The Best Natural, Organic and Ethical Skincare Brands

Using organic products is all about cultivating beauty from within – while nourishing your skin with the best and most active ingredients.

The hottest buzzwords in skincare – natural, organic, ethical – are getting extra rotation in celebration of Australian Organic Awareness Month this September.

Indeed, there is something internally nourishing about using entirely natural skin care. Perhaps it’s the earthy, floral fragrance; or those abundant botanicals dancing on your skin; or the grounded feeling you get as you cleanse, knowing you’re doing something better for the Earth.

Former MM feature star organic beauty curator at Depths of Beauty, Emmily Banks states, “rather than only focusing on results, using healthy, natural ingredients is a part of self care… it’s doing something lovely for yourself.”

We love that!

Organic skin care has been tested positive in clinical trials…. and when you use it, your skin just gobbles up that delicious nourishment.

To double our list’s clout power, we also asked two organic beauty babes for their recommendations – the divine Emmily, and Emma Jean, organic skincare expert and co-founder at Byron Beverage Co, Australia’s first Nitrogen infused Organic Cold Brew Coffee in a 100% recycled can. Both women live successful and happy lives following a 100% clean beauty formula, and clearly know their stuff in this arena.

“For me, it’s enhancing your natural beauty through ritual. Endorphins and natural highs come from treating your body right,” says Emma.

The result is a roundup of the best and most beautiful eco-luxe skin care that deliver results for both you and the planet.

Korres

Korres is a divine Greek brand that is based on the principles of homeopathy and Hippocratic wisdom on plant medicine. Harnessing by the most powerful natural ingredients and traditions, the fertile Cycladic island of Naxos fuels this natural skin care range’s simple philosophy, rooted in the use of certified organic ingredients of the highest quality. Their best-selling Wild Rose Moisturising and Brightening Cream is the world’s first natural 24-hour moisturising face cream, using Wild Rose oil, a natural source of Vitamin C, to aid significant repair to fine lines and pigmentation disorders. As well as using rare and gorgeous Hellenic botanicals in their range, Korres win us over for their commitment to a no-waste operation, their use of renewable energy, for protecting 1200 specimens of natural flora, and for collaborating with a partner network as vast as micro farmers, agricultural unions, educational and social institutions including rehabilitation and prison farms to teach organic farming.

LOVE BEAUTY AND PLANET

Love Beauty and Planet is the new sustainable and vegan beauty brand for an affordable, efficient and soothing natural beauty routine. It includes five artisanal blends of shampoo and fast-rinse conditioner; four fragrant body washes and three rich body lotions – all made with responsibly sourced ingredients and ethically sourced essential oils. We love the bottles that are made of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic and are 100% recyclable, and the brand’s commitment to reducing plastic waste, saving water and corporate honesty. The Murmuru Butter & Rose Oil aroma Body Lotion is so delicious it’s now officially on my nightstand, which smells amazing and leaves the skin feeling buttery and lush.

Clemence Organics

Fun fact: the formulation of any certified organic skincare product is based on a blend of organic oils, butters, waxes and extracts of certified organic origins and make up at least 95% of the formulation. According to Clemence Organics founder Bridget Carmady, organic plants contain a higher percentage of antioxidants, essential to fight free radical damage which can cause fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation. A higher percentage of vitamins A, C and have also been found in organic botanicals. Emmily swears by their Repair Face Serum which help to rejuvenate, moisturise and replenish the skin. “Essential oils such as Rose Otto offers antiseptic and astringent properties, perfect for eczema, psoriasis, inflammation and redness,” she says.

Botani

Botani was another Emmily Banks favourite and is a hero in fighting acne. It contains nature’s answer to benzoyl and peroxide-laden products which some seriously amazing natural botanicals. Botani is 100% botanically based natural problem-solving skincare, containing a blend of high quality certified organic ingredients and skin friendly plant actives that are in sync with the skin. The Rescue Acne Cream treats and heals pimples without damaging surrounding skin, is mattifying, absorbs excess oil, draws out blackheads, can be used as a spot treatment or to cover a large patch of skin and even soothes minor shaving irritations and ingrown hair! It also aces clinical trials for its efficacy – bonus.

Edible Beauty

It’s as the name says – products clean enough to eat! “My products of choice are 98% from Edible Beauty”, says Emma Jean, who has a super sensitive constitution which led to the creation of her magical coffee brew. “ It’s important that what I put on my skin is free from nasties – I also love to support businesses that are creating change in the world through the way in which they create their products. The products actually help to regenerate your skin and keep it super hydrated, supple and glowing.” If you’re new to the organic skincare path, why not try The Core Four, which contain everything you need to get started on a luxury toxin-free “edible” skin care routine. Suitable for all skin types and for both day and night use, the range contains a Cleansing Milk, Toner Mist, Ageless Serum and Hydrating Lotion packed with delicious goodies such as coconut oil, antioxidant rich fruits and herbs, Kakadu, Davidson Plum and White Tea and Cocoa and Shea Butter. Yum!

Pure Haircare

‘Natural’ hair products can sometimes lack the viscous power of a more nourishing cream – and that can be felt on more damaged hair. Not so with Pure products, whose aim to develop a safer, more gentle environmentally friendly haircare regime using modern, clean and green ingredients translates to silky and fortified locks. Their Fusion Complex treatment is a true miracle for stressed strands and ends. Pure Haircare’s Organic Certified Complex uses organic ingredients that are 100% certified, vegan friendly, gluten free, cruelty free and free from sulphates and parabens. Committed to reducing plastic in landfill, Pure have also announced their new product repack is made from 100% Australian recycled Land Waste Plastic– the first brand in Australia to do this. Yeew!

Wildcrafted Organics

Wildcrafted Organics is another luxurious, holistic, nutritionally packed, award-winning skincare range that Emma swears by. Each product contains high concentrations of precious certified organic and wildcrafted botanicals, bioactive ingredients and vitamins thoughtfully chosen for their ability to nourish, rebuild and protect your skin – think Murumura Butter, Red Raspberry oil and Frangipani extract! Wild Berry Honey Cleanse is their luscious honey based cleanser, exfoliant and masque rich in skin loving nutrients, antioxidants & the purest New Zealand halloysite clay.

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