Skincare is the cornerstone of all beauty regimes—and what’s the cornerstone of skincare? Moisturizing! Most of us do this at least twice a day and maybe even more as we age.

This is exactly why we’re here to help you find a more sustainable moisturizer that works for your skin type and the environment.

There’s a lot to consider when shopping for skincare and in this article, we’ll focus more on sustainable face moisturizers where suitability for different skin types is particularly important.

We’ll also include moisturizer options with SPF (a huge time and wrinkle saver for those who spend lots of time outdoors) and options for aging skin.

From a sustainability perspective, we look for brands that use non-toxic, ethically sourced ingredients that don’t contribute to new deforestation or biodiversity loss. We want to know they’re 100% cruelty-free and ideally vegan. And we want to see thoughtful packaging for all moisturizers on this list.

Through our new Brand Rating System, we’re also extending our consideration set to include climate action, labor and human rights issues, resource efficiency, business ownership and diversity; and much more. Learn about this new approach here and look out for rated moisturizer brands below – they’ll be added as we rate more brands.

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. Learn more here.

Our Top Picks

You won’t need to worry about unsustainable supply chains with Tap Tap Organics’ local and wild-harvested tropical formulations. We love how the pure ingredients work to effectively moisturize our skin while smelling good enough to eat.

Ethique offers the best ethical moisturizer face bar for sensitive skin in a cardboard tube that’s as compostable as it is compact.

Index: Sustainable Moisturizer Brands

  1. Ethique Jump to brand
  2. Meow Meow Tweet Jump to brand
  3. Fat and the Moon Jump to brand
  4. Tap Tap Organics Jump to brand
  5. Meadowlark Botanical Jump to brand
  6. Conscious Skincare Jump to brand
  7. Dab Herb Makeup Jump to brand

Ethique

Image by Sustainable Jungle (Ethique) (sustainable moisturizers)
Ethique has not been rated.

Ethique’s vast range of home and body products either take the form of a naked bar or a compostable cardboard tube.

All of Ethique’s ingredients are naturally derived, and free from parabens, petroleum byproducts, palm oil derivatives, synthetic fragrances, and formaldehyde.

They’re certified cruelty-free, vegan, and Climate Neutral. And they donate either 2% of revenue or 20% of profit (whichever is higher) to charity.

As far as moisturizers go, their fragrance-free Quench™ Lightweight Solid Face Moisturizer does exactly what its name purports, thanks to lightweight coconut oil, sunflower oil, and ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid.

It’s best suited for oily to balanced skin, but Ethique’s other solid sustainable face moisturizers can tackle other dry skin types.

Our personal review of Ethique’s moisturizers:

“I have tried several of Ethique’s facial moisturizers including the Quench™ Lightweight Solid Face Moisturizer and their Saving Face™ Nourishing Solid Face Serum. I find the Quench is my all-time favorite moisturizer from a performance perspective and for everyday use. It spreads smoothly and sits really well under my light makeup, helping me achieve that dewy look (helpful as this is getting harder to achieve as I get older). I also love the Serum and find this works particularly well at night time. While too thick for the day, it feels like a rejuvenating reset at night. While Ethique says it’s not greasy, which I agree with, I’d say it does have a facial oil feel to it.

I’ve also tried all Ethique’s Body Cream Sticks which are ideal body lotions. I sometimes find them a little time-consuming to get on (as in they are thick and don’t go on super smoothly) but I LOVE them, because once they’re on, my body feels so nourished. This is important for me as I find many other light, easy-on-body moisturizers don’t quite quell the itch of my naturally dry skin”

Review by Joy, SJ Co-Founder

Meow Meow Tweet

Image by Meow Meow Tweet (sustainable moisturizers)
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

Image by Sustainable Jungle (Fat and The Moon) (sustainable moisturizers)
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 superfluous, reusable means.

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, SJ Co-Founder

Tap Tap Organics

Image by Sustainable Jungle ( Tap Tap Organics) (sustainable moisturizers)
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 beauty 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

Image by Meadowlark Botanical (sustainable moisturizers)
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.

Products are entirely vegan,

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 Green Face Cream. It combines skin (and actual) superfoods like spirulina, spinach, and green tea with soothing aloe vera and white willow bark. Notice how each one is recognizable.

Conscious Skincare

Image by Sustainable Jungle (Conscious Skincare) (sustainable moisturizers)
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 sustainable 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

Image by Dab Herb (sustainable moisturizers)
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.