Small Business Gift Guide-Skincare

Skincare, like food, can be a great gift, because you use it up, and don’t have to figure out where to keep it for too long.

There are so many great small businesses that have such a passion for what they do and it shows!

I try to gift skincare products that are either unscented or lightly scented . And I typically stick to lotions, bathing items, lip balms, etc, rather specialized face washes, serums or creams.

Everything on this list is a clean, non-toxic dream, too!

Almost all of these brands can be found at my favorite (local!) beauty store. 

1. Free + True -This lotion came in a Beauty Heroes Discovery box, and quickly became my favorite body moisturizer. It feels very decadent, yet light, and soaks in so fast. This black owned brand has lots of beautiful, bottled in glass, products to explore, but I recommend Body Prophet Lotion as a gift.
2. Osmia Organics-If don’t know them, it’s time to get onboard. This brand was built out of a passion for nature, healing and medicine, by Dr. Sarah. Her soaps are amazing, but for the ultimate self soothing, this Night Oil is where it’s at. This is one of the few lavender products I like (the other’s are Osmia, too). I also love their lip products! So good! A gift cert from here would be great, too, so someone can pick their own scent preferences.
3. Laurel Skin Care, based in Sausalito, Ca., is the most amazing collection of plant based luxury skincare. While I definitely recommend (and use!) their face care products, I would recommend a hydrosol as a gift. Laurel puts her heart, soul, and meticulously sourced ingredients into these small batch, handcrafted products.
4. Bathing Culture – This company didn’t initially catch my eye (despite the cute, eye catching glass packaging!), but then, again, I received it in a Beauty Heroes subscription box and realized how amazing it is. The organic shower gel has a really lovely, woodsy scent, and is so silky, and refillable at various locations! This is a SF Bay Area company , too!
5. Fitglow Lip Serum-The lipgloss to top all lipglosses. This is my favorite, non sticky, luxuriously hydrating lipgloss. And the ingredients can’t be beat. You might have a bit of sticker shock, but they last forever, seriously. So many good colors to choose from, but, if you’re buying for someone else, Buff might be a good choice. Fitglow also sells miniature sets that make great gifts, too!
6. Organic Bath Co. -This is a black woman owned company that makes lovely soaps, scrubs, and more. They’re scents are really nice, and everyone could use an extra nice bottle of hand soap right these days! I like gifting citrus scents, unless I know someone’s preference, because I feel like they are pretty universally appreciated.
7. London Grant Co.– This black woman owned small business makes beautiful non-toxic small batch body products, too. I just treated myself to this body scrub. It is really nice. Creamy, exfoliating but not too scratchy, and has a comforting scent, that’s not overpowering. This body product looks great, too
8. Beneath Your Mask– A) Was named pre pandemic and B) was created by the owner because she wanted truly effective products that would help her own auto-immune issues. She is a black woman whose handcrafted products are small batched in California, and are truly luxurious. My number one pick is the Lip Remedy. It sells out often, so grab it if you see it!
9. Unplugged Essentials – This small black owned business caught my eye as I was, ironically, surfing the internet. They are a black owned, self care focused company. The hemp soaks look really nice for anyone who likes to take relaxing baths (as opposed to stressful baths).
10. Eu’genia Shea -Another company praised by Oprah, so you know it’s good! This is the best of the best shea butter. Comes in a nice little tin, in few formulations and scents. And it’s another awesome black owned company! Check out their story.
11. 5Yina– I’ve heard about this brand for awhile now, but had yet to try their products until recently. As I’m always on the lookout for good hand creams, between the hand washing, hand sanitizer, hand licking dogs, and cold weather, I thought it was the perfect time try their hand cream. It is very emollient, and if you like a thick hand cream, you will love it. The scent is earthy and nice. Bonus, they are a SF Bay Area company, owned by two women who used their training in Traditional Chinese Medicine to formulate their beautiful products.
12. Henne Organics– Strive to put eco-luxury into the everyday. I love their hand cream. I bought the Blomma for myself, and it’s a nice light floral scent., and I bought the citrus scent to gift. This formula has a souffle type feeling, and soaks in faster than the 5Yina, if that’s your preference. 

There are so many gorgeous non-toxic skincare options these, and it’s fun to introduce people to them through gifts. (Pretty much everything I know I learned from Lisa, This Organic Girl. If you are into organic beauty in lifestyle, or even if you’re not, you’ll love her!)

If you want something to add to the skincare, check out my other gift guides! I’ve got local, small business food, beverages, kitchen, jewelry, toys, and all kinds of other stuff!