The Glossy 50 honors the year’s biggest changemakers across fashion and beauty. More from the series →
The people behind the brands reshaping the industries.
The year in media was marked by layoffs, but on Substack — co-founded by CEO Chris Best — there was a renaissance, particularly in fashion. Creators, some of whom once had careers in traditional journalism, have flocked to the platform where they can write and create independently, free of the demands of advertisers, and a boss.
Five years ago, Starface launched with a mission to disrupt the skin-care category. It has since grown to a nearly $90 million business. Now, Starface is in expansion mode under the leadership of Kara Brothers, the brand’s president since January 2022.
Co-founded by Julie Chapon in 2017, the Yuka app started as a tool for French shoppers to better understand the health impacts of packaged food products while browsing the aisles of their grocery store. It has since expanded to offer ratings for beauty and personal care products including shampoo, soap and color cosmetics.
This year, Willy Chavarria, the creative force behind his self-named label and svp of design at Calvin Klein, strengthened his prominent placement in the fashion industry. Known for his powerful blend of cultural commentary and fashion, Chavarria continued to use his designs to amplify messages about human dignity, inclusivity and the diverse expressions of American identity.
Accelerator and incubator programs are a dime a dozen in the beauty industry, but Ulta Beauty’s MUSE program is different. “We want this [program] to be the beginning of a groundswell movement,” Jessica Phillips, vp of merchandising at Ulta Beauty, told Glossy. “What’s important right now is not resting on our laurels.”
Megababe has had a big year. “We doubled our retail footprint [by launching at Walmart]; we launched Butt Stuff, a product I’ve been trying to get out for multiple years; we did our first big marketing campaign with a streaming commercial and bus advertisements; … and I met Oprah,” said co-founder Katie Sturino. “I don’t know what else you could want.”
Ten years after its creation, the nail-care brand Olive & June is closing in on $100 million in annual revenue. The company, which began with a nail salon in Beverly Hills, transitioned to selling at-home nail care during the pandemic. At the end of November, it was acquired by Helen of Troy for $240 million — founder and CEO Sarah Gibson Tuttle is staying on board.
