I have always loved beauty products. When I “earned” VIB (very important beauty insider) status at Sephora, I wasn’t sure whether I should rejoice or spend some time working on what was clearly becoming an addiction
When Blue Mercury opened in my town, I quickly became a regular. Admittedly, I spend too much money on beauty products and I’m trying to pull back. But, for now I’m happy to share what I’ve learned the category that excites me the most—clean beauty! There are more and more hitting the shelves, which is good news for everyone. After trying many of them, I’ve compiled my list of pros and cons of some of the top clean beauty brands.
It’s important for me to understand what is in the products that are put directly on my skin. Finding more natural products that remove toxic chemicals and still check the box on effectiveness is always my goal. Since carcinogens (products that are known to, or potentially, cause cancer) are found in many familiar brands, it’s necessary to do some research. Read labels, find out which ingredients to stay away from (this is a helpful list), and learn about what a brand stands for before supporting them with your wallet.
What Does 'Clean Beauty' Mean?
The term ‘clean beauty’ is unregulated, which means you can’t rely on that wording alone to tell you much about the product. Brands use a range of terminology: clean beauty, green beauty, natural beauty, sustainable beauty, and others, to signal to consumers that their product is better in some way. However, “clean” doesn’t always mean it’s better, just as “synthetic” doesn’t always mean it’s worse. The meaning behind these labels varies from brand to brand.
I look for clean beauty products that commit to eliminating toxic chemicals, but at the same time work for my skin, hair, nails and body. Thankfully, there are many brands focused on improving the choices we have when it comes to beauty products, a very positive step forward. I’ve researched many brands and tried many products. Read on to learn about some of my favorites.
Tata Harper
This high end beauty brand created by Tata Harper packs in as many ingredients at the highest concentrations as possible with zero chemicals. The company has high efficacy, quality, and purity standards for women ‘who refuse to risk their health for beauty’.
- Pros: Tata Harper sources high performing botanical ingredients from around the globe. Instead of focusing on one ingredient and surrounding it with fillers, the line combines many ingredients for ultimate performance. Everything—from the cleansers to the oils—smell amazing and feel great on your skin. The membership gives you a chance to earn points for purchases, reviews, and other things, which can be redeemed for money off future purchases. You can sign up to participate in online green beauty classes to learn more about how best to treat your skin, or visit one of the many Tata Harper Spas throughout the U.S. and other countries.
- Cons: With 40+ ingredients in every product, it’s not surprising that these products are expensive! I have to wonder how every one of those ingredients can weigh in on how the product works. It would seem as though some would have to be present in such small amounts. But, maybe I should take one of the classes to learn more. They also use very nice, but expensive packaging. It’s definitely a luxury brand, so keep that in mind. It is a lovely way to treat yourself to something special.
Favorites
Resurfacing Mask, Restorative Eye Cream (now in a refillable pod, which I haven’t tried), Retinoic Nutrient Face Oil, Customized Travel Set
BeautyCounter
I give BeautyCounter a lot of props for being one of the leaders in the clean beauty movement. They may not have been the first, but they were one of the best at getting attention for the importance of creating effective products without harmful chemicals. They rely on The Never List, a list of more than 1800 ingredients that are never used in their products, screening each ingredient against their standard for clean beauty.
- Pros: Beauty Counter offers effective products at a good price point. They have an extensive list of ingredients that will never be found in their products (more than 1,800), so you can feel good about using their skincare, body care, and make up lines. Membership is offered and comes with perks, including a welcome gift, shipping discounts, and other rewards.
- Cons: Online shopping is the only option, outside of a few stores that offer a very limited selection. While I love the ease of shopping online, the shipping costs, even as a member, are hard to swallow. Shipping is free when you spend $100, but sometimes I just want to replenish one item, which means I have to pay extra for shipping.
Favorites
All Bright C Serum, Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel, Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum, Countertime Ultra Renewal Eye Cream, Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion (great for teens)
Indie Lee
Indie Lee had a life-threatening brain tumor in 2008. After a successful surgery she felt inspired to develop a safer beauty line, removing unnecessary toxins from others’ lives. She combines ingredients derived from nature with technology to create high performing, safe products. Many of the products are COSMOS certified, ensuring that they follow strict guidelines around sustainable production, like supporting organic agriculture and biodiversity.
- Pros: This product line offers a good price point, especially for cleansers and toners. Products are gentle, but work well and smell great. I’ve started buying this line for my daughter’s sensitive skin and it’s been a winner. The rewards program, similar to others, offers points for different activities that can be cashed in for discounts. Members also get early access to sales and other special offers. They also have a quiz to help determine which products are best for your skin.
- Cons: The product line is limited compared to others in this list. That’s not necessarily a con for those who want fewer options to choose from, but I’d like to see more options. Despite the focus on science to ensure high performance, the products I’ve used haven’t been as powerful as some of the other lines.
Favorites
Osea
Before BeautyCounter, there was Osea. A clean beauty brand that started its journey before clean beauty was a thing. Osea, which stands for ocean, sun, earth, and atmosphere, has been around since 1996, finding its inspiration from the sea. Seaweed is the primary ingredient, allowing the line—and your skin—to benefit from a variety of seaweed species that are brimming with vitamins, minerals and nutrients. They care a lot about the environment and have been Climate Neutral certified and Ocean Positive verified to showcase their commitment to making a positive impact on mother earth.
- Pros: I love putting these products on my skin. They feel great and smell even better. I’m obsessed with the body oil, among other products. There are a number of ways to save money, including the subscribe and save option for 10% off, and a variety sets that offer a better deal for bundles. You can also find many of their products in minis, which are ideal for traveling. I appreciate their commitment to sustainable packaging, from bottles to shipping boxes. And, for those in LA, you can return bottles to the Venice SkinCare Studio for a discounted facial.
- Cons: A skin care quiz is available, but offers limited guidance in terms of product choice. I’ve had to test a number of items to figure out what’s best for my skin. And, despite offering a lot of ways to save as noted above, some of the products are pricey. That said, they work well, so if you find some favorites, subscribe and save!
Favorites
Hyaluronic Sea Serum, Undaria Algae Body Oil, White Algae Mask
A Few More...
Maya Chia Refresh Mint Exfoliating Moisture Mask. This is the only product I’ve tried from this brand and I LOVE it, so I will be trying more. Check back soon.
Supergoop! sunscreen: City Serum, Play Everyday Lotion, and Glowscreen are my go-tos. They have a “no list” similar to BeautyCounter’s “never list” eliminating some of the common, toxic sunscreen ingredients like oxybenzone and anatase titanium dioxide, in favor of better-for-you ingredients. They sunscreens go on colorless and get the job done.
Goop GoopGlow15% Glycolic Acid Overnight Glow Peel. You may be familiar with Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness website. She curates some of the best of the best, and has developed a beauty line with the help of staff scientists. This peel was recommended by a friend and it’s fantastic. I use it one time a week for a more youthful glow. I’ve been eying the10% Vitamin C and the Hyaluronic Acid Glow Serum and will report back.
