ICYMI, the beauty industry—skincare, especially—is overflowing with products and brands labeled clean, natural, nontoxic, vegan, cruelty-free, organic, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Kidding on that last one, but you get the idea. It's hard to know where to start, what to look for, and to be honest, what's actually going to be effective and worth your hard-earned money. One not-so-splendorous side effect of the natural skincare movement? The pothole-esque damage it's left on our bank accounts. (For the most part, you really get what you pay for with naturally inclined formulas, so some heavy cash-lifting is just par for the course.)
Luckily, being the beauty hoarder/editor/all-around guinea pig that I am, I've tried and vetted the majority of notable organic skincare brands in the business and keep a running list of the best ones touting the purest of ingredients lists, prettiest of packaging, and most double take–worthy of results. Ahead, 17 of the best organic skincare brands in the game right now and the number one product to try from each. Plus, since I have a hard time playing favorites, I've included a few other honorable mentions for each as well. On your mark, get set, scroll!
I'm truly obsessed with every organic skincare brand on this list, but I have to be 100% honest that Tata Harper is my absolute favorite. As Mary Poppins would say (if organic skincare was a thing back in 1910 London), each of their dreamy formulas is practically perfect in every way. The products are formulated from organic ingredients harvested from the brand's Vermont-based farm, and you'll even find the (very fresh) batch number etched into the bottom of each pretty green bottle. It's hard to pick a favorite when the brand is overflowing with them, but this multitasking cleanser is one of those It products every single beauty lover deserves to try in their lifetime—you'll glow. Honorable mentions: Resurfacing Mask ($65), Be Adored Tinted Lip Treatment ($32)Out of all the creams and lotions we see makeup artists slather on their A-list clientele, this formula from Swiss-born organic skincare brand Weleda is one of the most common. The brand believes nature offers the best solutions for every beauty or wellness woe, and in addition to being certified organic, its products are also cruelty-free, vegan, and free from synthetic compounds and toxic chemicals. Plus, we have the inside scoop that the brand has some exciting new skin launches up its sleeves, so keep your eyes peeled. Honorable mentions: Hydrating Body & Beauty Oil ($25), Sensitive Care Calming Oil ($30)A couple of years ago, I received one of the best facials of my life, and the esthetician used products from Hungarian-farmed skincare brand Éminence almost exclusively. Not only are the products exquisitely made, beautiful, and addictively yummy-smelling, but they also represent the crème de la crème of organic skincare. The brand has been using sustainable farming and green practices to create natural, organic, and biodynamic products since 1958. Plus, celebs such as Jennifer Lawrence, Meghan Markle, Victoria Beckham, and, wait for it, Chris Hemsworth are known fans. This cult-loved oil is a combination of rose hip and vitamins C and E, and it's richly packed with antioxidants and wrinkle-busting hydration. Honorable mentions: Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant ($48), Bamboo Firming Fluid ($62)Brimming with the most luscious of natural and organic skincare ingredients, True Botanicals is another celebrity favorite—think Olivia Wilde, Laura Dern, and Zazie Beetz—and one of the buzziest brands at the moment, probably because its formulas are just so damn effective. This hydration-packed exfoliating mask features lactic acid, avocado butter, and astaxanthin and does the work of a one-hour facial in under 10 minutes. Plus, thanks to other additions like jasmine, ylang-ylang, and bergamot, it has the added perk of smelling like a fall-spiced cookie. Honorable mentions: Vitamin C Booster ($90), Cellular Repair Serum ($140)Friends, if you're not familiar with *insanely* gorgeous organic skincare brand Monastery, A) I'm excited to introduce you and B) please go by everything in its intimate lineup of skin savors. After only hearing the most wonderful praise for the brand, I only just got my hands on its coveted formulas, and they're every bit as beautiful and magical as I had hoped. The brainchild of esthetician Athena Hewett, the brand's formula boasts delicate blends of non-irritating essential oils with ingredients that hail only from the highest-quality and purest of forms. Even more special, they're made in small batches at Monastery's San Francisco–based studio. Flora, the brand's newest launch, is a dreamy hyaluronic acid solution that's anchored with other key players like ximenynic acid, ellagic acid, and phytosterols to moisturize, preserve youthfulness, soothe, firm, and brighten. Apply it in lieu of your normal moisturizer—yes, it's really that skin-quenching! Honorable mentions: Rose Cleansing Oil ($43), Attar Floral Repair Concentrate ($158)Indie Lee is a beloved darling within the organic skincare world. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor and given six months to live in 2009 (fast-forward: the brain tumor was successfully removed), Lee made it her mission to educate and empower others to make healthy and informed lifestyle choices and to develop a line of clean products that were backed by science and effective, while also being safe. She started by making products in her kitchen, and the rest is history. Personally, I haven't tried a single product I wasn't blown away by, and everyone I talk to who has dabbled in the brand seems to wholeheartedly agree. This cleanser is a go-to for my quick-to-congest skin, and the unique concoction of strawberry seed oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein, and tomato extracts works harmoniously to strengthen, firm, and protect. Another fun perk? It does double duty as an exfoliating mask if you leave it on for five minutes prior to rinsing. . Honorable mentions: I-Waken Eye Serum ($48), CoQ-10 Toner ($34)Pai is one of my favorite skincare brands, period. (And I'm talking outside of the organic realm too!) The philosophy is simple, and the brand believes the highest-quality organic ingredients create the best-performing products. The brand hunts down the most effective and exciting organic ingredients in the world (all are tested and certified), and then the expert formulating begins. Based in London, the brand has amazing reach and ships to over 100 countries worldwide. They have numerous standouts, but right now, I'm especially hooked on this richly moisturizing eye cream. The season shift and allergies have left my eyes and the surrounding area dry and cranky, but this concentrated mixture of omega-3 and -6 has been the most soothing of antidotes. Honorable mentions: Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream ($60), Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil ($44)If there were a skincare brand I could literally dive into and stay awhile, it would be the organically enchanted apothecary-like products from May Lindstrom. The consistency and formulations are luxurious and dreamily scented, and the ingredient lists are so clean you could legitimately eat them. However, they also do amazing work on a lackluster complexion. Everything is crafted in micro-batches, and as the brand describes on its website, the commitment extends from seed to bottle and into the consumers' hands—a promise to deliver the world’s most nutrition-stacked yet effective plant medicine for the skin. Pretty much every product in the brand's short and sweet lineup has made a name for itself as a cult-favorite, but I legitimately don't know what I would do without this multitasking cerulean-hued balm. I use it everywhere—from my vampirey under-eyes to my stubbornly dry and cracked elbows. Also, the scent is beautiful and what I would imagine fairy blood to smell like. It's an investment, but a little goes a long way, so one jar will literally last you forever. Honorable Mentions: The Problem Solver Correcting Masque ($100), The Clean Dirt Brightening Exfoliant Treatment ($70)Inspired by the magic of French skincare, Odacité is by far one of the best organic skincare brands in the industry and consistently debuts amazingly pure and effective products. A melding of French luxury and the green and clean philosophy of California living, the brand makes it hard to pick a favorite, but I'm very devoted (as are many celebs!) to adding a few of these nutrient-rich drops into my favorite serums, moisturizers, and masks. The customizability factor is ingenious and boundless! Honorable mentions: Blue Aura Cleansing Water ($39), Green Ceremony Cleanser ($58)Of course, Goop is one of my all-time favorite beauty retailers, but its namesake collection of organic skincare is applause-worthy in its own right. I've legitimately tried every single product from the brand, and there wasn't one potion I didn't like. However, certain things agreed with my skin more than others and will remain in my regimen for eternity. First and foremost, this body oil that singlehandedly converted me into a body oil stan, whereas before I pretty much abhorred the category. The skin-perfecting mix of Indian black pepper oil and Bulgarian rose is overwhelmingly lovely. Honorable mentions: G.Tox Malachite + Fruit Acid Pore Purifying Cleanser ($48), GoopGlow 15% Glycolic Overnight Glow Peel ($125)I've pretty much made it my life mission to enlighten as many people about Maya Chia's magic as possible. The brand's hero ingredient (not surprisingly) is nutritional powerhouse chia seed, alongside other skin benefactors that are organic, approved by Eco-Cert, natural, and sourced from conscious growers across the world. I have about five of its lovely formulas on my vanity, but this hydrating mist is incomparable—and that's coming from someone who has tried every mist from every single beauty brand on the market right now. My secret hack is not only spritzing it directly onto my complexion when it needs a boost but also using it to saturate my Beautyblender pre-makeup. It's game-changing. Honorable mentions: Refresh Mint Mask ($68), The Highlight of The Day Illuminating Serum ($42) Would it be enough for me to tell you Victoria Beckham (according to her IG) is obsessed with Osea Malibu's organic, seaweed-spiked skincare formulas? Of course, its mermaid-esque products are also beauty editor–approved and amazing for re-creating a spa-like skincare routine at home. Whenever my skin has been flaring up, I use this black-algae mask, and my complexion instantaneously is back to more compliable behavior. It's an amazing multitasking option with a pretty melding of fig, pineapple, and pumpkin utillize natural enzymes to gently exfoliate your skin to reveal a brighter clarity and ethereal glow to the skin. Honorable mentions: Undaria Algae Oil ($48), Ocean Cleanser ($48)Hands down, Herbivore would win the top prize if it came down to majestic packaging—but the organic skincare brand also has a knack for creating the dreamiest products that are not only efficacious but also beloved by estheticians. (This is not an easy feat as we rarely hear derms and facialists tout anything other than clinical-grade formulas.) This AHA- and BHA-spiked serum is the brand's newest baby, and it's heaven-sent for anyone looking to upgrade their radiance and improve skin texture and tone in one fell swoop. The strategic addition of rose water keeps the formula balanced and your skin calm and soothed despite the potent actives doing the dirty work they're designed to do. Honorable mentions: Rose Quartz Illuminating Body Oil ($48), Emerald CBD + Adaptogens Deep Moisture Glow Oil ($58)Inspired by the legends of Grecian goddess Aphrodite and her exotic and detoxifying beauty rituals, Kypris was born. Luxurious and holistic in nature, Kypris is a high-efficacy skincare brand steeped in organic, wild-crafted, and sustainably grown botanicals. The result according to the brand? "An ecstatic experience of your divinely unique Beauty and Being." Um, in. I've had the pleasure of testing numerous products from Kypris, and right now, its brand-new moisturizer is on my "highly addicted to" list. It's lightweight, great for both morning and night, and brimming with practically holy ingredients like hemp, bacillus, glutathione, jasmine, and baobab. Honorable mentions: Moonlight Catalyst ($98), Pot of Shade: Heliotropic ($75)Tammy Fender still flies under the radar, but the holistic facialist's handcrafted potions are the undiscovered gems your regimen has been searching for. Tammy herself is an angel who gives out-of-this-world facials that will transform your face, mood, and energy in just 60 minutes—so there's also that. She's also considered the holistic skin guru by notable names like Gwyneth Paltrow and Julianne Moore. So obviously, her namesake line of products is off-the-charts wonderful, and the cult-loved Epi-Peel will change the way your face looks, feels and reacts. After she used it on me, I looked like I had my own halo the rest of the day and attracted an absurd number of compliments. Now I used it every single week as part of my skin ritual. (Just follow the directions verbatim so you get the most bang for your buck—there's a strategic process!) . Honorable mentions: Essential C Tonic ($55), Bulgarian Rose Water ($65)I'd be lying if I said I don't almost always want what Australian model Miranda Kerr is having in terms of her skincare diet, and her holistic line of organically made products is full of skin saviors. The brand's hero ingredient, noni, is derived from the noni fruit and considered one of the most potent superfoods on Earth. I have a nice pile of Kora products, but the brand's organic self-tanning lotion is at the top of my radar as someone who loves the look of glowy, ray-touched skin 365 days a year. The indulgent ingredient roster includes organic exotic oils like rose hip and seabuckthorn for those extra conditioning perks. Honorable mentions: Noni Glow Sleeping Mask ($48), Turmeric 2-in-1 Brightening & Exfoliating Mask ($48) LilyAna Naturals has developed a loyal fan following, and the brand offers some of the top-selling organic skincare picks on Amazon. Plus, they're not terrifyingly expensive, which I sincerely appreciate. By far, the retinol cream is one to snap up immediately. It's chock-full of other amazing organic ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, green tea, shea butter, and jojoba oil so skin is soothed, happy, and balanced while gaining all perks of retinol. Honorable mentions: Rosehip & Hibiscus Eye Cream ($20), Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid ($20). Up next: I Never Thought I'd Love Organic Makeup—Until I Found These 10 Products. This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
No comments