Think about your daily routine. From your hairbrush to the office fax machine, there exist certain products that facilitate your day from start to finish. And while you may not give much thought to who first invented those products, many of them likely came from the brains of women — genius female entrepreneurs. And when that’s true, we can all agree it’s a win-win, right? Your day is aided in some way by these products and, at the same time, you’re supporting female-run businesses.
Sure, you may not have realized it at the time. So, why not make it more purposeful? Fortunately for you (and for all of us, really), female entrepreneurs continue to kick ass and take names when it comes to creating ingenious products. A flushable pregnancy test? Yes, please. A travel kit that protects your accounts and identity when you’re on the fly? Sign us up. It’s not just empowering to support female creators and innovators — it’s practical. Because these brainy ladies are bringing the rest of us products that undoubtedly make our days easier and more interesting.
If you need a few ideas to kick off purchasing female-created products with intent, we’ve got you covered. Give the following ingenious items a try.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Bellabeat
If you love the idea of a fitness tracker but have never been too keen on the bulky designs, Bellabeat — the brainchild of Slovenian artist Urška Sršen (with Croatian mathematician Sandro Mur) — is for you. Designed to be worn all the time, this bio-tracker is both beautiful and functional. In the shape of a leaf and made of lightweight material in muted hues, it is chic but also sturdy and water-resistant. Wear it as a bracelet or necklace. Clip it to your bra. Heck, if you want it out of sight entirely, you can clip it to your panties.
Finess
Created by Jenna Mons Anderson (along with Thomas Berryman), Finess helps women with mild to moderate bladder leakage feel more confident in a way that is both discreet and effective. Made from a super soft foam that molds to your body, Finess is simply placed externally over the urethra. This stops any leaks before they occur, especially during moments of extra pressure — think when you sneeze or are completing an exercise move.
Cinder Grill
Do you have dreams of Michelin-starred meals but somehow wind up burning everything you cook? (Guilty as charged!) Shout a thanks into the universe toward Harvard grad Yinka Ogunbiyi, who created the Cinder Grill. This high precision indoor grill connects to an app on your phone so you can cook food evenly and at the right temperature every time.
Varelis Cyber Security Travel Kit
When you’re always on the go (and, let’s face it, we all are), you tote your world along with you — and when you’ve gotta work, that means you’re toting along tons of sensitive material on your laptop, in your phone and in your wallet. Enter Varelis Cyber Security travel kits, created by Laura Bell. Small enough to grab and go, these kits help keep your data safe by using a variety of tools like data blocking cables and two-factor USB security keys.
Lia
Leave it to a couple of lady bosses to come up with a super-clever solution to an often-overlooked problem. The issue? Traditional pregnancy tests are made from plastic and create a wealth of waste. Thanks to Lia’s all-female design team, led by co-founders Bethany Anderson and Anna Couturier, this pregnancy test minimizes plastic waste. Made from sustainable, biodegradable materials, Lia can actually be flushed.
Lioness Vibrator
Let’s not beat around the, ahem, bush — the pursuit of the perfect orgasm is a journey we’ve all taken. And Lioness, created by Liz Klinger and Anna Lee, which get you one step closer. This innovator vibrator helps you have better orgasms by culling real data from your arousal and orgasm. Bonus? It’s made from high-grade materials, is phthalate-free and non-porous.
Reel
OK, so this is more of an experience than a product. But still, stick with us because it’s worthy. Created by Daniela Corrente in 2016, this “guilt-free” shopping platform saves you from yourself. The gist? You browse items you want (Reel has partnered with hundreds of large retailers like Pottery Barn and Bloomingdales), choose how quickly you want to purchase them, and then link your bank account. Instead of adding to your debt, Reel starts putting a specified amount of money toward the purchase and will notify you when you have enough to place your order. Seriously, genius.
Kova
There are many benefits to bicycling, skating, scootering and the likes. Not only do such physical activities provide health benefits, but they’re also eco-friendlier than hopping in your car or hailing a cab. Kova makes it even easier to bike (and more) safely because this full customizable folding helmet packs down to a third of the size of a traditional helmet. No more excuses about not wanting to lug your helmet around with you all day! Did we mention it was created by a woman? ‘Cause Rachel Benyola’s the fempreneur responsible for Kova.
Branch Basics
We all have to clean — it’s one of those necessary evils in life. However, we don’t all have to expose ourselves to harmful toxins in the process. Creators Marilee Nelson, Allison Evans and Kelly Love created Branch Basics so women wouldn’t have to. These affordable and sustainable cleaning products feature a multipurpose/singe-formula concentrate solution so that you can dilute different amounts of water depending on your cleaning needs. And it goes without saying (but we’ll emphasize it) that these products contain no harmful preservatives or toxins.
Hero Backpacks
Admittedly, this wasn’t reinventing the wheel — backpacks have been around a hot minute. But founder Alissa Lentz’s Hero backpacks stand out for good reason. Each backpack shares the story of a heroic immigrant, person of color or woman who has changed the world in some way. The message encourages equality and tolerance, and the fact that a portion of the proceeds go toward paying tuition for deserving girls proves the company backs up that message.
Athena
Great for frequent travelers, joggers and, well, just about any other woman, Athena is a little device that delivers big peace of mind. For as small and subtle as it is, it allows you to send your location to friends or family so they know where you are and how to find you. And, if necessary, you can discreetly send a distress signal, too. Bonus? Not only does Athena have a female creator (Yasmine Mustafa), but it’s also made by ROAR for Good — a company that funds programs which teach empathy to youth.
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