A year of refining, listening, and returning to our roots

As we move toward our 10th year in 2026, we wanted to pause and look at what we’ve been quietly working on behind the scenes. This past year wasn’t about doing more. It was about doing better. Since 2016, our goal has stayed the same: create zero-waste, vegan makeup that truly respects skin, people, and the planet. But staying aligned with that mission means continuously questioning our own formulas, ingredients, and decisions even when it’s inconvenient. Here’s what that work has looked like over the last year.

Removing titanium dioxide, one product at a time

One of the biggest changes we’ve made is the ongoing elimination of titanium dioxide from our color products. While Titanium Dioxide was not a main ingredient in our formulas it does show up in trace amounts in pigments. Over the past year, we successfully removed titanium dioxide from our concealer, our brow products, and soon, our blushes and all lip products. This wasn’t a quick switch, for us, it was a necessary step toward cleaner, more transparent makeup. Every reformulation meant testing, adjusting, and sometimes starting over. We chose progress over speed, knowing the end result would be worth it.

Better performance, same principles

We also spent time improving how our products feel and perform, without compromising what makes them River Organics. Our solid mascara went through multiple refinements to improve grip and wear. The goal was simple: better stick, better payoff, and a formula that works more consistently while staying plastic-free and waterless. What began as a simple scent balm has evolved into dual note Botanical scent balm sticks easier to apply, easier to travel with, and more intuitive to use. The format changed, but the intention stayed the same: subtle, plant-based scent without synthetic fragrance.

Listening closely to customer feedback

Some of our most meaningful updates came directly from you. Based on customer requests, we introduced clear brow wax for a truly minimal routine, caramel brow shade expanding our brow range for warmer tones, and Guava, a new lip stain shade that adds freshness without overpowering. These weren’t trend-driven additions. They were thoughtful expansions filling real gaps and making our collection more inclusive and versatile.

Looking ahead to our 10th year

2026 marks 10 years since we started this journey something we’re incredibly proud of, especially as a small, independent brand as well as the massive personal challenges I faced as owner and founder. As we step into that milestone year, we’re looking forward, with intention. We’re introducing foundation sticks a natural evolution of our solid, skin-first complexion products, an expanded lip balm collection with improved pigments, and the return of skincare, thoughtfully re-released and aligned with everything we’ve learned over the past decade. These launches won’t happen all at once. We’re building slowly, carefully, and with the same commitment to low waste, vegan ingredients, and long-term use.

Ten years of choosing better

If the last year taught us anything, it’s that improvement doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like reformulating a product no one asked you to change. Sometimes it looks like delaying a launch until it feels right. Sometimes it looks like saying no. As we approach our 10th year, we’re more committed than ever to creating makeup that earns its place in your routine not through hype, but through care, transparency, and longevity. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We’re just getting started.