10 South African Beauty Brands That Deserve a Spot in Your Routine

For years, Paris, Seoul, and New York have defined the beauty landscape, but a new wave is rising. South African beauty brands are capturing global attention with high-performance formulas and a deep understanding of diverse skin and hair needs.

Unlike many beauty brands that chase global trends, South Africa’s beauty brands are setting their own standards. They combine centuries-old knowledge of indigenous plants like rooibos and marula with cutting-edge science to create skincare that truly works. They’re crafting makeup collections that offer every shade in the melanin-rich spectrum. They’re formulating haircare that embraces the beauty and complexity of coily, kinky, and wavy textures, filling gaps the mainstream industry has ignored for far too long.

For South African beauty brands, beauty isn’t just about looking good; it’s about creating products that feel made for you. Think moisturisers that actually keep skin hydrated, lipsticks that survive your morning coffee, and shampoos that nourish every curl without extra weight.

What makes them stand out even more is that many South African beauty brands embrace sustainability, cruelty-free practices, and inclusivity, proving that modern luxury can be both conscious and sophisticated. These South African beauty brands are redefining what it means to look and feel good, with formulas that deliver visible results that are worth supporting.

So before you think global, take a closer look at the treasures made in South Africa. Ahead, we’ve put together 10 South African beauty brands that deserve a spot in your routine.

Founded by actor and skincare advocate Amanda du Pont in 2020, South African beauty brand, Lelive, delivers clean, high-performance skincare using African botanicals x innovation. Every product is made with no less than 95% natural ingredients, enriched with powerhouse botanicals like rooibos, moringa, bakuchiol, and vitamin C.

Community-tested and inclusive, Lelive formulas are vegan, cruelty-free, reef-safe, and pregnancy-safe. It’s skincare that works and respects your skin and the planet.

Meaning “clean” in Afrikaans, SKOON. is built on ancient African beauty wisdom amplified by modern science. Founder Stella and her team blend rooibos, honeybush, baobab, and buchu with Swiss phyto-compounds. Their clean, non-toxic formulas deliver results while treating planet and skin kindly.

Founded in 2010 from a desire for clean and effective hair and skincare, Suki Suki Naturals has grown into one of South Africa’s standout beauty brands, rooted in ancestral African ingredients such as prickly pear and argan oil. Founder Linda Gieskes-Mwamba brings heritage into modern care with 100% natural, inclusive, sustainably packaged, and proudly South African products. This is a brand with beauty products that honor your texture and history.

Created by then-teen prodigy Rabia Ghoor, South African beauty brand, SwiitchBeauty, is a beloved brand known for its inclusive shades and glossy, cruelty-free formulas. Their makeup pops with color while their skincare infuses beauty with purpose, proving you don’t need to choose between fun and function. 

ENOUGH. is South Africa’s first upcycled beauty brand. By upcycling by-products into fresh formulations, this brand not only nurtures your skin but also protects the planet. Ethically resourceful and eco-forward, it’s clean beauty with true conscience at its core.

Founded in 2015, NativeChild is a natural hair & bodycare brand, created for the underserved needs of women of color. It’s part of the sustainable South African beauty brands rooted in local heritage and craftsmanship, offering natural, skin-sensitive formulations that speak to personal expression and cultural pride.

A heritage South African beauty brand with natural roots, Oh-Lief, founded in 2010 by sisters Christine Buchanan and Louiza Rademan, is beloved for using sustainably sourced plant extracts in its hair and body care. The brand’s name is a clever nod to its signature ingredient, organic cold-pressed olive oil, and the Afrikaans word “lief,” meaning “love.” 

From its origins in a kitchen, crafting gentle products for a baby, Oh-Lief has grown into a trusted name for both little ones and adults, offering a certified natural and organic line of skincare and sun care.

This award-winning South African beauty line, founded by Phoebe Williams, champions clean, organic makeup, wrapping each product in minimalist eco-packaging. Hey Gorgeous is your go-to when beauty meets simplicity and sustainability.

Nilotiqa has emerged as a true trailblazer in the South African beauty scene, born from a personal journey to address a universal need within the natural hair community. Founded by entrepreneur Thokozile Mangwiro, the beauty brand was created “by a Black woman for Black women,” with the singular mission of celebrating and nourishing natural hair without attempting to change its fundamental structure. 

Its hero ingredient, rich, exquisite shea butter, sourced along with other premium, plant-based ingredients from the African continent, provides deep, long-lasting moisture, ensuring that every strand can thrive in its healthiest and most authentic state. Unlike many products that focus on styling or altering textured hair, Nilotiqa’s award-winning philosophy centers on developing healthy hair.

Lamelle has cemented its reputation in the South African beauty industry by combining dermatology and innovation. The beauty brand is known for being a true pioneer, often bringing “first-to-market” solutions to the local industry by leveraging biotechnology and extensive research. 

Unlike many skincare lines, Lamelle’s product portfolio is exclusively available through a network of dermatologists and trained professionals, ensuring that every solution, from their breakthrough Serra range for barrier repair to their advanced Dermaheal anti-aging line, is precisely matched to an individual’s skin needs. 

South African beauty brands are proving that world-class beauty doesn’t need a foreign label. These beauty brands bring innovation, inclusivity, and a unique sense of identity to every product, making them worthy staples in any routine. 

Supporting them means you are investing in local talent, sustainable practices, and a beauty industry that truly represents you. The world is catching on, but you have the chance to say you loved them first.

Photo: Instagram/@nilotiqa