nouveau niche beauty 03

polka dot skincare, techy tools, and more

hello!

welcome to the third instalment of nouveau niche. icymi, allow me to explain:

in the same ways you’d seek out unheard-of labels in a thrift shop or underground artists at a record store, i find great pleasure in uncovering beauty brands i’ve never tried before. anything from brilliant packaging to chic branding to innovative formulas can catch my eye, at any given moment. while on a trip abroad in 2024, my mum, sister and i stumbled upon a parisian beauty concept store filled with both indie brands i’d been longing to play with in person and new offerings i’m still thinking about. feeling inspired by that trip, i found the play on the french phrase ‘nouveau riche’ fitting for this series.

here, i’ll be covering beauty launches that are relatively under the radar in my corner of the beautyverse when compared to your larger beauty players— but that’s not to say i’m presenting anything entirely new here. these are just my take, and i hope you find something you may not have come across yet. i’d also love for you to put me on to niche beauty brands you love!

missed the last one? click the newsletter below—or scroll on for this month’s edition.

the what: rooted in the concept of “sensory care,” space of time seeks to reconnect the mind and body through the use of soothing skincare, all housed in incredibly cool, abstract packaging. if that weren’t enough, it also carries a thoughtful curation of mindful tools like fragrant incense and calming teas made to elevate your daily rituals.

the want: anywhere calming balm

the what: minimalist makeup with a sharp edge? i love this genre! that’s precisely what you’ll find at manasi 7, which makes all of its sustainable beauty products in small batches using wild-harvested ingredients. all-over rouges? luminous cream bronzers? pigmented pencils that work for the eyes and lips? it’s all here. i’m obsessed with everything this brand is doing over on instagram, too, by the way.

the want: all over colour

m a g i c s t r i p e s

the what: launched by celebrity makeup artist and harper's bazaar germany columnist natalie franz, magictripes is the skincare brand behind chic facial masks and high-performance “stripes” that offer “spa on the go” style treatments. if you love the thrill of applying a sheet mask, you’ll adore the hydrating, tightening, and lifting little wonders this japanese skincare-inspired brand has to offer.

the want: polka dot magnetic youth mask

the what: as a writer, how could i not have been instantly intrigued by a beauty brand labelled nonfiction? this k-beauty line harnesses the power of storytelling through scent with bright eau de parfums, home fragrances and more—inspired by the many aromas of the botanical world that surrounds us. would very much love to visit the charming nonfiction cafe in tokyo.

the want: santal cream perfume

the what: easily identifiable by its punchy, scarlet-tinted packaging, tronque was born out of founder tanné snowden’s battle with reproductive health. replacing harmful bodycare that disrupts our hormonal systems, this clean skincare brand fuels its products—from nourishing body oils to natural deodorants—with locally grown ingredients from idyllic new zealand.

the want: body gua sha

x L