Bybi Beauty, the Glossier of natural cosmetics, is busy taking the world by storm with its cute, colour-pop products and clever branding.
Here’s how I described Bybi Beauty on my blog eighteen months ago: ”Bybi Beauty is a natural skincare range developed by the London-based founders of the Clean Beauty Collection platform Elsie and Dominika. The website is like the natural beauty equivalent of Into The Gloss, and Bybi Beauty has a similar vibe to its Glossier brand. And this comes as a pure compliment!
Glossier reached cult status right from word go, and Bybi has a similar thing going on – especially as the founders have had the guts to put in some daring changes (although not all the changes have been spot on). Only a year after my post, Bybi has found its way to the shelves of Sephora, and all the way to Australia – I think we can safely say it’s conquering the world.
Bybi’s secret is bound to be similar to Glossier’s – a sense of community, genuinely taking feedback onboard, innovation without extra fuss, colourful packaging, a dash of humour, and products that work. The latest additions to the range include the long-awaited Swipe Clean oil cleanser and boosters – which in all their simplicity are plant oils of one or a maximum of two ingredients. The new products have been so popular that even this post originally intended for January had to be postponed several times because production and supply haven’t been able to keep up with the high demand.
Let’s take a little look at what’s new…
Swipe Clean couldn’t (almost) get any better. Natural beauty ranges increasingly include reasonably-priced, high-quality oil cleansers that can be rinsed off the skin with water (although I do recommend removing an oil cleanser with a muslin cloth). The Bybi cleanser contains sesame seed oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, plum kernel oil, moringa seed oil, papaya seed oil and nigella seed extract. The array of oils alone is incredibly caring and nourishing, balancing sebum secretion. Moringa seed oil and nigella seed extract make it antibacterial. I recommend this particular oil cleanser for anyone with impurities.
The oil cocktail is spiced up with calming bisabolol, repairing calendula and clarifying carrot extract. The ingredients have been picked with thought, but I don’t get everything: for instance papaya seed oil does brighten the skin and soothes irritation, but doesn’t contain AHAs as stated in the product description. Instead, papaya and papaya seeds contain papain enzyme that clarifies the skin and is anti-inflammatory. Similarly, I don’t see AHAs in hibiscus having an effect in an oil-based product as is claimed – it would make more sense to add the ingredient to a toner. All in all, the product is excellent though, and I give it a 9+ out of 10.
Bybi’s cherished Mega Mist has been given a fresh look, although it should be double the size. The small size does make it handy when travelling though. The product is brilliant; it’s one of the few sprayable toners that hydrates the skin efficiently in just a few layers, moisturizing humectants leaving the skin sufficiently “sticky”. Mega Mist contains rose water, orange water and lemon balm water, which minimise pores and brighten the skin. Hyaluronic acid and glycerine bind moisture to the skin, and green tea, algae and pomegranate extract protect skin from free radicals. Mega Mist makes the skin soft, plumped and bouncy.
The four boosters in the range include the yellow CBD Booster that will be landing on shop shelves in a couple of weeks. The boosters work as a regular facial oil. I usually go for a facial oil that’s a mixture of different oils, but in Bybi’s case it has to be admitted that the individual oils have been selected spot on to the point that it’s impossible to name a favourite, as each has its own special qualities. Naturally, it makes business sense to pack the ingredients in separate bottles, as one immediately fancies collecting the whole set to be used on different days of the week. At 17.90 € each, the boosters fall in the cheap & chic category.
Bakuchiol Booster contains two ingredients: 99% squalane and 1% bakuchiol. Squalane is naturally found in the sebum, but can be manufactured from olive oil. It’s extremely quick to absorb into the skin, shielding from sun damage, boosting cell renewal, efficiently repairing damaged skin like scars, treating rashes and preventing pigment spots. Squalane has a wonderful, thin and silky skin feel and, in my view, makes a great replacement to ester oils, which I feel are unnecessary in skincare products. Bakuchiol is a fascinating ingredient, considered a natural equivalent to retinol. It shouldn’t be confused with retinol, though, as they are two completely different ingredients. Bakuchiol invigorates cell renewal and collagen production, smoothing wrinkles and tightening the skin. It clarifies the skin tone and has antibacterial properties, making it suitable for treating impurities, acne scars and pigment spots.
Bakuchiol Booster has a super thin and silky consistency, disappearing into the skin in a flash – I recommend it for anyone who doesn’t take a liking to facial oil.
Strawberry Booster with strawberry seed oil has a scent of freshly picked strawberries. Seed oils can have an off-putting smell sometimes, but strawberry oil is pure fragrant pleasure. The strawberry oil used by Bybi is made from waste product from the juicing industry making it a sustainable choice! Strawberry seed oil contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, the best omega acids for impurities with their anti-inflammatory properties. Strawberry seed oil also contains polyphenols, vitamin E and antioxidants that protect skin from solar damage. Also the Strawberry Booster glides onto skin in an instant. It’s great if you have pores that tend to clog easily.S
Buriti Booster is 100 % buriti oil. The orange colour is a tell-tale sign of plenty of beta-carotene that gives skin a glow and protects it from external stress factors. Buriti oil is rich in omega-9 fatty acids suitable for extra dry and aging skin. It’s also packed with vitamin E, which prevents pigment spots and treats couperose and rosacea. The Buriti Booster has a richer consistency than the Strawberry and Bakuchiol Boosters. It provides a good shield from external factors, and protects for instance from windy conditions, preventing hydration from evaporating from the skin.
The CBD Booster is the latest addition available in a couple of weeks, but I had the chance to give it a try already. CBD products will be the next mega trend in the cosmetics market; they are already available in the masses at least in London and the States. CBD i.e. cannabidiol is a compound in the cannabis plant with numerous positive effects for various skin issues. CBD is different from intoxicating THC, and won’t give any strange vibes even if swished down the throat.
The CBD Booster contains cold-pressed hemp oil and CBD. Hemp oil is one of the best oils in skincare, as it doesn’t clog pores and is rich in omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids and vitamin E, making it great for impurities and aging skin alike. With its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, CBD has been found to have positive effects on skin issues like atopic skin, sensitivity and acne. It also efficiently fades signs of premature aging and sun damage and adds add vitality to the skin.
The new products by Bybi can be built into a perfect skincare routine; the addition of the oil cleanser means the range now covers all the skin essentials – a cleanser, toner and good oils. It will be interesting to see whether a moisturizer will be added to the selection at some point and how existing products will be updated.
A word about Bybi’s packaging, which despite the colour, is recyclable glass. The colour is printed directly onto the bottle, meaning it’s not opal glass that cannot be put in the glass recycle bin.
What do my dear readers thing about the latest winds at Bybi? I’ve managed to get over the shock of the Babe Balm being changed (just won’t forgive the white print making way for gold, which rubs off the tube almost immediately).
Photos Katja Kokko
Translation Rebecca Watson
