Skincare is the cornerstone of any beauty routine—and what’s the cornerstone of skincare? Moisturizing. Most of us moisturize at least twice a day, and often more as we age. This repeated use means more opportunity for positive impact—which is exactly why we’re here: to help you find an eco-friendly face moisturizer that suits your skin type while minimizing waste and environmental harm.
There’s a lot to consider when shopping for skincare and in this article, we’ll focus on facial creams, serums and boosters that cover a range of skin types and needs.
From a sustainability perspective, we look for brands that use non-toxic, ethically sourced ingredients. We also want to know they’re 100% cruelty-free and ideally vegan. And we want to see thoughtful packaging – we’ve showcased several plastic-free face moisturizers for those living a zero waste lifestyle.
You’ll also notice brands on this list that have been ‘rated’. This means that we have personally rated them on their sustainability credentials using our Brand Rating System which includes a wider range of considerations like climate action, labor and human rights issues, resource efficiency, business ownership and diversity; and much more. Look out for the rated brands below and find others here.
We’ve also made a little video on the topic which you can watch below. And take a look at some of our other guides which may be relevant for you: DIY Face Moisurizers; Natural Serums; Zero Waste Face Wash.
We independently research all featured brands, and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. We explain this further in our Terms of Use.
The Best Eco-Friendly Face Moisturizers
Oway makes a wide range of facial moisturizers, serums and boosters from 90–95% botanical ingredients—many of which are grown on their own biodyanmic farm. This Italian brand is carbon neutral, 100% vegan and cruelty-free and holds a certification from ECOCERT Cosmos. Oway has been comprehensively rated by us on their sustainability credentials – find the full rating here.
Plaine Products’ plastic free face moisturizer is formulated with aloe, jojoba oil, and shea butter. It is comes in a recyclable aluminum bottles and for US customers, can be refilled indefinitely by the brand. They’re also B Corp Certified, vegan and cruelty-free. Plaine Products has been comprehensively rated by us on their sustainability credentials – find the full rating here.
Delicate Daisys is a USA based, woman-owned beauty brand that makes a rich night cream formulated to nourish, soften, and rejuvenate. The moisturizer is certified vegan and cruelty-free, and made with organic and plant-based ingredients. It’s packaged in recycled plastic and is made in Europe under strict safety and human rights standards. Delicate Daisys has been comprehensively rated by us on their sustainability credentials – find the full rating here.
Index: Low & Zero Waste Face Moisturizers
- Oway Jump to brand
- Plaine Products Jump to brand
- Delicate Daisys Botanical Beauty Jump to brand
- Meow Meow Tweet Jump to brand
- Fat and the Moon Jump to brand
- Tap Tap Organics Jump to brand
- Meadowlark Botanical Jump to brand
- Conscious Skincare Jump to brand
- Dab Herb Makeup Jump to brand
Oway
Carbon Neutral
Brand has been certified as Carbon Neutral.
Cruelty-free
Products are not test on animals at any stage in their production.
Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Green Energy
Brand exclusively uses green energy to power their headquarters.
Handcrafted
Products have been made by hand, typically by an artisan or group of artisans.
Locally Made
Products are made local to the brand's headquarters.
Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
Organic
Products are made from organic materials.
Recycled materials
Some or all products are made with recycled materials
Sustainable Materials or Ingredients
Either all or most products are made with sustainable materials or ingredients.
Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
Upcycled
Products have been upcycled from an unusable or undesirable form into new products.
Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their products
ECOCERT Cosmos
PETA
ECOCERT Cosmos
The ECOCERT COSMOS certification is an internationally recognized standard for natural and organic cosmetics. Overseen by ECOCERT, it ensures that products are made with sustainably sourced, biodegradable ingredients, use environmentally friendly manufacturing and packaging, and avoid GMOs, parabens, phenoxyethanol, and synthetic fragrances or dyes. The COSMOS label (either Organic or Natural) guarantees transparency and integrity throughout the entire production process.PETA
The PETA-Approved Vegan certification verifies that a brand’s certified products are completely free from animal-derived materials and that no animal testing is conducted at any stage of production. Managed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the label helps consumers easily identify fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products that align with a fully vegan and cruelty-free standard.Oway offers a range of Italian-made facial moisturizers and boosters made from 90–95% botanical ingredients—many of which are grown on the brand’s biodynamic farm in northern Italy. Their moisturizing line includes lightweight day creams, nourishing night creams, and targeted serums designed to hydrate, soothe, and support skin health with plant-based actives.
Their creams, serums and boosters form part of an extensive skin collection designed for different customer needs including anti-aging, hydrating, rebalancing, smoothing, soothing, and protecting. All their products are formulated without sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrances, PEGs, petrolatum, or other potentially harmful additives, Oway’s products are suitable for sensitive skin and are pregnancy-safe.
Oway’s ultra sustainable face creams are packaged in easily recyclable glass jars with metal caps. Labels are printed on FSC-certified paper, and orders are shipped using plastic-free packaging made from upcycled agricultural waste.
Certifications include PETA (vegan and cruelty-free), carbon neutral, and ECOCERT Cosmos.
Oway has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
Plaine Products
Circular
All or some products are circular in nature - such that no part of the product needs to end up in landfill at the end of its lifeCruelty-free
Products are not test on animals at any stage in their production.Locally Made
Products are made local to the brand's headquarters.Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
Palm Oil Free
Products contain no palm oil or palm oil derivatives.
Plastic-free
All products are entirely plastic-free
Refillable
Product packaging can be refilled with more product, either at a physical store or via a return program.
Small business
This brand is a small business run by less than 15 people
Take Back Program
Brand offers a take back program for their products and responsibly manages returned items.Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their products
Woman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
Zero Waste
Products are made with a low or zero waste approach where ideally no or limited waste is created throughout the production process or at the end of life.
1% for the planet
B Corp
Leaping Bunny
PETA
1% for the planet
Certified Environmental Giving — Businesses give 1% of their annual sales directly to vetted environmental partners.B Corp
The B Corp Certification, administered by the nonprofit B Lab, recognizes companies that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Certified B Corps balance profit with purpose, committing to responsible practices that benefit workers, communities, customers, and the planet while embedding sustainability into their business model.Leaping Bunny
The Leaping Bunny certification, managed by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), is the globally recognized gold standard for cruelty-free products. It ensures that neither a company’s finished products nor their ingredients are tested on animals at any stage of development. Brands must also agree to independent audits and supplier monitoring, guaranteeing genuine cruelty-free commitment across their entire supply chain.PETA
The PETA-Approved Vegan certification verifies that a brand’s certified products are completely free from animal-derived materials and that no animal testing is conducted at any stage of production. Managed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the label helps consumers easily identify fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products that align with a fully vegan and cruelty-free standard.Plaine Products makes a refillable and plastic free Face Moisturizer formulated with aloe, jojoba oil, shea butter, and safflower seed oil to hydrate and soothe skin without synthetic ingredients. It’s part of a broader skincare range that includes a lightweight Beauty Oil and versatile Body Lotion, all packaged in 100% refillable and recyclable aluminum bottles.
As a sister-owned company, Plaine Products is committed to non-toxic, vegan, and cruelty-free formulations. Every product is personally tested by the founders and checked against the Environmental Working Group (EWG) database to ensure safety for skin and the planet.
This Certified B Corp’s packaging is entirely plastic-free, and refills are easy—just send the empty aluminum bottles back for reuse or recycle them at home. Products are made in the USA and shipped in minimal, recyclable materials.
Plaine Products has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
Delicate Daisys Botanical Beauty
Cruelty-free
Products are not test on animals at any stage in their production.Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Minority Owned
Brand is owned by Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color.Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxicOrganic
Products are made from organic materials.Palm Oil Free
Products contain no palm oil or palm oil derivatives.Small business
This brand is a small business run by less than 15 peopleSustainable Materials or Ingredients
Either all or most products are made with sustainable materials or ingredients.Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their productsWoman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
Leaping Bunny
MBE
PETA
WBENC
Leaping Bunny
The Leaping Bunny certification, managed by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), is the globally recognized gold standard for cruelty-free products. It ensures that neither a company’s finished products nor their ingredients are tested on animals at any stage of development. Brands must also agree to independent audits and supplier monitoring, guaranteeing genuine cruelty-free commitment across their entire supply chain.MBE
The Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification recognizes businesses that are at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by one or more minority individuals. Issued by organizations like the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) in the U.S., the certification helps connect minority-owned businesses with corporate and government contracting opportunities.PETA
The PETA-Approved Vegan certification verifies that a brand’s certified products are completely free from animal-derived materials and that no animal testing is conducted at any stage of production. Managed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the label helps consumers easily identify fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products that align with a fully vegan and cruelty-free standard.WBENC
The Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certification, issued by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), verifies that a business is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by one or more women. It’s one of the most widely recognized certifications for women-owned businesses in the U.S.Delicate Daisys is a small US based beauty brand that makes a range of products for the face, body and hair. Their products are made in small-batches in Europe, including the Rejuvenating Night Face Cream with Bulgarian Rose—a rich eco-friendly face moisturizer formulated to nourish, soften, and rejuvenate the skin overnight. Made with Bulgarian rose, shea butter, collagen, shea butter, vitamin E, and other plant-based ingredients, this cream is designed to hydrate and support the skin barrier without relying on synthetic additives.
All Delicate Daisys formulations are made with mostly organic, non-GMO ingredients and exclude potentially harmful chemicals like parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and artificial fragrances. The brand is certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny and PETA and is woman- and minority-owned.
Products are packaged in BPA-free recycled plastic to reduce shipping weight and emissions, and orders are sent in FSC-certified recycled paper. Everything is made in Europe under strict cosmetic safety and human rights standards.
Delicate Daisys has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
Meow Meow Tweet
Meow Meow Tweet has not been rated.
Climate Neutral brand, Meow Meow Tweet may be one of our favorite organic face cream brands, but they also make small-batch hair care, oral care, cosmetics, and body care products.
Everything they make is low waste, coming in either a compostable cardboard tube, reusable aluminum bottle, or a glass jar. Any containers (and plastic pump tops) can be sent back to MMT for recycling. They’re also plastic-negative by funding plastic pollution recovery efforts in India through rePurpose Global.
From creams and repair balms to spot serums and face oil, MMT’s range is impressive. One of the their top-reviewed moisturizers is their Rosehip Chia Face Oil. Its olive oil base provides a fast-absorbing and silky texture, while chamomile and ylang-ylang extracts provide anti-inflammatory benefits as well as a soothing floral scent.
All their facial moisturizers are palm oil-free and include only water-based preservatives that are safe and effective.
Fat and the Moon
Fat and the Moon has not been rated.
One of the best zero waste skin care brands, woman-owned Fat and the Moon offers a large selection of personal care “potions” that prioritize healing and “empowerment through self-care”.
All products are hand-made fresh to order in California, using only “plants that are abundant, ethically harvested and organically cultivated and combine them in formulations that are radically non-toxic”.
They offer several types of oil or face cream and body moisturizers, most of which are designed for multi-use across the body—hooray for minimalist and multi-purpose skincare! The Aloe Lotion, for instance, can be used on the hands, face, and body, owing to the versatile formal consisting of aloe vera, sunflower oil, and coconut oil. Note this moisturizer does contain beeswax, so for a vegan equivalent, we suggest the Moon Fat Clary Sage Bod Oil.
Each moisturizer is palm oil-free, mostly vegan friendly, and packaged in recyclable or reusable containers.
Our personal review of Fat and the Moon’s moisturizer:
“Lyall and I tested the All Cream and we both found it deliciously creamy and ultra moisturizing. It does not feel greasy or oily at all and yet feels like the ideal cream for night use as it doesn’t absorb and disappear into nothingness. I also used it during the day under makeup and found it sat beautifully under some light-tinted BB cream. We agreed that this would be a go-to moisturizer for both of us (a rare find) if it was readily available closer to us.”
Review by Joy McConnochie, SJ Co-Founder
Tap Tap Organics
Tap Tap Organics has not been rated.
A sustainable skincare brand hailing from the veritable green paradise of Costa Rica, Tap Tap Organics puts the “pure” in “pura vida”. They focus on sourcing sustainable (organic or wild-harvested) tropical ingredients from Central and South America only. For example, their virgin coconut oil is wild-harvested locally in Costa Rica.
The final sustainable moisturizer (and other products) are formulated in the USA. While their product housing is reusable, they include a prepaid return label with all orders in case you’d prefer to send them back to be reused and recycled.
And if you have chapped lips, chafed legs, or cracking knuckles, their small but complete range of cruelty-free moisturizers can be your salve. Their Head To Toe Beauty Butter is good for, well, head-to-toe moisturizing. It’s thick and contains a powerhouse combo of entirely organic ingredients like coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, avocado oil, and jojoba oil.
For something a little lighter, they offer beauty oils you can also use to repair your hair. Whether you buy as needed or subscribe, you’ll never find parabens, petroleum, alcohol, or other harsh chemicals on your doorstep.
My Personal Review Tap Tap Organics’ Head To Toe Beauty Butter:
“For a “multitasking moisturizer” with a tropical theme, the Head To Toe Coconut and Cocoa Beauty Butter is a real skin winner. After trying it out myself, I not only love its subtle, tropical scent but also how effective such a small amount of it is. Being made of pure oils and butter (with no fillers), just a little bit spreads across a surprising amount of skin, so one jar lasts ages.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Meadowlark Botanical
Meadowlark Botanical has not been rated.
Meadowlark Botanical was founded by master-level Reiki healer and holistic health advocate Jessica Yaw shortly after she was diagnosed of a rare autoimmune disorder that caused her to break out in hives after using most beauty products.
Jessica started experimenting in her kitchen, and her skin started clearing up within days of using her own creations. While her product range has expanded significantly since then, they’re still made in her Ohio home using as many locally sourced or globally fair trade ingredients as possible.
Her range of eco-friendly moisturizers includes hand creams, face creams, facial repair serums, and shimmer-tinted face creams. Her “Always Vegan” line is guaranteed free from synthetics, palm oil, gluten, soy, dyes, parabens, fragrances, and preservatives. They’re also cruelty-free, and palm-oil free, as well as mostly mineral free.
A standout facial moisturizer for us would be the Daily Greens Face Cream. It combines skin (and actual) superfoods like spirulina, spinach, and green tea with soothing aloe vera and white willow bark.
Conscious Skincare
Conscious Skincare has not been rated.
Based in Wales, Conscious Skincare, founded by Rebecca, offers an impressive range of eco-friendly day and night moisturizers, and cold-pressed botanical oils, all organized by skin type to help you find the perfect primer for your routine.
For a sustainable face moisturizer, the Organic Face Serum stands out with its ultrarich blend of rosehip oil, evening primrose oil, carrot seed oil, avocado oil, and calendula oil. Other products are equally nourishing, featuring ingredients like Fair Trade shea butter and organic cocoa butter.
Their face oils come in recyclable aluminum bottles, while creams and serums are packaged in reusable glass jars. They’ve put a huge amount of thought and care into their glass and aluminum packaging to ensure it’s recyclable, and offering refills on certain products too. You can also opt for a plastic pump top, but they encourage you to reuse it when replenishing your skincare stash.
Every product is certified by PETA, Leaping Bunny, Ethical Consumer, and the Vegetarian Society.
Dab Herb Makeup
Dab Herb Makeup has not been rated.
Dab Herb Makeup, with all its “Nature to Nurture” products, is a small cosmetics company with a huge range of products and an equally huge goal of standing as an advocate for green beauty.
All products are free from palm oil and animal byproducts, and they do not endorse animal testing of any kind, on their end or their suppliers. They source from fair trade-certified channels and actively support Made In A Free World, which provides solutions, rescue, and care to human trafficking victims.
Dab Herb’s packaging is zero waste and comes in recycled shipping materials. They offer makeup primer, tinted moisturizer, pressed serum, and body butter. Their Night Recovery Serum combines avocado oil with many more oils in an ultraviolet-filtering glass jar to help with shelf stability without synthetic preservatives.
Joy has been a passionate advocate for the environment since she was a small child. She grew up in South Africa and has been lucky enough to be exposed to the wonders of nature not just in Africa but all over the world. She founded Sustainable Jungle (together with her husband Lyall) back in 2017 after becoming enraged by the devastating impact of palm oil. She then founded the Sustainable Jungle Podcast and together with Lyall interviewed remarkable people from all over the world who were finding ways to create positive impact. Outside of Sustainable Jungle, Joy has always worked in the corporate world, starting out as an auditor and later moving into management consulting. More recently she specialized in Climate Investing for the Asia Pacific region. Given her experience, her current passion is Brand Ratings. She is very much enjoying going deeper on what it really means to drive sustainability performance and true impact through business operations.
Sadly, the only moisturizer with SPF here is a tinted one. So tired of folks assuming we all want to change the color of our faces or wear foundation, ugh! Have yet to find a plastic-free moisturizer with SPF that is NOT tinted…help a woman out here!
Oh no! Hopefully this article will be helpful: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/zero-waste/zero-waste-sunscreen/
Thanks for the info about conscious skincare. Am really happy to be here
Great article. I love REN products normally, they are cruelty free and clean skin, but will definitely give the Earth Tu Face Vegan Face Serum a go!
I don’t understand one thing. People are obsessed with cruelty free but are okay with companies having animal derived ingredient in the product. So it’s okay for them to have tortured animal ingredient added to the product as long as it’s not tested on animals? People have gotten it so wrong, when they should be concentrating on Vegan and cruelty free products.
Asta Smidt, I agree 1000%!
Yay! Many thanks for the kind words about your MuLondon Fragrance Free Moisturiser. We’re so happy you’re enjoying it. Big hugs from London! ✌