South Africa: Clean Beauty Brands to Explore

Small regions in clean beauty can be the hardest to explore. When only a handful of brands are visible internationally, discovery often relies on word of mouth, local markets, or the occasional social mention that disappears as quickly as it appears. That can leave curious shoppers unsure of where to look, or whether they’re even seeing the full picture.

This round-up focuses on two clean beauty brands based in South Africa that chose to take part in a larger, global conversation. While the list is intentionally short, that’s what makes it useful. Instead of sifting through scattered references, you can see—at a glance—which brands from the region are currently active within a recognized clean beauty program.

South Africa’s clean beauty landscape includes a mix of founder-led businesses and small-scale operations working within a highly localized market. Visibility outside the region is limited, which makes participation in international programs one of the few clear signals that a brand is looking beyond borders and engaging with wider industry standards.

This list isn’t about coverage or completeness. It’s about clarity. If you’re interested in understanding how South African brands fit into the global clean beauty space, or simply want a grounded starting point for exploration, this short round-up creates a focused place to begin.

1. Esse

Location: Richmond, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Esse means ‘to be’ in Latin. Launched in 2002, Esse established itself in the nascent organic skincare market in South Africa. The move into probiotic skincare started in 2009, and since then Esse continues to be at the forefront of microbiome skincare.

2. Phaurema Pure Skin

Location: Worcester, Western Cape, South Africa

Founded by Daleen du Toit in Worcester, South Africa, Phaurema Pure Skin is a natural skincare brand that bridges the gap between nature and science to deliver effective, minimalist skincare. Launched in 2024, the brand focuses on essential, high-performance formulas that support skin health without unnecessary complexity. Each product is formulated using clinically backed botanical actives and peptides, with a strong emphasis on integrity, transparency, and ingredient purity. Inspired by a desire to cut through industry noise, Daleen created a range that prioritizes what the skin truly needs—nothing more, nothing less. Phaurema Pure Skin offers a refined, honest approach to natural skincare that stands apart in both intention and execution.

With a list this concise, the best next step is to explore intentionally. Visit each brand’s site, read their background, and follow their updates to see how they share their work over time. Smaller brands often communicate most clearly through their own channels, especially when operating in more localized markets.

These two South Africa–based brands participated in the Clean Beauty Awards, meaning they chose to have their products used and evaluated by independent judges over a multi-month period as part of a broader international program.

To explore other participating brands from this year’s program like in Europe, check out this post → A Tour of Europe’s Clean Beauty Scene: 13 Brands to Know. For a deeper look at how the Awards work, check out the Ultimate Guide to the Clean Beauty Awards, and follow @CertCleanInc on Instagram for future regional features and updates.