Eco-friendly beauty brands

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When it comes to beauty brands, there is no shortage of eco-friendly options on the market. But with so many choices, it’s hard to decipher the ones that have the best ethics and safest formulas. As the saying goes, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. The question is: What is going on at your favorite cosmetic companies? To help you gather a few brands that should be on your radar, below is a list of the beauty brands setting a stellar example when it comes to eco-friendliness. Their beautiful and ethical products will not only make you look good, but feel good, too.

Today the term eco-friendly and clean are get tossed around without meaning. So what actually makes a beauty brand eco-friendly? A few factors come into play, but sustainable practices, naturally sourced ingredients, and conscious packaging are the most important features to look for. You want to seek out brands that eliminate toxins like parabens. You also want to find ones that try to reduce as much waste as possible with recyclable packaging. Even though it’s a task to find the best ones on beauty shelves, ahead, find the ones worth adding to your beauty lineup.

An original version of this story was published in October 2013.

The Body Shop

The Body Shop has been churning out beautiful, natural products for years, but now they’ve upped their game. They source high-quality, fair trade ingredients from farmers in places like Africa and pour everything into recycled plastic. The brand also refuses to test on animals.

If you’re searching for an eco-friendly serum that doubles as a primer, you can’t go past The Body Shop’s 2-in-1 Hemp Serum and Primer. It hydrates skin and preps it for your makeup. It leaves your complexion deliciously soft and smooth. And if you’re wondering what’s in the serum, the brand says they include “hyaluronic acid, hemp seed oil and Community Fair Trade organic aloe vera from Mexico.”

Origins

Origins has some of the best formulas that actually deliver on their promises. The brand focuses on sourcing naturally derived ingredients without exploiting the earth. For over “30 years of Origins expertise in plant science and skin physiology, and meticulously identifies the high-performing, bioactive elements of the plant- and earth-based ingredients.”

One product you have to add to your lineup is the Ginzing Glow-Boosting Gel Moisturizer. It’s packed with ginseng and caffeine from coffee which works together to wake up your skin. It also leaves it looking rejuvenated, bright, and fully hydrated.

Ilia

Ilia was birthed out of the belief that skin should look like skin, even while wearing makeup. Each formula is crafted from organic ingredients and packed in “recycled aluminum, glass components, and responsibly sourced paper.”

And you can’t talk about Ilia without mentioning the best-selling Skin Tint that acts as a serum and light tint. The super serum includes squalane and niacinamide, which smooths skin and leaves it with a dewy glow.

Jurlique

This Aussie-based brand is leading the eco-luxe pack. The company has a sprawling 153-acre biodynamic farm in South Australia, on which they grow the organic chamomile, rose and lavender that makes up the base of their products. The other ingredients, like plums and citruses, are sourced from nearby organic growers. As if that wasn’t enough, Jurlique also runs a composting and revegetation project.

Jurlique’s best-selling Activating Water Essence+ enhances skin to absorb your serums and moisturizers quicker and more effectively. It has a blend of two powerful marshmallow root extracts that lock hydration into the skin without overwhelming it. Better yet, the water essence comes with 100% household recyclable and FSC-certified packaging.

Korres

This Greek-based company is one of the most eco-friendly in the world — and that’s a pretty big call. Korres only uses biodegradable ingredients (which is like opting for paper bags over plastic) and recyclable packaging. Most of their ingredients are sourced locally. What’s more, their practices are hard to beat: They use a steam (rather than electrical) generator to heat their facility, slashing their carbon footprint in a big way.

Korres’ Body Smoothing Milk will offer your dry, parched skin a soothing remedy. The body cream not only smooths and softens skin, but it also helps retain moisture for lasting hydration.

Burt’s Bees