Think Local: Indiana-Based Beauty Products You Need Now

From BitchStix and Ambre Blends to Fló and Bass Farms—here are some of our favorites. 
Get Lathered Shampoo bars

It’s never been chicer to shop local, and whether you’re looking for an all-star moisturizer or a cult-favorite dry shampoo, these homegrown finds are worthy of a spot on your bathroom shelf. Need another reason to add to cart? Every one of these companies has a woman involved at the highest level.

Bitchstix

BitchStix

Pretty much anything that’s named BitchStix has to be good, doesn’t it…bitches? These all-natural, organic lip balms will soften your lips without petroleum or GMOs and come in vegan-friendly formulations and scads of yummy flavors. Founded by Indy native Emily Kennerk, the company donates a portion of its sales to nonprofits that support survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault. 

Lip balm, $10, BitchStix.com.

Skinny & Co makeup remover

Skinny and Company

Skinny and Company’s Calming Cleansing Balm & Makeup Remover is handmade in Indianapolis from coconuts that are wild-harvested in Vietnam. A nickel-sized dab of this non-greasy blend of coconut and essential oils will whisk away waterproof makeup and leave your face feeling refreshed and primed to hit the pillow.

Calming Cleansing Balm & Makeup Remover, $25, SkinnyAndCompany.com.

nail polish

KBShimmer

When you’re tired of O.P.I. Bubble Bath and Essie Ballet Slippers, reach for a KBShimmer nail polish. Started in Terre Haute by Christy Rose, the brand is known for chunky glitter and crazy holographic effects, like this instant autumn classic Having a Gourd Time, a deep olive green that vacillates between red, orange, and gold.

Having a Gourd Time Nail Polish, $10 at KBShimmer.com.

Flo dry shampoo

Fló

Extend the life of your blowout or skip yet another day of shampooing with Fló’s Plant-Based Dry Shampoo, a fave among in-the-know locals. Invented by Alana Hess of Indianapolis, it’s a mixture of moisture-absorbing tapioca starch, arrowroot powder, and montmorillonite clay—along with a medley of essential oils for a mood-lifting scent boost. 

Plant-Based Dry Shampoo, $18, NaptownFlo.com.

Get Lathered Shampoo bars

Get Lathered

Get Lathered was created by Indy pharmacist Rhonda Frye, so you know the chemistry behind every product is on point. The shampoo and conditioner bars are packed with high-performing, natural ingredients like hydrolyzed wheat protein and broccoli seed oil, yet they’re gentle enough for highlighted hair. They’re also ideal for stowing in your gym bag or carry-on.

Shampoo and conditioner bars, $11 each at GetLathered.IndieMade.com.

pumpkin bath bombs

Soap & Sunshine Apothecary

Get your hands on Soap & Sunshine Apothecary’s limited edition, seasonal bath bombs before they sell out. Whipped up by Elizabeth Jones in her Alexandria store, these pumpkin espresso fizzies are ideal for gifting—or keep ‘em yourself. We’re not judging.


Handmade Luxury Bath Bombs, $7 each at SoapAndSunshine.com.

ambre products

Ambre Blends

Ambre Blends is one of the OGs on the Indy beauty scene, specializing in amber oil-based fragrances that fuse with your natural body chemistry to create one-of-a-kind scents. For portability and ease of use, the roll-on fragrances are where it’s at; we’re particularly partial to the “Ahnu” essence—a fresh, vibrant mixture of tuberose and lotus flower. 

10-ml roll-on fragrance, $48 at AmbreBlends.com.

Bath Junkie scrub

Bath Junkie

Kick tub time up a notch with this exfoliating Sugar Whip Scrub from Bath Junkie—Melissa Farmer’s Carmel boutique, a locally owned offshoot of the Arkansas-founded company. Simply choose your favorite color and up to three scents and the company will mix up a custom batch just for you. 

Sugar Whip Scrub, $12-$35 at BathJunkieCarmel.com.

bass farms cream

Bass Farms

Bass Farms products get their goat milk fresh from the source, and the proof’s in the pudding, or in this case—the body cream. Made on a farm in Shelbyville by Jana Bass, the company’s must-have is the Triple “B” Hydrating Cream™, originally formulated as a “baby butt butter,” but now in high demand for its ability to soothe scaly skin, eczema, and radiation burns. 

Triple “B” Hydrating Cream, $6.75-$18 at BassFarms.com.

eye shadow palette

Crown

There’s no need to spend big bucks on the latest IG influencer’s palette—this super-saturated eyeshadow set will have you shading like a superstar in no time. Headquartered in Crown Point and family-owned, Crown has been a leader in makeup brushes for years and is now making a splash in the color game. 

16 Color Chroma Eyeshadow Collection, $9.99 at CrownBrush.com.

Shea hands and feet balm

Shea Bodyworks

Carmel’s Saidah Pearsall makes her products herself, including this addictive Happy Hands and Feet Balm. Massage a little into your feet after a bath or before bed—the cool, tingly hint of peppermint essential oil revives tired toes while shea butter and coconut oil softens calluses and leaves skin baby soft. 

Happy Hands and Feet Balm, $8 at SheaBodyworks.com.

cuticle oil pen

Stella Chroma

Stella Chroma is a kickass, cruelty-free nail polish line from Richmond native Pam Rodgers—but even if you couldn’t care less about color, the brand’s Nourishing Cuticle Oil Brush Pen is a must for keeping your nails healthy. With organic almond, apricot, and jojoba oils, the easy-to-apply brush makes moisturizing nail beds and cuticles a breeze.

Nourishing Cuticle Oil Brush Pen, $4.50 at StellaChroma.com.

Want more local beauty buzz? Check out INDY MAVEN’s exclusive interview with Pam Rodgers, CEO of Stella Chroma nail polish, here.

Stephanie Groves is a freelance writer in Indianapolis whose bathroom is always stocked with the latest lipgloss launch from Sephora—until she loses it in a random jacket pocket.


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