These Best 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

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.”

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