil, this can be a worthwhile purchase. However, this cost can be prohibitive for general cooking use, especially for home chefs.

Because of their distinct uses, it’s helpful to have both canola oil and olive oil in your cabinet. For your health, you should use olive oil whenever possible. However, using a few tablespoons of canola oil when you’re cooking or baking is no cause for concern; it can still be good for your heart health when consumed in moderation. And while olive oil is more expensive, the health benefits it offers are well worth the extra cost. All in all, the best cooking oil depends on what you’re making, but olive oil is an overall healthier choice.

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