Gossip-worthy skin is all we want.
We exfoliate, we peel, we scrub, we tone, we moisturise, all in the hope of reaching the Mecca of divinely supple and glowing skin.
The kind of skin that makes you look ten years younger, injects a spring in your step as you trot down the street and has people asking what you’ve done differently.
While many of us will reach for cult-status brands rich in perfumes, alcohol and preservatives to solve our skin situations, there are a wave of brands who are quite simply mixing Mother Nature’s own ingredients together in a bid to eradicate skin complaints. It’s veganism, for the skin.
Not only are these brands using ethically-sourced and all-natural ingredients, they’re also making their planet-friendly products by hand in London, meaning they haven't been flown half way round the world before landing on your bathroom shelf.
These are the London born and bred vegan beauty brands to know:
NINI Organics
NINI Organics was born out of its founder, Alex’s struggle with post-acne skin, where he found that his prescription of Roaccutane had stripped it of its moisture and luminosity. He founded the company with his sister, Nicole, and went about creating products using mostly raw and active ingredients which would revive his skin, while also adhering to his own vegan principles.
All of its products are made in the brand’s workshop in Wood Green, just along from the NINI Organics shop, which is based in an enclave of independently-owned creative businesses.
NINI Organics also offers what they’ve named The Green Switch, which offers customers the chance to head to the company’s HQ in Wood Green and have a one-on-one consultation with Alex, whereby he’ll analyse your current skincare regime and make suggestions as to how you can get a greener and cleaner routine.
Hero product: The online reviews speak for themselves, but the Detox Oil not only smells like heaven, but it’s also instantly absorbed in to the skin and works wonders on a myriad of skin issues. It’s no wonder it’s also NINI’s best-selling product.
Tropic Skincare
Tropic began life as just one product, a homemade body scrub sold at a stall at Greenwich Market on weekends when founder, Susie Ma, was just 15 years old. After her appearance on The Apprentice in 2011, Ma received a considerable investment from Lord Alan Sugar, making Tropic the only runner-up Apprentice company he has invested in to date.
The brand now boasts 100 vegan skincare and cosmetic products, which are all handmade in their Surrey-based Beauty HQ, and all fall in line with the brand's ethos of 'Pure. Honest. Effective.' As if it wasn't enough that their cult beauty products are vegan, in 2015 they also unveiled their eco-collection, which uses innovative packaging to reduce Tropic's carbon footprint.
Hero product: Their Body Smooth Refreshing Polish is the exfoliator of dreams - not only is it their founding product, but it has also remained their most popular. Who knew such a glow could come from a little pot and a good ole' scrub?
Plenaire
Millennial-friendly beauty brand Plenaire is making it cool for young people to be ethical with their beauty choices. Its name is derived from the french expression En plein air, which means "in the open air" and aptly summarises the movement that the brand is attempting to pioneer: transparent and ethical beauty.
Plenaire was founded by self-confessed beauty junkie Namrata Kamdar in 2018 as an antidote to the un-personalised approach of beauty conglomerates currently ruling the beauty-roost. The vegan beauty brand's unisex products are all made in North London, and its progressive campaign uses young male and female models, the audience they're hoping to engage in a dialogue about holistically cherishing and nourishing their skin.
Hero product: Their Violet paste will have you regretting every penny you’ve spent on spot sticks over the years. Fall asleep with it on your blemishes and by the time you wake up, you’ll be good to glow.
Dizziak
Dizziak was created by former Stylist Magazine and The Pool beauty contributor, Loretta De Feo, as an 'aphrodisiac' for the hair. The gender-neutral shampoo and conditioner were born from half-Nigerian, half-Italian De Feo's frustration at mainstream drug-store products failing to adequately wash and nourish her thick, course hair.
Dizziak’s key ingredients are Quinoa Protein, Babassu Oil, Inca Inchi and Coconut and Argan Oil and they’re all made in London, De Feo’s hometown.
Hero product: There’s nothing quite like a deep conditioner, and there’s nothing quite like this deep conditioner. It was the first product that Dizziak launched and it works at restoring moisture for all hair types. Firstly, it works and secondly, it smells good enough to eat. Sign us up.
Botanycl
Having dealt with acne for years, but with no products able to clear her skin effectively, Caroline Sims turned to scientific studies and testimonials to create a supplement which would work to properly heal, and revive, her skin. This research led her to natural, plant-based ingredients, which she then combined to create her Skinclear Elixir supplements. Made in London, the vegan-friendly capsules contain active botanicals to clear skin from the inside, out.
Hero product: The Skinclear Elixir tablets come in a months-supply and, after taking two a day, the skin's texture is markedly improved. Their vegan Vitamin D3 supplements are also brilliant.
