Nécessaire Review
Nécessaire took the personal care product world by storm a few years ago. Their high-quality skin and hair care products are clean and good for your skin as well as your body as whole. The products also look luxurious thanks to their focus on simple and recyclable packaging. They’re akin to products you’d find on the shelf in a high-end hotel (as I can imagine, since I don’t spend a lot of time in high-end hotels myself ha). And even though they seem like other expensive beauty brands, their price point is still attainable and on par with other favorite brands of mine.
I purchased my first Nécessaire body care products in the 2022 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale after years of being intrigued after reading about the brand on other blogs I follow and have not looked back! Below, I shared my honest review of Nécessaire and the three products I’ve tried and shared if I think they are worth the hype or not.
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Nécessaire Review
Nécessaire was founded by Nick Axelrod-Welk and Randi Christensen in 2018, and they launched their first products in 2019. Both founders had prior experience in the beauty industry and leaned into the idea of “less, but better” with a line of edited, “necessary” vegan and cruelty-free body care items. (Read an interview with Randi Christensen in Grazia for more about the history!)
The brand is B Corp Certified, Climate Neutral Certified (meaning they offset their carbon emissions), Plastic Neutral Certified (they offset their plastic footprint), and Vegan Certified. All of their products are made right here in the USA and shipped from two locations to minimize their carbon footprint.
Nécessaire quickly became a favorite of many bloggers I follow and read, which is how I first heard about the brand. Everyone raved about the products they tried, and they intrigued me because of the product presentation. The bottles are simple, clean, and neutral. As far as body care products go, they look luxurious! As I mentioned earlier, this brand looks like one you’d find stocked in a high-end hotel.
I was curious if they really were worth the hype, and a couple of years ago, I purchased my first Nécessaire products in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. They offered a duo of The Body Lotion and The Body Wash, which were two of their most popular products. I was pleasantly surprised by them! I’ve since added The Body Serum to my rotation, and I’m now interested in trying more of their products.
Best Nécessaire Products
After reading blog posts about Nécessaire products for years now and finally jumping into the Nécessaire world myself, it really seems like the “best” products are highly subjective, but overall they are beloved by clean beauty enthusiasts. They offer a variety of personal care products ranging from body care to hair care, so there’s something for everyone.
I tried and currently use three of Nécessaire’s most popular products, The Body Lotion, The Body Wash, and The Body Serum. The Body Essentials set includes all three full-size products in any The Body Wash scent you like!
Nécessaire The Body Lotion
Shop via Nécessaire, Nordstrom, or Sephora.
Out of the three Nécessaire products I’ve tried so far, I think I like The Body Lotion the best! That might be slightly controversial to say because so many people seem to prefer The Body Wash out of the two products. It’s a firming body lotion that contains 5 Signal Peptides; 2.5% Niacinamide; Vitamins A, C, and E; Omega-6; and Omega-9.
One thing I really love about Nécessaire’s body lotion is that it truly is fragrance-free. I don’t mind fragrances, but I really don’t like fragrance-free products that end up having a weird scent. Do you know what I mean? Lol. This lotion doesn’t have that weird, sort of clinical scent.
I use this lotion before bed on my hands, and I also use it occasionally on my elbows, knees, and feet after the body serum. Basically, I focus on the driest parts of my body. It’s doesn’t have the most luxurious feeling when you apply it (it’s not thick and doesn’t take a while to fully set in), but it does the job. I do not like the twist cap; it’s heavy and I’ve dropped it too many times to count trying to twist it on!
Nécessaire The Body Wash (Eucalyptus)
Shop via Nécessaire, Nordstrom, or Sephora.
The Body Wash, specifically in the eucalyptus scent, is a bit of a cult favorite. (It’s also offered in santal, olibanum/vanille, hinoki, and fragrance-free.) If you want to feel like you’re bathing in a spa, eucalyptus is your scent. (The barre studio Korri and I work out at douses damp washcloths in eucalyptus essential oils to use after class, and it’s a highlight!)
The main ingredients in The Body Wash are Niacinamide; Vitamins A, C, and E, Omega-6; and Omega-9. It is made without parabens, PEGs, silicones, and sulfates. The texture is oil-in-gel, so it soothes and moisturizes dry skin, and it’s gentle enough to use on sensitive skin.
I found The Body Wash to be lovely! I did feel like I had to use more body wash than usual to get a good lather, and the twist cap is a bit tricky to figure out at first. (Twist it clockwise to lock it in place, then twist it counterclockwise to see the hole on top pop open.)
Nécessaire The Body Serum
Shop via Nécessaire, Nordstrom, or Sephora.
The Body Serum is the newest addition to my post-shower lineup. It’s a hydrating serum-in-gel that contains five molecular weights of Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide. Like the body lotion, the serum is fragrance-free and doesn’t have a weird clinical smell.
I’ve been using this serum primarily on my arms, focusing on the KP on the back of my arms, though I read a few reviews and it looks like it works on strawberry legs…so I’m going to try that, too! I haven’t noticed a huge change in my skin’s hydration, but it’s probably because I use it (and the lotion) before bed and by morning it’s fully soaked in.
I will say that I think I was expecting this serum to work sort of like an anti-aging serum (turns out that’s The Body Retinol), which is my own fault for not paying attention to the ingredients, lol. I’d like to try that product next to see how they compare. Either way, I’m going to keep using the serum! It has a nice texture and seems to be the perfect base to the body lotion.
Here are other popular Nécessaire products, including some I’m interested in trying:
The Body Retinol (on my list)
The Neck Serum (on my list)
Rosemary Shampoo (on my list)
Rosemary Conditioner (on my list)
Is Nécessaire Worth It?
I personally liked the Nécessaire products I tried enough to repurchase them! I was surprised by how much I liked the lotion whereas it seems most people prefer the body wash to the lotion. When it comes to this brand, you really have to try the products for yourself, because it seems to come down to personal preference more than usual.
I will say that I didn’t notice any changes in my skin since using the products. I’m not the best judge of that because, as someone who is decidedly not a beauty blogger, I’m not paying super close attention to that. If I do see a change, it’s because it was really obvious, and I didn’t have any super obvious changes after using these Nécessaire products. My skin feels great!
I’m interested in trying some of the other products, including The Body Retinol, to see how those compare.
Where to Buy Nécessaire Products
Looking to try Nécessaire personal care products? Here’s where you can find their skincare and hair products! I recommend purchasing from a retailer that offers a generous return policy if you’re trying them for the first time.
Nécessaire products are often included in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (that’s when I purchased two of mine), and the brand itself runs 20% off sitewide sales twice a year.
Nécessaire (free U.S. shipping if you spend $50+ and free returns)