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 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 biodegradable, safe, 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.
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 included a variety of price points for every budget. I have personally tried some of the products, and the rest are included because I have determined that the company practices and ingredients reflect sustainable values.
How to find sustainable skincare brands
Here is a summary of the criteria I use to judge eco-friendly and non-toxic skin care brands:
- Certifications – Independent, third-party sustainability certifications are a valuable tool to verify that a company lives up to its claims. Marketing terms and labels such as ‘natural,’ ‘clean,’ and ‘eco-friendly’ are vague and unregulated. These certifications prove that a company lives up to specific, rigid standards regarding ingredient sourcing, production, and/or labor practices. I think the Certified B Corporation endorsement is the best overall indicator of a company’s business practices, encompassing overall social and environmental performance, ethical practices, and governance.
- Clean Ingredients – Are products petroleum-based? Are they free from substances such as carbon black, parabens, phthalates, BHA/BHT, silicone, formaldehyde, or synthetic fragrances and dyes? Meeting Credo, Clean at Sephora, or the EU standards is a good safety indicator.
- EWG Scores – The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a consumer watchdog organization that is a fantastic resource for finding non-toxic cleaning and personal care products. EWG Verified products are the safest to use, while those given a 1 or 2 rating are a low hazard, 3 to 6 are a moderate hazard, and above 7 is a high hazard, with 10 being the worst.
- Mica – The mining of mica is associated with environmental degradation and poor labor practices. Ensure that mica is sourced from a member of the Responsible Mica Initiative, which works to ensure a responsible and sustainable supply chain.
- Palm Oil – Palm oil is associated with widespread deforestation and worker exploitation, so it is important that any product containing palm oil is certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), indicating that it is sourced responsibly. Learn more about this in an upcoming blog post.
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free – If a product is Certified Vegan, this means it does not contain animal products or byproducts, and has not been tested on animals. Be aware that this does not make the product any less toxic–most conventional skincare products (including vegan) contain petroleum-based ingredients, many of which are not biodegradable. Cruelty-free certifications, such as Leaping Bunny or PETA, ensure companies do not conduct animal testing or use/purchase ingredients from companies that do.
- Packaging – About 70% of the beauty industry’s waste comes from packaging. Ideally, everything would be plastic-free, but in the world of cosmetics, this is a rarity. Seek recyclables such as aluminum, glass, and responsibly sourced paper (which can also be composted. Refillables are another excellent option.
- Where Made – This is tricky. Made in the USA is preferable to support the local economy and jobs, in addition to shorter shipping distances. But the FDA doesn’t regulate beauty products, so much more research is required on the part of the consumer. Products made in the EU have much stricter chemical regulations than the USA, but may lead to a higher carbon footprint from shipping. It might be a toss-up.
- Where to Buy – Buy directly from companies themselves, especially when offering plastic-free packing materials and carbon-free shipping, or purchase from reputable retailers.
Good skincare brands
The following skincare brands are overall good companies with reasonably clean ingredients and efforts to use sustainable packaging. However, there is room for improvement for ingredients, sustainability practices, certifications, and/or plastic-free packaging.
The Ordinary
- Certifications –
- Clean Ingredients –
- EWG Scores – 1 to 8
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free –
- Palm Oil –
- Packaging – Glass bottles and droppers for serums.
- Where Made –
- Where to Buy – The Ordinary
Acure
- Certifications –
- Clean Ingredients –
- EWG Scores – 1 to 8
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free –
- Palm Oil –
- Packaging –
- Where Made –
- Where to Buy – Acure / Grove / Whole Foods
Versed
Paula’s Choice
- Certifications – Partnered with Cloverly to offset emissions
- Clean Ingredients – Beautypedia Ingredient Checker; RSPO Palm oil
- EWG Scores – EWG 1-8
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free – Leaping Bunny; mostly vegan
- Palm Oil –
- Packaging –All FSC-certified paper stock by 2025; Primarily plastic, despite initiative to reduce use of virgin plastic, design plastic for recyclability, and increase PCR
- Where Made –
- Where to Buy – Paula’s Choice
Burt’s Bees
- Certifications –
- Clean Ingredients – Responsible Mica Initiative member
- EWG Scores – 1 to 8
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free –
- Palm Oil –
- Packaging –
- Where Made –
- Where to Buy – Burt’s Bees / Grove / Whole Foods
Mad Hippie
- Certifications –
- Clean Ingredients – Non-GMO, No synthetic fragrance, no chemicals on CA Prop 65 list
- EWG Scores – 1 to 7
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free – Certified vegan and cruelty free by PETA and Leaping Bunny
- Palm Oil –
- Packaging – Glass bottles and jars, biodegradable bamboo lids and spoons, boxes printed with soy inks on FSC certified paper, and the use of sugarcane bioresin tubes
- Where Made – USA
- Where to Buy – Mad Hippie / Grove / Whole Foods
Tula
Farmacy
Lush
- Certifications –
- Clean Ingredients –
- EWG Scores –
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free –
- Palm Oil –
- Packaging –
- Where Made –
- Where to Buy – Lush
The best sustainable skincare brands
These brands are my favorite brands for quality skincare products that contain clean, non-toxic ingredients packaged plastic-free and made by companies that value sustainable and green business practices.
Upcircle
Upcircle is a very unique company that utilizes upcycled ingredients such as coffee grounds and fruit stones in its products.
- Certifications – Certified B Corp, Plastic Negative
- Clean Ingredients – Most products are composed of at least 98% natural ingredients
- EWG Scores – 1 to 5
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free – Leaping Bunny, Vegan
- Palm Oil – Palm oil free
- Packaging – 100% plastic free
- Where Made – UK
- Where to Buy – Upcircle / Grove / EarthHero
Facetheory
I adore this brand, and find it an especially great skincare option for active ingredients such as retinol, niacinamide, and vitamin C–it’s like a more sustainable version of The Ordinary.
- Certifications – Certified B Corp; Carbon neutral shipping
- Clean Ingredients – Products are handmade by company chemists and free from chemicals such as parabens, PEGs, sulfates, formaldehyde, and many more.
- EWG Scores – 1 to 5
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free – 100% vegan; Leaping Bunny & PETA approved
- Palm Oil – RSPO
- Packaging – 100% plastic free
- Where Made – UK
- Where to Buy – Facetheory
Osea
A higher-end brand that incorporates seaweed in their formulations, leading to fantastic quality, effective products and eco-friendly packaging.
- Certifications – Climate Neutral certified; Ocean Positive verified
- Clean Ingredients – Tested gluten-free; ‘Free Of’ list includes synthetic fragrances, parabens, PEGs, SLS, and more.
- EWG Scores – 1 to 4
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free – 100% vegan; Leaping Bunny & PETA approved
- Palm Oil – “Make an effort to avoid formulating with palm oil and palm oil derivatives and use RSPO (Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil) when possible”
- Packaging – Most products come in glass, while plastic and paper packaging are increasingly sourced from post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. The company offers recycling of their packaging in their LA location.
- Where Made – All products made in California
- Where to Buy – Osea / Grove / Credo
Pacifica
A very accessible and affordable brand for daily use, offering a wide variety of awesome products & plastic-free options.
- Certifications –
- Clean Ingredients – ‘Compassion Standards’ include 1,800 ingredients that will never be used
- EWG Scores – 1 to 8
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free – 100% vegan; PETA certified
- Palm Oil –
- Packaging – Many glass or aluminum; PCR plastic; FSC certified cartons
- Where Made – Most in USA
- Where to Buy – Pacifica / Whole Foods
Honest
- Certifications –
- Clean Ingredients – NO List — a list of over 3,500 chemicals not used; ingredient glossary; microplastic-free
- EWG Scores – 86 EWG verified products
- Mica – “Aim to partner with contract manufacturers that are members of the Responsible Mica Initiative”
- Palm Oil – “Sustainably sourced palm-derived ingredients;” but not RSPO certified
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free – PETA certified; some vegan products
- Packaging – Glass, tin/aluminum, PCR plastic, FSC certified cartons
- Where Made – Mostly in USA; manufacture location is listed on packaging
- Where to Buy – Honest
Biossance
Skincare products are centered on Biossance’s star ingredient: squalane, a bioengineered substance which mimics squalene, usually harvested from shark liver. Squalane is derived from sustainable fermented sugarcane.
- Certifications –
- Clean Ingredients – Ingredients & EWG scores are listed; Recognized by the National Eczema Association
- EWG Scores – 29 products EWG verified
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free – Leaping Bunny; mostly vegan
- Palm Oil – RSPO
- Packaging – 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2030; cartons are made from FSC-certified paper
- Where Made – USA & Brazil
- Where to Buy – Biossance
EcoRoots
Ethique
This company based in New Zealand focuses on solid bars beyond just soaps and cleansers; they make deodorant, lip balm, lotion, and more. They also plant a tree for every order and donate 2% of revenue to environmental causes.
- Certifications – Certified B Corp
- Clean Ingredients – Abides by EU standards, no petroleum-based ingredients, synthetic colors, and more
- EWG Scores – EWG 1-4
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free – PETA certified vegan, Leaping Bunny
- Palm Oil –
- Packaging – 100% plastic-free
- Where Made – New Zealand
- Where to Buy – Ethique
Dr. Bronner’s
From organic ingredients to ethical labor to significant sustainability and community advocacy efforts, Dr. Bronner’s is all around a fantastic company that offers clean products. The only thing holding them back from being completely perfect is their use of plastic, even if it is PCR.
- Certifications – Certified B Corp, Fair for Life, Certified Kosher, co-creator of Regenerative Organic Certified
- Clean Ingredients – USDA Organic, Oregon Tilth, Non-GMO, NSF certified
- EWG Scores – 39 EWG verified products
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free – Leaping Bunny; Certified Vegan
- Palm Oil – Certified Fair Trade organic palm oil
- Packaging – Use 100% PCR plastic; now offer refill cartons that contain 82% less plastic
- Where Made – California
- Where to Buy – Dr. Bronner’s
Meow Meow Tweet
Their mission statement says it all: “To create ethical and natural personal care products that are not stressful to the earth, do not harm animals, are manufactured and packaged in a positive work environment and are presented to the consumer at an accessible price point.”
- Certifications – Certified B Corp, Certified Plastic Negative
- Clean Ingredients – Certified organic, Non-GMO, raw and unrefined oils/butters, source ingredients from regenerative farming operators
- EWG Scores – 1 to 2
- Vegan or Cruelty-Free – Vegan, Leaping Bunny
- Palm Oil – palm oil free
- Packaging – Everything is housed in metal, glass, or compostable paper
- Where Made – Made in small batches by hand in their California microfactory
- Where to Buy – Meow Meow Tweet / EarthHero
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 Beauty – 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 skincare tools
Cotton rounds
Go Green: Reusable cotton rounds
Make the switch to reusable cotton rounds rather than the single-use, disposable ones.
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.
- 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.
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.
Sustainable skincare favorites
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 removes all my makeup, including eyeshadow and liner, and my face feels fresh and 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.
- 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.
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 made with 100% natural ingredients, 91% of which are organic. However, this is 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.
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. Try the Gingersnap Gentle Solid Face Scrub bar with cinnamon and ginger.
- Acure Brightening Facial Scrub – ‘hero’ ingredients include Sea Kelp (Chlorella), French Green Clay, and Madonna Lily
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.
Natural Lip Balm
Most lip balms contain petroleum-based ingredients and others that may actually cause your lips to dry out even more, or even irritate them. Plus, they’re usually packaged in plastic tubes. Check out my full guide on natural lip balm, where you will find:
- Which ingredients to avoid in lip balm
- Best natural ingredients
- Plastic-free natural lip balm recommendations
Head to the guide covering natural lip balms
SPF moisturizer
After much searching, I have finally found a clean, zero-waste SPF moisturizer that I love! It’s Pacifica’s Vegan Collagen Every Day Lotion. This light SPF 30 moisturizer layers wonderfully underneath makeup, isn’t greasy, and comes in a glass bottle with a pump that actually gives just the right amount. For even more protection, try the SPF 50 Future Youth Daily Turnaround Hydrating Moisturizer.
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.