Inspired by their bucolic environs, there is a common thread of ‘natural, sustainable and ethical’ running through many of them. Often handmade, in small batches by owner/producers directly – it’s a great way to support small makers, while benefiting from award-winning products, with real South-West pedigree in every bottle. Here are nine to try.
GAIA Skincare
If you've ever floated out of a treatment at Gaia Spa at Boringdon Hall — the five-star hideaway on the edge of Dartmoor — you'll already know (and love) this brand. Founder Diane Nettleton bottled that spa experience in 2016, and it's since found its way into more than 50 spas across the UK and Ireland. Certified organic plant extracts, artisan herbal macerates and pure essential oils come together in three signature blends — Awakening, Balancing and Calming — a little bit of that spa ‘ahhh’ for your home.
Coraline Skincare
The best sensitive-skin brands are almost always born of necessity, and this Topsham label is no exception. It began when founder Kevin set out to soothe the sensitive skin of his daughter Coraline, who was diagnosed with Down's syndrome at birth – and the result is a range of award-winning waterless soaps and skincare, handcrafted in small batches from 100% organic or wild-harvested oils and botanicals. If your skin flares at the mere sight of a new product, start here.
Organic Trevarno
Organic before organic was a marketing term. This Cornish heritage brand was the first beauty company in the country to gain formal certification from Organic Farmers & Growers, and it hasn't lowered the bar since, with everything still made by hand at Trevarno Farm - just as it has been since 1998.
The Cornish Seaweed Bath Co.
Seaweed is enjoying a moment in skincare, but this Penzance company was harvesting it long before the marine-beauty bandwagon rolled in. Cornish seaweeds are sustainably gathered from the wild Atlantic coastline and blended with traditional medicinal know-how into seaweed baths, facial oils and detox haircare - all free from silicones, sulphates, parabens and artificial fragrance. The devoted following stretches well beyond the county line, and deservedly so.
Bloom Remedies
Bloom Remedies founder, Marie Hall is an accredited aromatherapist, and it shows in her formulations that pair organic distilled floral waters, active botanicals and cold-pressed base oils with some genuinely unusual therapeutic essential oils. Everything is handcrafted in small batches near Marazion in west Cornwall, and the Serenity sleep collection alone justifies the trip.
B Skincare
No gimmicks, no trend-chasing, just creams made by hand every week in a workshop at Coldrenick Farm on the fringes of Bodmin Moor, as they have been since 2003. This family-run range covers the everyday essentials – hand creams, moisturisers, lip salves, cleansers and toners – all built on powerful ingredients like beeswax, honey, essential oils and flower waters. The sort of brand you buy once and never stop reordering.
The Dartmoor Skincare Company
Vegan-friendly, cruelty-free and with a trophy cabinet to prove its worth, including Best Hand Cream and Best Soap at the European Free From Skincare Awards. Created by Dartmoor beauty therapist Tara Leader and made in Devon, the range takes its cues from the wild beauty of the moor. The zero-waste hair bars are a particularly smart buy.
Apothespa
One of the rare indie beauty brands you can actually smell before you buy. Founded in 2006 by qualified aromatherapist Lisa Hosking as a true Devon cottage industry, with everything handmade, hand potted and hand labelled in small batches. Apothespa now has boutiques in Totnes, Sidmouth and Dartmouth, plus holistic treatments at its Totnes day spa. Well worth pinning for your next South Hams wander.
Pure Nuff Stuff
Operating out of the extraordinary Egyptian House on Penzance's Chapel Street, Pure Nuff Stuff makes every product in small batches right next door to the shop, using only vegetable or mineral ingredients extracted as naturally as possible. The own-brand range runs from eye balm to bump-rub oil, with a much-loved collection for eczema, psoriasis and rosacea, plus refills to cut down on plastic. Honest, affordable and quietly brilliant.
FAQs: Devon and Cornwall Beauty Brands
Which beauty brands are made in Devon and Cornwall?
The South West is home to a growing number of independent beauty brands, including GAIA Skincare, Coraline Skincare, Organic Trevarno, The Cornish Seaweed Bath Co., Bloom Remedies, B Skincare, The Dartmoor Skincare Company, Apothespa and Pure Nuff Stuff. Most are handmade in small batches by their founders, often using botanicals sourced from their local surroundings.
Are Devon and Cornwall beauty brands natural and organic?
Many are. Organic Trevarno was the first UK beauty company to gain formal Organic Certification from Organic Farmers & Growers, with all formulations containing a minimum of 95% organic ingredients, while brands including Coraline Skincare, Bloom Remedies and Apothespa use certified organic or wild-harvested botanicals throughout their ranges.
Which South West skincare brands are vegan and cruelty-free?
The Dartmoor Skincare Company is fully vegan-friendly and certified by Cruelty Free International, B Skincare carries the Leaping Bunny logo, Apothespa is registered with PETA, and The Cornish Seaweed Bath Co. is vegan and cruelty-free. Coraline Skincare's waterless range is also vegan, with eco-friendly, plastic-free packaging.
What makes Cornish seaweed good for skin?
Seaweed harvested from the wild Atlantic waters around Cornwall is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help hydrate, soothe and repair the skin. The Cornish Seaweed Bath Co. combines sustainably harvested organic seaweeds with traditional medicinal knowledge in its skincare, haircare and signature seaweed baths.
Can you visit these beauty brands in person?
Yes — several have their own shops. Coraline Skincare has a shop in Topsham near Exeter, Apothespa has boutiques in Totnes, Sidmouth and Dartmouth (with a day spa in Totnes), and Pure Nuff Stuff trades from the historic Egyptian House on Chapel Street in Penzance, next door to its workshop. GAIA treatments are available at Gaia Spa at Boringdon Hall near Plymouth and at partner spas across the UK.
Why buy skincare from small South West producers?
Buying directly from independent makers supports small local businesses, and because products are handmade in small batches, they're typically fresher than mass-produced alternatives. Many of these brands are award winners at national level, from the European Free From Skincare Awards to the Green Parent Natural Beauty Awards, so quality doesn't take a back seat.
