Last week I wrote about the toxic ingredients in many personal care products. There are way more choices now than there were ten years ago, but most drug stores and department stores still only offer a few clean options. So I created this list. These are the best clean personal care brands you can buy on Amazon, and a few you can find at Target.
Many come from are B-Corporations, which means they balance purpose and profit as part of the business plan. Others offer squeaky clean skincare for kids and eczema-prone skin. Some have Made Safe and EWG Verifications. A few are 1% for the planet members. I include a few nature-based personal care budget brands without certifications because we all define clean beauty differently. You can buy them all on Amazon (and a few at Target!)
Clean personal care companies with certifications
Alaffia
Highlights: What a feel-good company! Alaffia invests in African communities and has funded 5,155 births, planted 81,073 trees, donated 9,592 bicycles, and donated 27,463 according to the company. Plus, all their products are better than any of the products you’ll find at the drug store for not much more money.
Certifications: Fair For Life Fair Trade, Made Safe, Non-GMO
Favorites: Everyday Shea Bubble Bath*
Size: 32oz
Price: About $15
Weleda
Highlights: Company started in Switzerland in 1921 where many ingredients were grown in biodynamic gardens. Today they sell clean, natural products all over Europe and the United States. “We still strive to make the best non-toxic, cruelty-free, paraben-free, GMO-free, phthalates-free and synthetic fragrance-free products available in the marketplace,” according to the company.
Certifications: Natrue - Europes leading natural certification program.
Favorites
Weleda Skin Food*: Rich and creamy hand and body cream that smells like a garden in spring.
Size: 2.5 Ounce
Price: About $10
Badger Balm
Highlights: “We never use synthetic chemicals, "fragrances," parabens, GMOs or any other bad stuff you don't want to put on your skin,” according to the company.
Certifications: B Corp, Leaping Bunny
Favorites: Cocoa Butter Lip Balm*
Size: Four pack
Price: About $16
Goddess Garden
Highlights: Eleven Goddess Garden sunscreens were on the EWG’s best beach and sports sunscreen list in 2018. The mineral sunscreens do go on a bit white, but they offer great, safe protection on long days at the pool.
Certifications: B-Corp, reef safe, organic, Leaping B
Favorites: Goddess Garden Organics SPF 30 Sport Mineral Sunscreen*
Size: 6 oz bottle
Price: About $18
Babo Botanicals
Highlights: Lots of super clean products made just for kids and expecting moms, and several are EWG Verified.
Certifications: B-Corp, EWG Verified, Reef friendly
Favorites: Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Fragrance-Free Shampoo and Wash* - Tear-free and made for eczema-prone skin.
Size: 16 Fluid Ounce
Price: $14
Attitude Living
Highlights: This brand is focused on hypoallergenic products and many are EWG verified. The bottles are made with recycled plastic, products are made using 100% renewable energy, ingredients are vegetable and mineral-based, and they are members of PETA’s beauty without bunnies according to the company. Their products are mild and ideal for kids and people with super sensitive skin.
Certifications: EWG Verified products
Favorites: ATTITUDE - Natural Body Wash* - with Colloidal Oatmeal - Hypoallergenic, Perfect for Extremely Sensitive or Atopic Skins - NEA Certified - Vegan and Cruelty-Free.
Size: 240 ml
Price: About $25
Buy on Amazon*
All Good
Highlights: Reef friendly sunscreens. No
Certifications: B-Corp
Favorite: All Good SPF 15 Lip Balm for Soft Smooth Lips* - Don’t forget to protect your lips!
Size: 3 pack
Price: About $13
California Baby
Highlights: “After 6 years of research, we have created the first-of-its-kind 100% plant-based preservative," according to the company.
Certifications: 100% USDA Certified Biobased Product
Favorites
Hair De-Tangler Spray*
Size: 8.5 oz
Price: $17
Buy on Amazon*
Murphy's Naturals
Highlights: A great brand to buy Lemon Eucalyptus Oil insect repellent from. Lemon Eucalyptus Oil is still the only natural bug repellent ingredient proven to prevent mosquito and tick bites by the Center For Disease Control and Prevention.
Certifications: B-Corp, 1% for the Planet member
Favorites:
Murphy's Naturals Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Insect Repellent*
Size: Two-pack
Price: About $23
Dr. Bronner’s
Highlights: One of those brands that have been around forever, yet it continues to evolve and improve. No synthetic preservatives, no detergents or foaming agents according to the company. Remember, a little goes a long way. Their castile soap is made from sustainably harvested palm fruits in Ghana according to the company.
Certifications: B- Corporation, Fair For Life Fair Trade, Leaping Bunny, Non-GMO project
Favorites: Peppermint Hand Sanitizer*
Size: 2 oz
Price: About $5
Natural brands
A few great clean personal care brands without the certifications.
100% Pure
Highlights: "Natural ingredients originate from nature and ONLY undergo chemical changes due to biological processes such as fermentation, distillation, and cold processing," according to the company. They offer a long list of skincare products and make-up. Buy on Amazon for convenience, or on their website for discounts and samples.
Favorite: Ultra Lengthening Mascara*
Size: .35 oz
Price: About $25
Juice Beauty
Highlights: A long list of what's not in their products and how they define clean skincare.
Favorite:
Juice Beauty SPF 30 Sport Moisturizer:* Rated low hazard by the EWG and also on their 2018 list of Best Beach and Sports Sunscreens.
Size: 3 fl. oz.
Price: About $16
Honest Company
Highlights: One of the first mass-produced natural personal care product brands by female entrepreneur Jessica Alba. Over 3,000 chemicals and ingredients are on their NO list according to the company. It's not a perfect brand but they are well-priced.
Favorite: Conditioning Detangler*
Size: 4 oz
Price: About $5
Alba Botanica
Highlights: A long list of sunscreens on both the EWG “Best Beach and Sport Sunscreens” and the “Best Beach & Sport Sunscreens: Non-Mineral Options” in 2018. Mineral sunscreens are the safest way to go, but if you or your kids just can’t get used to that white zinc sheen, it’s good to know the best non-mineral options as well.
Certifications: Leaping Bunny
Favorite: Alba Botanica Kids Sunscreen*, Tropical Fruit SPF 45*
Size: 4 oz
Price: About $5
Acure
Highlights: “No parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, paraffin, mineral oil or animal testing allowed!” according to the company.
Charitable Partners: Unite For Her and Turning Green
Favorite: Organics Dry Shampoo*
Size: 1.7 oz
Price: About $6
Leave a Reply