clean beauty
Sustainable Skincare Products
Having healthy skin shouldn’t compromise your health, or the planet’s.
What is sustainable skincare?
As I’ve researched sustainable skincare products—and personal hygiene products in general—one of my most disturbing discoveries is that the majority of chemicals that we should avoid putting on our hair and skin are also the same nasty ingredients that we should avoid in common cleaning products. There are a lot of similar ingredients between the two and that sounds a bit harsh.
Sustainable skincare products contain natural, clean, and ethically-sourced and produced ingredients. This is important for anyone who want to reduce putting chemicals that might be toxic, allergenic, or otherwise irritating on their skin, especially those with sensitive skin, eczema, or other skin conditions.
Another important component is sustainable skincare packaging that minimizes plastic use as much as possible. Discover the many options available to recycle your empty skincare containers that are not accepted in curbside recycling.
This takes some mindfulness, as there is a LOT of greenwashing in the beauty world. Finding truly clean makeup and skin care products can be a challenge.
According to a Buzzfeed article:
There is no real definition of ‘clean’ when it comes to cosmetics, and, according to experts, it has primarily become a term used in marketing language to sell products. Essentially, nobody is regulating the claim to be clean.
Use the information and resources I have provided on the Clean Beauty page to make informed decisions about your future purchases the best you can. On this page I have listed some great, affordable sustainable skincare brands to get you started. I’ve tried to include a variety of price points. I have tried some of them, and others are on my list to try because I like their practices and ingredients. The provided links are to each company’s sustainability page, so you can read and decide for yourself.
Sustainable skincare brands
| Acure | Burt’s Bees | Dr. Bronner’s | EcoRoots |
| Ethique | Ilia | FaceTheory | Lush |
| The Ordinary | Osea | Paula’s Choice | Saie |
| Tula | Versed | Aveda | Biossance |
| Natura | Meow Meow Tweet | Farmacy | Honest |
| Upcircle | Elate | Kjaer Weis |
Try one of these Certified B Corp beauty brands.
If you need even more ideas, I think this list by Treehugger is a great guide to aid your search of new sustainable brands to try. Harper’s Bazaar and Byrdie also have great articles to get you started.
Where can I buy sustainable skincare products?
Besides buying directly from clean skincare brands, there are many retailers that offer a variety of brands and also ship free of any plastic.
- Grove Collaborative – I’ve been buying from Grove for quite a few years now and I have always been happy with their products. Their customer service is among the best I’ve encountered and I really appreciate the company’s values. They are a Certified B Corp and Leaping Bunny certified; find eco-friendly beauty products, cleaners, housewares, pet products, and more.
- Earth Hero – certified B Corp, Climate neutral certified, and member of 1% for the Planet; offers a wide variety of beauty and household products.
- Zero Waste Store – Their lineup of sustainable products are shipped to your door in plastic-free, 100% biodegradable shipping materials. 1% for the Planet member, 4Ocean Cleanup Partner.
- Credo – the brands Credo carries are free from ingredients on their Dirty List, an impressive list of 2,700 chemicals.
- Thrive Market – certified B Corp; for a membership of $5/month, you have access to discounts on beauty products, cleaners, and groceries.
- Sephora – The Clean at Sephora program includes products that are made without phthalates, formaldehyde, and more.
- Ulta – Products listed under Clean Ingredients are free from numerous chemicals found on their ‘Made Without List’.
- Target – Using the Clean Beauty filter give you products formulated without the ingredients found on this 60 page chemical list.
Eco-friendly cosmetic tools
EcoTools is my top brand pick for eco-friendly makeup tools and accessories.
Things to love about EcoTools:
- A significant number of their products and packaging are plastic-free; recycled plastic is used for the rest.
- Metal products are made from recycled aluminum.
- Wood items are made from FSC-certified sustainable wood.
- All products are vegan and PETA Cruelty-free
Makeup brushes
Go Green: Brushes with wood or aluminum handles
- EcoTools offers a wide variety of makeup brushes, all made with Taklon bristles and either bamboo or recycled aluminum handles.
- Elate makeup brushes are also composed of Taklon bristles with FSC certified bamboo handles. The company has a recycling program where you can return your old brushes, as well as their product empties.
- Purchase at ZeroWasteStore / EarthHero
When your brushes need cleaning, try an EcoTools brush cleaner, or Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap. If you take care of your makeup tools and keep them clean, they should last you a long time.
If brushes become unusable, check out these upcycle ideas.
Moda has a recycling program that accepts brushes from any brand and in return you will receive 30% off your next purchase. Or recycle with other beauty empties.
Blending sponge
- This EcoTools Bioblender sponge is made from 5 ingredients: water, corn, natural preservative, natural pigment, and bionanopol—the company’s special ingredient that makes these sponges biodegradable and compostable.
Mascara/lash wands
Donate to Wands for Wildlife or recycle with other beauty empties.
Cotton rounds
Go Green: Reusable cotton rounds
Make the switch to reusable cotton rounds.
- Last Object LastRound includes a 100% recycled plastic case that holds 7 rounds, which are made from 30% cotton and 70% wood fiber. According to the company, these rounds replace 1750+ single-use rounds and are 24x better for the environment per a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) performed by a third-party. The texture is similar to Swedish dishcloths so depending on the intended use, they may need a little water added. Packaging is plastic-free. They are backyard compostable when they reach the end of their life. Also available at Grove.
- There are many softer reusable cotton round options available, if that is what you prefer. Greenzla Reusable Cotton Pads are made of a bamboo and cotton blend. They are sold in a set of 20, packaged in a cardboard cylinder, and also includes an organic cotton laundry sack so you can easily wash them in the washing machine. Available on Amazon.
- Marley’s Monsters makes a variety of reusable cotton rounds, including their GOTS-certified Organic Cotton Flannel Facial Rounds. There is also an option that includes a mesh laundry bag. Purchase on Grove / Amazon.
Best disposable cotton rounds
Reusable cotton rounds can be used for any task that you normally use rounds for. I personally don’t like to use them for nail polish removal; I feel like polish doesn’t come off well and I don’t like the idea of the chemicals on the reusable pads. In that case, you may want to have a single-use option handy.
- I like Organyc 100% Organic Cotton Rounds
- Certified organic
- Free of chlorine, parabens, SLS, or ethyl alcohol
- Made using geothermal and solar energy
- Packaging is biodegradable
- Plastics for Change partner
- Available at Amazon
Can you compost cotton rounds?
100% cotton or bamboo rounds are fully compostable, although if used for something like nail polish I would throw them in the trash.
Cotton swabs
Go Green: Skip swabs with plastic sticks
Cotton swabs are a sleeper item….it may surprise you to know that plastic swab sticks are among the top ten items that wash up on beaches.
Do not buy swabs with plastic sticks. Purchase 100% cotton swabs with paperboard sticks, such as Q-Tips. You can also buy swabs with bamboo sticks, such as BOONBOO Cotton Swabs. This company is a certified B Corp, Climate Neutral, and 1% For the Planet member. Also available on Amazon.
Try out a reusable swab such as Last Object’s LastSwab. I decided to give it a try, and it is not as gross as it may seem and is surprisingly very easy to clean. The one thing I will say is I wish the texture was a little softer. Although it adequately cleans ear wax, it is not absorbent and doesn’t help dry out water in the ear canal, which for me is a big reason I like to use them after a shower. They do make a swab specifically for beauty that looks softer, so if you use swabs for makeup touchups that would also be worth a try. Also available at Grove / Zero Waste Store.
Swabs made from 100% cotton or bamboo are compostable.
Natural makeup remover
Go Green: Skip the makeup remover wipes
Skip the makeup removal wipes. Even the ‘cleanest’ wipes are made of synthetic fibers and laden with chemicals that can be harsh on skin. Plus, they create unnecessary waste; there are so many great options to remove makeup that aren’t single-use. This InStyle article discusses the environmental impacts of wipes.
In addition, I don’t feel like wipes do a better job removing makeup than a makeup remover or good cleanser, and I don’t like how they make my skin feel. In fact, the HuffPost reports that makeup wipes leave a residue on your skin in their article abou the effects on your skin.
Instead, find a skin cleanser that is formulated to remove makeup. I prefer this option as it requires just one step and one product to do two jobs.
- I love Biossance’s Squalane + Amino Aloe Gentle Cleanser. The scent is wonderful and it foams up nicely. This cleanser removed all my makeup, including eyeshadow and liner, and my face felt wonderful afterwards. The only downside is that it is packaged in a plastic bottle. This cleanser can be paired with their Squalene and Antioxidant Cleansing Oil.
- Osea Ocean Cleansing Milk is a great choice for those who prefer milky cleansers (as opposed to gel). This fragrance-free option is also perfect for those with sensitive skin.
Maybe you are interested in an oil-based cleanser, especially if you’re into double cleansing, which is washing your face with a oil-based cleanser followed by an water-based cleanser.
- The easiest and most inexpensive option is oil cleansing. This simply involves cleaning your skin with an oil that you may already have in your kitchen, such as coconut, olive, jojoba, or sweet almond oils.
- Province Apothecary Moisturizing Oil Cleanser + Make Up Remover contains clean ingredients, including several types of organic oils, packaged in a glass bottle.
- I like UpCircle’s Cleansing Face Balm with Oat Oil + Vitamin E, packaged in a glass jar. This balm goes on smoothly and effectively removes my makeup. Also available at Grove.
- Another balm that looks promising (with many rave reviews) is the Junoco Clean 10 Cleansing Balm. This balm has just 10 ingredients and is packaged in a recyclable plastic pod that can be refilled on future orders.
If you prefer to use a makeup remover rather than a cleanser, use reusable cotton rounds along with a natural makeup remover, such as Beauty by Earth Makeup Remover. This product is make with 100% natural ingredients, 91% of which are organic. This is however, packaged in a plastic bottle. Available at Grove / Amazon
- Elate Revive Makeup Remover Balm – petroleum-free ingredients, including jojoba seed oil and chamomile essential oil. Packaged in an aluminum tin. Available at Zero Waste Store / Earth Hero
If you need additional options, here’s a list of natural options from Byrdie, and zero waste choices from the Zero Waste Store.
Clean bath & body products
Bath brush
Go Green: Wooden bath brush
I love this EcoTools Bristle Bath Brush for scrubbing the hard-to-reach parts of my back. The handle is made from bamboo and can be composted at the end of its life. The bristle texture is just right, however they are synthetic.
Natural body soap & body wash
Go Green: Plastic-free packaging
There are infinite natural body soap choices. Bar soap is the most sustainable option compared to body wash because of both packaging and the volume/weight to transport. Even further, the ultimate eco-friendly option is to find a local soap maker that uses clean ingredients and minimal packaging. In my experience, there are numerous individuals and small companies that make soaps in most areas. If you’re unable to find one near you, there are plenty of great larger soap companies to choose from.
Bar soap
Some of my favorite bar soaps include:
- Ethique -a 100% plastic-free company that offers bar soaps and bodywash concentrate, as well as shampoo bars and more. Also available at Amazon.
- Lush – I love the minimal packaging for their products, which include a variety of fun scents of soaps, body wash, and many other personal care products.
- Dr. Bronner’s – You may be familiar with their liquid castile soap, which is their premier product. Body wash is included on their list of numerous uses. I’ve never tried it for this purpose, but I really like their castile bar soaps, especially the almond scent. Available at Grove / Amazon / Whole Foods / Target
When soap becomes too small to use, smash it together with other pieces. This is accomplished best in a soap saver bag, such as this one sold by Ethique. Read other uses for these small pieces of soap on their blog.
Plastic-free body wash
- Blueland’s Body Wash Starter Set comes with a refillable 18oz bottle and a pouch of body wash powder. All you do is add the powder and water to the bottle and you’re good to go. You could also just start off with a bottle of your own and order the compostable pouch refills.
- Plaine Products Hair + Body Wash comes in a refillable aluminum bottle. Order a pump on your first purchase, and when you have used all the body wash, send the empty bottle back to the company free of charge and they will sterilize and refill it. Keep the pump and use it for your next refill, which will just come with an aluminum cap.
- Hand In Hand Body Wash is also packaged in an aluminum bottle. The scents are great, and so is the price. Available at Grove / Whole Foods
Loofah
Go Green: Natural loofah or skip altogether
What you may think as a loofah, or bath pouf, is typically made of nylon or other plastics and often comes in bright colors. They release microplastics and cannot be recycled.
Natural loofah comes from a tropical plant commonly called the sponge gourd and is an off-white color. I recently saw this plant, also called a luffa, at a local nursery, so you can even grow your own!
The downside of both types of loofahs is that they harbor a lot of bacteria and dead skin cells, requiring them to be replaced frequently (some advise every 30 days). Because of this, out of the two, it is definitely better to go natural, since it can be composted.
Many experts actually recommend against using loofahs altogether, either opting for a washcloth or simply using your hands, which is certainly the less wasteful choice.
Natural bubble bath & soaks
I love baths during the wintertime, and finding inexpensive bath products in plastic-free packaging has proven very difficult.
Bath bombs are great, but expensive. Plus, I find that many are wrapped in plastic. The best option I have found are Purelis bath bomb set. The cardboard box holds 30 bath bombs that are each wrapped in paper. And the price can’t be beat: at $42, one bomb is only $1.40.
If you’re willing to fork out $7-10 per bath, Lush has a nice selection of sustainable bath bombs and bubble bath bars.
Epsom salts are also great in a bath, but I have yet to find a company that sells a decent size amount that is not enclosed in plastic. I’ve seen some in glass jars, but I think the price for the amount is far from economical.
I have discovered only two plastic-free bubble bath products.
- Honest’s The Wind Down Bubble Bath, with a nice myrrh scent. It comes in a 16 fl oz glass bottle that sells for $21.99.
- Fat and the Moon Bubble Bath comes in an aluminum bottle. Available in Rosemary Eucalyptus or Lavender.
Plastic-free bath oil options in glass bottles include FaceTheory Loutrosoak Blooming Bath Oil and Osea Vagus Nerve Bath Oil.
Exfoliators
Physical exfoliators
Physical exfoliators are probably the most obvious beauty culprits for containing plastic microbeads, so check ingredient labels and avoid any products that contain polyethylene (PE) , polypropylene (PP), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). If you’re looking for a natural exfoliant, you’ll want to stick with these physical type of exfoliation, since the others rely on chemicals.
- Coffee isn’t just for drinking: I’ve been using Upcircle’s Natural Face Scrub – Citrus Blend for Dry Skin and I love it. The scrub is made with upcycled coffee grounds that gives it a mild coffee scent. It is a coarse scrub, and the rosehip oil in it leaves my skin feeling so soft and moisturized afterward. Also available at Grove.
- Zero Waste Store Coffee Face Scrub is another product that utilizes coffee grounds.
- Ethique’s exfoliating bars utilize sugar and pumice for their scrubbing power. For face there is the Gingersnap Gentle Solid Face Scrub bar with cinnamon and ginger, and for body it’s the Exfoliating Lime & Ginger Solid Body Scrub Bar which also softens skin with cocoa butter.
- Acure Brightening Facial Scrub – ‘hero’ ingredients include Sea Kelp (Chlorella), French Green Clay, and Madonna Lily
- EcoRoots Organic Body Scrubs include either sugar or sea salt.
Chemical exfoliators
Many dermatologists consider chemical exfoliators such as like AHAs/BHAs better than physical exfoliators. For face exfoliation, the easily two most popular products I’ve come across are The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution and Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. Both are decently clean, sustainable companies.
For body, I’ve really been liking FaceTheory Glycolic Acid Face and Body Scrub. I felt like it irritated my face too much, so I’ve only been using it on my body, where it has been very effective on treating patches of bumpy skin. I also love the FaceTheory Glycomide Body Cream, which contains 9% glycolic acid as well as ceramide 3. It really helps with ingrown hairs and small bumps, even those from keratosis pilaris. It can sting a little at times, like after a fresh shave, so I skip it on those days. The cream is very light and not at all greasy and leaves my skin soft.
Natural Lip Balm
Go Green: Non-drying ingredients; non-plastic tube
I used to have a full-fledged Carmex addiction, and now I know why. Ingredients such as phenol, camphor, and menthol, are soothing and feel good when you apply them to your lips. But they can actually make your lips drier, and Carmex contains all three. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology advises, “If your lips burn, sting, or tingle after using a lip product, stop using that product.”
Common additives like salicylic acid, alcohol, eucalyptus, and artificial dyes and fragrances can also exacerbate chapped lips and cause irritation. Lanolin can be associated with allergies.
Now you know what ingredients to avoid in lip balm, so what should you look for instead?
Lip balm ingredients to look for
Lip balm typically includes two basic types of ingredients: humectants, which attract and absorb water, and occlusives, which locks in moisture to your skin.
- Natural humectants: plant-based glycerin, aloe vera, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid (found naturally but most is made in a lab); non-vegan: animal-based glycerin, beeswax, honey
- Natural occlusives: plant seed oils, beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, candelilla wax, carnauba wax; non-vegan: beeswax, lanolin (avoid with allergies)
- The most commonly used occlusive in lip balm and many other beauty products is petrolatum, or petroleum jelly. Mineral oil is also frequently added. Since these are fossil fuel-based, they should be avoided.
Zero waste lip balms
There are plenty of fantastic eco-friendly lip balm packaged in compostable paperboard that you won’t even miss the fossil fuel balm in a fossil fuel tube.
- Ethique Lip Balms – use moringa oil, jojoba oil and castor oil in a compostable cardboard tube. Available at Amazon
- Blue Heron Botanicals Lip Balm – certified organic ingredients in a 100% post-consumer recycled paper tube that home compostable and includes 40% more product than a traditional lip balm. And each lip balm purchased saves a baby turtle through donation the company makes. Available at Free the Ocean / ZWS / EarthHero
- EcoRoots Zero Waste Lip Balm – 4 flavors of this vegan & cruelty-free, gluten-free; packaged in compostable paper tube.
- Meow Meow Tweet Vegan Lip Balm – available in Sweet Orange Tangerine or Coconut Cacao, made with organic ingredients in a paper tube. Available at EarthHero
- Fat and the Moon Lip Salve – simple salve made from organic sunflower oil, mango butter, beeswax, and rosemary essential oil in a tin.
Zero waste SPF lip balm
- Plastic-free SPF lip balm options are limited. Eco Lips Sport Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm is a chemical sunscreen, packaged in their patented Plant Pod tube which is made with material re-claimed from farm byproducts which otherwise would have been burned. They do have a mineral SPF lip balm, however it is packaged in a regular plastic tube. The company is a Certified B Corp, Fair Trade Certified, NSF Certified, Gluten-Free, and Leaping Bunny Certified. Available at Amazon / Walmart
Alternatives to Vaseline
Need something thicker, more like an eco-friendly version of a tub of Vaseline?
- Alba Botanica Un-Petroleum Multi-Purpose Jelly – This jelly is the closest thing to Vaseline without the petroleum. Instead, it is made with organic castor seed oil, sunflower seed oil, beeswax, and tocopheryl. I recently started using this and love it.
- All Good’s Goop – This all-in-one healing salve is the company’s original and most popular product. Reviewers rave about it for not only dry, cracked lips, but also dry skin, eczema, scars, pet’s feet, and more. Made with certified organic ingredient like calendula oil in a solar powered factory. Available at EarthHero / ZWS
- Province Apothecary Hydrating Rescue Balm – Another multi-use balm, this is a good alternative when you need something more than lip balm. It is packaged in a tube made from 50% PCR (post-consumer resin) and the cap is 100% PCR.
Can lip balm tubes be recycled?
Technically the plastic lip balm tubes should be recyclable but their small size will lead them to fall through recycling machinery. Your best bet is to recycle them with your other empty beauty products. Eos lip balm tubes can be sent along with any other Eos brand items to their free mail-in recycle program with Terracycle; Burt’s Bees has a program with them as well.
Deodorant
Go Green: Natural deodorant
I have tried natural deodorants like Native and Schmidt’s, but I am too sweaty to go without the antiperspirant component. And antiperspirants include aluminum, which is not a ‘natural’ ingredient. However, despite reported concerns, the American Cancer Society states that there is no data that links aluminum in antiperspirant to breast cancer.
Unfortunately, there are no zero waste antiperspirants out there—it’s deodorant or bust. So my go to is Tom’s of Maine Antiperspirant; it’s my plastic concession until I’m ready to try another deodorant. But I love this antiperspirant. It keeps me dry and the subtle fragrance is just right. It is made with recycled aluminum and doesn’t contain any artificial fragrances or preservatives; it is also vegan and cruelty-free. Available at Target, Women’s / Men’s
Switching to natural deodorant
Reportedly, there is a detox transition period when switching from antiperspirant to deodorant. After years of essentially clogging your sweat ducts with aluminum to prevent sweating, it can take up to a month for your body to adjust to a natural deodorant. I’ve seen reviews from people reporting they sweat less after making the switch. Treehugger has a great guide answering all your questions about switching to natural deodorant.
So if you’re a sweaty beast like me, it might take some patience, which apparently I don’t have. Choosing a deodorant that contains arrowroot or baking soda may help to absorb extra moisture. If you’re ready to take the plunge and make the switch, there are numerous natural deodorants to choose from. And if you’re doing that, you might as well go with one that comes in a zero waste container.
Zero waste natural deodorant
- Each & Every Natural Deodorant – The reviews for this deodorant speaks for itself: over 15K glowing reviews on their website, and 18K on Amazon. EWG Certified clean ingredients without artificial fragrances, vegan and cruelty-free. Packaged in plant-based sugar can packaging, which can be mailed back for recycling with a paid shipping label through the company’s Conscious Club Recycling program. Available on Amazon.
- Lush – deodorant bar or powders available without packaging
- Ethique – solid deodorant bars in paper tubes. Available on Amazon.
- HiBAR – Leaping Bunny certified plant-based deodorants are packaged in SFI (Sustainable Forest Initiative) certified paperboard printed with plant-based inks. Available at EarthHero / Grove / Amazon
- Fat and the Moon Deodorant Cream – Organic ingredients, including essential oils, coconut oil, arrowroot and baking soda. If you are sensitive to baking soda, their Sensitive Pit Cream is for you. Packaged in a glass jar with aluminum lid. Available at ZWS / EarthHero
- Meow Meow Tweet – Choose between deodorant cream or sticks in a variety of scents. Packaged in paperboard or glass jars with aluminum lid. Available at Earth Hero
This list by Sustainable Jungle has some additional natural deodorants in zero-waste packaging.
Can you recycle deodorant?
Tom’s of Maine and hello have a partnership with Terracycle to accept ALL brands of deodorant and caps for recycling, along with toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes & caps, mouthwash bottles & caps through their free mail-in program.
Clean Perfume & Cologne
Google ‘sustainable perfume’ and there are lists galore, from Sustainable Jungle and Sustainably Chic to Elle and Harper’s Bazaar, and even a recent article from the NY Times dedicated to the subject. Apparently it’s a big thing right now. Since there are an infinite amount of preferences and the aforementioned articles provide plenty of clean fragrance choices, I’ll skip any recommendations here and just review what to look for when shopping for sustainable fragrances.
The biggest issue with fragrance, whether it is in the form of perfume and cologne, or added to other beauty products or cleaners, is that nobody but the manufacturer knows what’s in it. Fragrance information is proprietary and therefore does not have to be disclosed to the FDA. It’s a great place for companies to hide basically any ingredient they want. So when it comes to non-toxic fragrance, transparency is key.
You’ll have to do your research on whether a fragrance company fully discloses the ingredients used; many will not. I’m not sure how rampant fragrance recipe thievery is, but apparently exposing these closely guarded secrets is not worth the health of consumers and the general population.
As with any other skincare or beauty product, be sure to avoid ingredients discussed on the clean beauty page. And look for recyclable glass bottles; some companies even offer a refill option.
Can you recycle perfume bottles?
Perfume bottles cannot be recycled with other glass recycling because the liquid residues are flammable. Before learning this, I never realized how weird it is that it’s normal to douse ourselves in flammable liquid…that can’t be healthy, right? But when you walk by a dude bathed in a cologne like Sex Panther (Anchorman, anyone?), it all makes sense.
Drop off empty bottles at participating Sephora locations recycling drop-off. Glo Recycling’s Flammable Waste bucket is another recycling option.
Lotion
Natural lotions are relatively easy to come by so here I will focus on my favorite plastic-free lotion options.
- Hand in Hand Body Lotion – palm oil free, vegan, cruelty-free, 97% naturally derived; packaged in aluminum bottle. The scents are great; my husband even likes them. Available at Grove / Whole Foods
- FaceTheory Cera-B Body Cream – This is a great zero-waste, clean alternative to a ceramide body cream like Cerave. It comes in a glass jar with a aluminum lid.
- Upcircle Hand + Body Lotion with Bergamot Water – 99% natural ingredients in a glass bottle. Buy directly through the company or Zero Waste Store to order refills without the pump. Available at Grove / Amazon
- Plaine Products Body Lotion – like all the rest of their products, there is a fragrance-free option and the lotion is packaged in an aluminum bottle that can be returned for reuse. Order refills without the pump from the company itself, Zero Waste Store, or EarthHero.
- Osea has a variety of luxury body moisturizers packaged in glass bottles. Products available at Grove / Nordstrom / Credo
- Meow Meow Tweet All Over Lotion – packaged in metal bottle, with refillable bulk size as an option.
- Weleda Skin Food Body Butter – Sunflower seed oil, shea and cocoa seed in a glass jar. Available at Grove / Whole Foods / Amazon
Lotion bars
If you want to save even more on packaging, try a lotion bar or stick.
Check Sustainable Jungle’s article on zero-waste lotion for more ideas.
Remember that plastic pumps cannot go into your recycling since they contain a metal coil. Pumps can go with any other empty beauty product containers to Nordstrom Beautycycle or other drop-off locations.
Sunscreen
There are two categories of sunscreen: chemical and mineral.
Chemical sunscreens filter and absorb UV light with chemicals such as avobenzone, octinoxate, oxybenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate. The concern with chemical sunscreens is that all of these substances have been shown to absorb through the skin. There is not enough research available to determine whether this is harmful or have long term health effects, except in the case of three of these chemicals.
Make sure whatever brand you buy does not contain oxybenzone, octinoxate, or homosalate, which are endocrine disruptors. In addition, oxybenzone and octinoxate are toxic to coral reefs. Check ingredient labels to be sure, but usually products without these chemicals are labeled ‘Reef Safe.’ Read more about these and other skincare chemicals that are toxic to coral and other marine animals.
Mineral Sunscreens are considered physical sunscreens since they block and reflect UV rays. This barrier can lead to a white cast left behind, especially with darker skin tones, which is a big downside to some people. The active ingredients–zinc oxide or titanium dioxide–are the only ones the FDA considers to be safe in sunscreen, however concerns arise regarding inhalation when used in spray and powder products.
If you’re interested in a deeper dive into chemicals in sunscreen, check out the EWG’s The Trouble with Ingredients in Sunscreens.
Zero waste sunscreen
Plastic-free packaging for sunscreens is a little harder to come by, but there enough awesome options to keep your skin protected.
- Utu – These mineral sunscreens are made with USDA Biobased and Leaping Bunny certfied ingredients, packaged in aluminum tubes. Their sunscreen stick comes in an aluminum tube that you can purchase refills for. Available at ZWS / EarthHero.
- All Good Sunscreen Butter – Mineral sunscreen made with organic botanical ingredients, many of which come from their own organic farm. The sunscreen butter is packaged in a tin; they have other sunscreen and body care products available in plastic. They are a Certified B Corp, WBENC certified Women Owned, Climate Neutral and Leaping Bunny certified, and 1% for the Planet member. Available at Grove / EarthHero / ZWS
- Badger Mineral Sunscreens – Badger offers two of their sunscreens in a tin. Made with organic, Fair Trade certified ingredients. The company is a Certified B Corp andWomen Owned. Available at Grove / EarthHero / Target
- Raw Elements – Many plastic-free options available. Non-Nano Zinc Oxide is their only active ingredient; the rest are either certified organic or certified natural and sustainably sourced. EWG Certified, Leaping Bunny, 1% for the Planet member. Available at Grove / Amazon / Target
My one plastic exception
Supergoop! – This has been my favorite daily facial SPF I’ve tried, despite their use of plastic packaging. They formulate their products according to EU standards, which bans over 1,300 chemicals versus the FDA’s nine. They are also Cruelty Free certified and have a recycling program for their packaging. I am in love with their Unseen sunscreen, as well as the Glow Screen, which has a little tint. They are super light and non-greasy and both go under makeup flawlessly. I plan on trying their CC Screen when my current CC cream runs out.
Check out Sustainable Jungle’s sunscreen guide for more zero waste sunscreen alternatives.
Eco-friendly hand & foot care
Eco-friendly hand sanitizer
Go Green: Skip wasteful sanitizer wipes; go plastic-free
The CDC recommends consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% ethanol.
Plastic-free Hand Sanitizers
- Hand in Hand Hand Sanitizer – vegan, cruelty-free, Certified B Corp, packaged in aluminum bottle.
- Grove Hand Sanitizer Gel – vegan, blood orange fragrance made from essential oils and plant extracts; packaged in aluminum bottle. Certified B Corp, Cruelty-free.
- Earthy Edith’s Grand Hand Sanitizer – 100% plant-based made with organic, non-GMO cane alcohol paired with jojoba oil, glycerin, and essential oils. Packaged in a glass bottle with refills available for purchase. Also available at Zero Waste Store.
Natural hand Soap
Go Green: Skip antibacterial soaps; buy soap refills
Refrain from using antibacterial soaps. There is no evidence that they are more effective at spreading germs than regular soap and water, and may even contribute to creating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Additionally, these soaps usually contain triclosan, which should be avoided in any product as it can has numerous adverse health effects.
If you don’t already have refillable soap dispensers, replace all single use pump bottles with them and start buying soap refills. There are many options for you to easily go plastic-free here. You can go with foaming soap tablets in plastic free packaging from a variety of brands like Blueland, Dropps, or Meliora.
I personally don’t like foaming soap, and luckily there are great liquid options that come in aluminum bottles.
- My favorite is Grove Hydrating Hand Soap. They’re sudsy, made with clean ingredients, and have a variety of delicious fragrances available that are made from essential oils and plant extracts. There is a free & clear option, too. On top of that, the price is reasonable: $5.49 for a 13oz refill ($0.42/oz).
- Hand in Hand – only 2 of their scents currently come in a larger refill option. Available at Whole Foods / Grove
- Cleancult now offers hand soap in aluminum bottles, and the refills are a steal at $8.99 for 32oz ($0.28/oz). Available on Amazon.
- Plaine Products Hand Wash – I do love their products, but the hand wash is quite pricey, $20 for 16oz. Available at ZWS / EarthHero
Pumice stone
Go Green: Natural pumice
Don’t buy synthetic pumice stones. Natural pumice is a volcanic rock, and there are plenty of options available, such as this Redecker pumice stone or the Pumice Valley stone.
I tried this high-rating Gilden Tree stone, which is actually made from terracotta clay. It works as well as a pumice and is easy to hold. My heels are usually too dry and calloused for a pumice, so I usually use a foot file, listed below.
What to do with dull pumice stones
I can’t find any info on this, but since pumice is natural lava rock that is often used as mulch, I would think that once your stone gets dull, you could crush it up and put the pieces in your yard among other rocks. Pumice is also used to amend soil, so you could beat it down to finer pieces and add it to the dirt.
Foot file
Go Green: Non-plastic foot file
The Beauty by Earth Foot File (affectionally called a cheese grater by my husband) is composed of a stainless steel file and bamboo handle. It’s really the only way I can get my heels soft. Available at Grove / Amazon
Final thoughts on sustainable skincare
The beauty industry creates an incredible amount of waste, and since these are products we use frequently, they’re often a simple place to start living more sustainably.
More consumers are asking for sustainable products and packaging, and the beauty industry is slowly responding. I have made many recommendations on this page for eco-friendly, non-toxic brands I have used and/or researched, but it’s the tip of the iceberg. There are more and more options available all the time, and at all different price points. I hope you feel like you’ve gotten some valuable guidance on where you can start and feel confident when shopping. Remember it doesn’t all have to be done at once; use up what you have and when it runs out, replace it with a greener option.