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From groundbreaking health supplements to sustainable period care, discover the best female-founded brands making a difference – and meet the inspiring minds behind them
Our top picks
Absorbent and reusable
Flo
Flo Period Pants – Size Medium UK 10-12
25% off
£12.75
£17.00
Soothes tired and sore muscles
Fushi
Really Good Muscle & Joints Oil 100ml
25% off
£16.50
£22.00
Binds moisture, tames frizz
CurlyEllie
Curlyellie Curl Defining Leave-In Conditioner 250ml
£14.30
Amidst a sea of startups, only one in five in the UK is headed up by a female founder. And despite an impressive 76% growth since 2003, women entrepreneurs remain a rare gem.1
The good news is that we care more about the sustainability, ethics and people behind our fave brands more than ever. According to a
2025 Forbes survey, nearly half of us favour shopping from small businesses, and over a third are making eco-friendly and sustainable purchases a regular habit.
Get ready to empower women and up your wellness game with our top picks of female-owned H&B products. Plus, their founders share what it takes to create a successful business and their biggest wellness tips for taking care of themselves.
Top female-owned wellbeing products to try
The game-changing perimenopause supplement
When entering perimenopause, it’s often the little healthy habits that can help you through. These supplements contain a blend of ingredients like vitamin B6 and magnesium to support your mind and body during this life stage.
“We founded Health & Her out of frustration for better support in women’s health in the market,” says Kate Bache, co-founder (alongside Gervase Fay) and CEO. “We noticed a lack of wellbeing products and information for women experiencing hormonal changes – like starting hormonal contraception or entering perimenopause.”
To address this, they created a range of self-care support – backed by extensive research – including their helpful perimenopause supplement and a self-care app for menopause.
“One of the biggest hurdles was securing funding to develop a business focused on a topic considered ‘taboo’ and predominantly female-centric in an investment landscape largely dominated by men,” she explains. “We strategically leveraged the perspectives of the investors’ support for their female friends, partners or wives. We highlighted the universal relevance of our products.”
Take one capsule daily with food or as directed by a healthcare professional.
Kate’s wellbeing tip
“I recently attended a fire and ice retreat – moving from hot yoga to a freezing plunge pool. I learnt how to develop control over my breathing, which also allowed me to control my fight or flight response when I was gasping for breath in the water. The breathing technique was box breathing, which involves inhaling, holding, exhaling and holding your breath in a 4-4-4-4-second pattern. By the fifth plunge into the cold water, I could relax and just enjoy the experience. I now use this when I’m feeling stressed or trying to recover from a workout.”
The uplifting body wash to enjoy anytime
A vegan body wash that uses orange and grapefruit oils upcycled from the juice industry? Genius. Plus, Faith in Nature has just launched their products in refillable aluminium containers.
Rivka Rose founded the brand after moving from California to Scotland and realised that natural products in the UK were too expensive for most people. “My background is in aromatherapy and herbalism, so I set about creating products made from natural ingredients everyone could afford,” says Rivka.
“We’ve now been doing this for 50 years. The biggest challenge has been awareness of what we do and recognising its need. For much of that time, we’ve been relatively small, so we’ve relied on the shifting of the bigger cultural narrative.
“There was never any question that we’d change our ethics or standards, so we kept doing our best, trusting things would change. Perhaps we didn’t expect to be waiting quite this long — but it’s brought a whole new meaning to our name ‘Faith In Nature’.”
Fun fact: Holland and Barrett was the first retailer of Rivka’s Orange Soap in the 1970s!
Lather up in your shower and let the citrus aromas of the natural oils fill your bathroom.
Rivka’s wellbeing tip
“Doing something you love is one of the best ways to improve your mood. Walking, baking, Pilates, gardening and listening to classical music are my favourites.”
The tasty brew that’s packed with antioxidants
Made with the finest Japanese green tea leaves, this high-grade matcha is the ideal morning brew.
Before launching OMGTea, Katherine noticed a gap in the market and wanted to create a specialist matcha green tea company. But the biggest challenge was taking the product to Dragons’ Den – “Only two out of five of the Dragons knew what matcha was!” She walked away without support but persevered and eventually secured investment from the world’s biggest producer of matcha, Aiya Japan.
Add to your smoothie or create a matcha latte by placing half a heaped teaspoon of matcha into a mug or bowl. Mix a few drops of 80°C water to create a paste, then fill with more 80°C water or your choice of milk and whisk until frothy and smooth.
Katherine’s wellbeing tip
“Besides my matcha ritual, I try to go for a 20-minute run every morning. I listen to podcasts while running, and not only do they motivate me for the day ahead, I often get lightbulb idea moments, too.”
The moisture-locking curl cream
This leave-in conditioner is natural, effective and made with quinoa, which helps hair retain moisture.
“The brand began with my daughter Ellie,” says founder Zaina OHalloran. “She was just two years old, and managing her gorgeous curls became a struggle – her hair would tangle as it was thick.
“That’s when I decided to create something myself. I spent years researching and carefully selecting ingredients that were kind to skin but also kept Ellie’s curls soft and hydrated. It quickly became something bigger – there were so many people who needed help embracing and loving their curls.
“Managing a business and looking after my growing family, including twin girls, was probably one of the harder parts of the journey. I remember making up our first orders in shoe boxes and propping them on the twins’ buggy to walk to the post office to send them to customers. That was eight years ago!”
Apply the conditioner to damp or wet hair, paying special attention to the ends. Comb through with your fingers and leave to air-dry or diffuse on low heat.
Zaina’s wellbeing tip
“Running a business is much harder than I ever imagined. That’s why I try to unplug and recharge every quarter. I take time to visit a country, city or town that inspires me. These trips are my ultimate form of self-care – letting go of the daily grind and allowing space for relaxation and inspiration.”
The oil to soothe muscles post-workout
Ayurvedic herbs like ashwagandha and tulsi make this oil worth adding to your roster – especially if you regularly train, run or play sports.
“Together with my partner and co-founder, Rannesh, we were inspired by a love for wellness and the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda (an ancient form of medicine with historical roots in India),” says Ria Pattni, co-founder of Fushi Wellbeing.
“Growing up with our grandparents’ teachings, we developed a profound appreciation for herbs, their benefits and finding sustainable solutions and remedies to everyday concerns.”
The quality of their ingredients has always been paramount. “Prioritising transparency, we worked directly with farmers and remained at the heart of every decision. We learned to manufacture from scratch and established our own workshop to gain full control over quality. This allowed us to bring our farm-to-bottle concept to life.”
Massage into your muscles in circular movements, morning and night. Focus on areas where required such as massaging tired knees, hips, back, neck and shoulders. The oil can also be used as a bath oil and works well with an Epsom salts.
Ria’s wellbeing tip
“My favourite self-care ritual is self-massage, known as Abhyanga. I also love giving myself a head massage with our Really Good Hair Oil – this truly creates a deep sense of wellness and relaxation.
“These practices aren’t just about physical care but are more like acts of self-love. They remind me to slow down, reconnect, and prioritise my wellbeing.”
The reusable underwear that locks in your flow
Here We Flo has ethics we can more than get on board with. Their products are vegan and made from eco-friendly materials, and they donate 5% of their profits to people in need. Plus, their period pants can hold up to four tampons worth of blood, so zero leaks.
“I met Tara, my co-founder, best friend and platonic soulmate during our masters programme at The London School of Economics,” says Susan Allen, Here We Flo’s co-founder and chief brand officer. “We came up with the idea for Here We Flo in the LSE loos between lectures.
“I wanted to take on the toxic patriarchy, while Tara couldn’t find organic tampons anywhere. So, we started the brand to fight shame and stigma around life’s messiest moments and make fiercely natural care mainstream.
“One of the challenges instrumental to our growth was not having access to a lot of capital when we started. It forced us to be scrappy and to think outside the box. Honestly, it's part of the reason why our tampons ended up in an ice-cream tub!’”
Simply wear, wash and reuse during your period.
Susan’s wellbeing tip
“Move your body every day. Whether that’s a walk, run or a class. For me, moving is important because it quiets my mind and gives me a chance to focus on something that isn’t my business, my kids or just the general worries of life. Working out and challenging myself feels like a way of reminding myself that I can do hard things.”
The final say
Choosing the best wellness products can be overwhelming, but exploring the roots and people behind the brand can help you dig deeper into the research and values powering their ethos.
With female founders on the rise – there are now 1.6 million female-owned businesses in the UK and counting – it’s easier than ever to put women-led brands at the top of your shopping list.
This article provides informational advice and is not a substitute for medical care. Curated by experts for accuracy, we take great care to ensure the information is up-to-date and relevant. However, you should always consult your GP or healthcare professional before using supplements or alternative products, particularly if you have medical conditions or are under supervision.
1. Shehadi S. Women Founded a Record Number of Businesses in 2023. Here’s Why. [Internet]. The 1st Blog. 1st Formations Limited; 2024. Available from: https://www.1stformations.co.uk/blog/women-founded-record-number-of-businesses/
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