Maybe we're more twee than we realized, but these days, we can't get enough of small-batch beauty. Scaled-down, handcrafted batches means they can cater to niche interests — products that are vegan, sustainable, or contain only unprocessed ingredients. Plus, knowing the thought and effort that went into it makes us more inclined to take a moment to enjoy it. And, at the end of the day, isn't that what a beauty routine is all about?
While you used to have to go to Etsy to discover off-the-beaten-path brands, big chain stores like Urban Outfitters have started to branch out into the small-batch-beauty space — which means it's easier than ever to stumble upon all the organic, quirkily packaged tinctures and jars you could ever want. But, there's a lot out there to choose from, and since this kind of product isn't always the cheapest, how do you know what's worth splurging on?
Ahead, our picks of indie beauty brands to know, for your next top-shelf-worthy find. Because, good things really do come in small batches.
Olivine
Olivine makes one of our favorite sea salt sprays, but the heart of the brand is fragrances designed to make the wearer feel a surge of self-love.
Stewart & Claire
Okay, this is a really cute thing: Stewart and Claire are the middle names of the Brooklyn couple who founded this company with the simple goal of creating a better lip balm than the ones they were using. Mission accomplished, because these little tubes are some of the best we've tried.
Waxing Kara
Beekeeper/artist Kara makes all-natural skin care products with the honey she harvests. One major benefit? Honey is a natural preservative, so many of the products she makes don't expire.
Earth Tu Face
The two California-based herbalists who run this all-natural brand believe in not putting things on your skin that you wouldn't put in your mouth — which is apparent in their good-enough-to-eat products.
Earth Tu Face Face Balm, $68, available at Earth Tu Face.
Pratima
Pratima's products are handmade by chemist, botanist, and Ayurvedic physician Dr. Pratima Raichur. With all-natural ingredients sourced from sustainable farms in the U.S. and India, they're designed to combine wellness and beauty.
Persephenie
Handmade in an an artist's studio, Persephenie's skin care and fragrance line is both accessible and elevated — with simple, botanical ingredients.
Persephenie Mental Clarity and Calm Balance Smelling Salts, $29, available at Persephenie.
Yarok
One of the few small-batch hair lines out there, Yarok is also completely vegan.
Mullein & Sparrow
Our beauty team obsesses over pretty much everything from this little Brooklyn-based brand. If you're looking for all-natural, handmade skin care that will work wonders and look chic on your dresser, this is for you.
Yüli
Combining advanced skin-care technology with organic, wild-crafted ingredients, this brand creates all of their products in a lab on their own farm.
Yüli Liquid Courage, $50, available at Yüli.
Stark Skincare
These self-described beauty-industry rebels created their own skin-care line in order to make their own rules — like using all-natural, vegan ingredients to create small batches of simple-yet-effective products.
Stark Skincare White Willow Bark Perfecting Tonic, $32, available at Stark Skincare.
Meow Meow Tweet
It's not just the cutest name ever — this Brooklyn-based vegan apothecary brand designs their products as though they're concocting culinary delights. The result? Each product smells amazing and promotes wellness.
Fig + Yarrow
Come for the chic packaging and stay for the amazingness inside: Raw, organic ingredients are used to handcraft everything from underarm lotion to tinted lip sheen.
Fig+Yarrow Rose+Vanilla Tinted Lip Blush, $12, available at Fig+Yarrow.
MCMC Fragrances
This indie brand makes a larger batch of pure fragrance (which lasts for about a year), and then dilutes it to be bottled based on their production needs. What's it diluted in? Organic ingredients like jojoba and fractionated coconut oil.
MCMC Fragrances Kept Perfume Oil, $45, available at Hoot.
Raaw In A Jar
For those of us who like our skin products truly raw, this brand makes beauty products out of the purest oils, plants, and herbs, and packages them in glass.
RAAW In A Jar Natural Hair Powder, $28, available at RAAW In A Jar.
Herbivore
This Seattle-based brand uses everything from Japanese bamboo charcoal to Brazilian gemstones to create products formulated for a variety of different skin types.
Herbivore Botanicals Blue Clay Spot Treatment Mask, $18, available at Herbivore Botanicals.
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