Mad Hippie Opens Austin Flagship on South Lamar
Cult-favorite clean skincare brand debuts 3,600-square-foot experiential retail and community concept in the heart of Austin.
photos courtesy of Mad Hippie and Elijah Hoffman
Austin-born clean skincare brand Mad Hippie has officially opened the doors to its first-ever flagship store at 700 S. Lamar Blvd., introducing a 3,600-square-foot experiential retail concept centered around sustainability, community, and in-person discovery.
Founded in 2009 by husband-and-wife duo and Austinites Dana Stewart and Sam Stewart, Mad Hippie was created with a mission to deliver high-performance skincare using clean, effective ingredients without harmful additives. Over the past decade, the brand has built a loyal following for its results-driven formulations – most notably its Vitamin C Serum – now carried in more than 5,000 stores nationwide, including Whole Foods Market and Ulta Beauty, as well as internationally.
“This has always been an Austin brand, so opening our first store here felt like a natural next step,” said Co-Founder, Sam Stewart. “We wanted to create something that goes beyond traditional retail — a space where people can slow down, take a deep breath, and connect with both the products and the community around them.”
The South Lamar flagship marks a major milestone for the brand, bringing its digital and wholesale presence into a physical space in the city where it all began.
Designed as more than a traditional storefront, the 3,600-square-foot interior space blends retail and flexible event areas around a central courtyard anchored by a 300-year-old live oak tree that heavily inspired the store’s design, creating a natural oasis tucked into one of Austin’s busiest corridors. Thoughtfully designed in collaboration with local Austin architecture and design firm Studio Luck, the space pairs warm, approachable materials with custom millwork, soft lighting, earthy textures, and lounge areas designed for guests to slow down and stay awhile. Throughout the space, visitors will find hippie-approved vinyl spinning on a turntable, tea service, and relaxed gathering spaces intended to nourish both skin and spirit.
At the center of the store is a custom terrazzo facial bar where guests can pull up a stool, grab a mirror, and discover personalized morning-to-evening skincare routines. Estheticians and flagship staff offer guided tutorials on techniques like oil cleansing, along with mini-facials and hands-on product experiences.
Guests can explore the full range of Mad Hippie products, receive personalized skincare guidance, and engage with formulations in an interactive, hands-on setting. The flagship also expands Mad Hippie’s existing refill program, beginning with a refillable option for the brand’s best-selling Vitamin C Serum. Customers can purchase reusable containers and return them to be cleaned and refilled on-site – furthering the brand’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.
Beyond skincare, the store features a secondary retail space with a curated and rotating selection of local and small businesses, offering complementary goods such as handmade ceramics, sustainable silk loungewear, handmade Moroccan slippers, and fair-trade textiles like towels, robes, and kaftans, reinforcing its connection to Austin’s creative community.
“For us, this is about more than just retail,” said co-founder Dana Stewart. “We wanted to create a welcoming community space where people can gather, discover new rituals, and experience wellness in a way that feels approachable and inspiring.”
More than a retail destination, the flagship is designed as an ongoing gathering space, with a rotating calendar of community-driven programming including skincare workshops, wellness panels, yoga on the patio, pop-up flower markets, founder meet-and-greets, and collaborations with local practitioners and creatives.
With global distribution and recognition, including “best of” accolades from publications like Vogue, Forbes, Allure, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, and Women’s Health, Mad Hippie’s flagship opening signals a new chapter for the growing brand while staying rooted in the values that have defined the brand since day one: effective ingredients, accessibility, and a commitment to doing good for skin, people, and the planet.
Mad Hippie is located at 700 S. Lamar Blvd. and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11am to 7pm, and Sunday from 12pm to 5pm. For more information, visit madhippie.com and follow along on social media @madhippiebeauty.