My Favorite Independent Beauty Brands
Keeping it indie for Independence Day!
This extra long Fourth of July weekend is thrilling. This year, I’m not going anywhere. Secretly, I love a staycation in the city—my plans consist of eating an ice cream cone each day, having a picnic in the park, and coating myself in products from some of my favorite independent American beauty brands.
All of the lines below are all great, and rather extensive—I’m a maximalist, what can I say? Furthermore, I love supporting smaller brands, and great indie beauty feels like a secret. Consider this newsletter an Independence Day BOLO for independent American beauty brands.
Zuzanna in Jillian Dempsey Glimmer on set.
This eye tint is that perfect, dewy radiance you want all summer in a compact. It’s supremely easy to apply—I often just use my finger, but they also make a brush that’s designed to work with the cream formula seamlessly if you’re a tools kind of a girl. All the colors are good, and I especially love Glimmer for right now. It’s a lovely bronzy rose-gold situation that looks great on everyone.
As an added bonus, it smells like coconut, as it has coconut oil in it (not because it’s doused in fragrance). All of Jillian’s products are clean beauty! The subtle coconut is lovely, and a great way to imagine you’re on a beach (or in California like Jillian) somewhere. Moreover, you’ll look beach fabulous even in the city with your newly glossy lids.
My Glimmer, straight from my kit.
Soothe and replenish your skin this summer with this brand new cream from Lilfox. I’m obsessed with this Florida-based brand—everything is small batch crafted in Miami and is exceptional. Their latest concoction is a peptide-filled finishing cream (aka the very last thing you apply to your skin in your beauty routine). It’s designed for even the most sensitive skin and helps to calm it down with mega-powerful active ingredients and adaptogens. The texture is divine, and the scent (Alexis the founder is also an aromatherapist) is an intoxicating and unique blend of strawberry, guava, and passion fruit. Let’s call it summer in a cream.
U Beauty Tinted Plasma Lip Compound
I love U Beauty Lip Plasma. I didn’t think I could like it any more, but Tina Craig (who is a Texas babe) has outdone herself—Lip Plasma now comes in color! Three great ones to be precise. It’s basically everything I want in a lip product: It plumps, hydrates, diminishes fine lines, and coats lips in gorgeous, easy-to-use color. Busy boss lip gloss solved.
Byroe Golden Carrot Overnight Relief Mask
Just in case you have a little too much fun during the four day weekend, add this overnight soothing mask from Byroe (a New York City clean beauty line) to your beauty emergency kit. I notice a clear difference on days I use this mask—it’s a winner.
Packed with antioxidants and vegan collagen to calm and fortify the all-important skin barrier, you’ll wake up with soothed, brighter, well-rested skin. Can’t wait a whole night for a skin pick-me-up? Apply a thick layer of this mask to your face, neck, and chest for 15 minutes, then tissue off and go!
I need sunscreen always. I never leave the house without it… ever. That said, I’m always on the hunt for new types, because options are important, especially when it comes to reapplication, a sunscreen must. Ware is a brand new American line (they launched 6/26) and I’ve been lucky enough to get my hands on all their formulas. I especially love their Sonny SPF 40 mineral sunscreen for a long weekend like this one. It’s super easy to apply, reef safe, has microsphere technology which helps even out blemishes and imperfections, and is invisible on all skin tones. Basically, throw this chic SPF superhero in every bag you own for the whole summer and beyond! It will keep up with you for whatever adventures you have planned.
