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This post was originally published in January 2021. It was last updated in September 2023.
I hadn’t planned on writing about organic European makeup and skincare brands on this Christmas trip to Madrid, but after seeing how sodden Madrid was with natural beauty stores, I knew that not only did I have to dedicate an entire post to these stores, but I also had to include natural Spanish and non-Spanish brands that I came across. One thing I have to say is that the natural European skincare market is surpassing the American market by a landslide!
Growing up in Madrid, natural skincare was something unheard of. Since I moved to LA in September 2015, Madrid has truly turned into a mini-LA: fitness boutiques with inspirational neon quotes, boutique coffee shops, trendy restaurants, poke joints, etc. To say that I was floored is a complete understatement.
I love beauty and every time I go to a city, especially a European city like Madrid, I have to chronicle my experience. It is a weird feeling knowing that I left Madrid when I was in my very early 20’s, fresh out of college, and knew as much about makeup and skincare as I know about physics. All the beauty knowledge I have acquired in LA has been through a lot of practice, and of course, Youtube. Coming back to the city where I grew up in search of the best beauty stores and beauty products truly felt like a full-circle moment.
It was nice to take a welcome respite from the LA beauty stores, whose products I’m so accustomed to seeing, and immerse myself into the natural beauty world in Spain. While it was physically impossible for me to go to all of these stores in two weeks, I did go to the majority of them, and even treated myself to a nice facial.
Most organic beauty stores in Madrid carry different brands. This was extremely overwhelming compared to the US, where we are accustomed to seeing maybe four indie natural beauty brands max in one space, each of them with a nice social media presence. In Spain, very rarely will you see a flagship store from a natural brand only carrying their products unless they are franchises. A prime example of this is the store Primor, which carries an impressive plethora of organic European natural brands, Korean skincare, the French makeup brand staples, perfumes, makeup brushes and cheap palettes. There’s even a pharmacy inside! Think of it as the elevated version of Ulta. I’ve never seen so many different tiers of brands and prices crammed into one space. But more on that later on.
After going down the rabbit hole of independent natural European skincare brands on Instagram, I rounded up this list, which consists of Spanish and other European natural skincare products. I included the brand’s hero product, which is their best-selling product.
Because I was in Spain, most of the brands you’ll see are Spanish. If you go to Madrid or any other part of Spain after the pandemic dust settles, I encourage you to check these out. If you’re from another European country, most of these brands ship within Europe. Sadly, for my American readers, not all of these brands ship internationally. Please refer to their website for more details regarding shipping information.
Italian influencer Alice Campello-Morata created MasqMai in 2017. While the brand produces all the beauty essentials for face, body, and hair, their standout product is their stunning Natural Beauty Elixir glass bottle, which retails for 30 eur. ($36).
This luxury face oil nourishes and moisturizes the skin thanks to its myriad of oils infused in it: argan oil, chia oil, avocado oil, grape seed oil, hazelnut oil, jojoba oil, and almond oil. The petals you see on the glass are actually a suspension of helichrysum petals from the Netherlands! This beauty elixir yields great results thanks to its calming powers, such as healing rosacea, acne scars, and sunburns.
The Organic Republic is a gender-neutral brand known for their natural shower gels, shampoos, bar soaps and clay masks that are multipurpose for body and face. Their products are inspired by the essence of the Mediterranean, and all their packaging is 100% recyclable. If you’re in Madrid, you can find them at the Alegre Perez natural beauty store.
Hero product: Eco Size Normal Hair Shampoo. This product strengthens your scalp, hydrates and acts a soft astringent without compromising the health of your hair. It’s also apt for curly-haired girls like me!
When Spaniards Nuria Val and Gabriela Salord met for the first time in Paris in 2018, they instantly bonded over their appreciation for the environment and their love of clean beauty products, which led to the birth of Rowse Beauty.
Think greenery, stillness and the sound of chirping birds. They’ve done such a great job translating the essence of the brand through their aesthetically pleasing Instagram feed!
Their plant-based and sustainably sourced products target every skincare concern. They even have a Drainer Leg Exfoliator, aimed to boost and revitalize your legs. Because I’m already well stocked on serums, I got their cold-pressed organic jojoba oil, which could not be more apt for December in Spain. The scent is very subtle and does a great job hydrating my skin.
Another incentive that led me to purchase their product is how they embrace skin imperfections in the advertising photos. This is such a breath of fresh air compared to the usual blemish-free, perfect skin we see most of the time.
The good news is that Rowse Beauty ships to the US! Note: Rowse Beauty’s products are made in Paris, not Spain.
Hero product: Their oils! They have so many it’s hard to pick just one. The facial oils are bottled in 30ml glass containers, which are the perfect size and will last you for a long time! Rowse Beauty is probably my favorite skincare discovery I made on this trip.
What a beautiful brand! Founded by mother-daughter duo Cristina and Blanca, Paradisi In Sole’s aromatherapy products with floral waters and vegetable oils are wild-crafted in La Puebla De Alcolea, a picturesque village in the province of Castellón. How cool is it that they make the products in accordance with the seasons? Everything at Paradisi In Sole is handmade, hence the limited production and range of products. The line offers an organic moisturizer, a face oil, a beauty elixir face oil, and a cleanser. If you’re someone who doesn’t tolerate fragrances in their skincare products, keep in mind that this brand uses heavily-scented oils. In this case, you might only want to purchase their essential oil “Aceite Esencial De Espliego Silvestre” to bring relaxation to your space.
Laconicum is an online, one-stop destination for all-things natural beauty. It was founded in 2012 by Spaniards Anabel and Maria, who travelled around the world scouting out indie cosmetics from different countries, and ended up creating Laconicum, a website with curated, hard-to-find products.
Laconicum carries all the eco-luxury skincare/makeup lines you can find in the US (Ilia, RMS Beauty, Dr. Barbara Sturm, etc.) without the lofty shipping fees. Additionally, they also boast a broad selection of natural European and Korean brands. While browsing the natural and vegan beauty brands on the website, the eco luxe French vegan line, French Girls Organics was calling my name. I placed an order for their famous lip scrub and it took less than two days for it to be delivered to my doorstep! I also love the fact that the product descriptions are so comprehensive with the backstory of the brand you’re about to purchase. Their best-seller section is a great way to discover new brands that are selling like hot cakes. While I was there, I discovered Nursem Caring Hand Cream, a brand created by a British nurse to nourish and soothe your hands. Her moisturizing creams were completely sold out.
Laconicum doesn’t sell the entire lines of every brand, so you should go to the brand’s website to see the full scope of products.
The French Girl Organics logo reminded me of the American skincare brand Herbivore. Isn’t it interesting the power of logos and brand identity?
Like I said above, I placed an order for their Rose Lip Polish, which is their hero product. What really stood out to me is the gentleness of the scrub and the mess-free application. My lips felt smooth and supple after one use, plus the scent! OMG. For the last two years, I’ve been using the lip scrub from the Aussie brand Frank Body. It is nice, but it’s a tad too abrasive compared to the gentleness of French Girl Organics. This is due to the formulation with oils and spearmint, which adds a nice touch of freshness and will leave your lips feeling extra clean! There are many lip scrubs on the market, but this one truly exceeded my expectations. Not to mention how cute your medicine cabinet will look with the sleek packaging. A little bit goes a very long way so it will last you for a long time! I ordered mine from Laconicum, but If you order directly from the French Girl Organics website, $1 goes to a charitable organization through their French Girl Gives program. Their lip tints are also on my radar.
On my quest to discover natural indie European brands, Aime was the brand that instantly caught my attention thanks to its beautiful aesthetic. Yes people, the French paved the way in mainstream European skincare, and now French natural skincare is making huge strides. French founder Mathilde Lancome suffered a severe case of rosacea for many years. After trying out every skincare product and facial known to man, she realized the issue was inside her body, which is why she decided to create probiotic supplements for the skin.
Aime Skincare ranks an impressive Instagram following of 90k, which, for an indie skincare brand, is very commendable. Mathilde and her cofounder François Morrier have managed to successfully diversify the line with a cleanser, roll-on perfumes, a serum, moisturizer, and powder drinks. From the cute packaging to the simple yet refined design, everything about Aime screams French chic. Once COVID-19 becomes a thing of the past, you can hop on a plane and have a facial at their très chic flagship store called Le Glow.
This brand is the perfect pick-me-up for your body, especially during the cold months. Founder Tahone Jacobs, a Brazilian based in Madrid, left her job in fashion to completely devote herself to her love of skincare. Per Purr is armed to the teeth with body oils, body creams, exfoliators, soaps, and bath salts that will leave your skin super soft and hydrated. They also have natural shampoos and a wide array of body oils according to your needs. Whether you want to treat cellulite or sore muscles, Perr Purr Cosmetics has the perfect oil to soothe and replenish your skin. They even have a body oil with relaxing properties, and it’s meant to be used before you go to bed!
This eco luxury beauty brand is one of Sweden’s best secrets! Bjork & Berries started out as a small project in Northern Sweden, where the owners went into the woods to handpick leaves and berries to capture the essence of the flora in their natural perfumes. Bjork & Berries’ strict sustainability is what has made them one of Sweden’s most beloved brands. Their growth has skyrocketed thanks to their wide range of products like shampoos, limited edition candles, cleansers, oils, exfoliators, and toners.
Hero Product: Their Eau de Parfums, which are 100% vegan and made of organic fermented alcohol from vegetable remnants. This line of perfumes retails for 95 eur ($115). Unfortunately, this product can only be shipped within Europe. But don’t let that be a deterrent from browsing their other products!
Spanish clothing brand Mint & Rose has recently expanded into personal care products with an aromatherapy candle, a hand cream, and facial oils. Their three oils – cactus, orange seed, and nut oil – are multipurpose and you can use them on your face, cuticles, and/or hair. Mint & Rose is a strong advocate of the label “Made In Spain”, which is why they state on their website that their oils are derived locally from the provinces of Valencia, Murcia and the island of Mallorca. The orange seed oil is actually made from Valencia’s oranges, which are very famous nationwide.
Mamita Botanicals is an eco luxury skincare brand, founded in Barcelona by Elisenda Monje. The word Botanicals is inspired by Elisenda’s experiences living in South America, where she did a deep research on the Amazon rainforest plants. Mamita Botanicals’ natural ingredients are grown in the Collserola National Park in Barcelona, and they’re formulated with natural oils, as well as flowers and seeds extracts. The harvesters use a cold-press extraction method to yield the best quality. The extensive line of products covers everything from body, to face and hair.
Hero product: The Cleansing Powder, Nourishing And Calming Mask. I’m no stranger to powder cleansers, but this one is surprisingly really affordable. In the US, most powder cleansers from eco luxury brands are over $40.
Cowshed is an award-winning British natural and organic brand. It initially started out as a spa in the English countryside back in 1998, where founder Nick Jones created a members-only retreat for guests who worked in the creative and entertainment industry. Nick wanted to create a space for them to unwind from the city. Today, Cowshed has a cult following. Their bath and beauty products are made with fair-trade ingredients and they only use the purest essential oils. On the website, their impressive line of bath products are under the category “Moods”. Whether you want to replenish your skin, sleep, or relax, Cowshed’s magic products will wash your worries away.
I’m sad to report that unless you go to the UK, where they have multiple places to get their facial, the only way to access a Cowshed spa outside of the UK is through the most renowned members-only social club, Soho House. Their facials are available in the following Soho House location cities: Barcelona, Chicago, Berlin, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Miami and New York. Of course, you can always replicate the experience by purchasing their face products from their website.
Known for their health-conscious approach to skincare and eco-friendly ethos, La Beau Organics’ plant-based products are formulated with premium and sustainable organic oils. Spaniard founders Adriana and Olga wanted to create a brand rooted in the natural environment, stripped of all the fancy advertising.
Hero Products: Crema Hidratante Facial Con Aceite De Germen De Trigo and their Mascarilla Facial Nutritiva Con Manteca de Karité. In English, this translates to a moisturizer with wheatgerm oil and a face mask with shea butter.
I thought organic nail bars were an LA thing, but nope, natural beauty has successfully slithered into the nail salon industry. Usually, nail polishes are filled with chemicals and other harmful toxins that, over time, are a detriment to the health of your nails. Handmade Beauty offers a beautiful range of intense and bright hues without jeopardizing quality, while also ensuring the protection of your nail bed.
Hero product: Their Cherry nail polish is a vibrant red with a gorgeous shine that will take your nail game to a whole new level.
Natural Beauty Stores in Madrid:
Primor
Primor is organic skincare heaven. Besides carrying all the traditional European makeup brands, Primor is the main carrier for Spanish indie natural brands. Some of the brands you’ll find at Primor are very small companies, so small that they don’t even have a social media presence. The main reason why Primor is so popular is because their products are available at great discounted prices, which you’ll see on the packaging. Seriously, if you’re in Spain and you want to immerse yourself in the natural skincare market, head over to Primor. I cannot believe this hasn’t been written about in any beauty blog! You can buy three skincare products for the price of one run-of-the-mill serum at Sephora.
With the exception of Korean skincare products, most of the natural brands at Primor are Spanish, which is also a nice way to promote national indie brands that may not have the funds to invest in a huge marketing campaign.
At Primor, I discovered the natural Spanish brands Farm To Fresh, Healthy Choice, and Boddy’s Pharmacy. Something that was brought to my attention, after browsing the brands, is the eerily similar logo fonts to some of the mainstream brands you can see at Sephora. The logo of Boddy’s Pharmacy was almost identical to Kiehls. The packaging of Healthy Choice instantly reminded me of Youth To The People, and I almost mistook the brand Kokoconoi for Drunk Elephant. The white chunky tubes and the colored lids are the exact same! I’m not undermining the products’ performances in any way, shape or form, but I was intrigued by how their packaging was inspired by mainstream brands.
I later learned that all these brands are owned by Niche Beauty Lab, a cosmetic manufacturer based in Barcelona. If you go to Niche Beauty Lab’s Instagram account, all the brands you’ll see are carried by Primor. Just like L’oreal is comprised of a bevy of brands that fall under its umbrella, Niche Beauty Lab owns all the Spanish natural brands you’ll find at Primor. You should definitely go to their Instagram to get familiar with the products if you’re travelling to Spain.
Primor is widely available in Spain.
Bocoa Beauty
Plaza de las Salesas, 2, 28004 Madrid
Bocoa Beauty is Madrid influencers’ favorite spa. After seeing how affordable their prices were for a basic facial using innovative natural skincare products, I knew I had to give them a try. Due to the overwhelming number of COVID-19 cases in LA, the beauty business has been completely shut down for several months. So, while in Madrid, I had to take advantage of the more lax lockdown measures.
Bocoa is an oasis in the middle of the bustling city of Madrid. Once you step in, the white walls and zen-like atmosphere are designed to immerse you in tranquility.
The lobby has a small waiting area with skincare products for you to purchase. Further in the back, there’s a small nail salon room and at the very end, the main facial room.
I absolutely loved my facial. The aesthetician finished me off with a shoulder and face massage. I cannot tell you how much I needed it after my first long-haul flight in almost two years. This, coupled with the change in my eating habits, sent my skin into a tailspin.
Something that sparked my curiosity, is that unlike most beauty spas in the US, Bocoa Beauty doesn’t have their own skincare line nor do they make their own products. If you live in the US, you’ll know that after a facial, usually the spa pushes you to buy their own skincare products. Three brands were available for purchase at Bocoa Beauty: Le Pure, Nathalie Bond, S5, Madara Organic Skincare, Dr. Hauschka, and Evolve Beauty (also available at the store Kosui Cosmetics). For your information, only Madara Organic Skincare is Spanish.
If you’re ever in Madrid, you have to check out Bocoa Beauty! Needless to say, Bocoa Beauty only uses organic, vegan and cruelty-free products, even for their nail salon services.
Here concludes my lengthy post of organic and natural Spanish and European skincare brands. I hope you found a few brands that have piqued your interest!
