If you fancy yourself a green beauty devotee, you would’ve noticed a rise in the presence of natural and organic beauty brands amongst mainstream Goliaths in-stores and online – a rather notable indication that our culture is evolving into one that pays the earth a little more attention. However, Sephora isn’t the only established beauty haven that’s welcomed these humble brands with open arms. Now, a drugstore isn’t exactly the first place you’d think to look, but if you’ve set foot into a Guardian or Watsons store recently, you’d find that a number of green beauty brands have actually found a (fingers crossed) permanent home there. So today, we’re charting the 10 natural beauty brands with products that’ll make excellent additions to your beauty routine.
AHAVA
Available at Guardian stores
You’re familiar with those beauty products that harness the power of the Dead Sea, right? Well, AHAVA’s practically a pioneer in that industry. It gathers healing minerals and nourishing ingredients directly from the Dead Sea to craft effective and luxurious skincare, bath, and body products, transforming your grimy bathroom into a relaxing spa. Although, you should really clean out your bathroom if it’s starting to look like a mud pit. Don’t be gross.
A’kin
Available at Guardian stores
A’kin’s philosophy is simple – akin (pun fully intended) to ours, actually. They formulate pure, fragrant skincare that’s enriched with botanical extracts, designed to nourish and pamper the skin. Back in 1987, the brand’s co-founder, Will Evans, noticed a gap in the market for effective natural beauty products and sought to create his own to fill it, and the rest is history.
Alba Botanica
Available at Watsons stores
If you can’t visit Hawaii anytime soon, let Alba Botanica’s products serve as an alternative way to experience the tropical island. The brand has a full range of natural, vegetarian products for your skin, hair, and body, and they’re packed with botanically-active ingredients that’ll nourish your entire being. We’re serious! Their formulations smell heavenly too, so we’re pretty confident that these will transport you to paradise in a whiff.
Avalon Organics
Available at Watsons stores
Combining their love for modern science and a deep reverence for our earth, the team behind Avalon Organics has thoughtfully curated beauty products from nature’s resources. The brand infuses key effective ingredients like lavender, rosehip, orange, and peppermint into their products to stimulate, calm, and hydrate. Our picks? Their haircare items we’re sure you’ve laid eyes on while perusing the aisle.
Derma-E
Available at Guardian stores
If you’re aching to uncover the secret behind famed YouTubers Alba Ramos and Marzia Bisognin‘s (Pewdiepie’s lady) unreal complexions, this brand is it. Derma-E has set high ethical standards for themselves so that they never budge on the quality, formulating their products with the most potent natural antioxidants and vitamins to deliver wholesome nutrients to the skin.
Ecotools
Available at Guardian & Watsons stores
Toss out all your makeup brushes (okay, maybe not), because you won’t be needing them anymore with Ecotools’ offerings. Sister duo Jen and Stacey Ramstedt are on a mission to make women look beautiful and feel good by keeping their eco-conscience clean. Their brush collection isn’t just environmentally friendly, they’re made with high-quality renewable bamboo, recycled materials that looks chic, and they’re affordable too – the best news for our wallets.
Essano
Available at Watsons
A couple of us here at NYLON are already fans of rosehip oil, which is what makes Essano such a great discovery. The brand’s star ingredient houses potent natural actives, powerful antioxidants and essential fatty acids, which makes it really effective on scars, stretch marks, and dehydrated complexions. Unexpected benefits? It balances out oily skin, reduces blemishes, and brightens dull, tired skin. Try them out and see for yourself.
The Herb Farm
Available at selected Watsons stores
Hailing from New Zealand, The Herb Farm prides itself on the fact that they’re products are made on-site with the purest ingredients harvested at their literal herb farm. I’ve had the privilege to speak to the lovely Sarah Cowan who’s the Managing Director of the beauty brand, and boy did I learn a thing or two about the process and practices that goes into crafting these products. Trust me, their ingredients lists have nothing to hide – just natural elements of the highest quality.
Sukin
Available at Guardian and Watsons stores
Now, Sukin is one that you probably already know and love. The Aussie beauty brand aims to provide “skincare that doesn’t cost the earth”, and that tagline is a pretty good indication of how serious they are about their formulations. Their aromatic lineup is one that’s not only easy on the wallet, it’s also made with ingredients that are naturally-sourced, cruelty-free, and vegan. Better yet, they’re 100% carbon neutral, biodegradable, and greywater safe.
Trilogy
Available at Watsons
Perhaps a brand that’s even more famed for its rosehip oil is Trilogy. Proving once again that the Kiwis really know natural beauty, Trilogy started out with 5 rosehip products that rapidly expanded to 40 thanks to a growing demand. The brand literally goes to the ends of the earth to locate nature’s most ingenious ingredients to create concentrated, effective formulations just for us. Don’t you feel special already?
Main Image: @ahava
