In today’s article I’m sharing my honest Ursa Major review after testing 12 of their bestsellers. I tested their Fantastic Face Wash, Golden Hour Recovery Cream, Brighten Up Vitamin C Serum, Mountain Glow Golden Serum, Go Easy Shampoo and Conditioner, Essential Tonic, Shave Cream, Face Wipes, Deodorants and Morning Mojo Bar Soap.
B Corp certified Ursa Major is an all natural skin care line from Vermont that offers products for both men and women at accessible price points for the quality they offer.
Ursa Major has been around for a decade so they know how to formulate quality skin care and what their customers want. I’m continuously impressed by their newest product launches, which I find always thoughtfully formulated and high quality. This is a great skincare line for those who want a low maintenance yet effective routine and are looking to try a line that’s easy to understand, already well-loved and time-tested, and costs between $20 and $50.
So where can you buy Ursa Major skin care? They’re sold on their website, Amazon and a number of online natural beauty stores like Credo, Follain, Goop and The Detox Market. And if you’re not in the US, not to worry, they ship globally!
Over the past several years I’ve been able to try almost every product from the Ursa Major line (multiple times over!) and they are
I have to say this is a pretty legit anti aging serum – it’s heavy on the antioxidants with 44 clean actives that are supposed to help with wrinkles, sagging and boosting glow. If you’re prone to breakouts, be aware that this serum has a coconut oil base. It has Star-Tipped Lichen, Honey Locust Seed,Moss Stem Cells,Fern Phytosterols,Wild Indigo Seed andWild Pansy, which they claim helps to lift and tighten skin and boost collagen production. This is a thicker serum with a gummy, almost sticky consistency. Dry skin types probably wouldn’t mind this but not sure if oily skin would like this. This has been great to use during the winter – I feel like it takes some time to fully absorb and works longer.
This is a 100% naturally-derived and 84.7% organic Vitamin C serum that uses ascorbic acid polypeptide, a relatively stable, water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It has an incredibly silky texture and weightless sensation when applied and helps to instantly hydrate, brighten and even out skin’s appearance. The nearly opaque yellow-hued, gel-like serum absorbs seamlessly and I’ve never had an issue with pilling. I consider it light enough to be an ideal daytime Vitamin C serum and powerful enough for a nighttime skin care routine. I just need 2-3 pumps to cover my entire face. Just know that if you use it both day and night, the bottle will run out fast! Onto the other skin beneficial ingredients in this serum! It begins with an organic aloe vera leaf juice base and harnesses the benefits of rose hip seed extract, edelweiss meristem cell culture and aspen bark extract. I even feel a slight tightening effect when I use this serum. But firmer skin aside, healthy skin is all about continuously getting rid of toxins and nourishing with nutrient-dense and skin-beneficial ingredients. Ursa Major’s Vitamin C Serum works at reversing the daily damage done to our skin matrix from environmental pollution, digital pollution, UV radiation and all other free radical damage. Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, glycerin, cocoglucoside, coconut alcohol, populus tremuloides (aspen) bark extract, ascorbic acid/orange/citrus limon/citrus aurantifolia polypeptide, rosa canina (rose hip) seed extract*, butyrospermum parkii (shea) nut butter*, leontopodium alpinum (edelweiss) meristem cell culture, hydrogenated lecithin, glyceryl caprylate, sclerotium gum, rosa damascena (rose) flower oil*, citrus sinensis (blood orange) peel oil, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*, bisabolol, sodium anisate, lactic acid, xanthan gum (* denotes organic) The Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash is a true gel cleanser that’s straightforward, all-natural and effective. It doesn’t strip my skin and has got gentle foaming action – plus I love the refreshing scent of cedar, spearmint, lime, lemon, rosemary, black spruce, vetiver, and lavenderoils that lingers! There is one huge plus and by huge I mean literally, huge. While most clean face cleansers are sold in bottles of 3.4 oz bottles, Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash is an entire 8 oz bottle for a similar price. This is truly a great value-for-money natural face cleanser that’sgot no frills or fluff. Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Aqua/Water/Eau, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Inulin, Glyceryl Laurate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Picea Mariana Leaf Oil, Pseudotsuga Menziesii Branch/Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Water, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Oil, Artemisia Ludoviciana (Owyhee) Leaf Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Wood Oil, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Nardostachys Jatamansi Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Mentha Spicata Leaf Extract, Sodium Phytate, Pca Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, Calcium Gluconate, Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Benzoate, Soybean Peroxidase, Superoxide Dismutase, Limonene While not the most environmentally friendly packaging choice, these individually wrapped cleansing face wipes work so well and are super convenient when I’m traveling. These bamboo face wipes are soaked in their 4-in-1 Essential Tonic and are the juiciest face wipes I’ve ever tried. The bamboo wipe is also really sturdy in construction, isn’t flimsy and doesn’t easily tear like others I’ve tried. The formula is designed to not only cleanse but also exfoliate, hydrate and soothe. As someone who loves to travel and go on long weekend getaways, I fully appreciate being able to toss a few of these in my toiletry bag instead of having to pack an entire 30 count pack. Like the Fantastic Face Wash, the Ursa Major 4-in-1 Essential Tonic is an ENTIRE 8 oz of clean, natural, organic and effective Tonic ingredients. For only $26. Again, very hard to find portions this generous in clean beauty. This toner removes oil and grime, exfoliates gently and clarifies with a AHA/BHA complex and, of course, hydrates skin. The fresh yet grounding scent from Fir needle oil, frankincense, rosemary and lavender feels like a bath in the forest, even if you haven’t left your house all day. Ingredients: aloe vera leaf juice (aloe barbadensis)*,water/aqua/eau,witch hazel leaf water (hamamelis virginiana),willow bark extract (salix nigra),rosemary leaf/flower water (rosmarinus officinalis),leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate,sodium hyaluronate,glycerin*,sugar cane extract (saccharum officinarum),lemon extract (citrus medica limonum),orange fruit extract (citrus aurantium dulcis),apple fruit extract (pyrus malus),green tea leaf extract (camellia sinensis),rice seed extract (oryza sativa)*,birch sap (betula alba),lactobacillus,bamboo ferment filtrate (arundinaria gigantea),caprylyl/capryl wheat bran/straw glycosides,fusel wheat bran/straw glycosides,polyglyceryl-5 oleate,sodium cocoyl glutamate,glyceryl caprylate,olive leaf extract (olea europaea),fir needle oil (pseudotsuga menziesii),lavender flower oil (lavandula angustifolia)*,rosemary leaf oil (rosmarinus offinalis),geranium leaf/flower oil (pelargonium graveolens)*,frankincense resin extract (boswellia carterii),alcohol denatured* The Ursa Major Golden Hour Recovery Cream is about the same price as the super popular Biossance Omega Repair face cream but SO much more superior in formulation. It’s a shame that majority of people only want what’s popular and accessible at Sephora, when there are much higher quality products that are so much better for your skin. This natural face cream is honestly better than many other MUCH more expensive face creams I’ve tried. Golden Hour Recovery Cream is a golden-hued, silky smooth moisturizer that is deeply hydrating and penetrates well into my skin.The consistency is medium lightweight, as in light but substantial enough in thickness, with a refreshing herbaceous scent. If your skin is parched, the no-frills Golden Hour Recovery Cream is sure to inject a good dose of hydration and antioxidants into your skin to bring it back to life. The only con I can find with this product, which is forgivable, is that it doesn’t come in pump form. I prefer moisturizers that come with a sanitary pump dispenser so I can be sure I’m not contaminating the precious ingredients with water, bacteria or dirt. Ingredients: aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice,helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil,glyceryl stearate citrate,cetearyl alcohol,leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate,glycerin,limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil,galactoarabinan,cetyl palmitate,undecylenic glycerides,octyldodecanol,ribes nigrum (black currant) seed oil,helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil unsaponifiables,cardiospermum halicacabum flower/leaf/vine extract,tocopherol,rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract,hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) fruit extract,santalum spicatum (sandalwood) wood oil,rosa damascena (rose) flower oil,citrus aurantium amara (neroli) flower oil,cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa) leaf oil,calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract,sodium phytate,sodium anisate,glyceryl caprylate,sclerotium gum,xanthan gum,alcohol,citric acid I love the Ursa Major hassle-free Sublime Sage Deodorant! There’s something so convenient about spraying on a deodorant rather than rubbing around a solid deo. All Ursa Major deodorants are clean, non-toxic and free of aluminum and synthetic fragrance. The Ursa Major deodorant spray really does work when it comes to eliminating body odor that’s already there. A few spritzes and my b.o. is completely gone. Not a funky mix of b.o. and deo, just the fresh scent of sublime sage. The scent is actually an Uplifting blend of sage, geranium, sandalwood and lemon myrtle. It’s herbal and forest-like yet not overly earthy or strong. Ursa Major’s spray deodorant is also packed with plants, minerals and enzymes. It feels light and dries quickly with no sticky feeling or residue. I still sweat while wearing Ursa Major deodorants, so while these aren’t anti-perspirants they do keep me smelling decent. A fresh spin on the Hoppin Fresh deodorant, the Ursa Major Forest Fix deodorant is a solid deodorant that works to fight odor with hops and baking soda, absorb excess moisture with kaolin, soothe with aloe vera, and further eliminate odor with a probiotic enzyme called saccharonyces ferment. The scent reminds me of the great outdoors and the scent of pinecones after a rainy day- earthy, woodsy and fresh – thanks to its blend of patchouli, bergamot, lemon peel, sandalwood, ginger and lavender. The formula goes on silky smooth without feeling drying. I’ve used Ursa Major deodorants while wearing white shirts and have not had an issue with staining. Formerly known as their No B.S. Deodorant, the Ursa Major Base Layer deodorant is fragrance free and baking soda free. If you are prone to armpit irritation, rashes or your current deodorant is leaving your pits feeling raw, the Base Layer Deodorant may be your ticket to non-irritated pits. It has no detectable scent and feels the same going on as their Hoppin Fresh or Forest Fix deodorant. I couldn’t tell any difference. Instead of baking soda, the Base Layer deodorant utilizes tapioca starch, kaolin and Probiotic enzymes to combat odor. This is one of the best natural shaving creams in clean beauty – and it’s perfect for both men and women! Ursa Major’s shave cream is just that, a cream, and not the foam texture of conventional shave creams. It’s super moisturizing and the concentrated, non-lathering formula minimizes nicks, cushions against razor burn and nourishes skin with aloe, oat protein, willow bark, shea and birch sap. I’m not big into using shaving creams, but I have loved using this. This really elevates the entire shaving experience, and naturally, you get a good shave out of it. I’ve also had a number of men try it and they also liked it. Okay, just two men. Ursa Major Shave Cream is not meant to be used with a face brush. Instead, you use just your hands and it will feel like you’ve applied a rich moisturizer rather than a foam. It has a woodsy aroma and leaves skin feeling hydrated and smooth. I was skeptical of Ursa Major’s ability to create good hair care since I’ve always viewed them as a skincare company, but the Go Easy Shampoo and Conditioner are standouts in the line.The Go Easy shampoo has a smooth gel texture, provides good lather and cleansing action and smells amazing. The formula thoughtfully begins with organic aloe leaf juice and is infused with macadamia, licorice, bergamot, hydrolyzed soy protein and gentle coconut-derived surfectants. It has an incredible woodsy uplifting scent that combined with the conditioner, leaves your hair smelling like a forest nymph. I thought the Go Easy conditioner would be too lightweight and have no effect on my hair, but I was pleasantly surprised at how noticeably softer my hair was after it dried. I still feel like it isn’t strong enough for regular use on my super dry and damaged hair, but I feel like this would work well with fine to normal hair. Because of the state of my hair I opt for masks in place of conditioner, but seeing as this conditioner wasn’t a total flop on my hair I would love to see what kind of a hair mask Ursa Major could create in the future. Andrea Andrea is a clean beauty expert from Los Angeles, California with 10 years of experience in natural skincare and organic living. She writes for Organic Beauty Lover using her expertise to guide readers in choosing the best clean products. Andrea graduated from the University of Southern California in 2012 and has worked at multiple skincare companies, big and small. Connect with her @organicbeautylover.Ursa Major Sublime Sage Spray Deodorant
Ursa Major Forest Fix Deodorant
Ursa Major Base Layer Deodorant (Baking Soda Free)
Ursa Major Go Easy Shampoo and Conditioner
Shop Ursa Major Website / Amazon Store