Bonobo

Estonian Wild Plants. Made Into Skincare Worth Using.

Bonobo was founded in 2014 by Kristi Kalluste, in a well-lit studio in Estonia, after the birth of her first child made her unwilling to put anything near her family's skin that she couldn't fully account for. What began as making creams for herself became, as these things sometimes do, a brand with a following that understood exactly what it was getting. The herbal extracts in Bonobo's face creams and toners come from plants hand-picked from the wild nature of Estonia. The shea butter is organic and unrefined, sourced from women in Ghana who are paid fairly for their work. Every product is made in small batches in Kristi's studio — for freshness, for quality control, and because this is a one-person operation that has never outsourced the things that matter.

The range covers face creams, toners, lip balms, body scrubs, cream deodorants, and 100% soy wax candles scented with pure essential oils rather than synthetic fragrance. Nothing in the range contains parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oils, silicone, or synthetic fragrance. The candles burn cleanly and honestly — the scent is real, which means it fades as natural things do, and that is entirely the point. This is skincare and home fragrance made by someone who started from a very specific conviction about what should go near a body, and has not drifted from it since.

For independent brands making things with genuine values behind them, explore our Sustainable Brands directory and Shop by Purpose edit. Discover more independent brands from the Baltic region through Shop by Location, or find considered gift ideas through our Gifts for Her guide and Small Bat