The Indie Beauty Expo has spearheaded a new movement that supports independently-owned beauty brands.
Inspired by the show, we have carefully curated a complete list of niche holiday gifts that will delight those savvy beauty lovers who like to support smaller companies and great environmental and social causes.
1. AETHER BEAUTY Rose Quartz Crystal Gemstone Palette ($58.00): The perfect gift for the clean beauty fan girl in your list, this 12-shade palette is infused with real rose quartz gemstones to deliver a rich pigment with great color payoff. Enriched with organic coconut oil, organic shea butter, and organic rose hip oil, it has a smooth butter texture ideal for the most sensitive skins. With a completely clean ingredient list that abides by the European Union standards, this palette is one of the few to offer a completely sustainable package that can be easily recycled. Vegan, cruelty-free and eco-chic, it is one of the most sought-after brands on Instagram for a good reason.
2. Sabe Masson Georges et Moi Soft Perfume ($25): Coming all the way from France, this soft perfume invites a new ritual into your loved one’s lives. It’s a sensory experience that involves an olfactory adventure that glides over the skin; onto the wrists, inside the elbows, behind the knees, the base and nape of the neck, and the pulse points. A true object of beauty in a delicate packaging, it is an extremely portable perfume for a self-care moment on the go. Georges et Moi is a spicy floral woody scent with head notes of bergamot and lemon leaf, heart notes of magnolia and rose, and base notes of vetiver and cedarwood. Designed to tell a story without being overpowering, it is the perfect scent for the adventurous woman who is not afraid of the power of love and passion. An exquisite gift from a brand that was one of the highlights of the Indie Beauty Expo in 2017.
3. Kahina Giving Beauty Moroccan Beldi Soap in Eucalyptus ($38.00): This Beldi soap is a high-quality rendition of the traditional black soap used in Hammams. A skin-softening superstar, it is a very gentle soap with a gel consistency made from saponified olive oil and natural eucalyptus essential oil. A true multi-tasker, it can be used as a deep cleansing treatment or body masque no matter how sensitive your skin is. A perfect gift that keeps giving, Kahina’s beldi soap supports Berber women in Morocco. {This is a 100% natural product certified organic.}
4. Legendary Apothecary Smooth Feet Serum ($35.00): Give the gift of soft feet with a simple old-world recipe recreated with love in the USA by Legendary Apothecary. Curated with organic ingredients, this serum hydrates feet by deeply nourishing the skin and preventing evaporation of water from surface. A perfect gift for the well-groomed gentleman, its formula is so clean you could literally eat it– it only contains three USDA organic ingredients! {Made in the USA. This is a 100% natural product certified organic by the USDA.}
5. Herbal Dynamics Beauty Rose Water Calming Face Toner and Hyaluronic Acid and Oat Overnight Recovery Mask ($20 and $30): One of our big discoveries in the New York Indie Beauty Expo this year, Herbal Dynamics Beauty combines the best in nature with cutting-edge active principles. The Rose Water Calming Face Toner delivers instant hydration with rose, green tea, chamomile, aloe and hyaluronic acid for a calm, beautiful skin. Rose oil helps improve effectiveness of beauty and skincare treatments by increasing permeability, making this toner the perfect gift for the beauty-obsessed. If you have on your list a girl blessed with beautiful skin that needs an extra pick-me-up after enjoying the weekend (hello, bottomless Mimosas!), the Overnight Recovery Mask Take includes extracts of broccoli and aloe help fight pollutants and oxidation, rescuing skin from daily environmental stressors. A wonderful beauty treatment packed with green goodness, it is a memorable gift that supports and independently-owned small business in the USA. {This product is made in the USA.}
6. Take My Face Off Poinsettia Gift Set ($55.00): Looking for the perfect gift for the eco-concious woman? These reusable Makeup Mitty Mini “petals” remove makeup, lipstick, and even waterproof mascara without adding more cotton balls to the landfills. Super soft and made with a durable patented material, the Makeup Mitty Minis are great for the environment and even better for the skin (buh bye, tugging and scrubbing!) Plus, they take off every trace of makeup and are way cuter than a gross old washcloth! With a silken cord for tree hanging, this is one of the chicest niche gifts of the holiday season.
7. Marin Bee Detox Masque ($48.00): Marin Bee is on a mission to save the bees, one beauty product at a time! Their Detox Masque is the perfect gift for the eco-warrior who loves to support companies with an environmental outreach. With a savvy mix of a healthy dose of Califoria wildflower honey, kaolin clay, pumpkin, and oatmeal, this Detox Masque restores skin’s balance by drawing out toxins and removing excess oil. A unique blend of the best of nature, its formula is surprisingly purifying while soothing skin, restoring balance and evening out skin tone. One of the favorite EWG-verified beauty products, it is made with a whopping 98% of natural ingredients. {This is an all-natural product certified safe by the EWG. Made in USA}
8. MyChelle Lip Hints ($12.50): The perfect Indie Beauty stocking stuffer, Lip Hints are rich balms that melt right in, providing lasting hydration for naturally plumped lips. Their key active ingredients include Kalahari watermelon seed oil, argan kernel oil and sustainably sourced beeswax. Plus they come in sheer, berry & nude, so it’s actually quite easy to find the perfect nude for everyone in your nice list.
9. Henry Charles Talk Back Pouch ($38.00): A fun and sassy gift for the green beauty lover, this cute pouch celebrates real beauty in unexpected ways. Perfect for fashionistas, fans of decluttering, or makeup lovers, this cute pouch marries haute handbag designs with practicality. Made with high-quality fabric and carefully embroidered, the non-toxic vegan leather and interior organizing pouches make this pouch an eco-friendly statement. This zippered mini clutch doubles up as a convenience storage handbag organizer, perfect for car keys, phone, and credit cards. Designed for makeup but with many uses in real life, it is the perfect gift for fun moms and Millennials alike! It is no wonder Henry Charles was a great hit when they exhibited at the IBE in New York… {Made in the USA}
10. Au Naturale Clean Beauty Resolutions Holiday Kit ($76.00): Deck the Halls with boughs of green beauty! This cool starter kit has all the merry and bright of the holidays minus the toxins. A hand-picked collection of the best-selling staples of the brand, these shades are flattering for all skin tones. A layerable palette, this bundle features the celebrated Anywhere Creme Multistick in Roseate; a creamy eyeshadow in Vintage, a flattering gold-green hue; an eye pencil in Night; the new Lip Slick Tinted Lip Oil in Cassis and a $15 gift card to discover new clean beauty products. Au Naturale is one of those rare brands that has figured out how to create natural makeup products that follow the latest trends, and this collection is the perfect gift for that lady getting her feet wet in the world of green beauty because it covers all the bases. {This is a 100% natural product. Made in the USA}
11. CV Skin Labs Skin Essentials Duo ($60.00): Give the gift of healing and repairing compromised and sensitive skin. This award-winning duo includes the very popular Rescue + Relief Spray and the Restorative Skin Balm. Created to soothe, calm, and hydrate all types of skin, they perform extremely well on sensitive or irritated skin. The restorative balm is a cure-it-all, non-petrolatum solution that rescues skin from eczema, burns, scrapes, abrasions, or winter dryness. The rescue + relief spray is a bestselling solution to calm down itching, burning, and irritated skin. Formulated with a savvy mix of botanicals and very mild synthetic ingredients, this is the perfect gift for those loved ones who are battling the big C and might appreciate some extra TLC and support during their healing process. {Made in the USA}
12. Thesis Beauty Organic Cream in Patchouli ($22.95): A true organic beauty staple, this exceptionally rich cream is a dream come true. Made with organic raw shea butter and the natural essential oils of patchouli and geranium, it has a grounding and earthy scent perfect to keep stress under control. This is the perfect gift for the busy New Yorker who needs to reconnect with nature in the concrete jungle. As it absorbs easily and replenishes skin’s moisture, your loved ones will be smitten with this glorious hand and body cream. One of my favorite products created by Thesis Beauty. {This is a 100% natural and organic product. Made in the USA}
13. Arôms Natur Holiday Minis Feminine Wellness Oil Kit ($60): One of the highlights of the NY IBE 2018, Arôms Natur is the creator of high-quality, all-natural organic skincare made in Europe. This limited edition contains travel sizes of the brand signature intimate wellness oils. Nourish your V is an intimate moisturizing oil tested and adopted by European consumers for decades to take care of dryness and discomfort of the external genital area. Love your Breasts is a firming oil with a mood-enhancing blend of pure and cold-pressed essential oils for breast health. Finally, Tone your Curves is a body firming oil made with organic ingredients to boost the production of collagen and elastine for beautiful, firm skin. Nestled inside a beautiful canvas bag, this is the perfect empowering gift to say to a loved one that she is just perfect the way she is and that her body deserves to be respected and taken care of. GMO-free, the formulas comply with the European highest standards for organic products. {This is a 100% natural and organic product}
