11 Sustainable Skincare Brands Your Skin Will Love
There’s no win-win (er, skin-skin) like sustainable skincare.
Sans toxic chemicals and (almost all) plastic, these brands are creating products that keep both far away from your pores and our planet.
The natural, organic, and ethically sourced ingredients allow your skin to do what it does best.
While the thoughtful packaging protects the environment by cutting down the beauty industry’s annual production of 120 billion units of plastic.
Start your search for ethical eco friendly skincare with Wildling’s minimal, multi-functional product range.
Facetheory has vegan eco friendly skincare products for all skin types and concerns.
With One Ocean Beauty, technology packs products with skin-beneficial marine ingredients—without taking from the world’s oceans.
It’s no skin off our face to share how we found the most eco friendly skincare brands so quartz roll your way to the end of the article for our vetting process.
*This post contains affiliate links
QUICK LINKS FOR SUSTAINABLE SKINCARE COMPANIES
1. WILDLING
Wildling’s Ethical Sustainable Skincare
If you enjoy a minimal, sustainable skin care routine, Wildling’s got the goods:
- Body oil
- Face tonic
- Face oil
- Gua sha stones and wands
- Cupping tools
Some, like Lumin Oil, work as an all-in-one moisturizer, cleanser, and makeup remover.
The herbalist-formulated products use organic and wild active ingredients to increase circulation and detoxify skin of all types.
Everything is essential oil-free, cruelty free, gluten-free, vegan, palm oil free, and Fair Trade.
Combined with the traditional Chinese Medicine practices of cupping and gua sha, Wildling provides a noninvasive way to turn back the clock and help skin appear firmer, healthier, and more youthful.
They suggest a ritual that includes a tonic, an oil, then a stone to smooth, plump, tighten, and fight puffiness.
About Wildling
Wildling uses ingredients that come from family-owned organic and biodynamic farms and seasonal foraging trips.
Harvested at peak potency, they’re selected for their time-tested ability to rejuvenate skin and support radiant health.
Products are made in small batches and housed in recyclable, reusable glass packaging.
Shipping materials are biodegradable and compostable.
Product purchases support tree planting. To date, Wildling has planted 15,000+ through the Arbor Day Foundation.
They also donate to Hate is A Virus.
Available: Wildling
2. ANDREA’S ORGANIC MARKET
*Note: Most products are vegan, but there are a couple that contain honey and goat’s milk.
Andrea’s Organic Market’s Sustainable Skin Care Products
As one of the most sustainable skincare brands on Etsy, Andrea’s Organic Market is the place for pure, raw, and natural skincare products:
- Body scrubs
- Balms
- Facial bars, creams, scrubs, masks and washes
- Facial astringent
- Oils (including massage oil)
- Skincare for mom and baby
- Serums
- Salves
- Zero waste makeup remover
100% non-GMO and certified organic ingredients are chosen to support your skin and our shared home.
Think raw butters, cold-pressed unrefined plant oils, and herbal infusions.
Some products contain honey and/or goat milk, but the latter can be substituted with coconut milk for vegan shoppers.
About Andrea’s Organic Market
Cold-pressed natural shampoo, bath salts, tea, honey, and other culinary delicacies are also on offer at Andrea’s Organic Market.
Created by a self-confessed “label reader”, the shop only uses non-toxic herb-based formulations.
Everything is handmade in Indiana and is free of palm oil. In some cases, the ingredients are Fair Trade.
Glass bottles with aluminum lids are used across the product line. For some, you can choose to receive a plastic pump on your first order.
Available: Etsy
3. COMMON HEIR
*Note: Only RSPO palm oil is used. We are confirming policies directly with this brand.
Common Heir’s Sustainable Skincare USA
They have a low impact on our planet, but with just two sustainable skincare products from Common Heir, you can expect high-impact results:
- Vitamin C serum
- Retinol serum
Don’t let their science-backed formulations make you think they’re packed with synthetics.
These dissolvable tapioca starch pods contain only clean, natural substances, not a laundry list of restricted ingredients.
The serums are vegan-friendly, silicone-free, and use only RSPO palm oil. The Vitamin C Serum may contain gluten.
About Common Heir
Packaging (or lack thereof) is women-founded Common Heir’s forte.
Their Korean-made skincare products come in plant-based capsules that are light enough to minimize shipping emissions.
As a zero waste skin care company, their products are readily biodegradable and packaged in plastic-free, recyclable shipping materials that come mailed carbon neutral.
Backed by a Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certification and donates $1 for each email sign-up they receive to sponsor the removal of microplastics from the ocean.
On top of that, 1% of annual sales are donated to the Ocean Blue Project.
Available: Common Heir
4. FLAWLESS BEAUTY STORE
*Note: We are confirming policies directly with this brand.
Flawless Beauty Store’s Sustainable Skincare UK
All handmade, Flawless Beauty Store offers:
- Micellar water
- Face masks and facial cleanser
- Body cream
- Hydrating toner
- Sugar scrub
Some of which are multi-use, like the beauty balm, which can be used on hair, nails, or skin.
As for sustainable mens skincare (and haircare), they also carry a luxury beard balm.
You’ll find recognizable and organic ingredients and formulations–natural sustainable skincare products for sensitive, dry skin.
Some contain a synthetic parfum.
About Flawless Beauty Store
Flawless Beauty Store shop owner Charmaine started the company with a love for animals and nature.
Sustainable, vegan makeup brushes were the first product—followed by biodegradable glitter.
Though the PETA-approved product line has expanded considerably, all are still handcrafted in North Wales, giving the shop full control over the ingredients and quality.
Using sustainable skincare packaging, all products come in reusable, recyclable, and recycled glass jars or bottles, or aluminum tins.
Available: Etsy
5. ETHIQUE
Ethique’s Affordable Sustainable Skincare
We can’t talk about sustainable skincare brands without mentioning one of the first zero waste beauty brands.
Ethique’s minimally wrapped bars and cardboard tubes support the planet while their lineup supports skin of all types:
- Body moisturizer, polish and zero waste lotion
- Cleansers and creams
- Makeup remover
- Organic face moisturizer
- Scrubs and Serums
Consciously selected ingredients mean that Ethique will never expose your skin to those associated with health risks: PEGs, FD&C dyes, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, and parabens.
They’re biodegradable, certified cruelty free, vegan, and palm oil-free.
About Ethique
New Zealand may be Ethique’s origin, but now they’re a global household name.
Plastic free sustainable skincare aside, they’re an excellent source of zero waste shampoo and conditioners and cleaning products.
Not only does the Certified B Corp use sustainably produced, minimally processed ingredients, but they’re often directly traded, meaning farmers and workers benefit from better pay and supportive partnerships.
They’re climate positive by offsetting 120% of their carbon emissions and plant a tree for every order.
An additional 2% of all sales go to organizations supporting conservation, animal welfare, and the environment.
Available: Ethique | Amazon | Holland & Barrett (UK) | Nourished Life (AU)
6. MEOW MEOW TWEET
Meow Meow Tweet’s Vegan Sustainable Skin Care for Sensitive Skin
With a huge range, we’re pawsitive that Meow Meow Tweet has the products to support your sustainable skincare routine:
- Body oil
- Cleansing oil
- Exfoliant mask
- Face oil
- Natural face wash
- Facial soap
- Serum
- Skin cream
- Vegan sunscreen
- Skin balm
- Toner
Everything is vegan and packed with skin-rejuvenating ingredients like cold-pressed essential oils and organic unrefined plant oils.
It’s also all gluten and palm oil-free.
Your new favorite products will come in plastic-free, compostable sustainable skin care packaging that’s so adorable you may want to keep it out of the compost bin.
About Meow Meow Tweet
Taking a slow food approach to skincare, Meow Meow Tweet makes preservative-free small-batch products—as close to fresh as possible—in a California microfactory.
Their products are backed by Certified B Corporation, Climate Neutral, Leaping Bunny, and Plastic Negative certifications.
Most come in refillable or conscious packaging like glass bottles or aluminum with recycled, recyclable, and compostable boxes.
While they haven’t found a solution to plastic spray nozzles and pumps (yet), you can return them post-use to be recycled with TerraCycle.
They also work with rePurpose global to offset their plastic use.
Every month, they donate to a new small, grassroots, BIPOC- or queer-led organization.
Available: Meow Meow Tweet
7. MY VALLEY MIST SMILE
*Note: We are confirming policies directly with this brand.
My Valley Mist Smile’s Sustainable Skin Care UK
My Valley Mist Smile is an Etsy shop with sustainable skincare for sensitive skin and all genders:
- Beard oil
- Massage oil
- Micellar and toner
- Face wash
- Facial oil
- Skincare for moms and babies
- Reusable cotton rounds
The products are formulated with plant oils and infused botanicals.
While common palm oil derivatives are used in some products, they’re backed by an eco certification.
Some are also registered with the Vegan Society, but all appear to be free from animal byproducts.
About My Valley Mist Smile
My Valley Mist Smile is a UK-based sustainable skincare brand born from a passion for ethical, natural skincare.
The founder, Jo, wants to make it easy for you to practice a zero waste lifestyle, which is why products come in reusable/recyclable glass jars and bottles with optional droppers.
Purchasing gift sets and certain other products provides a donation to organizations such as the World Land Trust.
If you’re in the UK, you can visit their brick-and-mortar location in Leyland, Lancashire.
Available: Etsy
8. FACETHEORY
*Note: Facetheory uses RSPO-certified palm oil. We are confirming policies directly with this brand.
Facetheory’s Sustainable Skincare UK
With Facetheory you can shop by active compounds or skin concerns, or you can take a quiz to build a personalized skincare routine.
No matter how you score, their comprehensive range of vegan sustainable skincare products likely has the product(s) you need. Think:
- Body treatments (soap, bath oil, hand masks, scar oil, etc.)
- Cleansers
- Clothes and Tools
- Eye Skincare
- Masks
- Organic face oils
- Scrubs
- Serums
- Toners
Like talking to a skin specialist, the description of each goes above and beyond to highlight how it can help your skin.
Offering sustainable skincare products for all skin types, they’re filled with botanical extracts and supportive actives (vitamin C and retinol, for example).
While they embrace both nature and science, they steer clear of harsh ingredients like silicones, SLS, SLES, parabens, petrolatum, and formaldehyde.
About Facetheory
This UK sustainable skincare company won’t break your bank—or the planet.
Backed by a 365-day money-back guarantee, if you’re not happy with the product or don’t see a visible improvement in your skin, you’ll get a replacement or refund.
Leaping Bunny approved, their entire product range is cruelty free and vegan.
Using carefully sourced ingredients (including RSPO palm oil), everything is made in Sheffield.
They’re on their way to being totally free of single-use plastics, and currently use amber glass jars (with aluminum caps) and recyclable aluminum tubes for most products.
They ship with minimal, biodegradable packaging.
Available: Facetheory
9. ONE OCEAN BEAUTY
*Note: Fish-sourced marine collagen is used in some products, but many are free of animal byproducts. Numerous products contain palm oil.
One Ocean Beauty’s Natural Sustainable Skincare
One Ocean Beauty is one of the only ethical, clean skincare lines formulated by marine compounds.
Algae being the foundational ingredient and chosen because of its resistance to physical damage, pollution, oxidation and UV radiation in the ocean can provide the same benefits for your skin.
Note that some ingredients/products, like marine collagen, are derived from fish and therefore not vegan.
Their natural sustainable skincare range includes:
- Eye cream
- Face oil
- Face spray
- Masks
- Moisturizer
- Night cellulite cream
- Serum
- Sculpting body cream
- Toner
Products are housed in glass jars, plastic bottles/pumps, or blister packs, but they’re working to become more low waste.
About One Ocean Beauty
Fusing science and nature, One Ocean Beauty’s formulas use sustainably sourced marine ingredients.
By “sustainably sourced”, we mean they’re produced (not fully harvested) with Blue Biotechnology to conserve natural resources.
This means that natural molecules are obtained from marine organisms, then reproduced using bio-fermentation in a lab environment.
Following Credo’s ‘Dirty List’, everything is free of harmful toxins like PEGs, phthalates, sulfates, GMOs, and synthetic fragrances.
Products are backed by a Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free certification and shipped in 100% recyclable materials.
Regardless of sales and profits, One Ocean Beauty holds a long-standing charitable relationship with Oceana. They have also partnered with Sea Trees in the past.
Available: One Ocean Beauty
10. TAP TAP ORGANICS
*Note: Their balms contain beeswax until Tap Tap Organics switches to a plant-based wax.
Tap Tap Organics’ Organic Sustainable Skin Care
Tap Tap Organics’ skincare lineup is minimal, but when it comes to sustainability, less is often more:
- Body butter
- Beauty oil
Each of which is designed to serve a few unique purposes.
For example, the body butter can be applied to hair, body, face, children, and pregnant bellies.
The products feature a blend of pure, tropical ingredients designed to hydrate, protect, and balance skin of all types.
The ingredients are almost exclusively organic, with no parabens, petrolatum, or animal testing.
They currently use beeswax in some balms but are working toward switching to a plant-based wax.
About Tap Tap Organics
Tap Tap Organics is one of Costa Rica’s only sustainable skincare companies.
It’s also where they source one of their key ingredients: wild-harvested, virgin coconut oil from Costa Rica. They’re the only skincare brand to use this particular sustainably sourced coconut oil.
In fact, most ingredients are found locally, or from Central and South America, before they’re manufactured in San Francisco.
The product’s reusable/recyclable glass jars or bottles are accepted through their take-back program.
Shipping materials are reusable, recyclable, or compostable, too.
Tap Tap Organics regularly donated to organizations like 5 Minute Foundation and BLM.
Available: Tap Tap Organics
11. SAVON DILIGENCES SOAP
*Note: Beeswax is used in most products.
Savon Diligences Soap’s Sustainable Skincare Canada
Love is one of the key sustainable skincare ingredients in Savon Diligences Soap’s impressive range:
- Body butter
- Face moisturizer
- Face serum
- Face soap
- Ointment
- Salve
Instead of preservatives, artificial fragrances, and palm oil, natural plant oils and essential oils make up the bulk of the skin-supporting ingredients.
Fair trade shea butter and local beeswax are also used, although there are some vegan-friendly liquid products (like the serums).
While they’re designed for all skin types, they provide specialty eco friendly skincare products for those with sensitive skin, rosacea, or acne.
About Savon Diligences Soap
No surprise here, but Savon Diligences Soap (Savonnerie des Diligences) is an excellent source for soaps of all kinds, from zero waste hand soap to zero waste shaving cream.
The brand was founded by a mom who struggled to naturally treat her child with eczema—which is why she focuses on (mostly) organic and non-GMO ingredients.
Everything is handmade and sourced ethically, like the Fair Trade Shea butter from an African woman’s co-op.
All packaging is recyclable, compostable, and reusable, and the cute drawing and story on the label might provide extra incentive to keep it in use.
Available: Etsy | Savonnerie Diligences (Canada)
FINDING THE BEST SUSTAINABLE SKINCARE BRANDS
How do we get the best sustainable skin care?
It starts by considering our ethical beauty criteria to find serums and salves that are:
- Vegan
- Cruelty free
- Non-toxic and free of the many ingredients to avoid in skin care
- Palm oil free (organic or RSPO palm oil if the ingredient/derivative can’t be avoided).
- Ethical sourcing
- Eco friendly skincare packaging that is reusable, refillable, or compostable.
HOW TO DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE SKINCARE ROUTINE
The most eco friendly skin care routine is doing…nothing.
It feels a bit counter-intuitive but taking a minimal approach to supporting your body’s largest organ will help your skin retain more of its natural oils.
If you can get away with just water or the occasional use of a serum or moisturizer, your skin and the planet will thank you.
Next time you catch some magazine head-liner promoting a 10-step skincare routine ask yourself:
Do I really need all of these products?
Have you tried “skin fasting”? i.e. cutting out all skincare products and then reintroducing those that are really needed.
You can save money and space in your sustainable makeup bag by swapping fancy products for kitchen staples, like apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, and olive oil.
Give it a few weeks, and you may be surprised at your new dewy, glowy skin—without the environmental impact.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON SUSTAINABLE SKINCARE PRODUCTS
Not sold on a skincare vacation?
Then give these sustainable skincare brands opting for clean-clinical and natural formulations a try.
They’re cleaning up the beauty industry by using eco friendly skincare ingredients, packaging, and business practices that are better for Mother Earth—and your skin.
Have a friend that could use a little skincare tlc? Share these brands with them so we can all enjoy a healthier routine.
