What is sustainable skincare?

As I’ve researched sustainable skincare products — and personal hygiene products in general — one of the most disturbing discoveries is that the majority of harmful chemicals that we should avoid putting on our bodies are the same nasty ingredients that we should avoid in common cleaning products. The prospect of putting the same chemicals on our skin and hair that might be used to disinfect a toilet or scrub a greasy oven seems a bit harsh.

Sustainable skincare products contain natural, clean, and ethically-sourced and produced ingredients. This is important for anyone looking to avoid toxic and irritating chemicals, especially those with allergies, sensitive skin, eczema, or other skin conditions.

Another important component in sustainable skincare is packaging that minimizes plastic use as much as possible. About 70% of the beauty industry’s waste comes from packaging, and much of this is plastic. It is best to choose skincare products packaged in infinitely recyclable materials such as glass, aluminum, or FSC certified paper. Plastic skincare containers are often difficult to recycle, and in the U.S., less than 9% of plastic is recycled annually. There are some options available to recycle your empty skincare containers that are not accepted in curbside recycling, but this should not be considered the best option for eco-friendly packaging.

Finding truly clean and sustainable skincare products takes some mindfulness as there is a LOT of greenwashing in the beauty world.

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 for every budget. I have personally tried some of the products, and the rest are included because I through my research I have found the company practices and ingredients to be in line with sustainability.

Sustainable skincare brands

Good

Brand	Clean ingredients	EWG Scores	Packaging	Vegan/Cruelty-Free	Made in USA?	Certifications
The Ordinary		EWG 1-8
Acure		EWG 1-8
Versed		EWG 1-5
Paula’s Choice	Beautypedia Ingredient Checker; RSPO Palm oil	EWG 1-8	All FSC-certified paper stock by 2025; Primarily plastic, despite initiative to reduce use of virgin plastic, design plastic for recyclability, and increase PCR	Leaping Bunny; mostly vegan	All in US	Partnered with Cloverly to offset emissions
Burt’s Bees	Responsible Mica Initiative member	EWG 1-8
Tula		EWG 3-7
Aveda		EWG
Farmacy		EWG 1-6
Lush		EWG 1-7
Biossance	Ingredients & EWG scores are listed	29 products EWG verified	100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2030	100% vegan	Made in Brazil & US

Best

Brand	Clean Ingredients	EWG scores	Packaging	Vegan/Cruelty-Free	Made in USA?	Certifications	Why I love it
EcoRoots		EWG 1-3
Ethique		EWG 1-4			Australia
Dr. Bronner’s		39 EWG verified products
Upcircle		EWG 1-5	Plastic-free				I love that Upcircle’s products utilize many upcycled ingredients. Great, plastic-free packaging.
FaceTheory	Products are handmade by company chemists	EWG 1-5	Plastic-free	100% vegan; Leaping Bunny & PETA approved	Made in the UK	Certified B Corp; Carbon neutral shipping	This is the best clean & eco-friendly option for skincare containing active ingredients such as retinol, niacinamide, and vitamin C; like an more sustainable version of The Ordinary. Plastic-free packaging.
Osea	Tested gluten-free	EWG 1-4	Most in glass; increasing PCR plastic & paper	100% vegan; Leaping Bunny & PETA approved	All products made in California	Climate Neutral certified; Ocean Positive verified	A higher end brand with great quality, effective products and eco-friendly packaging.
Meow Meow Tweet		EWG 1-2
Pacifica	Compassion Standards™ include 1,800 ingredients that will never be used	EWG 1-8	Many glass or aluminum; PCR plastic; FSC certified cartons	100% vegan; PETA certified	Most		A very accessible and affordable brand with a wide variety of awesome products & plastic free options.

Clean cosmetic brands

Brand	Clean Ingredients	Palm Oil	Mica	EWG scores	Packaging	Vegan/Cruelty-Free	Made in USA?	Certifications
Milk Makeup	No List; Clean at Sephora	RSPO	“Only use ethically-sourced and sustainable mica”	EWG 1-9	FSC paper w/ plant-based inks; increasing refillable options &PCR plastic use	100% Vegan; Leaping Bunny		1% of profits are donated to The Center, which supports the LGBTQIA+ community.
Ilia	No gluten, parabens, phthalates, petroleum, mineral oil, talc, BHA/BHT, propylene glycol, PEG, cyclomethicone, chemical screens	RSPO	“Mica will be solely sourced from a supplier that is a member of the RESPONSIBLE MICA INITIATIVE”	EWG 1-6	Primarily plastic, with some recycled aluminum, glass, and responsibly sourced paper; has a recycling program	Leaping Bunny; vegan except 6 products that contain beeswax	Most with some exceptions	1% For the Planet, One Tree Planted
Haus Labs by Lady Gaga	Made without 2700+ banned ingredients;  Clean at Sephora	Products do no contain palm oil	Products are free of mica	EWG 1-4	Glass, aluminum, cellulose and PCR resin, FSC certified cartons	Vegan & cruelty-free		$1 from every purchase is donated to Lady Gaga’s non-profit, Born This Way.
Kosas	Bans over 2,700 ingredients and adheres to the EU, Sephora, and Credo clean standards	100% RSPO	100% ethically sourced mica	19 EWG verified products; scores 1-5	Tree-free or FSC-certified cartons; All tubes made from biomaterials; PCR	Leaping Bunny
Kjaer Weis	95% minimum of the plants it contains are organic. At least 20% of organic ingredients are present in the total formulation	Did not respond to email	Did not respond to email	EWG 1-5	90% of products are refillable; recycled paper, metal	Vegan except beeswax; cruelty-free
Elate	75+% organic, but choose fair trade over organic	RSPO	The mica used in Elate products is fair trade and sourced from suppliers who are active members of the Responsible Mica Initiative.	EWG 1-4	75+% of packaging is reusable, recyclable or plantable; all can be returned for free for refills or recycling	100% vegan, Leaping Bunny, PETA		Certified B Corp; donate 1% of profit to social initiatives and 1% to environmental causes
Rejuva Minerals	Many MADE SAFE verified and rated clean on Think Dirty			69 EWG verified	plastic; orders shipped in recycled boxes	PETA certified	Yes
Saie	No BHA, Chemical Sunscreens, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Paraffin, Polybutene, and Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, GMO’s, Parabens, Pthalates, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrance, Talc	RSPO	“sustainably & ethically sourced through the Ecocert process”	EWG 1-6	FSC paper; glass, aluminum, PCR, bioresin, virgin plastic	Leaping Bunny; Most are vegan except for beeswax	US, Canada, Italy	Climate Neutral certified; Plastic Neutral certified; 1% for the Planet
Honest Beauty	NO List™ — a list of over 3,500 chemicals not used; ingredient glossary; microplastic-free	“sustainably sourced palm-derived ingredients;” but not RSPO certified	“aim to partner with contract manufacturers that are members of the Responsible Mica Initiative”	86 EWG verified	Glass, tin/aluminum, PCR plastic, FSC certified cartons	PETA certified; some vegan products	Mostly in US; manufacture location is listed on packaging

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

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.
  • Purchase at Grove / Target / Amazon

Mascara/lash wands

Wands for Wildlife has discontinued their wand collection but they have repurpose ideas for old wands, or you can recycle them with other beauty empties.

Cotton rounds

Go Green: Reusable cotton rounds

Make the switch to reusable cotton rounds.

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.
• Coyuchi Bare Organic Makeup Pads are made from GOTS certified organic cotton in a Fair Trade certified factory.
• Facetheory Tendertouch Reusable 100% Organic Cotton Pads – pack of 8 organic cotton pads comes with an organic cotton mesh bag for laundering.

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.

Swabs made from 100% cotton or bamboo are compostable.

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.
  • Available at Sephora / Amazon
• 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.
• Available at Grove / Nordstrom / Credo / Amazon

• Facetheory HydraSoft Makeup Remover contains squalene and safflower oil, packaged in an aluminum tube.

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

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 listed among its numerous uses, although I’ve never tried it for this purpose. 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 can be better accomplished 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

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, and I find that most are wrapped in plastic. The most economical choice I have found are Purelis Bath Bombs, which are made without parabens or sulfates and scented with essential oils. This set comes with 30 bath bombs individually wrapped in paper and packaged in a cardboard box. And the price can’t be beat: at $25, one bomb is only $0.83.

If you’re willing to fork out $7-10 per bath, Lush has a nice selection of bath bombs and bubble bath bars which you can purchase free of any packaging.

Dot & Lil bath cubes contain milk and real flower petals, all packaged in a paperboard box. They sell for $9 apiece.

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 like AHAs/BHAs superior to 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. Osea Seaglow overnight AHA serum is another great option.

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.
• Facetheory Lipabalm Nourishing Lip Treatment – I was addicted to Carmex for much of my life, and this new find may be a great sustainable alternative for those who loved that lip treatment in the little white jar. This greener choice features clean ingredients such as raspberry seed oil and vitamin E contained in an amber glass jar with aluminum cap.

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?

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

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 cane 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. Besides, I am not a frequent wearer of fragrances and a bottle of perfume will last me years, so I will never be able to personally try enough.

The biggest issue with fragrance, whether it is in the form of perfume and cologne or added to beauty products or cleaners, is that nobody but the manufacturer knows what ingredients are included. 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. If you cannot find an ingredient list, avoid purchasing that product.

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. Chemicals of particular concern with perfumes and colognes include:

• Phthalates
  • Commonly used to make fragrances last longer, phthalates are linked to hormone disruption and reproductive issues.
• Synthetic Musks
  • Artificial musks, like Galaxolide and Tonalide, can accumulate in the body and have been associated with hormone disruption.
• Parabens
  • These preservatives, used to extend shelf life, may interfere with hormone function and are linked to breast cancer concerns.
• Benzyl Alcohol
  • Frequently used as a solvent and preservative, benzyl alcohol can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in some individuals.
• Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives
  • Quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, and other preservatives can release formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, over time.
• Benzophenone
  • Often used to stabilize fragrances, benzophenone and related compounds have been linked to endocrine disruption and environmental harm.
• Petroleum-Derived Ingredients
  • Perfumes may contain ingredients derived from petroleum, such as paraffin, which can be harmful to the environment and cause skin sensitivity.
• Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
  • Often added for UV protection, this chemical is associated with endocrine disruption and environmental damage.
• Artificial Colors
  • Synthetic dyes, like FD&C colors, may be linked to skin irritation and health risks when absorbed through the skin.
• Allergenic Ingredients
  • Some natural ingredients like eugenol, citral, and limonene can cause allergic reactions or skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

When selecting perfumes, opting for products that are labeled “phthalate-free,” “paraben-free,” and “synthetic fragrance-free” can help reduce exposure to these potentially harmful ingredients.

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.

Body lotion

Natural lotions are relatively easy to come by so here I will focus on my favorite plastic-free lotion options.

Lotion bars

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

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.

I personally don’t like foaming soap, and luckily there are great liquid options that come in aluminum bottles.

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.

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.