
Well, I think we can all agree that 2021 is already off to a rocky start. While I did film and post this video two weeks ago, I had meant to share this information on the blog as well. So better late than never, am I right?!
I started my Clean Beauty transition a few years ago, and I’m always on the hunt for amazing Clean Beauty brands and products that work well for me. I mean, let’s be honest, I’m a skincare junkie, and trying new products is half of the fun. I discovered so many of my favorite skincare and beauty products this past year in 2020 actually. So I thought I would share my top 20 clean beauty products from 2020 with y’all!
While there are 20+ products here, they are mostly found in a very few brands. My top Clean Beauty brands right now are mostly Acure, Earth Harbor, and Wander Beauty. It’s not that I don’t like the others, it is just that these brands consistently across all of the products that I have tried from them are amazing and work well for my skin.
So let’s dive in and get to the good stuff shall we? This list is alphabetically by brand and is not listed any sort of ranking or order.
Acure Ultra Hydrating Cleanser
If you have followed me for awhile, you’ll know that Acure is one of my favorite brands. All of the products in the Super Hydrating line have adaptogens and super greens, so your skin is left hydrated and nourished. I did post a full Acure brand post so you can check it out here. These is just super hydrating! I love, love, love this cleanser. In fact it is probably my most favorite cleanser ever. It does a really good job of cleaning ,without stripping the skin. Your skin stays very hydrated, which is super important for me as I have dry and sensitive skin.
Acure Ultra Hydrating Eye Cream
This eye cream is another great option from Acure. I really like this one and use it mostly in the morning. It has been really good at hydrating the eye area, minimizing fine lines, and getting rid of dark circles and puffiness.
Acure Ultra Hydrating 12 Hour Moisturizer
The Acure Ultra Hydrating 12 Hour Moisturizer has a really nice, lightweight texture, so you can use this during the day. It really does kind of keep your skin soft and hydrated without being too heavy or too greasy. I like to use a very lightweight moisturizer during the day and something a little richer and more nourishing at night. But this is super hydrating and works really well as far as a day cream. The texture is absolutely lovely.
Caudalie Cleansing Milk
I love Caudalie as a whole brand, but one of my absolute favorite products from them is the Gentle Cleansing Milk. This is definitely a staple in my skincare routine and I use this in the morning mostly. This has a very clean, lightweight, beautiful milky texture that does a great job of cleaning. I just put a little bit on cotton pad, massage into the skin, and then you’re good to go for the day. No rising, etc. It leaves skin so moisturized and lovely.
Cocokind One for All Balm
I recently reviewed Cocokind as well and you can check that out here. While not everything worked out for me from Cocokind, there were a few major wins. The products that did work well are ones I will keep in my routine. I really love the Cocokind One for All Balm. I use this for hands, feet, pretty much anywhere you need moisturizer. It also works well to tame and groom eyebrows and as a lip balm. I keep it in my gym bag, my work bag, and my overnight bag. It has a very heavy texture, so a little bit goes a long way and it’s super hydrating and nourishing. It is also really protecting too for the skin. I really love this and highly recommend everybody check it out. In fact, I keep sharing with my family and friends.
Cocokind Glow Essence
I feel that between this and the Rosewater spray that my skin has been more glowing and brighter. There isn’t too much to say about them, but if you want to learn more, check out the blog post here.
Cocokind Rosewater Spray
Cocokind Texture Smoothing Cream
The Cocokind Texture Smoothing Cream is my new favorite day cream. It has a very lightweight and gorgeous silky texture that hydrates without being too greasy. This is really perfect for a day cream and I find this is very similar to the Acure Ultra Hydrating 12 Hour Moisturizer, as far as the texture, and the level of hydration that they give. If you are more normal to dry, you really love this. Its a great moisturizer that doesn’t feel too heavy on the skin.
Earth Harbor Celestine Peptide Serum
As I mentioned, Earth Harbor is one of my favorite brands over all. I did a review on some of their products and will be doing another soon as I just received new products including this Celestine Peptide Serum. Celestine has lemongrass in it, which reminds me of Fruit Loops. This works really well under other serums. I haven’t had any issues mixing it underneath Vitamin C or even a Retinol. It just does a beautiful job of really plumping the skin, as peptides help to increase collagen production. I’m really, really loving this one.
Earth Harbor Nymph Nectar Radiance Balm
The Nymph Nectar Superfruit Radiance Balm can actually be used a bunch of different ways. It can be used as a moisturizer, or you can use it as a face mask, you can place it on top of other products if need a little bit of extra hydration (which is typically what I do). It smells gorgeous like a tropical island. A little bit of this goes a long way, because it’s this rich balm. Just press it into the skin and then massage it in. Leaves skin absolutely glowing!
Me Time Botanicals Clean Slate Super Beauty Balm
The Me Time Botanicals Clean Slate Super Beauty Balm is very similar to the Earth Harbor Nymph Nectar in that this has multi-purpose uses to it. You can use it as a mask, you can use it as your oil cleanse (which is what I’ve been using mostly as). I’ve been using this almost like I would do an oil cleanser and then I follow it up with the Acure Hydrating Moisturizer. I am really liking this one so far and love her other products as well.
Sahara Rose Hydra Vitamin C Serum
The Hydra Vitamin C serum from Sahara Rose is truly amazing. This is probably the best Vitamin C serum I’ve ever used. It has a gorgeous texture that is both light and hydrating. It easily and readily absorbs into the skin leaving it with a gorgeous glow. It also actually helps to hydrate the skin and then you’re getting soft, hydrated and glowing skin. I need to order more from Sahara Rose, so I definitely recommend you check her out.
Volition Beauty Orangesicle Balancing Daily Cleanser
I was actually nervous to try the Volition Beauty Orangesicle Balancing Daily Cleanser when they first sent it to me because I usually don’t do foaming, gel like cleansers because of my dry and sensitive skin. I find that gel cleansers are better suited for more oily and combination skins. However, this has prebiotics and antioxidants in it and actually does a great job of cleansing my skin but it’s been very gentle and hasn’t stripped or dried out my skin at all. I plan on trying more from Volition Beauty, so keep your eyes out for an upcoming review.
Volition Beauty Yaupon Tea Glow Awakening Moisturizer
Volition Beauty also sent me their new Yaupon Tea Glow Awakening Moisturizer. I don’t like to compare one product to another product because I think that kind of down plays the work a brand puts into a product. I don’t think this is like a dupe or knock off or but it does remind me of the Black Tea Moisturizer from the brand Fresh. They have very similar texture and scent. Although, I find this one is fresher than the Fresh Black Tea one. This has this cool jelly like texture that is cooling when you rub it into the skin. Oh my God, the texture is amazing!
This has become my new favorite nighttime moisturizer because it is super hydrating. I believe this has retinol in it so it leaves skin super glowy in the morning. I’ve been using this every night and on days that I need a little bit of extra hydration I put a couple drops of the Cocokind Chia Seed Facial Oil in there and the two have been working really well together! New holy grail!
Wander Beauty Fast Lane Instant Facial
OK, Wander Beauty is probably my favorite clean beauty brand at the moment. Every single product I’ve tried from Wander Beauty has just worked so well for my skin and their packaging is gorgeous. You can check out my first review of them here but I will be doing a part two soon as I just received new products to try. The Fast Lane Instant Facial as some amazing ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids to help refine skin’s texture. This has an interesting texture, like bubble gum. I apply this for about 10 minutes, rinse off and OH MY GOD, my skin look absolutely amazing! It really, really is like an instant facial because you can use this and you look like you just went to an esthetician and had the best facial ever. I’ve used it like once or twice now and haven’t had any irritation or anything. My skin has looked clearer, brighter, smoother and overall just more amazing. Love, love, love!!
Wander Beauty Layover Hydrating Ampoule
In my first review I mentioned the Wander Beauty Layover Hydrating Ampoule. This works very similar to like a hyaluronic acid. So you put this on before your other serums; it is very hydrating, helps to retain moisture in the skin, and does a little bit of plumping. On days that I use this, my skin is very plump, very smooth, and definitely well hydrated. This also works well with anything else you put on top such as my Celestine peptide serum and my Vitamin C serum. This is a must use in my AM skincare routine.
Wander Beauty Dive In Moisturizer
The Dive In Moisturizer is so good! It has this almost whipped texture that does an incredible job of hydrating but it’s like also super lightweight. I’ve been using this as day cream and if you’re looking for a really good hydrating, lightweight moisturizer definitely check out the Wander Beauty Dive In Moisturizer. As far as moisturizers go, this is my all time favorite right now.
Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Eye Masks
I’ve also mentioned and reviewed the Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Rose Gold Eye Masks before. These are, hands down, the best eye masks that I’ve ever used. There are three different layers here, and these are super effective at hydrating and plumping the eye area. Another thing that I love about these is that they actually stay on! These have some amazing serums and other ingredients that are hydrating, brightening, and super smoothing. If you have any issues with darkness, puffiness, or fine lines in your eye area (or just generally looking tired) and you want to look like you had a great 8 hours of sleep get these eye masks from Wander Beauty!
Youth to the People Vitamin C
Youth to the People reached out to me and sent me their new Vitamin C serum, which in addition to a powerful percentage of Vitamin C also has caffeine to brighten, firm and de-puff the skin. I just started using this one, but so far I really like it. This has a really gorgeous texture as well and I definitely notice a lot more brightness with it and it also has a lot of hydrating ingredients in there as well. I’m really loving this one and ordered more products from Youth to the People, so expect a full brand review coming soon.
Youth to the People Hydrate and Firm Eye Cream
I also picked up the Youth to the People Hydrate and Firm Eye Cream recently. It has an amazing and rich texture that does a good job of really hydrating and smoothing the eye area. I like using this at night and something lighter during the day. So far so good, and it is one of the best eyes creams I have used in awhile.
Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream
I do have to say that I reviewed this one in the video below, so decided to keep it here on the blog post. However, this one actually broke me out and I had to discontinue using it.
What were your favorite recent Clean Beauty discoveries? Let me know in the comments!
FAQs
What is the most clean makeup brand? ›
- ILIA. Natural & Organic | Natural & USDA-certified organic ingredients, safe synthetics. ...
- RMS Beauty. Natural & Organic | Natural, food-grade, & organic ingredients. ...
- 100% Pure. ...
- Alima Pure. ...
- W3LL PEOPLE. ...
- Juice Beauty. ...
- Kosas. ...
- Vapour.
According to research from Dermstore—the e-tailer also compiled Google searches from the past 12 months—there's one skin-care brand that America calls a clear favorite, and it's dermatologist approved. Taking the number-one spot is SkinCeuticals, which topped online searches in a whopping 30 states in 2021.
What are the safest beauty products to use? ›- Schmidts: My favorite deodorant brand. ...
- All Good: Body Lotion and sunscreen.
- OSEA: Body oil (a great alternative to lotion)
- True Botanicals: Body oil (a great alternative to lotion)
- Suntegrity: Sunscreen for the face and body. ...
- David's: My favorite toothpaste. ...
- Aila: The best nail polish.
HAN is a 100% natural makeup brand that's vegan and wildly affordable. Their ever popular multi-sticks only cost $18. The color from all HAN products comes from plant and mineral-based pigments for a healthy and safe alternative to artificial colorants.
Is Mac a clean makeup brand? ›Need more proof? In 2012 the FDA conducted a study on 400 different types of lipstick and found that 61% of them contained a dangerous level of lead and other toxic heavy metals. L'Oreal, Maybelline, Revlon, Cover Girl, Avon, NARS and Mac were the worst of culprits.
What is the safest moisturizer to use? ›- Healthline Recommends: Eucerin Everyday Protection Face Lotion SPF 30 for Sensitive Skin.
- Healthline Recommends: Alba Botanica Aloe & Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer.
- Healthline Recommends: Neutrogena Intensified Day Moisture SPF 15.
- Healthline Recommends: Yes to Tomatoes Daily Balancing Moisturizer.
- Cleanse Once and Then Cleanse Again. Double cleansing requires washing your face not once but twice. ...
- Always Layer Products in the Right Order. ...
- Know Your Skin Type. ...
- Take the Time to Exfoliate. ...
- Always Wear Sunscreen.
- a) Mad Hippie Face Cream.
- b) Burt's Bees Daily Face Moisturizer Cream for Sensitive Skin.
- c) Weleda Soothing Facial Cream, Almond.
- d)Pai Anthemis Calm Soothing Moisturizer.
- f) Honest Beauty Hydrogel Cream.
- h) Ursa Major Golden Hour Recovery Cream.
Clean beauty refers to cosmetic products created without synthetic chemicals and ingredients that could harm your body or irritate your skin — ingredients like parabens, phthalates, oxybenzone, and synthetic fragrances, just to name a few.
Is Bare Minerals a clean beauty brand? ›Every bareMinerals product is 100% free of parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, chemical sunscreens, triclosan, triclocarban, propylene glycol, mineral oil, coal tar and microbeads, and we are ALWAYS cruelty-free. Skin-improving formulas with proven performance — that's CLEAN WITHOUT COMPROMISE.
Which makeup brand is chemical free? ›
Tinge cosmetics
The brand launched by Sabrina Suhail, a make-up artist with over 15 years of experience, offers a range of products which includes lip balms, lipsticks, foundations and concealers. All their products are vegan, cruelty-free, paraben and sulphate free.
Hundreds of new brands dedicated to non-toxic and natural ingredients have popped up during this new wave of clean skincare and beauty. Burt's Bees, however, has been committed to using only clean, non-toxic ingredients long before it was trendy.
Is Maybelline chemical free? ›Please note that Maybelline is NOT a completely safe brand. It's lip balms are THE MOST TOXIC EVER. If you've any, throw them out.
Does Clinique use parabens? ›All Clinique formulas are full of powerful ingredients proven to create great skin. We avoid using any known allergens or irritants in ways that could potentially harm skin. No parabens. No phthalates.
Why is bare minerals good for your skin? ›It's Non-Comedogenic. In simple terms, that means that mineral makeup, unlike a lot of other makeup, won't clog up your pores. 1 This is because mineral makeup doesn't contain talc, which stays on the skin's surface, sinking into pores.
What lipstick does Oprah wear? ›Oprah's Lipcolor Picks
Best for fair skin: Giorgio Armani Beauty Rouge D'Armani Sheer in 202 - At about $37 from Giorgio Armani, this nude lipstick comes in a rosy shade that softens and hydrates the lips.
A natural look generally only requires one or two subtle eyeshadows, which means there's no chance of noticeable fallout, so it's fine to put on your base first. To create a natural makeup look, you want to choose a foundation with light to medium coverage, as a heavy foundation can almost erase your features.
What is the best makeup products for natural look? ›- Best for Makeup Prep: Kjaer Weiss The Beautiful Oil.
- Best Chemical Free Foundation: Ilia Beauty True Skin Serum Foundation.
- Best Natural Eyeshadow: Inner Beauty Cosmetics Light + Love Eye Shadow.
- Best Natural Concealer: Glossier Stretch Concealer.
- Best Natural Skin Tint: Kosas Tinted Face Oil Comfy Skin Tint.
- Living Nature Organic Lipstick. ...
- VEG-UP Lipstick. ...
- Logona Lipstick. ...
- Hurraw Tinted Lip Balm. ...
- Soultree Organic Lipstick. ...
- Ecco-Bella Lipstick. ...
- 100% Pure Lipstick. ...
- Benecos lipstick.
NYX is not only cruelty-free but has lots of vegan options. Many of their store displays even have vegan products labeled. NYX does use some animal and animal-derived ingredients in some products such as carmine, beeswax, and others. Below are options listed that do not contain any animal or animal-derived ingredients.
Is Elf a clean makeup brand? ›
e.l.f. Cosmetics has committed to 100% clean beauty, which means that all of the brand's products—cosmetics and skin care—meet the highest standards of clean by complying with the European Union Cosmetics Regulation (EUCR) and FDA requirements.
Why is SkinCeuticals so expensive? ›SkinCeuticals are so expensive because of the potency levels of high-quality ingredients used. The brand also focuses intently on research and development, testing, and formulation, which is a costly process. All of this helps ensure their products are highly effective.
Is Rodan and Fields a medical grade? ›The FDA requires that pharmaceutical products be 99.9% pure ingredients. Products must contain 0.1%, or less, of bacteria. Only 5% of the skin care industry is under the regulations established by the FDA and considered pharmaceutical grade skin care products.
What are medical grade facial products? ›Medical grade skincare products contain higher concentrations of active ingredients than what you can buy over the counter. These products use prescription-strength ingredients to promote your overall skin health while helping you look and feel your best. We offer a variety of appointment types.
Which moisturizer is best without chemicals? ›- Pai Skincare The Anthemis Chamomile and Rosehip Soothing Moisturizer.
- Dr. ...
- Aurelia London Balancing Ultra-Light Moisturiser.
- Aurelia London Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser.
- Burt's Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream.
- Burt's Bees Sensitive Night Cream.
Neutrogena is the number one dermatologist-recommended brand, offering best-selling skincare products at affordable prices. While this product is not marketed as an anti-aging moisturizer, its highly nourishing ingredients can delay many visible signs of aging.
What is the most natural moisturizer for face? ›- FOR DRY SKIN. Biossance. Squalane + Omega Repair Moisturizer. ...
- FOR SKIN OF COLOR. Eadem. ...
- FOR DRY SKIN. EPARA. ...
- FOR DARK SPOTS. ROSEN. ...
- FOR SENSITIVE SKIN. Youth To The People. ...
- FOR STRESSED SKIN. Beekman 1802. ...
- PERFECT UNDER MAKEUP. Weleda. ...
- FOR SUN PROTECTION. Josh Rosebrook.
2022 | 2021 | Name |
---|---|---|
1 | 1 | L'Oréal |
2 | 5 | Estée Lauder |
3 | 2 | Gillette |
4 | 3 | Nivea |
The 2022 Cosmetics 50 rankings by Brand Finance. Brand Finance recently released its Cosmetics 50—an annual ranking the world's most valuable cosmetic companies. L'Oréal tops the list, followed by Estée Lauder, Gillette, Nivea and Guerlain, which make up the top five.
What celebrity has the best skin? ›- Kim Kardashian. She has the type of creamy skin complexion that makes people jealous. ...
- Nicole Kidman. Kidman may be one of the best role models in Hollywood for judicious use of sunscreen. ...
- Jennifer Aniston. ...
- Natalie Portman. ...
- Beyonce Knowles.
What are clean skincare products? ›
Clean beauty refers to cosmetic products created without synthetic chemicals and ingredients that could harm your body or irritate your skin — ingredients like parabens, phthalates, oxybenzone, and synthetic fragrances, just to name a few.
How do you know if a product is clean? ›- Think Dirty. If you search for “ingredient scanner” on the app store, the Think Dirty app is likely to come up. ...
- INCI Beauty. ...
- EWG Healthy Living by Environmental Working Group. ...
- Good Face App by The Good Face Project. ...
- Yuka. ...
- CosmEthics. ...
- Supergreat.
Drunk Elephant is a clean skincare brand with a commitment to leaving the “Suspicious 6™” out of every formula. These include essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances/dyes, and SLS.
Is clean beauty really clean? ›At the most basic level, clean beauty products generally do not include potentially toxic and harmful ingredients, including parabens, which some research suggests may be carcinogenic and hormone disrupters, and formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.
What is a clean brand? ›WHAT DOES CLEAN MEAN? Safe for people and the planet, clean means that a beauty product should have considered human and environmental health, using a nontoxic element as a baseline and plant-based ingredients for active results.
What is non toxic beauty? ›They use pure, organic ingredients while keeping formulas transparent, and practices vegan and cruelty-free. They also source ingredients sustainably, use recyclable packaging and ensure that formulas can achieve a biodegradable certification.
Are clean products really better? ›The idea that natural ingredients are superior to synthetic ones is a big nope. Every expert I've spoken with agrees: Just because something is natural doesn't automatically mean it's good for you. “Some of the most poisonous ingredients in the world—like botulinum toxin and arsenic—come from nature,” says Novakovich.
Can you trust EWG? ›The accuracy of EWG reports and statements have been criticized, as has its funding by the organic food industry. Its warnings have been labeled "alarmist", "scaremongering" and "misleading". Despite the criticism, EWG has been influential.
Are Bare Minerals clean? ›Every bareMinerals product is 100% free of parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, chemical sunscreens, triclosan, triclocarban, propylene glycol, mineral oil, coal tar and microbeads, and we are ALWAYS cruelty-free. Skin-improving formulas with proven performance — that's CLEAN WITHOUT COMPROMISE.
What should my shampoo not have? ›- Sulfates. ...
- Parabens. ...
- Polyethylene Glycols. ...
- Triclosan. ...
- Formaldehyde. ...
- Synthetic Fragrances and Colors. ...
- Dimethicone. ...
- Retinyl Palmitate.
Why is Drunk Elephant controversial? ›
Per Small Town Beauty Addict, Drunk Elephant had posted a black square, and claimed to be donating money to various organizations. But when companies started revealing the diversity statistics of their teams, the company didn't do so.
What are the suspicious 6? ›I suspected six ingredients of being at the root of my skin issues and call them the 'Suspicious 6': essential oils, fragrance/dyes, silicones, sodium lauryl sulfate, drying alcohols and chemical screens.
Is Drunk Elephant medical grade? ›Drunk Elephant's vitamin C is not medical grade, but it is made with high-quality active ingredients as well. Another difference is in the delivery. Skinceuticals C E Ferulic acid comes in a semi-opaque bottle with a dropper.
Why is clean beauty so expensive? ›So back to the topic of why these products are more expensive than many traditional personal care and beauty products. This is due to the cost to source the often rare and expensive ingredients it takes to create a clean, non-toxic beauty product.
Who buys clean beauty? ›1 beauty trend that Gen Z and Millennial females are interested in trying, so there's no denying that young women are fueling the interest in the trend. While overall, 32% of 13-39-year-olds tell us they are interested in trying clean beauty products, that number increases to 45% among 13-39-year-old females.
Why is clean beauty so popular? ›The allure of clean beauty is that it appeals to people who want to do better for their skin — to use the gentlest and most effective products on the market, says Victoria Fu, a chemist and co-founder of skin care company Chemist Confessions. But safer doesn't always mean all-natural or plant-based.