Holiday Gift Ideas From Women-Founded Brands

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With the holiday season underway, many of us are looking for meaningful, intentional gifts that reflect the values we care about while supporting the creative and innovative people shaping industries in thoughtful ways.

This year, we’re shining the spotlight on companies founded or co-founded by women! From beauty staples to self-care reads to must-have sleepwear, the Spark Growth team shared their holiday gift picks below.

Molly’s Pick: Glossier

Emily Weiss, Founder and Executive Chairwoman

Glossier has long stood out for its modern, user-centric approach to beauty. Rooted in the idea that skincare should be intuitive rather than overwhelming, the brand has built a loyal community by emphasizing simplicity, playful design, and formulas that elevate natural skin rather than covering it. What began as a digital beauty community evolved into a product line crafted around real conversations and real needs.

Molly’s recommendation: Balm Dotcom

Why she loves it: Molly admires Glossier for its clean, effective products and its thoughtful design. “As a designer, I really love their packaging and attention to detail when designing their products. I think that they truly understand their customers, which is why they are able to create such a loyal community.”

Jackie’s Pick: Routine Natural Beauty

Neige and Pippa Blair, Co-Founders

Founded by two sisters in Canada, Routine Natural Beauty brings together high-quality ingredients, eco-friendly packaging, and scents designed to feel deeply personal. With botanical oils, gentle clays, and nutrient-rich blends, the brand creates personal care items that feel luxurious without compromising on clean formulations. As they put it, a “scent is like a fingerprint, and how you choose to smell tells a story.”

Jackie’s recommendation: Baking Soda Free – The Curator 58g Deodorant Jar

Why she loves it: Jackie shares, “I’ve tried several of their products, but I always go back to The Curator because it smells so luxurious and best of all, it works. I’ve been moving away from deodorants with aluminum, and I’m super happy I came across this brand!” To promote recycling, customers can also bring in their empty packaging and get a refill at a discount.

Madelaine’s Pick: Brianna Wiest

Author Brianna Wiest has built a global following through her deeply reflective and emotionally resonant books. Her work explores personal growth and the internal patterns that shape our lives. With millions of copies sold and translations across dozens of languages, her writing has become a meaningful companion for readers seeking clarity and self-understanding.

Madelaine’s recommendation: The Mountain Is You and The Pivot Year

Why she loves it: If you’re still looking for the perfect stocking stuffer, Madelaine has you covered with two book recommendations. “I’ve really been loving her wellness and self-help books,” she says. “I really respect her perspective of self-sabotage and how she challenges you to think differently, but still creates this sense of understanding and feeling seen by reading her work.”

Maddie’s Picks: Ilia and Tatcha

Ilia

Sasha Plavsic, Founder

Ilia has reimagined clean beauty by blending skincare benefits with makeup performance. Their formulas prioritize skin health while still offering the color payoff and texture people expect from high-quality cosmetics. With transparent ingredient lists and a commitment to creating products that look and feel natural, Ilia continues to push clean beauty into new territory.

Maddie’s recommendation: Balmy Tint Hydrating Lip Balm 

Why she loves it: “The clean ingredients and the way it feels on my lips make it a go-to for me,” says Maddie. “It smells great, applies beautifully, and the brand’s commitment to avoiding harmful ingredients makes it easy to trust.” What’s not to love?

Tatcha

Vicky Tsai, Founder and CEO

Inspired by Japanese skincare traditions, Tatcha blends time-honored philosophies with modern skin science. The brand’s origins trace back to founder Vicky Tsai’s journey toward healing her own skin and embracing wellbeing practices rooted in mindfulness. Today, Tatcha is known for its layered approach to hydration, soothing botanicals, and signature blends inspired by traditional Japanese superfoods.

Maddie’s recommendation: The Dewy Skin Cream

Why she loves it: Maddie explains, “The moisturizer felt high-quality, thick, and full of natural ingredients. I’m conscious of using products because of eczema/skin allergy, but after using it, it healed my skin so fast, so I’m convinced.”

Elissa’s Pick: Thrive Causemetics

Karissa Bodnar, Founder

Thrive Causemetics stands at the intersection of high-performance beauty and social impact. The brand develops makeup and skincare powered by science-backed formulas, all while maintaining a commitment to giving back. Through partnerships with hundreds of nonprofit organizations, every product purchased helps support women and communities in need.

Founded by makeup artist and product innovator Karissa Bodnar, Thrive Causemetics reflects her mission to create beauty solutions that uplift confidence and create meaningful change.

Elissa’s recommendation: Bright Balance™ Hydrating Gel Cleanser

Why she loves it: Elissa says the brand’s “high-performance clean beauty products that give back and empower women” is what won her over. Their dual focus on quality and impact makes Thrive a standout for gifting with purpose.

James’ Pick: GOLDE

Trinity Mouzon Wofford and Issey Kobori (Co-Founders)

Founded in Brooklyn and proudly woman- and POC-owned, GOLDE blends wellness with joy through vibrant, approachable superfood essentials. The brand is known for transforming everyday routines, like making a morning matcha, into moments that feel intentional and uplifting. With colorful, design-forward packaging and an emphasis on accessibility, GOLDE has built a following around simple, delicious wellness that fits seamlessly into daily life.

James’ Recommendation: Pure Matcha and Superwhisk

Why he loves it: James especially loves GOLDE’s matcha offerings, which he says “taste great and come in packaging that’s so well done.” The brand’s Superwhisk, a portable and USB-C–rechargeable frother, has also become a standout in his routine. As he puts it, it’s “incredible” for creating café-quality froth on the go. Together, these products make it easy to upgrade a daily beverage into something a little more special.

Christine’s Pick: The Body Shop

Anita Roddick (Founder)

For decades, The Body Shop has championed ethical beauty, pairing naturally inspired ingredients with a strong commitment to sustainability and community impact. The brand’s focus on cruelty-free formulations and accessible price points has made it a trusted staple for people looking for skincare that feels good to use and aligns with their values.

Christine’s Recommendation: Edelweiss Daily Serum Concentrate and Tea Tree Oil

Why she loves it: Christine highlighted two long-time favorites: the Edelweiss anti-aging serum, which she says helped soften fine lines and visibly brighten skin, and the brand’s tea tree oil, a reliable solution for calming breakouts. As someone prone to acne, she shared that the oil “helped minimize redness,” making it an easy go-to in her daily routine. For Christine, these products strike the right balance between gentle and effective, making them ideal gifts for anyone wanting a winter skincare refresh.

Jade’s Pick: Lemme

Kourtney Kardashian Barker (Co-Founder)

Founded with an emphasis on clean ingredients and functional wellness, Lemme creates supplements that are simple, transparent, and designed to support everyday health. Their formulas focus on real benefits, like improving digestion, easing stress, or supporting immunity, while maintaining a playful, accessible brand identity.

Jade’s Recommendation: Lemme Debloat Capsules

Why she loves it: Jade recommends the Debloat capsules, especially for anyone dealing with gut discomfort. After experiencing stomach issues in the past, she loves that this supplement “helps with overall gut health and bloating,” making busy days and big holiday meals feel a little easier. “I like that they are upfront about ingredients and that I can also swap to gummies if I want a flavour option.”

Onkar’s Pick: Nutrafol

Sophia Kogan (Co-Founder)

With a science-backed approach to hair wellness, Nutrafol has built its reputation on supporting fuller, stronger hair through targeted, dermatologist-recommended supplements. The brand combines clinically tested ingredients with a focus on addressing the root causes of shedding, like stress, hormones, and nutrition, making it a leader in the hair health space.

Onkar’s Recommendation: Women Hair Growth Nutraceutical

Why he loves it: Onkar was first drawn to Nutrafol after seeing its strong reviews and hearing positive stories from people he trusts. “A lot of people in my circle use it,” he shared, which made the decision to try it for his wife an easy one. The key reason he recommends the brand? “Because it works.” For anyone experiencing seasonal shedding or looking to invest in long-term hair health, Nutrafol offers a solution rooted in results and community trust.

Hua’s Pick: SOJA & CO.

Laurence Gaudreau-Pépin (Founder)

Based in Montreal and proudly women-owned, SOJA & CO. crafts home and body products that bring calm, comfort, and clean ingredients together. The brand is known for its small-batch, hand-poured creations made with natural soy wax and thoughtfully blended scents, each designed to create a soothing atmosphere without overwhelming the senses.

Hua’s Recommendation: Candle| Eucalyptus, Mint & Rosemary

Why he loves it: Hua’s top pick is the Eucalyptus, Mint & Rosemary candle, a refreshing yet grounding scent that instantly transforms his environment. “The scent is fresh, calming, and not overpowering, perfect for creating a relaxing vibe at home or on my desk while working.”

Akshay’s Picks: Our Place and Lunya

Our Place

Shiza Shahid (Co-Founder and Co-CEO)

Rooted in the belief that food brings people together, Our Place creates cookware that celebrates culture, community, and connection. The brand emphasizes inclusivity and storytelling, designing products that make home cooking easier, safer, and more joyful. Their pieces blend beauty with purpose, encouraging people to gather, share meals, and build traditions of their own.

Akshay’s Recommendation: Always Pan

Why he loves it: Akshay recommends the iconic Always Pan, appreciated for its thoughtful design and commitment to safer, non-toxic materials. “I like that Our Place focuses on making cookware that’s both beautiful and genuinely safer to use. The Always Pan is free from the harmful nonstick coatings that most pans use, and it still cooks perfectly without sticking. It feels well-made and looks great on the stove, so I end up leaving it out instead of hiding it in a cabinet.”

Lunya

Ashley Merrill (Founder)

Centered around the belief that rest is essential, Lunya designs sleepwear and loungewear that elevate the everyday moments spent relaxing, unwinding, or simply slowing down. The brand focuses on thoughtful materials and calming silhouettes, encouraging people to treat rest as something to be prioritized rather than rushed through.

Akshay’s Recommendation: Washable Silk Sleep Set

Why he loves it: “What I like about Lunya is how they make comfort feel effortless. The pieces are simple but well made, and the washable silk actually feels luxurious without being high maintenance.” To him, Lunya’s designs “quietly make evenings feel a bit more special,” offering a gift that supports restoration during a hectic season.

To (Gift)Wrap Things Up…

As we exchange gifts this season, there’s something meaningful about choosing items created by women who are reshaping their industries with intention and ingenuity. Whether through clean beauty, mindful wellness, ethical craftsmanship, or thoughtful design, these founders bring a sense of purpose to the products they create and to the communities they support.