Last Updated on January 30, 2022
When you first get into green beauty it’s mostly the big brands you hear about. Lush was definitely my (and probably most people’s) introduction to more natural products, then I found 100% Pure, and moving to Germany it was easy to get brands like Lavera and Weleda. However one of my favourite things now is discovering small, indie brands who make wonderful products. So I want to share a few favourites I’ve tried.
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Sḵwálwen Botanicals
I have been using Sḵwálwen’s skincare products for a couple years now and dare I say, have found the perfect routine for my skin?
Sḵwálwen is an Indigenous-owned brand crafting skincare products from sustainably wild-harvested plants and organic ingredients in the Canadian Pacific Northwest. I have been using a simple combination of their Tewín’xw Cranberry Facial Bar for cleansing followed by their Tewín’xw Cranberry Rose Facial Serum for moisturizing and it has done more for my skin redness than any other product.
I also really like their Kalkáy Wild Rose Face Masque although it is very different than most mask – it’s oil-based, very nourishing, and especially amazing for dry winter skin.
Oil + Water
This small batch skincare brand is all hand made in New York with a focus on minimal, high quality, beneficial ingredients. After trying out their starter set I fell in love with the gentle, moisturizing skin care routine (you can watch a skincare video I did in partnership with Oil + Water here).
My favourite product of theirs is probably the face oil, it absorbs nicely without being too heavy or greasy. They also have a beautiful face mist, clay mask, and soaps – basically everything I’ve tried I’ve loved. ☺️ Plus I also have a discount code – with MYGREENCLOSET10 you can get 10% off the Oil + Water line!
Magic Organic Apothecary
I first discovered this UK brand through the owner of The Choosy Chick (which is a great place to order it in North America). All of MOA’s skincare products are made in England with a strong focus on yarrow, which is a herb with a rich history of healing, that they combine with other herbal extracts and oils. Their Hello Sunshine body oil has been amazing for summer and has such a great bright, citrusy scent.
Probably the product I love most though is their Green Balm – it has been my go-to multi-purpose product especially when camping and road-tripping this summer. It can be used as an oil cleanser and to remove makeup and I’ve also found it great for any dryness (which I’m getting a lot more since moving back to dry Alberta) as well as bug bites, itchiness, redness/irritation, and I even put it on sunburns.
The Innate Life
This Canadian hair care brand started with only a few hair treatments but have slowly been expanding their range. They focus on beneficial herbs, botanical blends, and high quality ingredients. While I love using their shampoo and conditioner, my top picks would actually be their scalp treatment – it’s amazing for dryness and to nourish your scalp, and also their rose hair elixir – a few drops can really help dry ends and frizziness.
I love finding brands that value natural ingredients and work hard to create formulas that deliver all those beneficial plant properties to our skin and hair. Learning more about green beauty has been such a cool journey – it’s incredible all the amazing properties and things plants can do for our skin and bodies!
What are your favourite natural ingredients or indie green beauty brands?
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Photos using the products outside by Dennis Wilhelms Photography
Updated Jan 30, 2022
Agnes
For Europe (Austria / Germany), I want to recommend especially “Pure Skin Food” for face care and “Less is more” for hair care, both from Austria and producing locally there. Both brands seem similar and comparable to the ones that you mentioned regarding their approach, philosophy and products.
“Pure Skin Food” offer face products in a layering system, 100% organic and vegan. I use a toner and face oil (before, I always used conventional creams). They also offer body products.
“Less is more” offer organic certified products especially for hair but also for body and scents. I use their products for irritated scalp which seem to help the best so far of all the products and methods I tried.
Verena Erin
I unfortunately was kind of disappointed in Pure Skin Food’s mask I used – it was really messy and didn’t seem to do anything. Haven’t tried their oils or other products though.
Less is More sounds interesting, I’ll check them out! Thanks for the rec 🙂
Agnes
You are welcome!
To be fair, it is my first experience with a layering system for skin care, with a liquid toning moisteriser (I use Everlasting Rose) and oil (I use the one for dry and mature skin), so I can’t really compare. At least these products work for me.
Maybe I get a chance to get some US- (or Canada) based brands that you recommended when I will be in Chicago in April, especially the hair products of “The Innate life”.
Regarding “Less is more”, I use their “Neem scalp relieve shampoo” and their “Herbal tonic”.
Thank you for your helpful content and your mission or approach of informing about and promoting sustainable lifestyle in a positive way!
Henna
I heard about The Innate Life though didn’t try their product yet. But after reading this beautiful review, I’m very much interested to use their product. Especially that herbal shampoo is really impressive. I will definitely try this shampoo and yes, let you know my feedback also. 🙂