The Clean Beauty Newcomer Making Waves
Since bursting onto the scene in 2019, clean makeup brand Saie (pronounced "say") has quickly become a favorite of beauty editors, celebrities, and discerning makeup lovers looking for products that are as healthy and sustainable as they are effective and beautiful. In just a few short years, Saie has racked up awards from the likes of Allure, Elle, and Cosmopolitan and built a loyal following of over 60K on Instagram.
So what‘s behind the hype? This in-depth Saie makeup review dives into the brand story, must-have products, and real customer experiences to help you decide if Saie is worth a try.
Saie Founder Laney Crowell‘s Mission
Saie is the brainchild of longtime beauty and fashion editor Laney Crowell. After years working for big brands like Estee Lauder, Crowell set out to create the clean makeup she wanted but couldn‘t find. As a blogger with a major social media presence, she crowd-sourced ideas from her audience about their dream clean makeup products. The result is a tightly curated collection of multi-use essentials designed to make you look and feel amazing in minutes.
Everything Saie makes is clean, sustainable, and cruelty-free. Products are formulated without over 2000 potentially harmful ingredients and housed in eco-friendly packaging. Most items are priced under $35, making clean beauty accessible to more people.
In Crowell‘s words, "Saie is about celebrating, not hiding, your natural beauty. Whether you have 20 minutes or 2 minutes to get ready, our products have got you covered—and they‘re clean, so you‘ll feel as good as you look."
Awards and Press
Since launch, Saie has become a media darling praised by Vogue, Goop, Refinery29, The Cut, and many more for its high-performance, low-maintenance approach. A few notable accolades:
- Allure Best of Beauty 2020
- Cosmopolitan Holy Grail Beauty Awards 2020
- ELLE Green Beauty Star 2020
- Glamour Beauty Awards 2022
Bestsellers
While Saie‘s lineup is small, it covers all the bases for a pretty, polished look. Here‘s a breakdown of the bestsellers most raved about by customers and editors:
Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer
This complexion perfecter gives skin an instant glow-up. More than a tinted moisturizer, it combines skincare, makeup, and SPF 35 mineral sunscreen in one step. Super lightweight but buildable, it evens tone and leaves skin looking healthy and radiant. Hyaluronic acid, licorice, pansy flower, and jojoba nourish and brighten. Fragrance-free. 14 flexible shades. ($32 for 1 oz.)
Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Highlighter
A shortcut to dewy, lit-from-within skin. The gel formula contains finely milled light-reflecting mineral pigments that melt into skin for a natural, soft-focus glow. Can be used all over or as a targeted luminizer on cheeks, brows, and eyes. Glycerin and rosehip seed oil hydrate. Papaya and vitamin C brighten. No sparkle or glitter, just a healthy sheen. 2 shades. ($25 for 1 oz.)
Liquid Lip Balm
This glossy lip treatment is the perfect everyday lip. The plush gel texture is loaded with nourishing ingredients like beeswax, squalane, olive oil, and coconut oil to soften and smooth lips. Sheer, universally flattering peachy-pink tint and a soft vanilla scent. Can be applied on its own or over any lip color for a glassy, cushiony finish. ($16 for .27 oz.)
The Glow Kit
For those who can‘t decide, this quad of Saie‘s greatest glow-getters covers all the bases. Includes Slip Tint for fresh, even skin, Glowy Super Gel for all-over radiance, and your choice of shades of Liquid Lip Balm and Dew Balm highlighter. Makes the perfect self-care gift. ($75 for 4 full-size products.)
What Customers Are Saying
It‘s hard to find a negative Saie review. On the brand‘s website, the top sellers have hundreds of 5-star reviews from verified buyers. A few highlights:
"The Slip Tint is my holy grail skin tint! I love how it provides the perfect amount of coverage while still letting my skin shine through. It stays on all day and never looks cakey or dry. 10/10 recommend!" – Alicia T.
"I love the Glowy Super Gel! It‘s not glittery at all, just gives you the most natural, ethereal glow. I use it on my cheeks, eyes, even my body. You need the teeniest bit. So good." – Jenna R.
"The Liquid Lip Balm is OUTSTANDING. The color, the shine, the texture, the scent. It‘s so nourishing and feels amazing on. I bought backups immediately!" – Kayla S.
Across review sites, customers rave about the beautiful, natural results, skin-loving ingredients, ease of use, and feel-good formulas. The only complaints seem to be around the limited shade ranges (particularly for deeper skin tones) and the fact that Saie currently only ships to the US.
Some critical reviews mentioned that the products didn‘t work miracles on textured, problematic skin. As with all makeup, prepping the skin with a good skincare routine helps everything look better.
The Final Verdict
Based on the rave reviews, praise from experts, and my own positive experience, I can confidently say Saie is the rare brand that truly lives up to the hype. I‘ve tried my share of clean makeup, but Saie stands out for the impressive performance, lovely textures, and glowy, skin-enhancing effects. I reach for my Saie products almost every day because they make it so easy to look fresh and pulled-together but not "done."
When it comes to clean beauty, you often have to sacrifice results for better-for-you formulas—but not so with Saie. These products deliver the color payoff, longwear, and in-person appeal of traditional makeup while still meeting strict standards for clean ingredients and sustainability. And the fact that Saie products ring in at a reasonable $18 to $32 makes them an even better value.
The only real downsides are the smaller, mostly light-medium shade range and limited availability outside the US. But Saie is a young, indie startup, so I expect these things to improve as the brand grows! In the meantime, their generous return policy allows for risk-free trying.
Overall, I highly recommend giving Saie a shot if you‘re looking for easy, everyday makeup that‘s clean and actually performs. The Slip Tint and Glowy Super Gel are absolute must-haves for a foolproof glowing complexion. Pair them with the Liquid Lip Balm or any of the kits for a complete look you‘ll feel amazing in.
Tips to Get the Glow
For best results with Saie (or any makeup), start with freshly cleansed, moisturized skin. Use a face mist or essence first if you have dry or dehydrated skin.
Less is more with Saie formulas. Start with one pump or a tiny dab and build up as needed. Warm the product between your fingers before patting and blending into skin.
Have fun mixing and matching the products to get your perfect level of glow. Layer them or wear them solo. There are no rules—experiment and see what you love!
Shopping and Returns
Saie is available on their website saiehello.com as well as at select clean beauty retailers like Goop, Follain, Credo, and The Detox Market. They offer free shipping on US orders over $30.
If for any reason you don‘t love your Saie goodies, you can return them within 30 days for a full refund, no questions asked. They also offer a Happiness Guarantee: if you‘ve used a product and aren‘t thrilled with the results, you can exchange it for something else. For 10% off your first order, sign up for emails on their website.
The Bottom Line
Saie has quickly become one of my desert island makeup brands. It‘s clean beauty that doesn‘t compromise on quality, shade range, or packaging. While no single product is life-changing, together they create an effortlessly fresh, pretty look that enhances your natural features. To me, Saie strikes the perfect balance of being good for you and still feeling fun and special to use. If you‘re looking to clean up your beauty routine without sacrificing results, Saie is 100% worth checking out.
