Small British Beauty Brands to Support During Coronavirus

18 Small British Beauty Brands to Support During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Jun 14 2020 by Amy Lawrenson

The coronavirus pandemic has hit small businesses hard, from hair salons to the new beauty brands on the block. So, it makes sense that if you want to treat yourself to a new beauty buy but you don't have anything specific in mind, why not support the small British beauty businesses with your hard-earned cash? Because there is truth in that saying you often see on Instagram feeds or chalked onto A-boards outside small shops: "When you buy from a small business, an actual person does a happy little dance."

If you're not sure where to start in finding a brand to support, then you have come to the right corner of the internet. Here we have rounded up the 13 niche, little-known, and upcoming beauty businesses that create wonderful solution-driven yet highly treat-worthy products that you'll want to buy time and again. From luxe shampoo to glorious face masks, your shopping list awaits . . .

Image Source: Wild

Fable & Mane

Founded by siblings Akash and Nikita, Fable & Mane's hair products are inspired by their Indian roots. The HoliRoots Hair Oil (£25) is a good place to start. The vegan and silicone-free prewash treatment is an oil for scalp and strands that helps support strong, healthy hair from roots to ends. Buy into the brand, and you'll also support The Fable Fund that helps wild tiger conservation.

Image Source: fableandmane.com

Plenaire

Future classic brand Plenaire is functional, chic, and just a pure joy to use. The Rose Jelly Gentle Makeup Remover (£30) has a delicate rose scent and a balmy texture that emulsifies makeup and the day's dirt with ease.

Image Source: plenaire.co

Verdant Alchemy

If bath time is your favourite time right now, then treat yourself to a pouch of Verdant Alchemy Deep Drift Herbal Bath Salts (£45). The 500g bag (it also comes in 100g and 250g sizes) is chock-full of ingredients designed to help you relax. Chamomile flowers, lavender, and cedarwood are blended with Epsom salts, kaolin clay, and omega-rich apricot kernel oil to leave both your mind and skin soothed.

Image Source: verdantalchemy.co.uk

Dizziak

Masterminded by Londoner Loretta De Feo, Dizziak is a hair brand designed for all hair textures that need serious hydration and TLC. Dizziak launched with the Deep Conditioner (£22), and followed with the Hydration Wash (£20). A pH-balanced shampoo, the formula includes sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate — derived from coconut — to ensure the shampoo lathers to a satisfying foam that won't leave your scalp or strands parched or coated.

Image Source: dizziak.com

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Neighbourhood Botanicals

Founded by Micaela Nisbet in 2019, who was brought up in Australia and New Zealand, Neghbourhood Botanicals combines the natural ethos of many beauty brands in the countries she grew up in with the east London cool of its Dalston store and lab. There are so many great products to choose from, like the Face Off Oil-To-Milk Cleanser (£27), so give them a browse.

Image Source: neighbourhoodbotanicals.com

Liha Beauty

Shining a light on founders Abi and Liha's mixed heritages, Liha Beauty combines the Yoruba (Nigerian) tradition of handmaking beautifying soaps, lotions, and oils with English aromatherapy. The brand offers a range of skin and wellness products that promote self-care and slow-yet-purposeful living, including the beautifully scented Queen Idia candle and the incredibly lush Liha Beauty Idan Oil (£39). Either way, you'll be sure to enjoy every butter, oil, and candle in this vegan and organic range.

Image Source: lihabeauty.com

Vanderohe

To ensure Vanderohe's skin-care products are as potent as possible, all the natural ingredients are sourced from the countries where they originate and grow optimally. A combination of wild-harvested and certified-organic ingredients, the founder Olivia Thorpe believes in creating the best of the best, which is why there is only one of each type of product and each is No.1. We love the No.1 Exfoliating Powder (£24).

Image Source: vanderohe.com

Larry King

Okay, so Larry King may be a well-known London-based hairdresser who has a client list that includes Niall Horan, Pixie Lott, and Jack Whitehall, but his hair-care line only launched last year with a second drop of new products just recently. Liquid Hairbrush (£42), is one of the new products that is set to gain legions of fans for its ability to hydrate strands and lock in moisture, leaving your hair detangled and wonderfully nourished. Oh, and the packaging is a dream, too.

Image Source: larryking.co.uk

The Seated Queen

Created by sisters Josephine, a qualified facial massage therapist, and Libby, a lifestyle editor, The Seated Queen's first launch is reinventing the tradition cold cream. The Ultimate Cold Cream (£39) can be used as a cleanser, makeup remover, and overnight mask. Containing cold-pressed and organic essential oils, it melts away dirt, makeup, and sebum with ease, leaving skin looking clean, supple, and radiant.

Image Source: theseatedqueen.com

Decree

From London-based dermatologist Dr. Anita Sturnham comes skin-care brand Decree. A succinct line-up, it was created to cut through the noise. The products are clearly labelled with AM and/or PM on the front, so you know when to use them. You buy the products individually or jump in and treat yourself to the complete collection. Created by a skin expert, you can be sure these products contain the actives — like hyaluronic acid, AHAs, and peptides— that your complexion needs in just the right doses and combinations. Try the Peptide Emollient Veil (£115) — it improves collagen production, creates the perfect base for makeup, and protects and bolsters skin day and night.

Image Source: thedecree.com

Monpure

Devoted to luxury beauty products? Then look no further than new British hair brand Monpure. Created by a collective of beauty experts, dermatologists, and scientists, the brand started with the scalp as its core focus on the basis that a healthy scalp is the root of healthy hair. Packed with potent actives, Monpure is a brand for anyone looking to give their scalp a little TLC, which you can do with one of our favourites: the Clarifying Scalp Scrub (£63).

Image Source: monpure.com

_faace

Launched last year by beauty PR Jasmine Wicks-Stephens, _faace is a trio of problem-solving masks. Sweaty Face calms complexions that are constantly hot and bothered whether that's from working out or stress. Tired Face gives dull, weary skin a boost with caffeine, vitamin C, and a naturally derived form of retinol. Period Faace Face Mask (£22.50) utilises hyaluronic acid to hydrate, green tea to calm inflammation, and zinc to normalise sebum production.

Image Source: wearefaace.com

Depixym

Love experimenting with makeup looks? Then look no further than these richly pigmented, multipurpose emulsions that count makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes as a fan. Use as eye shadows, eyeliners, blushers, and lip colours, these emulsions are long-wear, nontransfer, cruelty-free, matte, blendable, and waterproof. Created to inspire experimentation, you can mix the colours, and play to your heart's content. Shop the Starter Kits or buy individual shades like this dreamy shade #1183 ( £18).

Image Source: Depixym

Wild

Deodorant refill subscriptions are a big thing stateside, and now, Wild has launched a UK-based service with compostable plastic refills. The chic refillable deodorants are free from aluminium and other questionable ingredients. You can buy a case and three refills as a one-off purchase for £25, or you can subscribe to Wild, from £12, and choose to get your trio of refills posted to you every two, three, or four months for just £5 each. UK shipping is free, and as a subscriber, you'll get access to exclusive scents and cases as and when they launch.

Image Source: We Are Wild

MDM Flow

Swapping pharmacy and prescriptions for cosmetics and formulations, MDMFlow's founder, Florence, went from studying pharmacy to learning cosmetic science at London College of Fashion. And at 22, she created her own cosmetics brand, MDM Flow, which is a culmination of all her interests: hip hop, beauty, fashion, and science. Heavily inspired by the late '90s/early aughts, MDM Flow is abundant in nostalgia and the reigning years of hip hop and all its glamour. Bursting with colour, exuberance, and personality — just take one look at the MDM Flow Lip Collection (£13-£15) and you'll understand — MDM Flow is a brand for those who embrace beauty with their whole hearts.

Image Source: mdmflow.com

Charlotte Mensah

Trained by The Godfather of British Afro Hairdressing, Winston Isaacs, hairstylist Charlotte Mensah fast became an expert in afro hair. Noting that your hair needs to be properly maintained and cared for, Mensah created her own hair products that are formulated around manketti oil — including the must try Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Conditioner (£24) — an extract sustainably sourced from the manketti nut that not only hydrates, but also smooths frizz, adds shine, and soothes dry scalps.

Image Source: cultbeauty.co.uk

Anita Grant

After winding up in the hospital when a lotion left her hands blistered, Anita Grant swore off non-natural beauty products and set out to create her own line from her kitchen using natural oils, butters, clays, creams, and herbs. Fast forward 15 years, and her award-winning beauty products range from hair care to face and body treatments. Grant uses ingredients like shea butter, cacay oil, and plantain spinach, all of which are purchased directly from farming communities that house fair trade and organic suppliers. One of our favourites in the range? The Anita Grant Creamy Café Latte Unscented Daily Leave-In Butter (£14).