Britain has long been at the forefront of innovation and creation – and the world of beauty is no exception. A leader in cosmetic safety, as well as ethical and sustainable production methods, there are a number of homegrown brands leading the charge when it comes to revolutionising the beauty industry, ranging from established pioneers such as Elemis and Neal’s Yard Remedies (both currently celebrating more than 25 years in business) to newcomers such as Wallow and Glaswegian-brand Dussl. Here are the British beauty brands (and their bestselling products) to shop now. 

Wallow

One of the newest beauty brands on the block, Wallow is Piglet in Bed’s first foray into the world of bath and beauty. Having launched earlier this month, Wallow is rooted in the linen brand’s slow-living ethos and the collection features two signature scents: the heady and earthy Untamed Moss, featuring patchouli, geranium and bergamot, and the citrusy Eternal Sun, boasting notes of coconut, grapefruit and ylang ylang. 

Made in the UK, founder Jessica Hanley wanted to create something that encouraged us to switch off and sink in. “We felt there was something missing in the bath and body space – less prescriptive with a touch of defiance. So much of what is on the market is targeting self improvement in one form or another, but what if your evening routine wasn’t about achieving anything at all, but simply about how you want to feel. We wanted to create products that don’t demand anything of you.” The range is small but perfectly formed, encompassing hand and body wash, cream and oils. 

Dussl

Smart yet simple, Glasgow-born Dussl is redefining gender-neutral skincare. Founder Fraser Wilson left his career in tech to launch the brand on a very strict criteria: every product is dermatologically tested, gender-neutral, vegan, cruelty-free, invisible, non-greasy, and free from nasties like sulphates and parabens. On top of that, Dussl is on a mission to protect all skin types from the harmful effects of UV exposure, pollution, and blue light, and therefore SPF comes as standard in all of its multi-tasking products. 

Dussl puts its money where its mouth is, donating one per cent of all sales to skin cancer charities, such as Melanoma UK, British Skin Foundation and Cancer Research UK. The concise line is made up of seven products, with our top picks being the Daily Protection Moisturiser SPF 50 – featuring niacinamide for brightening and hyaluronic acid for hydration – and the unique Lip Protection Oil with SPF 25, crafted from 90 per cent naturally-derived ingredients to prevent the onset of perioral wrinkles.

Wildsmith Skin

Born out of Hampshire’s Heckfield Estate and named after pioneering 19^th-century horticulturist William Walker Wildsmith, Wildsmith Skin is a collection of clinically proven, science-based products that optimise skin health with natural ingredients. Founded in 2018, it was originally created to supply products for five-star hotel Heckfield Place’s spa, The Bothy, which has since evolved into the brand’s ‘living lab’. Having grown, harvested and dried calendula, Damask roses, Roman chamomile and lavender directly from the English estate, the brand initially launched with seven nourishing products but, seven years on, now features 19 different treatments. 

Wildsmith Skin was also founded on the belief that skincare can help regulate circadian rhythms and, to that end, has launched overnight masks to reduce redness while you sleep, followed by energising mists to be applied in the morning. Its hero products, however, continue to be the Active Repair range, which combines omega-rich rosehip oil with meadowfoam to seal in moisture and strengthen the skin barrier. 

Evolve Organic Beauty

Harvard graduate Laura Rudoe launched Evolve Organic Beauty in 2009 to offer high-performance skincare that is also transparent and sustainable. Now, more than 15 years later, she has earned a Vegan Society Trademark, a B-Corp certification, and made a commitment to halve the brand’s carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050, all while working out of a renewable energy-powered studio in Hertfordshire. Here, all products are formulated, blended, bottled, labelled and packed in-house and now span skincare, haircare and bodycare.  

Hero products include the gorgeous gold Bio-Retinol Gold Mask that gets to work in under five minutes to reduce the appearance of fine lines thanks to hero ingredients argan oil and rosehip oil. New for 2025 is the Sunless Glow Gradual Tan, which helps achieve a year-round natural-looking tan thanks to a gentle blend of sustainably sourced erythrulose (naturally derived from raspberries), carob fruit extract to enhance and extend the natural tanning process by boosting melanin production in the skin, and shea butter and hyaluronic acid lock in moisture. This has become essential in my skincare routine. 

Bamford

Working out of her Cotswolds estate, Carole Bamford founded the famous Daylesford Organic farmshop in 2002 to sell produce grown using her pioneering regenerative farming techniques. Her eponymous luxury wellness brand followed in 2004, and her healing and holistic treatments took off so swiftly that a dedicated Bamford Spa opened in Gloucestershire the same year. The B-Corp brand now stocks clothing and candles but the beauty range is its most extensive, priding itself on offering holistic and natural treatments for that spa-like experience at home. 

The signature scent is geranium and forms a huge part of the range, including hand washes and haircare. Elsewhere, the B Silent collection aids a restful night’s sleep with a natural blend of frankincense, lavender, and marjoram essential oils, while B Vibrant does quite the opposite, with uplifting notes of peppermint, rosemary, ginger and clove to help you get ready for the day ahead. 

Elemis

Noella Gabriel co-founded Elemis in 1991 after a career in whole foods made her question why we have differing approaches to what we eat and what we put on our skin. It kickstarted a deep dive into collagen and how vital it is for skin health and longevity, and Gabriel ensured it was going to be at the forefront of all Elemis’ skincare products. Enter the Pro Collagen range, formulated with five varieties of marine algae that help maintain hydration and texture. 

Its award-winning Pro-Collagen cleansing balm came along in 2013, building a cult following for the way it effortlessly melts away make-up and SPF with its luscious texture, and has since been expanded with four distinct scents (we love the black cherry). The range also encompasses SPF-infused moisturisers, eye creams, facial oils and exfoliators. Other tried-and-tested bestsellers that we can’t get enough of include the nourishing Superfood Midnight Facial that leaves skin feeling soft from the moment you wake up. 

TempleSpa

With more than 25 years’ experience in the skincare industry, TempleSpa was founded by husband-and-wife duo Mark and Liz Warom to make luxury, spa-like treatments accessible to everyone. The West Sussex-based brand is stocked in spas around the UK, from the Peak District to Devon, and has also won multiple awards. Despite being proud of its English heritage, TempleSpa products have a strong Mediterranean influence and have been developed with the nous of doctors, herbalists and dermatologists from Switzerland, Italy and the UK. 

One of its bestselling products is the Repose night cream, which sinks into skin with a blend of essential oils including frankincense, lavender and chamomile, while vitamin B5, E and A strengthen the skin barrier. Also don’t miss the fan favourite Windows of the Soul eye cream which targets dark circles with cucumber water and a multi-vitamin complex to rejuvenate your undereye complexion. 

Neal’s Yard Remedies

An oldie but a goodie, Neal’s Yard Remedies was founded in 1981 as a modern apothecary in Covent Garden. More than 40 years on, it remains much the same, but has since garnered a worldwide reputation for balancing beauty with inner health, exemplified in the tree logo that adorns all of its products. Despite changing hands to the Kindersley family in 2006, Neal’s Yard products continue to be produced in Dorset in its signature royal blue bottles. 

The Frankincense Intense collection is the brand’s most popular – and probably one you can recall being a firm fixture in your mother’s or grandmother’s skincare routine – and has received rave reviews for smoothing and plumping. Other collections include the orange flower, rose, palmarosa and white tea, which each offer a range of cleansers, moisturisers, serums, and bath and body treatments for both men and women. Not sure which to choose? We recommend setting some time aside to immerse yourself in the Covent Garden store to experience all of the heady aromas and indulgent textures. That’s an afternoon well spent. 

Read more: The best eye creams for banishing dark circles and puffiness