We all know and love the Tartes and Urban Decays of the beauty industry, but if it's not sold in a large retailer or raved about by our favorite influencers, sometimes we tend to neglect it. That's occasionally the case with indie beauty brands. We have to say that some of these smaller, lesser-known beauty brands are just as good as (and maybe even better than) some of those well-known products. Because indie beauty brands are smaller, they're able to create products that are more custom, fairly sourced, and made with good-for-you ingredients for small batches.
You may think that these indie brands are hard to get your hands on, but luckily many are hitting the shelves of more diverse retailers like Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. From minimalist skin-care companies like Complex Beauty and The Buff to those that will literally have you feeling like royalty (ahem, Ranavat Botanics), you truly need to get your hands on products from these not-so-well-known brands.
Love how it feels to know about something incredible before everyone and their mother does? Get to know these 16 indie beauty brands, and you can thank us later.
Created by Tyson Kennedy, hairdresser and founder of Cutler Brooklyn, Fatboy was created out of Kennedy's frustration of not being able to find the products he needed to get the job done. He literally began this company on his stove top in his tiny Lower East Side apartment. First came Perfect Putty, and the rest is history.
Created in Melbourne in 1991, this Aussie brand recently landed in the U.S., and we couldn't be more excited about it. Red Earth believes that being the babes we are should be fun, not a chore. The brand values individuality, creativity and adventure, making it perfect for the curious gal.
This Santa Monica-based skin-care and beauty line was started using recycled glass and hand crafting artisan products out of the founder's garage. Dab a bit of this balm onto your lips, cheeks, hands -- essentially anywhere that you're experiencing dryness -- and voila!
Sylwia Wiesenberg, the founder of Dope Naturally, is an avid fitness and health enthusiast who firmly believes in the power of ingredients that are pure and will help us look dope even as we age. Her focus is creating products that are made with the highest quality, pure, organic ingredients. Right now, the brand has three plant-based powders that will work from the inside out to make your skin look and feel it's best.
