10 NYC Indie Beauty Brands To Know

From artsy Brooklynites to sleek Upper East Siders, it’s no secret that New Yorkers are a style-conscious bunch. When the winter blues hit, we turn to an eye-catching red lip or moody smoky eye to pick up the slack. Helping you put your best face forward, here are ten of New York City’s best indie beauty brands.

Glossier

The local beauty brand that made it big, Glossier is a makeup and skin care brand made for women, by women. The spin-off of founder Emily Weiss’ popular Into the Gloss beauty blog, the brand has made waves with its nourishing face masks, barely-there skin tints, and fan-favorite all-purpose balms. Perfecting the everyday products women depend on, Glossier redefines what it means to be basic.

Soapwalla

A savior for sensitive skin, vegan skincare line Soapwalla produces gentle yet effective products your body and wallet will love. The brand’s sugary almond body polish, bergamot-cinnamon soap bar, and fan-favorite deodorant cream have made Soapwalla a staple in beauty supply stores from Brooklyn to Paris.

Copper and Sage

Skip the spa; thanks to Brooklyn beauty brand Copper and Sage, you can now achieve a truly pampering experience without the punishing price tag. Utilizing organic and locally-sourced ingredients, the brand produces everything you need for a luxury stay-cation: ginger-cornflower facial steams, green tea masks, geranium body butter, and more. Stock up now for the impending snow days. Your skin will thank you later.

Benshen

Considering inner as well as outer beauty, Benshen’s all-natural skin care products are packed full of healing and mood-boosting ingredients. The brand’s serums, scrubs, and scents are specially designed to benefit the body and spirit, clearing away impurities and nourishing both skin and soul. Also offering customized products to meet your unique needs and goals, Benshen shows that living well looks good on you.

MAKE

Marrying whimsy and practicality, MAKE creates an arsenal of beauty products that allow you to take on Monday morning and Saturday night with confidence. The brand’s soft focus foundation and barely-there blush have your morning meetings sorted while the evenings call for super matte lipstick and the artsy New Medieval eye palette. Whether you choose to stick to the classics or break a few rules, MAKE each look your own and MAKE them look twice.

Winky Lux

For high-end quality at low prices, look no further than Winky Lux. Dedicated to delivering luxury to the masses, this playful brand produces silky glosses, matte lipsticks, and picture-perfect #NOFILTER foundations. Tip: For when the beauty bug bites, the site even offers same day delivery service to lucky locals.

Isa’s Restoratives

Brooklyn skincare line Isa’s Restoratives knows beauty begins with body care. The brand’s exciting selection of hand-crafted herbal goods includes a matcha facial mask, brightening Brazilian skin serum, and a body oil specially designed to protect stretching skin during pregnancy. Partnering with independent retailers in New York, Portland, and Berlin, Isa’s Restoratives puts a personal twist on the global beauty brand.

LAQA & Co.

A dream come true for on-the-go girls, LAQA & Co. specializes in products that multi-task almost as much as you do. Cut your morning routine in half with the brand’s lip pencil-cum-cheek stain and all-in-one balm, liner, and gloss. The Birchbox regular also offers a handy nail polish pen perfect for making the most of ‘train traffic’.

Priti NYC

For when chilly temps or cash flow woes- keep you from the salon, Priti NYC offers everything you need to recreate the experience at home. Only with Priti’s organic hand creams, soy nail polish remover, and quality polishes in shades like ‘Cornflower’ blue and ‘Fire Glow’ burnt orange does a DIY manicure bring luxury to your living room.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

It’s easy to get hooked on Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, a beauty brand dedicated to having fun with fashion. Glittery eyeshadow, creamy cheek, eye, and lip stain, and the popular long-lasting ‘lip tar’ come in classic neutrals as well as unexpected hues including blackened purple, primary blue, and pale olive.

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