The Sin City star's natural lifestyle firm The Honest Company has been growing exponentially since its launch in 2012, and was recently valued at $1.7 billion.

Despite her success, Alba's achievements are often compared to those of Gwyneth Paltrow, who launched her Goop lifestyle newsletter in 2008, and now oversees a popular website, inspired various pop-up shops and an upcoming beauty line.

Alba admits she isn't fond of the frequent comparisons between her and other business-savvy actresses, implying that no one suggests male stars who own their own side companies are alike or competing.

She tells Allure magazine, "What I think is unfair is to lump actresses together. People aren't lumping (part-time restaurateurs, designers, brand leaders and entrepreneurs) Justin Timberlake and Ashton Kutcher together.

"They do other businesses. I think it's expected that when you get success in one area, you're supposed to evolve and try to do something else - especially in business, and especially if you're a man."

Paltrow previously echoed Alba's sentiments in a Time magazine interview in June (15), saying, "I'm fascinated how the media in particular are so confounded by entrepreneurial women doing something outside of their box.

"Jessica, especially, who's a friend of mine - our businesses could not be more different... Yes, there are similarities. But there aren't stories in TIME written saying, 'Wow, look at Arnold Schwarzenegger, who did x, y, and z!' I feel there's something slightly misogynistic about it."

In addition to Alba and Paltrow, stars such as Reese Witherspoon, Blake Lively and Shay Mitchell all run popular lifestyle brands.

Alba and Witherspoon met up at The Honest Company's headquarters recently, sparking rumours they were planning a cross-branding project, but both entrepreneurs insisted they met up for a brainstorming session.