4 female pioneers who changed the skincare market and industry

As skincare continues to grow in popularity, women have access to more options than ever before: washes, creams, serums, peels, at-home tools like microdermabrasion and light therapy, and so much more. But this wasn’t always the case.

Before the 1800-1900s, women had limited access to resources that would help with concerns like acne, aging, and sun damage. Luckily, there have been several brilliant female entrepreneurs throughout history who felt women deserved better options and created them.

Thanks to these women, the skincare industry has continued to expand into the major market it is today. Get to know four of these female pioneers on the slideshow below.

C.J. Walker (1865-1919)

C.J. Walker has many notable accomplishments in skincare and hair-care history. She created one of the first skincare and hair-care lines for black women, which was incredibly successful. As a result, she became America’s first self-made female millionaire.

Her desire to create hair and skincare products came from a personal struggle with dandruff and hair loss. Not satisfied with what she found in the drugstore, she began looking for better alternatives. While working with another entrepreneur, she learned how to moisturize and nourish the scalp to promote growth.

With this knowledge, she created her own collection, which gave women of color a product made specifically for their natural hair. Her legacy in the skincare and hair-care industry lives on today and opened the door for other female entrepreneurs of color.

Helena Rubenstein (1870-1965)

Originally born in Poland, Helena ended up moving to Australia to live with her uncle once she turned 18. She brought along several pots of her mother’s beauty cream, and received so many compliments on her skin that she ended up opening a shop to sell the cream.

She was assisted by Helen MacDonald, who had used the cream and been impressed by it. Helena not only found success in Australia, but also in Europe, where she opened salons in London and Paris. During WWI, she and her husband moved to New York City, where her products thrived and advertised scientific benefits.

As a result, Helena opened several locations in the U.S., helped Hollywood stars with makeup looks, and was even commended by President Roosevelt for keeping women’s morale up during the war.

Elizabeth Arden (1881-1966)

While her given name was Florence Nightingale Graham, Florence went by the business name Elizabeth Arden. Her passion for skincare and beauty began when she worked as a bookkeeper for a pharmaceutical company and spent hours in their labs learning.

She also worked under Eleanor Adair, a beautician. In 1910, she opened her first salon in New York City with her partner Elizabeth Hubbard. While the partnership didn’t last, her career blossomed. Arden hired chemists to create her beauty line, which started with a face cream and lotion and later expanded to makeup.

Her marketing strategy helped change perceptions of makeup, turning it into a widely accepted and loved product by women across the world.

Estee Lauder (1906-2004)

A name that’s easily recognizable today, Estee Lauder made a profound impact on women’s skincare. While she was always interested in beauty, Estee’s skincare journey began when she helped her uncle, a chemist, with his company. Thanks to him, she learned how to create the mixes as well as apply them.

She was then inspired to create her own skincare and hair products, which she pitched to women in beauty salons. She launched Estee Lauder with her husband in 1946. Within their first year of business, they received an $800 order from Saks Fifth Avenue.

This, along with Estee’s passion for demonstrating her products in person, desire to never settle for less than the best, and love of infusing fragrance into her lines, helped the company become the empire it is today.

These are just a few of the women who have made an impact on skincare. There are so many others who we have to thank for their amazing contributions. Who has changed the skincare game for you? Let us know on our socials!

Unsung Female Pioneers Who Shaped the Beauty and Personal Care Industry

The history of the global skincare market is filled with the remarkable contributions of women who have laid the groundwork for today's thriving beauty and personal care industry. While figures like Helena Rubinstein and Estée Lauder are widely celebrated, many other influential women have played a key role in the development of skincare products, shaping consumer trends, and advancing the science behind personalized skincare. Their innovations have contributed to the market growth of the global skin care market and continue to inspire today's skincare industry trends. Below, we explore the stories of several lesser-known pioneers whose work has had a lasting impact on the beauty industry.

1. Florence Nightingale Graham: The Real "Elizabeth Arden"

While the name Elizabeth Arden is synonymous with beauty and luxury, few know the story of Florence Nightingale Graham, the woman behind the brand. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Graham had no formal background in science or beauty, but her passion for skincare and beauty products pushed her to explore innovative approaches to personal care.

Arden pioneered the concept of a holistic skincare regimen, promoting products that addressed both external beauty and skin health. Her contributions to the global skincare market size were immense, as she was one of the first to bring skincare into the mainstream through marketing and market research. By focusing on the everyday consumer, she helped popularize the use of facial skincare creams and lotions that catered to different skin types and skin concerns. Her influence on the skincare market share continues to be felt, particularly in the area of personal care products that combine skincare with makeup.

2. Anita Roddick: Advocate of Natural Skincare

A key figure in the natural skincare market, Anita Roddick founded The Body Shop in 1976 with a focus on ethical beauty products. Her groundbreaking work in promoting natural skincare products and environmentally sustainable practices set a new standard in the beauty and personal care industry. Roddick was ahead of her time, advocating for cruelty-free skincare solutions and using ethically sourced ingredients at a time when these ideas were not yet mainstream.

Roddick’s emphasis on using natural ingredients revolutionized the personal care industry, particularly in the natural skincare segment. Her approach helped shift consumer trends toward more environmentally and socially conscious beauty products, paving the way for today's global skincare market which increasingly focuses on organic skincare. Roddick’s advocacy for fair trade and community-driven sourcing also resonated with consumers and helped expand the market for natural skincare products, making her one of the most influential figures in the skincare market.

3. Marjorie Joyner: Innovator in Hair and Skincare

Though often associated with hair care, Marjorie Joyner also contributed significantly to the development of skincare products for African American women. A trailblazer in her own right, Joyner was one of the first African American women to receive a patent for a beauty product — the permanent wave machine, which revolutionized hair styling. However, her innovations went beyond hair care.

Joyner collaborated with Madam C.J. Walker, one of the most famous names in the beauty industry, to develop comprehensive personal care routines that addressed both hair and skincare needs. This partnership helped open doors for other women of color to enter the beauty market, as Joyner and Walker’s efforts directly contributed to expanding the skincare market size for products aimed at African American women. The personalized skincare approach that catered to specific skin types and hair textures, which Joyner advocated for, still influences today’s skincare industry trends.

4. Mary Kay Ash: Democratizing Beauty

Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, is another pioneer who transformed the skincare market by making beauty products accessible to everyday women through direct selling. While most beauty companies focused on high-end retail, Ash empowered women to become independent business owners by selling skincare and cosmetic products directly to consumers. This innovative model dramatically increased the market share of her brand and helped democratize the beauty industry.

Mary Kay’s focus on skincare routines for various skin types and her commitment to high-quality skincare ingredients were key drivers of her brand’s success. She also tapped into growing consumer trends around personal care and beauty by offering customizable products that addressed common skin concerns like acne, aging, and sun damage. Today, Mary Kay is a global brand with a significant presence in the global skincare market, thanks in part to Ash’s emphasis on personalized skincare solutions and her understanding of beauty consumer trends.

5. Polly Bergen: Celebrity Skincare Visionary

Polly Bergen, an actress and entrepreneur, made significant contributions to the skincare market in the 1960s with her creation of one of the first celebrity-endorsed beauty lines. Bergen understood the power of celebrity influence on consumer trends long before the rise of modern influencer marketing. She developed a range of skincare products aimed at helping women maintain youthful skin and promoted these products through television and print advertisements.

Bergen’s skincare formulations were designed to address the effects of aging, with a focus on anti-aging skin care products that helped women achieve a more youthful appearance. Her brand tapped into a growing demand for cosmetic products that provided not just beauty benefits, but also skincare benefits. Bergen’s contributions helped push the global skin care market toward a greater focus on skincare regimens tailored to specific skin concerns, particularly within the facial skincare and body care segments.

The Evolving Landscape of Skincare

As these pioneers have shown, the skincare market has always been shaped by bold and visionary women who saw the potential for innovation in beauty and personal care. Today, their contributions have laid the groundwork for a dynamic global skincare market that is constantly evolving. With the rise of new skincare technologies, natural skincare products, and personalized skincare options, the industry continues to cater to diverse skin types and consumer trends.

The global skin care market size is projected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by a combination of market research, innovation in skincare ingredients, and an increased focus on natural skin care and skincare solutions. This growth is further supported by the rise of Gen Z and millennial consumers who prioritize organic skincare and personal care products that align with their values.

In conclusion, while many of the women who shaped the modern beauty industry are household names, there are countless others whose contributions continue to influence skincare market trends and innovations. From market insights to market drivers, their legacies live on in the thriving personal care industry, where the demand for high-quality, personalized skincare products continues to grow.