Two of the Most Powerful Women in Beauty Work in the Bay Area

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Last week, Women's Wear Daily released its power-rankings of the 50 most powerful women in beauty, and there are two notable San Francisco players on the list.

Bare Minerals founder Leslie Blodgett —now Executive Chairman of Bare Escentuals— ranked fourth on the list, with WWD calling her "beauty's most successful sounding board" and noting her strategic placement "at the epicenter of where Silicon Valley meets Indie beauty and beyond."

Julie Bornstein —Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Digital Officer for Sephora USA— ranked fifth, thanks to her status as "the most plugged-in woman in beauty." The trade pub reports that Bornstein "quadrupled Sephora's e-commerce business as head of digital, and was rewarded with oversight of all of the retailer's marketing activities-online and off."

The tech industry may not embrace women, but at least the region's booming beauty business knows how to cultivate —and keep— smart women.