Inika
Started in 2006 in Australia, Inika creates mineral cosmetics that are vegan, cruelty free, and primarily consists of certified organic ingredients. Mineral cosmetics are made from incredibly fine rock crystals, and have been growing in popularity as they typically contain less preservatives than other cosmetics. The name (pronounced in-EEK-a) means “small earth” in Hindi, referring to Earth’s finite resources that should be treated with care, and a “small world” network of women sharing their knowledge. This brand is committed to making a difference with ethical, natural products. If a customer is interested in knowing more, they offer an option for contacting customer service to understand their products and efforts if their listed FAQ’s aren’t enough. Here’s a breakdown of their 5 best sellers.
1. Baked Mineral Bronzer: Sunbeam ($49)
This bronzer, Inika’s number one bestseller, offers “rich yet blendable color” that creates a natural, sun-kissed look. Baked on terracotta tiles in Tuscany, Italy, this product provides some unique ingredients. It includes magnolia officinalis bark extract, an anti-inflammatory agent, and octyldodecanol, an emollient that makes the bronzer soft, but not greasy. The minerals in this product, like mica, hectorite, and iron oxides, give it its pigmentation. These colors are intended to adapt naturally to the wearer’s skin tones, and this bronzer is hypo-allergenic and safe for sensitive skin.
2. Certified Organic Liquid Eyeliner ($29)
This product is one of Inika’s certified organic products, stemming from a few of Inika’s many certified organic ingredients. Inika highlights the aloe vera in this eyeliner, a popular plant in cosmetics due to its many properties which result in refreshing and moisturizing skin for its users. Other ingredients include Cetearyl Olivate, a skin softener derived from olive oil, and Camellia Sinensis (Black Tea) Leaf Extract, which heals and nourishes. Its pigment, too, comes from organic sources.
3. Certified Organic Liquid Foundation with Hyaluronic Acid ($49)
For this foundation, hydration is vital. This foundation is full of incredible ingredients that bring together its hydrating formula. Inika highlights green tea, lavender, and argan oil. Other emulsifiers and moisturizers include persea gratissima (avocado) oil, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, and theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter. Inika also includes hyaluronic acid in this product, a compound that naturally occurs in skin for moisturization. For color, it uses titanium dioxide and iron oxides.
If you haven’t guessed it yet, Inika is all about nourishing products, and this concealer is another one in the line. Inika highlights aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, and simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, but this concealer is full of ingredients that restore skin instead of just coloring it. For its pigment, this concealer uses what Inika calls “light reflecting minerals” for concealing - primarily iron oxides.
5. Certified Organic Vegan Lipstick ($29)
Inika describes this product as nourishing, hydrating, and giving lips a “stunning satin finish,” and it definitely has the ingredients to make this happen. The lipstick features ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, butyrospermum parkii (Shea) butter, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, argania spinosa kernel (argan) oil, and last, but not least, persea gratissima (avocado) oil. These ingredients have the intention of creating an incredibly smooth texture of this lipstick, and each of these oils included are organic! Mica and Iron Oxides give these lipsticks pigment.
Inika doesn’t just talk the talk when it comes to their products, they walk the walk. Almost all of these best sellers are award-winning products. The bronzer and eyeliner mentioned above won gold in the Green Parent Natural Beauty Awards for 2017 and 2018, respectively. The foundation won the International Natural Health Beauty Awards in 2017, and the concealer was recognized in 2017 Psychologies #realnatural Beauty and Wellness Edit. The lipstick also won 2017 Best Indie Brand (Asia Pacific) for Beauty Industry Awards. This brand is making waves! If you’re interested in sustainable products like these, give one of these products, or any of Inika’s fantastic others, a try.