It’s not enough for beauty products to work or have aesthetically pleasing packaging. In an ideal world, anything we purchase will be made with sustainability in mind — and this is something the beauty industry has latched onto big time. While green-washing is very much a thing, there are plenty of sustainable beauty brands — and in the spirit of Earth Month, we’re sharing some of our favorites.
Whether your go-to moisturizer, blush, or hair product features responsibly sourced ingredients, refillable packaging (or, even better, naked), a nifty recyclable or take-back program, or a combination of the above, we polled R29 editors to divulge the sustainable beauty products of their skin-care routines. Peruse 11 of our clean, conscious faves in the following slides.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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“As if we needed another reason to adore Half Magic (the brainchild of Donni Davy), they had to hit us with one of the most innovative packaging solutions I’ve seen yet: compostable compacts for blush and eyeshadow. Not only is this cream-to-powder formula totally unique and utterly divine, but the highly pigmented formula also looks incredible on skin. (Another plus: These are super-easy to depot into a larger palette if you’re a makeup artist or simply love consolidating your beauty stash.)” —Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
Half Magic Beauty CHEEK FLUFF, $, available at Half Magic Beauty
“Davines not only has great hair products but also great sustainability practices. It’s a certified B Corp — meaning it meets the highest sustainability standards. The hair oil smells great, makes my hair feel amazing, and lasts forever! I can definitely get behind a company who takes care of its consumers and the environment.” —Becca Sax, Affiliate Coordinator
Davines OI Oil, $, available at Davines
“I reviewed Glossier’s new deodorant back when it launched earlier this year, and it’s been my go-to ever since. Not only are the scents incredible, but the formula itself glides like butter (and feels kind to pit skin, which can be easily irritated with regular shaving), but it actually keeps me smelling fresh all day. Plus, the chic, minimal packaging is a solid 10/10.” —Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
Glossier Deodorant, $, available at Glossier
“Kjaer Weis’s blush is one of my all-time favorite products, sustainable or not. The creamy blush blends like a dream and leaves a long-lasting flush of color. The fact that it comes in a refillable package (with a metal, not plastic case) just makes it better. It’s not cheap, but it outperforms so many blushes in my collection that I consider it money well spent.” —Marshall Bright, Affiliate Editor
Kjaer Weis Iconic Compact Case for Cheek Products, $, available at Saks Fifth Avenue
Kjaer Weis Cream Blush Refill, $, available at Nordstrom
Kjaer Weis Cream Blush Refill Case, $, available at Nordstrom
“I’ve raved about Bathing Culture’s body wash before, which I personally think is highly slept on. Let’s change that — not only does the signature Cathedral Grove scent (a blend of cedarwood and rosemary) give major spa vibes, but I love that you can either purchase gallon-sized refills (which end up being a great bang for your buck) or find a refill station at the brand’s 70 retail partners nationwide.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
Bathing Culture Mind and Body Wash Refillable Glass, $, available at Bathing Culture
“Caliray already won me over with its gorgeous, Southern California-inspired take on clean makeup, and the brand’s new face palette is one I absolutely need in my collection. Co-founder Wende Zomnir (who famously founded Urban Decay, another of my favorite brands), challenged herself to create a palette of shades that she would take on a desert island. The result? Natural yet smoldering neutrals with juicy pops of blush — all encased in a planet-friendly bamboo palette.” —Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
Caliray Endless Sunset Face and Eyeshadow Talc-Free Palette, $, available at Sephora
“Up until the very moment I held the Kate McLeod Balance Face Stone in my hot little hands, if you had asked me if I would ever use a solid face moisturizer, the answer would have been a hard no. The sensorial pleasure of moisturizing lies in smoothing something creamy and comforting over your face; why would I ever want to use some hard chunk instead? And yet! The Face Stone is lusher than lush, a face massage and self-care moment in the form of a buttery-smooth ball (I guess? I don’t know what the shape is called) of luxe oils and butters that softens up just the right amount when it makes contact with the skin. It’s not cheap, but a little goes a long way for a calm, dewy complexion that looks glowy and gorgeous on its own and provides the perfect base on which to layer your foundation/concealer/blush/what have you. The sustainability factor — no plastic, just a reusable glass jar ready to be refilled — is the icing on top of an already very decadent cake.” – Rachel Krause, Freelance Deputy Beauty Director
Kate McLeod Balance Face Stone | Solid Face Moisturizer, $, available at Kate McLeod
“Paula’s Choice is a fave for no-nonsense, results-oriented skin care, and that ethos carries through to recycling its products. The company has a very transparent page about what can and can’t be recycled, and no matter what your local recycling will pick up, it can all be returned for free via Paula’s Choice’s partnership with TerraCycle. I keep a small bag under my sink to store my empties ’til I have enough to mail them off.” —Marshall Bright, Affiliate Editor
Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, $, available at Paula’s Choice
“Kiehl’s products are not cheap, so keep that in mind as I proceed to recommend this pricey pouch of Ultra Facial Cream, which is the only moisturizer my fiancé allows on his face. $78 is not nothing, but keep in mind that it contains about the same amount as three full-size jars, which would amount to $114 at $38 each.” —Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Refillable Moisturizing Cream with Squalane, $, available at Sephora
“I think I practically jumped for joy when I heard that Glow Recipe was making my favorite moisturizer refillable. If you’re like me, you’ll already agree that the glass, plum-shaped jar is too cute to throw away (I repurposed an old jar for loose jewelry), but now I feel even better that I can keep the same jar and get a fresh batch of face cream as easy as popping in a new pod. (BTW, Glow Recipe is officially carbon-neutral as of 2022, uses 20% recycled glass in their bottles and jars.)” —Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
Glow Recipe Plum Plump Refillable Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer, $, available at Sephora
“Humble as it may be, bar soap was the O.G. sustainable body product without even trying. Since it’s inherently package-free and is used up completely over its lifespan, solid soap is ideal if you want to be as conscious as possible. Besides, that’s easy enough when you get bar soaps that smell as dreamy as this one from Ursa Major, one of my favorite (Vermont-local!) brands.” —Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
Ursa Major Morning Mojo Bar Soap, $, available at Ursa Major
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