Most mainstream beauty and makeup brands have scary synthetic ingredients like parabens. Parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben… anything that ends in paraben), are just one of many ingredients in beauty products that have been found to disrupt the body’s hormones, harm fertility, and increase the risk of cancer. And they can cause skin irritation. Why use a product that not only harms your health but does the opposite of what you want it to do?

In our opinion, Mother Nature knows best. So here are some of our favorite clean, plant-based beauty brands.

DEHIYA

Photo Credit: Dehiya Beauty

Dehiya is named after the Berber queen who was a 7th-century freedom fighter, leading the resistance against colonization in North Africa. She’s the epitome of an empowered badass.

Dehiya is WOC-owned, founded by Dr. Mia Chae Reddy and Jacalyn Harvard. Reddy, who studied with a fourth generation Moroccan herbalist, views Dehiya as a nod to her grandmother’s ancestral beauty secrets creating simple and natural skincare.

Dehiya has your entire skincare routine covered from face wash, serums, and mists to masks, lip balm and eye shadow. We especially love the ‘Alia’ argan oil cleanser. It’s liquid gold.

They are entirely plant-based, 100% natural and organic, and ethically sourced from Morocco’s Argan trees. Their Argan oil is hand extracted by a local women’s co-op outside of Marrakech.

BERLIN SKIN

Photo Credit: Berlin Skin

Berlin Skin is true to its German roots: clean, modern, minimal, no-nonsense. Founder Monica Watson is a firm believer in less is more. After fighting cystic acne for years, she turned to plant-based solutions and fell in love with the power and simplicity of botanical ingredients.

Berlin Skin uses organic, wildcrafted, high-quality plant ingredients. They also strive for an entirely sustainable supply chain from raw materials to packaging. All products are made in the US with renewable energy, come in glass jars, and are shipped in recyclable box packaging made in the USA. Woohoo!

They have everything you could wish for in natural skincare: a matcha mask, geranium and rose toner, coconut and aloe cleanser. They even have bamboo wash cloths. You’ll be inspired to buy their entire collection and redo your bathroom to fit it’s minimalist aesthetic.

ROWSIE VAIN

Photo Credit: Rowsie Vain

Rowsie Vain is for unapologetic self-love. Founder Whitney Smith wanted to utilize the botanical influence of California’s Ojai Valley to create multi-functional products. They distill local Ojai-grown, wild plants to create skincare, perfumes, smudge sticks and more. The Ojai White Sage & Wildflower Smudge stick is particularly gorgeous.

Rowsie Vain is also a member of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy group, and donate some of their proceeds to the Wild About Ojai program. We love companies that give back too.

NASH AND JONES 

Photo Credit: Nash and Jones

After a few allergic reactions and sensitivities to synthetic products, founder Kimberly Rohwer decided to turn to a natural lifestyle, primarily changing what we put in and on our bodies. Our skin craves healthy ingredients the same way we need healthy food.

Nash and Jones has a no petroleum, dyes, fillers, perfumes or harmful preservatives policy. They’re all about transparency—they want you to know exactly what’s in their products and how these natural ingredients will benefit your skin. They use non-comedogenic oils to work alongside the oil your skin naturally produces instead of working against it.

Their ‘plant’ and ‘earth’ face mask set is all you need to detox and nourish your skin.

KINSHIP

Photo Credit: Kinship Beauty

Kinship is guilt-free in every sense of the word. Their products work to aid the skin barrier that lets good bacteria in, and the bad out. Founders Alison Haljun and Christin Powell developed a proprietary microbiome technology, or a plant-based pre-probiotic. Think of it like “kombucha for your face.” They’ve bid adieu to any unfriendly ingredients like phthalates, benzoyl peroxide, silicones, and alcohols. Our fav product is the Supermello moisturizer, it’s a dream.

Kinship is not only good for you, but for the planet too. Their jars are made from ocean waste plastic and their tubes are made from post-consumer recycled materials. If your local area doesn’t recycle their plastics, Kinship will do it for you—they’ll send you a shipping label for 3+ empties and recycle them with Terracycle. Plus, all shipping materials are made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, 100% PCR paper.

Kinship, will you be our best friend?

BENEATH YOUR MASK

Photo Credit: Beneath Your Mask

After battling a diagnosis of Lupus Nephritis, founder Dana Jackson found relief in integrative medicine. Dana has since created a non-toxic, natural skincare line that won’t challenge the immune system with synthetic ingredients.

Beneath Your Mask’s first product, “Heal: Whipped Skin Soufflé,” was created to help repair the damage done to her skin from weight fluctuations due to the Lupus and from chemotherapy. The product went on to win the 2019 Allure Best of Beauty Award.

KLUR

Photo Credit: Klur

After a decade as an esthetician and formulator, founder Lesley Thornton had accrued a clientele of over 2,500 people. Her hands-on experience allowed her to explore the effects of various ingredients and formulations on different skin conditions and ethnicities.

Klur products bridge the gap between science-based practices and nature-inspired traditions. Thornton believes less is more, and developed Klur to be all-inclusive and minimalistic regimen for customers. Their ‘Gentle Matter’ cleanser is perfect for sensitive skin, getting rid of impurities and leaving your skin moisturized all day.

NOSHABA

Photo Credit: Noshaba

Omosefe Ozigbo started her career as a model, surrounded by beauty products that she felt were a world away from her love of nature. She sought to change that with an entirely plant-based skincare line and total transparency around the origins of her ingredients.

Her line is small, with only six products, including her original night serum, face masks and superfood-based cleansers. All Noshaba ingredients are hand-harvested and products are hand-made.

Buying from Noshaba is intimate and personal: you know where all the ingredients were sourced. Some raw ingredients come from her own backyard, while others are ethically sourced from small African farms.

And all her packaging is 100% compostable, recyclable, or biodegradable. That’s what we like to hear!

FLUIDE

Photo Credit: Fluide

Fluide is, in short, brilliant. The make up brand is queer-owned and designed for all skin shades and gender expression. They work to amplify the voices of queer and gender expansive identities and evolve the mainstream idea of ‘beauty.’

Their products are cruelty-free, vegan, and free from harmful chemicals (like parabens). Our fav product is their Universal Gloss, which can be used as a highlighter, lip gloss, eyeshadow. Perfect for on-the-go glow.

HEART OF GOLD

Photo Credit: Heart of Gold

Having studied holistic esthetics, intuitive herbalism, massage therapy, and reiki, Ally Draizin is an expert in spiritual care. Ally also spent seven years as a bioregional herbalist, and is a firm believer in plant power. She hand-makes each product for tmind, body and soul. Heart of Gold is about as holistic as it gets.

While her products are on the pricier side, the Sea Change Cleansing Balm is a must-have. It’s an ideal daily cleanser for dry, dehydrated, puffy, or aging skin. It can also be used as a facial massage medium or a deep moisture mask. Go on, you deserve it.

Photos sourced from represented brands.