The natural beauty product market in South Africa is flourishing.
From store shelves to online marketplaces, there are dozens of creams, masks, serums and balms formulated with organic oils and botanicals.
All are marketed as safe and non-toxic for consumers and the environment. The challenge is to find the products that really are the best in terms of efficacy and value for money.
Here’s a round-up of the best natural and organic beauty products currently sold in South Africa – overall and in their respective categories.
All are available at Hairhouse Warehouse, South Africa’s leading online sales platform.
Best overall natural and organic beauty product
A face cream formulated to tackle all major skincare issues – from dryness and premature aging to UV and environmental damage.
The signature ingredient is hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance effective at combatting wrinkles, reducing roughness and scarring, and adding smoothness and suppleness to skin.
A bouquet of botanicals – sweet almond oil, prickly pear and moringa extract – hydrate, nourish, protect and regenerate skin.
The German-manufactured product is an affordable all-round health and beauty booster suitable for all skin types.
What we like:
Runner-up in the best organic beauty product category
A highly effective repair and restorative cream for tired, damaged and aging skin.
The use of edelweiss stem cells in the formulation is a game changer. It weaponises the skin against free radical damage while reducing hyperpigmentation and supporting collagen production.
Moringa extract detoxifies and purifies, protects against UV and blue light, and restores even-toned, natural glow.
With regular use, skin can look and feel softer and younger – notwithstanding age, skin type or concern.
What we like:
Best natural face cream for sensitive skins
Arcaya has formulated a face cream that addresses all the symptoms of dry, irritated and infected skin.
It’s both a protective and preventative solution formulated with active ingredients that reduce the production of sebum, ease inflammation, repair damage and soothe and strengthen the skin at cellular level.
Ideal for stressed, dry and itchy skin, the lightweight creamy product has anti-fungal, cooling and moisturising properties.
When applied morning and evening, it can reduce the symptoms, provide relief and help restore the skin to optimal health.
What we like:
Best organic night cream for mature skins
A retinol-based night cream that boosts skin cell production, unclogs pores and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
With sunflower oil to hydrate, calm and protect, green tea extract to strengthen, soothe and stimulate blood circulation and avocado oil to nourish and moisturise, Arcaya’s anti-aging night cream is an all-in-one elixir for all skin types.
It neutralises free radical damage, stimulates natural collagen production and increases the elasticity of the skin, leaving a firmer and younger-looking complexion.
What we like:
Best natural face cream for men
A product specially formulated by men, for men. It provides the most effective solution for skin that is typically thicker and more oleaginous.
The cream is formulated with a host of plant-based ingredients known for their strengthening, nourishing and hydrating properties.
Cucumber extract boosts the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Sea mayweed restores softness and elasticity. Marigold slows aging and improves firmness.
Caffeine energises the skin and makes it brighter and tighter. Whiskey extract reduces inflammation, calms and soothes skin and may be effective at removing blemishes.
What we like:
Best gentle face wash with all-natural ingredients
A fragrant-fresh gel that gently, yet effectively, removes impurities, excess oil and make-up from the skin.
Herbal extracts, including ginseng and green tea, tighten pores, rejuvenate and repair skin cells and promote collagen production.
The anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of gingko sanitise, soothe and calm even the most irritated and sensitive skin. The foaming gel is easy to use. Better still, a little goes a long way.
What we like:
Best organic exfoliating face scrub for a brighter complexion
With the peeling, exfoliating, restoring and healing properties of diatomaceous earth in full swing, Arcaya’s weekly derma scrub leaves the skin soft and refreshed.
It’s one of the more affordable peeling products on the market, and contains a host of active ingredients that play key roles in promoting a smooth, flexible and healthy-looking skin.
Tiger grass hydrates and tightens the pores, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and age spots.
Chamomile extract lightens, brightens and rejuvenates skin.
Aloe extract protects the skin against bacteria, promotes the formation of new cells and has a calming effect on irritated or sensitive skin.
It’s the go-to product for a healthy, youthful-looking appearance.
What we like:
Best natural restorative face mask
An overnight mask designed to work in tandem with the deeply restorative and regenerative phase of sleep.
It repairs skin at maximised levels and reduces the visible signs of aging – while you are completely relaxed and “dead to the world”.
Active ingredients include nutrient-rich almond oil to soothe and hydrate. Black tea extract improves skin tone, reduces puffiness, fights infections and moisturises and firms dry and prematurely sagging skin.
The light, creamy mask is ideal for dry, sensitive or combination skin that needs a restorative lift.
What we like:
Best natural balm for plump hydrated lips
A scented balm with an intensive moisturising effect for dry, cracked and chapped lips.
It contains beeswax to lock in moisture and soothe and protect soft sensitive skin caused by extreme environmental conditions.
Sunflower oil creates a fatty acid-rich protective barrier to nourish and hydrate without leaving a sheen or visible layer.
Jojoba oil softens and smooths stressed, irritated and wind- and sun-damaged lips to make them more flexible… and soft.
What we like: