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I’m not a fan of the term “clean” beauty. The word “clean” isn’t regulated by the FDA and the beauty industry is a bit of a free-for-all when it comes to “eco-friendly” claims. Not to mention, the “eco-friendliness” of a beauty product goes way beyond the ingredients list. Packaging, responsible sourcing of ingredients, fair labor, and so much more can make or break how ethical your favorite moisturizer is.
Fortunately, these one-stop-shops feel the same way! These stores have curated some of the best sustainable and ethical beauty brands out there — which makes it easy to build a routine that works just as much for you as it does for the planet.
Price range key:
$ — $1-20
$$ — $20-40
$$$ — $40+
Photo courtesy of brand
Price range: $$-$$$
Best for: bath & body, skincare, beauty, home
Highlights:
- One-stop marketplace for all-natural products made by Black artisans
- Carefully curated by health experts
- Excludes harmful ingredients in their products on their Toxic Twenty list
Photo courtesy of brand
Price range: $-$$$
Best for: skincare, bath & body, routine sets
Highlights:
- Diverse and inclusive marketplace comprised of indie beauty brands
- Non-plastic packaging options
- Cruelty-free, ethically-sourced ingredients, and handcrafted products
Price range: $$-$$$
Best for: skincare, makeup, body care, hair care
Highlights:
- Curated brands do not contain potentially harmful ingredients (see Credo’s Dirty List)
- 90% of brands are led by women
- Earn rewards by bringing in your empties to be recycled
Price range: $-$$
Best for: skincare, makeup, body care, hair care
Highlights:
- Brands do not contain potentially harmful ingredients (see Follain’s banned ingredients)
- Refillable, multi-purpose soap in stores
- Earn rewards by bringing in your empties to be recycled
Price range: $-$$
Best for: wellness, skincare, makeup, body care, hair care
Highlights:
- Committed $1,000,000 to accelerate BIPOC-owned beauty brands and plans to curate at least 20% BIPOC-owned or founded beauty brands
- Brands are 100% cruelty free
- Option to earn points by recycling empties in-store
- Brands do not contain these banned ingredients
- Option to try out lots of green beauty brands through their subscription service
Price range: $$-$$$
Best for: wellness, organic skincare
Highlights:
- Dermatologist-approved, organic skincare
- Offers certified sustainable and ethical brands; certifications include ECOCERT, NATRUE, Fair Trade, cruelty-free, vegan, and more
Price range: $$
Best for: sustainable and ethical hair care
Highlights:
- Ingredients sourced from Slow Food farms in Italy
- Certified B Corp
- 1% for the Planet
- Aligns business with the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Publishes sustainability report
Have a go-to spot for sustainable and ethical beauty? Let us know in the comments!
