WE ALL HAVE OUR TRIED-AND-TRUE FAVORITES, BUT WHAT IF YOU FOUND THEIR NATURAL EQUIVALENT? YOUR SEARCH FOR GENTLER ALTERNATIVES TO BIG BEAUTY BRANDS IS OVER—AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO SACRIFICE ANY OF THE QUALITY. WE TESTED EVERYTHING, AND FOUND THESE PRODUCTS TO BE THE BEST MATCHES TO YOUR FAVORITE PRODUCTS.
Favorite: Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream
Natural Alternative: Honest Organic Healing Balm
Everyone’s moms’ favorite product is the gold standard for preventing dry, rough skin. Beloved by beauty editors, with its original recipe concocted by none other than the legendary Elizabeth Arden herself, we never thought we’d accept any other substitute—before we found Honest Organic Healing Balm. This versatile, all-natural product made from organic oils, extract, beeswax—and that’s it—is ultra-soothing. It’s multi-functional, working to protect you from skin irritation caused by eczema, dryness, and even diaper rash. As we head into the cold weather months, both of these products are bottom-of-your-purse staples—you’ll keep reaching for them time and time again.
Favorite: Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge
Natural Alternative: Tata Harper Volumizing Lip & Cheek Tint
Who doesn’t love a good, multi-functional lip and cheek tint? There’s something immensely satisfying about applying this two-in-one, staple product. Bobbi Brown’s best-selling Pot Rouge has a fan in model Rosie Huntington Whitely, who gushed about her love for the product. Want the same just-pinched flush, using all-natural ingredients? You’ll find it in Tata Harper’s own Lip & Cheek Tint. Made in Vermont from 13 high-performance ingredients, and without synthetics, fillers, or gluten, this tint is volumizing, soft, nourishing, and oh-so-plumping. We also found that Tata Harper’s shades, ranging from Very Charming (petal pink) to Very Popular (warm rose), are a little more innocent than Bobbi Brown’s dark, seductive hues.
Favorite: L’Oreal Sublime Bronze
Natural Alternative: Alba Botanica Very Emollient Sunless Tanner
L’Oreal’s Sublime Bronze Self-Tanner has won many fans with its immediate, non-streaking, and affordable formula. It’s fast-acting, quick-drying, and doesn’t skimp on nourishing your skin while bronzing it. Since Sublime Bronze is so perfect in pretty much every way, we were shocked to discover there was another product on the market that so closely mimicked it—Alba Botanica’s Very Emollient Sunless Tanner. Within 3 hours of application, your skin will literally begin to glow, goddess-status. Plus, this formula is made from 100% Vegetarian ingredients, and sports a refreshing, floral scent that won’t aggravate sensitive skin.
Favorite: NARS Illuminator
Natural Alternative: RMS Beauty Living Luminizer
We all know NARS Illuminator as a must-have for any girls’ night out—it feels sheer and light, but looks luminous, shimmering, and crazy-sexy. Whether wearing it solo or over foundation, it’s the easiest product that gives lazy girls a just-contoured look. #strobing If you want to find a product that will make you look as good as Illuminator, while also being beneficial to your skin, then try RMS Beauty’s Living Luminizer. It’s made from pure, organize ingredients that include coconut oil and rosemary extract. Made form light-reflecting materials, you can use it during night or day.
Favorite: Kate Somerville RetAsphere Micro Peel
Natural Alternative: Suki Resurfacing Enzyme Peel
Kate Somerville’s seemingly-magical REtAsphere Micro Peel marinates your skin in pure Retinol overnight, to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making you look younger by morning. It can’t get much better than that!—or so we thought, before encountering Suki’s Resurfacing Enzyme Peel. This sensitive peel strips away surface problems to get to the base of your skin concerns, correcting toxins for near-immediate results. Say goodbye to blemishes (both chronic & cystic), scars, dryness, fine lines, and wrinkles with this 100% natural, certified organic formula. While you can leave this on overnight like the REtAsphere Micro Peel, if that makes you uncomfortable, it will also work just as well in 10-20 minute increments 2-3 times a week.
Favorite: Fresh Brown Sugar Body Scrub
Natural Alternative: SW Basics Body Scrub
At $65, Fresh’s Brown Sugar Body Scrub is a total splurge product. But we still can’t get over the way it exfoliates, moisturizes, and treats our skin—it’s a must-have for anyone who wants to show off their legs. But at less than half the price and just as luxurious, SW Basics Body Scrub gives Fresh a run for its money. This mix of coconut oil, organic demerara sugar, and organic shredded coconut does really feel like “dessert for your skin,” as the brand promises.
Favorite: Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser
Natural Alternative: Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter
Eve Lom’s two-minute wash-off balm works perfectly to wake up and refresh your face every morning. It manages to effortlessly remove all of your makeup. Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter does the same. While both formulas are rich and creamy, this one uses a natural formula of rosemary, carrot, and shea butter to sooth skin, and chamomile and lavender to give peace of mind. As one of the brand’s first products, the Carrot Butter Cleanser is what put Organic Pharmacy on the map, and on the shelves of exclusive stores such as Barneys.
