Skip to content
Looking for Clean, Green Beauty and Skincare Products? Try These Top Brands
Kick potentially harmful ingredients to the curb and upgrade to these better-for-you, better-for-the-environment skincare and beauty products.
You’re eating plenty of nutritionally-dense foods, upgraded your go-to home and kitchen products to eco-friendly alternatives – and now, it’s time to take a close look at the items that are part of your daily beauty routine. It’s common for skincare and makeup products to include ingredients that may not be the best for your overall wellness. And many, from their packaging to their manufacturing processes, aren’t kind to the environment, either.
That’s why green and clean beauty and skincare are taking off. We’re sharing some of the top clean, green brands to help you swap out your current go-tos for even better alternatives.
How to Identify Clean and Green Beauty or Skincare Products
Both clean and green beauty products are somewhat new, and there’s plenty of confusion around what, exactly, these words mean. But they’re more than mere buzzwords.
Although clean beauty and green beauty products aren’t regulated by an official third-party organization, there are ways to identify them. As you’re shopping for clean or green products, here are a few key hallmarks to look for on ingredient lists and packaging:
Transparent ingredient lists
Honesty is critical, especially when you’re vetting clean or green products. Don’t fall for greenwashing (or clean-washing); look beyond the benefits touted on different beauty and skincare items to see what’s really included in each products’ mix of ingredients.
You can identify common beauty and skincare ingredients that may pose potential harm by checking the Made Safe Hazard List, which highlights some of the worst toxic chemicals found in products. Additionally, the Environmental Working Group (EWP)’s Skin Deep search engine allows you to take a closer look at the ingredients for many popular skincare and beauty products. It even provides a handy hazard rating for every item.
Third-party testing and certification
Beauty and skincare products that have been third-party certified are often great options. These certifications ensure products have been tested and verified free of chemicals and toxins. It helps you identify options that have undergone more rigorous vetting. Look for certifications from organizations such as Ecocert, USDA (specifically, the USDA National Organic Program), and NSF.
B Corp certification
When it comes to green beauty, one of the first certifications to look for is B Corp certification. This indicates that a brand works to create positive environmental and societal impact, while practicing transparency. It’s a wide-ranging third-party certification that looks beyond ingredients alone and at the larger impact a brand has on the world.
