Two worlds collide in Nigeria’s booming skincare industry: the ancient Nigerian way and the scientifically new. Brands harnessing both in bold ways are altogether reshaping the industry. They fuse time-tested local ingredients like raw shea butter with the innovations of modern skin chemistry to cater to the needs of their Nigerian clientele. These brands bottle up pride with clinically proven formulas that grandmothers and youths alike can use.
Leading this transformation with expertise and beneficial product formulations are ten Nigerian skincare brands setting new standards for the inclusive promotion of healthy skin.
1. Aweni Organics
Aweni Organics offers products that reflect extensive research, as evidenced by their thoughtfully sourced components and delectable green packaging.
Beyond its name, the brand highlights Nigerian culture with beauty products created with indigenous ingredients. In keeping with the brand’s commitment to authenticity, founder Tomi Pearce travels out of Nigeria to hand-select the African fragrances and essential oils used by Aweni. The brand sources only African essences to maintain its organic identity and quality. Aweni Organics has a range of natural products, like almonds, dogonyaro, baobab soaps, coconut oil, and edible shea butter.
2. Oriki Skincare
Embodying the vibrant essence of Yoruba heritage, Oriki Skincare is named after the Yoruba word for panegyric, which signifies elaborate praise. Founder Joycee Awosika spotted a void in the skincare market and created the brand in 2015 after years of perfecting formulations.
Oriki’s extensive natural product range caters to face, body, hair, and beard care for all skin tones. Some of them are the Jojoba Beard Oil, Oriki body oils, body creams, and a deep cleansing face scrub that harnesses the power of ingredients native to Nigeria.
Oriki Skincare has shelves in some of the biggest skincare stores in Nigeria. The brand recently introduced its regal offerings to British clientele at the renowned International Trade Fair. If you want an Oriki product, keep an eye out on their social media or website, and you may be lucky to find some at a discount.
3. Arami Essentials
When skincare meets elegance, it becomes Arami Essentials. The skincare brand was founded in 2017 by Ore Runsewe, who struggled to find her favored skincare products after returning to Nigeria from the U.K. Seven years later, Arami has become synonymous with clean formulas infused with botanical ingredients true to African beauty traditions.
Arami has products named to taste like Eden’s Elixir toner, the brand’s twist on classic African black soap that deep cleanses without stripping the skin, Onyx Light, and many more. While Arami ships worldwide, Lagos-based shoppers enjoy free delivery on these lovingly crafted selections.
4. Narganics
Stemming from the words natural and organic, Naganics has kept true to its ethos since the skincare brand was launched in 2016 by Susan Tobor Akinyooye.
Narganics is renowned for its yummy detailing on the packaging of its products. For instance, Narganics’ Cinnamon Mocha Latte Exfoliating Scrub looks good enough to drink. Resembling an actual chocolatey, creamy latte, this lush body and face polish offer more than meets the eye. In addition to its delicious scent and texture, it harnesses antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties to reveal radiant, healthy skin. This harmony between wholesome ingredients, ethical sourcing, and gorgeous presentation characterizes all of Naganics’ handcrafted products. All products are handmade in Nigeria.
5. My Mai Skin
Formerly known as The Rami brand, the essence of Mai Skin is to foster an authentic, wholesome lifestyle through intentional skincare, one product at a time. Founder Aramide Oladosu vows to craft perfection in formulas tailored to the diverse needs of all customers. This promise stems from a place of care.
When not diligently formulating its signature products, Mai Skin gives back to the community by providing essential skincare tips and free consultations, inspiring and nurturing in more ways than one. Some of their products include hydrating toner, Regen-C-Serum, Cera moisture cream, Luxe body lotion, and so on.
6. BathKandy
It would be incomplete to name leading Nigerian skincare brands without mentioning one of the most unique brands, BathKandy. Founder Blondie Okpuzor launched BathKandy to fulfill her quest for gentle, skin-nourishing products after struggling with sensitive skin herself. She infuses her love for food by modeling her products after desserts and Nigerian cuisine like Bathkandy’s Garri Scrub. She applies a unique perspective to appeal to the human mind by making her products after food.
BathKandy lives up to its name through whimsically packaged body butter, scrubs, and bath items that look like cakes and pastries.
7. House of Coco
Chidiogo Mbelede created House of Coco to focus on formulating products that deal with battling acne and hyperpigmentation on African skin. Every formula crafted by the brand’s team of certified cosmetic scientists concentrates on no more than three active ingredients to address targeted concerns without risk of irritation.
The soothing white aesthetic used across House of Coco’s product lineup and branding aims to impart a further calming effect. House of Coco offers blemish-controlling selections, such as pimple patches and acne control kits. The Ultra Silky Moisturizer provides rich nourishment for moisture-starved complexions without clogging pores.
8. Olaedo Naturals
Founded in 2018 by Ogbu Chidera, Olaedo Naturals set out to boost her clientele’s skinfidence, no matter the skin conditions they struggle with. Drawing from her own struggles, Ogbu launched the brand to provide gentle, effective solutions. Her personal journey fuels the compassion and care infused into each beauty formulation.
With its calming aesthetic, the Nigerian skincare brand Olaedo Naturals wraps users in the beauty of self-acceptance. Its ethos and products alike guide people lovingly through their skincare journey.
9. Orma Skincare
Based in Lagos, Orma Skincare was founded on a simple yet powerful idea; clear healthy skin can become an attainable reality for all with the right guidance and high-quality products. According to their website, Orma Skincare stems from the idea that “clear skin can be created and sustained through commitment to a good skincare routine and knowledge of the best ingredients for your skin, which are all provided at Orma Skincare.”
True to these words, Orma offers one-on-one skin assessments, tailored skincare regimens, and an array of natural products suited for all skin types. By combining expertise with the most skin-loving plant-based formulas, the Orma team aims to provide solutions that help each customer unlock healthy skin.
10. Shea Tribe
Founded in 2016 by entrepreneur Kanyinsola Demola-Seriki, Shea Tribe is one of Nigeria’s premier skincare labels. This pro-melanin brand aims to embrace, nourish, and celebrate the inherent beauty of diverse African skin tones. Seriki’s fascination with exploring and honoring African cultural heritage is infused into Shea Tribe’s product lineup.
Employing the highest quality natural ingredients, Shea Tribe’s lovingly crafted formulas rejuvenate, repair, and restore skin while providing a sensory connection to one’s roots. Signature buttery body creams, aromatic soaps, gently exfoliating scrubs, and more offer a holistic skincare experience uniquely catering to the needs of Nigerian complexions. Shea Tribe is at the forefront of the movement promoting skin health while challenging outdated beauty standards – a vision as vibrant as the products themselves.