For most of my life, I didn’t think much about what I put onto my skin on a daily basis.
I thought that, if the skincare products I used were “dermatologically tested”, they were safe to use.
But I was so wrong!
Regular skincare products contain hundreds of harmful substances that we should not even be in contact with.
We think that we are taking care of our skin when applying moisturizer on our faces or exfoliating our bodies.
But if these products contain toxic chemicals, we aren’t helping our skin and body at all.
We are actually putting our health at risk.
But we should not have to choose between taking care of our skin and staying healthy.
Thankfully, we can avoid this by buying products from sustainable and clean skincare brands.
There are more and more of them on the market, so we are lucky!
In this blog post, I’ve rounded up 10 of the best sustainable and clean skincare brands that promise healthy, glowing skin.
Their products nourish, hydrate, and rejuvenate our skin without all the nasty chemicals!
This blog post contains affiliate links which means that if you buy something through such links, I will get a small commission without any extra cost for you. Please read my Disclosure for more details.
Ingredients you should stay away from in skincare products
Most skincare brands make their products with incredibly harmful chemicals.
These are directly absorbed by our bodies and are not only toxic to us, humans, but also to the environment.
It might be surprising, but since the beauty industry is still poorly-regulated, these brands are actually allowed to use toxic ingredients.
Many of those chemicals are endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, and allergens.
Plus, they can disrupt our nervous and immune systems.
Many may also damage vital organs in our bodies and negatively impact our reproductive health.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to completely stay away from some of those toxic chemicals in our modern society.
But it is possible if we choose the right products and are careful.
So always make sure to read the ingredient list before buying your skincare products (or any other products!).
Here are some of the most toxic ones you should stay away from:
- Phthalates
- Parabens
- Formaldehyde
- Fragrance
- Oxybenzone
- Ethanolamines
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
- Mineral oils
- Triclosan
- Toluene
- Dioxane
If you see one of these in a product, don’t buy it!
Remember, your health is the most important thing you have.
These are only some of the most toxic and harmful substances we can find in skincare products.
But many other ingredients can be problematic.
So the best way to stay away from any nasties is to buy your products from sustainable and clean skincare brands!
What are sustainable and clean skincare brands?
Clean skincare brands formulate their products with only non-toxic ingredients.
When I say non-toxic, it means non-toxic to humans as well as to the planet.
These brands use natural, mineral-based, and plant-derived ingredients that are safe to use and biodegradable.
The ingredients should always be sourced responsibly, and it’s even better if they’re certified organic or Fair Trade.
Clean skincare brands also disclose their entire ingredient lists.
They are transparent about how their products are formulated and made.
Plus, they let us know how they source their ingredients and where they come from.
They usually use sustainable packaging, like glass, cardboard, aluminum, or recycled plastic.
Some even offer refillable options, which are the best!
Sustainable and clean skincare brands also do not test on animals (they carry the Leaping Bunny certification), and many sell vegan products.
They also follow ethical practices throughout their supply chain and make sure to pay their workers a fair, living wage.
While some brands claim they are “clean” and “non-toxic”, these words are not regulated.
As a result, many companies use them even though they are far from being clean.
So be very careful and do your research before buying from any brand.
Support those you know for sure are clean and sustainable.
You can also buy from brands that received third-party certifications, like B Corporation, Fair Trade, ECOCERT, or USDA Organic.
If you’re looking for brands you know you can trust, check out the 10 following ones!
The 10 best sustainable & clean skincare brands that promise you a healthy glow
1. OSEA
Categories: Moisturizers, Scrubs, Cleansers, Masks, Exfoliants, Serums, Oils, Toning Mists, Eye Care
Founded in 1996, this clean skincare brand formulates all its products with different kinds of seaweed.
Why seaweed?
Well, seaweed is a superfood rich in nutrients, minerals, and vitamins.
It provides countless benefits including moisturization and has anti-aging properties.
How cool is that?!
Osea combines this wonderful ingredient with other naturally-derived actives that will make your skin look its best.
Whether you choose one of its serums, masks or moisturizers, you know that each product is sustainable, vegan and cruelty-free.
Osea is even Climate Neutral certified and an Ocean Positive verified brand.
And it packages its products in glass bottles.
2. Herbivore Botanicals
Categories: Eye Creams, Serums, Cleansers, Masks, Moisturizers, Oils, Mists, Soaps, Scrubs, Salts
Herbivore Botanicals is one of those clean skincare brands that have everything you may need if you want healthy skin.
It formulates its products with food-grade cold-pressed oils, GMO-free soy wax, essential oils, as well as other natural and organic ingredients.
Combining minerals, botanicals and vitamins, the formulas will nourish and restore your skin!
They are free of synthetic ingredients, fragrances, dyes, and other toxic substances like parabens, phthalates, and fillers.
The ingredients are ethically sourced, and the brand does not test on animals.
Herbivore Botanicals also chooses to package its products in glass, paper, and recycled/recyclable plastic.
3. True Botanicals
Categories: Sunscreens, Essences, Moisturizers, Oils, Cleansers, Serums, Eye Creams, Toners, Masks, Haircare, Body Care
True Botanicals is on a mission to deliver sustainable and clean skincare products formulated with only high-quality, non-toxic ingredients.
From sunscreens to serums, the brand makes its formulas using antioxidant-rich oils, plant-derived peptides, and soothing ceramides.
The products also contain many natural extracts full of nourishing vitamins and essential fatty acids.
True Botanicals is one of the few skincare brands that received the MADE SAFE® certification.
It certifies that its products are made without 6,500 toxic chemicals, so they’re completely safe to use!
They are also cruelty-free and sustainably produced.
The company sources many of its ingredients from regenerative farms, and many are organic.
Plus, True Botanicals regularly supports Grow Ahead.
It’s an organization helping farmers transition to regenerative agriculture!
4. REN Skincare
Categories: Sunscreens, Masks, Primers, Serums, Exfoliators, Moisturizers, Cleansers, Toners, Eye Creams, Body Care
REN Skincare is one of the best sustainable and clean skincare brands out there!
Its non-toxic formulas are highly effective and made to address diverse skin needs.
I’ve always had very sensitive skin, so I love that this brand makes everything with sensitive skin in mind!
It also designs its products to reduce irritation all while respecting the skin barrier.
REN Skincare makes sure to source sustainably made and upcycled ingredients.
What’s more, all its packaging is recyclable (some of it is made from recycled materials).
The company also partners with the Surfrider Foundation to support beach clean-ups and ocean conservation.
From eye creams to exfoliating and clarifying toners, you’ll find everything you may need for your daily skincare routine!
5. 100% PURE
Categories: Cleansers, Toners, Scrubs, Masks, Serums, Oils, Moisturizers, Eye Creams, Sunscreens, Body Care, Haircare
The name says it all.
100% PURE strives to produce the purest, cleanest makeup and skincare products.
Its formulas are completely free of synthetic, harsh and toxic ingredients.
The company is very transparent about the ingredients it uses, all of which are healthy for you and the planet.
100% PURE also does not use any animal-based ingredients and is completely cruelty-free.
The formulas are biodegradable, so they are safe for our delicate ecosystems!
They are also naturally pigmented using pigments from vegetables, fruits, cocoa, and tea.
Your purchase even helps to support charities: for every product bought, 100% PURE either donates dog food to shelter dogs or the cost of one tree to Trees For The Future (you choose at checkout!).
100% PURE ships orders using recyclable boxes and biodegradable packing peanuts.
Plus, its headquarters received the Green Business certification!
6. Credo Beauty
Categories: BB Creams, Sunscreens, Cleansers, Toners, Exfoliants, Moisturizers, Oils, Balms, Mists, Treatments, Serums, Masks, Peels, Eye Creams, Lip Balms
Created for conscious beauty lovers, Credo Beauty is a one-stop shop carrying more than 130 clean brands and over 2,000 products.
It has the largest assortment of skincare products, from BB creams to sunscreens to exfoliants.
Each one of them is formulated without 2,700+ harmful chemicals and is produced using sustainable manufacturing processes.
Credo Beauty has also been cruelty-free since its launch in 2015.
I like that a portion of each purchase is donated to Lipstick Angels!
It’s a nonprofit providing personalized beauty and skincare services to cancer patients.
The brands available at Credo Beauty package their products in glass, paper, and recycled materials.
Some even offer refill options!
7. Yina
Categories: Masks, Cleansers, Mists, Moisturizers, Serums, Body Care
Yina is a clean skincare brand developed by doctors of Chinese medicine.
Its founders want to share with the world wellness rituals rooted in traditional eastern wisdom.
Of course, the company formulates its products with sustainably sourced whole-plant ingredients.
These include traditional medicinal herbs, flowers, clay, grains, fruits, and plant-based oils.
Many of these are organic and wildcrafted, which is awesome!
Yina is a plastic-negative and cruelty-free brand, and it makes its products in California.
Its serums contain carotenoids, fatty acids and micro-nutrients derived from botanicals, all of which contribute to healthy skin.
It also has some cool masks made to purify, rehydrate and rejuvenate the skin.
Pick one of them if you want to experience the best Yin-Yang masking spa treatment from the comfort of your home!
8. Annmarie Gianni
Categories: Cleansers, Toners, Serums, Moisturizers, Masks, Scrubs, Haircare, Body Care, Eye Creams
Committed to clean beauty since day 1, Annmarie Gianni offers a wide array of clean skincare products, formulated with organic, wildcrafted and non-GMO ingredients.
The brand’s formulation process sets it apart from other companies.
Annmarie Gianni first infuses hand-selected herbs into skin-nutritive oils and organic aloe vera.
It then leaves the infusions to steep and energizes them with crystals.
The company adds different antioxidant-rich botanicals, seed oils, and synergistic plant stem cells that deliver essential nutrients to the skin.
All the formulas are free of nasty chemicals like harsh preservatives, synthetic fragrances, and alcohol.
Annmarie Gianni crafts its products in small batches in the USA.
It is also MADE SAFE® and Leaping Bunny certified.
9. Indie Lee
Categories: Cleansers, Serums, Moisturizers, Toners, Exfoliants, Masks, Spot Treatments, Oils, Lip Sticks, Eye Creams, Body Care
Indie Lee should be your go-to brand if you’re looking for clean skincare products!
It formulates all its products without more than 1300+ banned ingredients (including parabens and phthalates).
Instead, it uses natural, naturally-derived, and organic ingredients.
The company also makes everything with the planet in mind, focusing on sustainable manufacturing processes.
It is COSMOS-certified and has taken steps to include more recycled content in its packaging (in glass bottles and plastic tubes and jars).
It has even introduced a refillable packaging solution, which is awesome!
I love that all Indie Lee’s products are Leaping Bunny Certified, so they’re completely cruelty-free.
10. Josie Maran
Categories: Oils, Cleansers, Serums, Moisturizers, Eye Treatments, Masks, Sunscreens, Haircare, Body Care
Josie Maran specializes in creating clean, cruelty-free argan oil-based formulas that we can use on every skin type.
Argan oil is the foundation of all its products.
It has incredible fortifying, hydrating and nourishing properties and helps reduce wrinkles.
It’s a multi-tasking ingredient containing rich fatty acids and natural anti-aging nutrients!
Josie Maran sustainably sources its argan oil from Morocco, where local women harvest argan nuts.
These women only collect argan nuts that have fallen from the trees, so it prevents overharvesting and deforestation.
The company also uses natural pro-retinol, which is derived from sustainably sourced pink algae.
Josie Maran’s product boxes are all made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials.
The brand even provides you with a free shipping label you can use to send your empties to TerraCycle.
That way, they will get recycled into office supplies, picnic tables, and more!
Final thoughts on these sustainable and clean skincare brands
I hope this list of 10 sustainable and clean skincare brands helped you find the products you were looking for.
I highly recommend each one of these brands!
They all make their products with non-toxic ingredients and use sustainable practices in their supply chains.
I also appreciate that they do not test on animals, which is really important to me.
Remember, no matter which brands you choose to support, always take the time to research the ingredients and how the brand sources them.
Supporting sustainable and clean skincare brands is so important both for our health and the planet!
If you liked this article, you may also enjoy:
- 7 easy steps to declutter makeup and skincare products
- 9 eco-friendly loofah alternatives for a sustainable scrub
Which one of these brands have you already tried and what products are your favorites?
Also, if you love other sustainable and clean skincare brands, please share them in the comments!
Now that you’ve read this article, you may also be interested in my blog post about the best zero-waste bathroom essentials to minimize your waste when getting ready.
Check it out!
Don’t forget to share this article with your friends to help them transition towards a less toxic, cleaner skincare routine. <3
Hi,
Your post is very interesting.
I am going to share these ideas with my sister, she will be very glad.
Thank you for this useful article.
Best regards
Kasia
Thanks Kasia for your kind comment! <3 I'm happy you've found the post helpful, and I hope your sister will enjoy it as well! 🙂