11 Clean Beauty Brands That Are Actually Safe For Your Skin

At 38, I have started caring more about my health with nutrition, physical activity, and the ingredients I put in my skin. I have slowly begun diverting towards clean beauty products. You must have seen a rise in clean beauty products at your favorite beauty retailers like Sephora and Ulta, as well as on social media.

Many brands call themselves clean, meaning their formulas do not contain parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and artificial fragrances. However, in the US, there is no set standard when it comes to clean beauty yet. The EU law bans 1,328 chemicals from products because they may cause congenital disabilities, reproductive issues, and cancer, and in the US, the Food and Drug Administration has restricted 11 chemicals.

Clean beauty products include skincare, makeup and hair care products that are generally free of potential toxins. These products are also primarily vegan, not tested on animals, and pride themselves on sustainable packaging, which is good for the environment.

Here are some actually clean beauty brands.

Arbonne

AgeWell Intense Repairing Night Cream has 2% Bakuchiol, a vegan retinol alternative that is proven to work as well as retinol. It helps to diminish signs of aging. It has Vitamin C to brighten your and hyaluronic acid to keep it hydrated. Arbonne claims to ban over 2,000 chemicals from their products. Regional Vice President of Arbonne and mom-to-be Micah Pretorius says it is the only brand she feels safe using on her skin for the health of her baby and herself.

Beautycounter

For the past three years, BeautyCounter has provided 100% ingredient transparency. Their ingredient safety has been verified by Chemical Footprint Project, which is responsible for analyzing how brands use safe chemicals. Beautycounter has 1,800 banned ingredients, which includes all the ingredients banned by the EU. My mother loves their Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream because she said it made her skin feel firmer, more even-toned, and hydrated. Plus, her skin is glowing.

Beyond Glow Botanical Skin Care

Inspired by Korean Beauty, this natural skincare line gives people instant moisture and glow because they use natural ingredients like bamboo, wheat sprout, and sea mud. The Aqua Boost Cream is lightweight and provides hydration to the skin while calming it.

Elina Organics

Their products are free of parabens, sulfates, toxic preservatives, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, harmful colorants and fragrances, mineral oils, petroleum, and other harsh toxic cosmetic chemicals. They are also cruelty-free. Their Crushed Copper Purifying Mask won the Aestheticians’ Choice Awards by DERMASCOPE Magazine. The copper powder in the mask regenerates collagen and elasticity, while Kaolin clay minimizes breakouts.

Inna Organic

Launched in 2014, Inna Organic is a certified organic skincare line that works well even for those with sensitive skin. Dual-Certified Organic from soil to final product by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Europe’s COSMOS are free of parabens, sulfates, silicones, synthetic fragrances, and more. Cruelty-free. 100% vegetarian. Pure Moisturizing Body Lotion has a unique blend of shea butter and Hawaiian macadamia seed oil to help restore the skin’s natural barrier.

Krave Beauty

Great Barrier Relief serum is a nourishing serum that fights discoloration and breakouts caused by damaged skin barriers. Many of their products are primarily recyclable, and they use nontoxic adhesive and use UV ink on their labels. They’re also a member of 1% For The Planet and pledge to donate 1% of all their profit to global environmental protection projects.

SelfMade

This clean brand is made with a team of experts in the mental health and beauty field. During these challenging times, this hydrating and secure attachment soothing serum has been one of my go-to because it has an active ingredient derived from Helichrysum italicum, which helps reduce your cortisol levels that cause stress. It also smells like a spa.

Caudalie

Caudalie is a French term for wine that implies the measurement of time the flavors of wine linger on your taste buds after tasting it. They use wine and vine extracts to create skincare products that take care of your skin while respecting the planet. Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Dark Spot Serum is a potent serum that reduces dark spots and dullness while firming your skin. It is vegan and comes in new sustainable packaging.

 Kosas

Leaping bunny-certified and cruelty-free Kosas has banned over 2,700 ingredients to give you effective products with skincare benefits and beautiful colors. Their multitasking Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer and Daytime Eye Cream is a medium-coverage concealer with a radiant finish that helps with dark circles and puffiness.

fresh

Fresh skincare was created in Boston by fusing natural ingredients with modern science to give you beautiful skin with their commitment to sustainability. Infused with grapeseed and black currant seed oils, their Sugar Lip Balm Sunscreen SPF 15 deeply hydrates your lips while protecting them from the sun.

Youth To The People

The professional-grade skincare line was inspired by the creator’s grandmother by keeping the planet in mind. All their products are vegan, cruelty-free, and biodegradable that come in glass bottles and jars to reduce plastic waste. If you struggle with acne or blemishes, Superclay Purify + Clear Power Mask with Niacinamide can absorb excess oil to give you a clear complexion.

Testing skincare products on animals is a horrible side of the beauty industry. We want to use nontoxic and sustainable products, but that shouldn’t come at the cost of others. It is crucial to support cosmetics companies dedicated to ethical practices when it comes to animals and the environment.