Natural and Sustainable Face Care Favorites
Supporting your skin with certified organic and natural ingredients is foundational for a holistic approach to skincare. This list contains the best high-efficacy natural and sustainable anti-aging skincare options that I have come across over the years. These brands and their products are kind to you and kind to the planet. I have included a bit about their background/philosophy, their ingredients and what they can do for you because these are the things I look for when I am looking to make a change. I really hope this information will help you make informed choices in your sustainable skincare journey.When I decided I wanted to live a chemical-free life in 2005, sustainability was not a buzzword. People used to look at me funny when I asked for organic, GMO-free or chemical-free products. It had been difficult to start because of limited product choice and high prices. I used to spend hours on the internet researching ingredients and their effects. I used to tell everyone that Google was my best friend. Now, I think, that there are too many products to choose from and this makes it difficult to make a choice. In addition, the waters have been muddied by a flood of information, both good and bad, creating confusion about what to look for in organic, natural or sustainable products.I still remember what it was like when I ditched the chemicals and decided to live natural and holistic lifestyle but somewhere along the way, I realized sustainability is not about perfection, it is about making informed choices on a consistent basis. At its core, it is about mindfulness - realizing that everything is connected and understanding that your choices / actions have far reaching implications. So my tip for you is, start where you are and make changes at your own pace. In my case, I bought replacements for all my essentials and then threw anything that was not natural or sustainable out - that was a HUGE learning curve so I would not recommend doing that unless you have the money to chop and change your products (which is what I had no option but to do). However, we do become, or are supposed to become, wiser as we age so, if I were just starting my sustainability journey now, this is what I would recommend: Choose a planet-friendly replacement whenever you run out of your usual daily essentials. You will likely find that most of your staples would be converted to planet-friendly products in about 3 to 6 months. This is a simple, no stress, no fuss way to include sustainable products into your life. There is no overwhelm, you are just doing what you always do but opting for something more sustainable. It is a deceptively simple, but it works brilliantly.One of the many things I had struggled to find when I started out was good skincare products, hence this list which I feel is more important now given the plethora of options available and the greenwashing going on. I hope it will make it easier for you to find the product, or products, that suit you best. All the products in the list are amazing, but even organic and natural ingredients will not suit every skin type. You must always remember that your body will need time to adjust to gunk-free products, for example, my skin loved natural products but my hair, sadly, was not as accommodating. If I were younger, perhaps I would have tried harder but now I couldn't care less how my hair looks - as long as it is still on my head and not shedding all over the place, I am super happy. This is also why you won't find any shampoo or conditioner recommendations from me! Skincare products though are a necessity regardless of your age and I have used various products to suit the changing seasons.When CHOOSING A PRODUCT, it is important to consider your skin type and concerns. Several of the brands mentioned in this list offer skincare quizzes or consultations to help you find the best products for your individual needs. SENSITIVE OR REACTIVE SKIN TYPES — especially those with conditions like eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis — should please exercise caution with products containing certain essential oils altogether (list below). Patch testing new products containing essential oils is highly advisable. In skincare formulations, essential oils can be present in diluted amounts, but their potential to cause irritation remains if the user is prone to sensitivity or if the product is overused. INGREDIENTS TO AVOID FOR SENSITIVE OR REACTIVE USERS: Fragrance Allergens (Natural & Synthetic): Limonene Citral Citronellol Linalool Geraniol Eugenol Farnesol Alcohols: Alcohol Denat. (Denatured Alcohol, SD Alcohol) — often drying and irritative Benzyl Alcohol — natural preservative but may irritate very sensitive skin Essential oils (the following essential oils, commonly trigger skin sensitization, allergic contact dermatitis, or photosensitivity: Lemon Orange Bergamot Cinnamon bark Clove Lemongrass Lavender Oregano Peppermint JasmineTea Tree Oil These oils contain terpene compounds (like limonene, linalool, citral, geraniol) that oxidize and become sensitizing. Photosensitizing oils such as bergamot can cause severe skin reactions when combined with sun exposure. WHAT DO THE SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATIONS MEAN? B CORP CERTIFIED Recognizes companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Shows a broad commitment to responsible business practices, not just product ingredients. CLIMATE NEUTRAL CERTIFIED Confirms that a company measures, reduces, and compensates for its carbon emissions over a defined period. Aims to drive accountability for climate impacts across operations. ECOCERT and COSMOS International standards for natural and organic cosmetics that set rules for ingredient sourcing, organic content, and environmentally responsible manufacturing. FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED Supports fair wages, safer working conditions, and community development for producers and workers in supply chains. Promotes social equity and long‑term livelihoods. GOTS (GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD) Applies to textiles made with organic fibers and covers processing from post‑harvest through manufacturing with strict environmental and social criteria. Helps ensure textiles contain certified organic fiber and are produced under responsible conditions. LEAPING BUNNY CERTIFIED Indicates that no animal testing is conducted at any stage of product development, according to a rigorous cruelty‑free standard. Focuses specifically on animal testing policies. MADE SAFE Screens product ingredients and materials against a list of known or suspected harmful chemicals to support human and ecosystem safety. Indicates that ingredients meet strict hazard‑based criteria rather than guaranteeing they are organic. NATRUE Certifies natural and organic cosmetics according to defined categories and ingredient rules. Sets requirements for natural origin, processing methods, and limited use of certain synthetic substances. OEKO-TEX Tests textiles for a wide range of harmful substances against strict limit values. Helps ensure the finished product is safe for human use, regardless of whether the fiber is organic. USDA ORGANIC For the “USDA Organic” seal, most products must contain at least 95% certified organic ingredients (excluding water and salt). Limits synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and GMOs in farming and sets rules for handling and processing.
