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In the modern era, choosing sustainable skincare products is more than just a trend. It is a statement of conscious living. With the cosmetics industry seeing a significant shift towards natural, vegan, and zero-waste options, face washes have been a focal point of transformation.
Consider these impacts of conventional face washes:
- Planet: Each year, over 8 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans, a significant portion of which comes from cosmetic packaging, diminishing the health of marine ecosystems.
- People: Conventional face washes and other personal care products often contain harsh chemicals such as phthalates that affect human and marine life.
- Animals: Many conventional cosmetic products, including cleansers, are tested on animals, causing the suffering of animals each year despite the availability of cruelty-free and vegan alternatives.
Embark on a journey with us as we introduce options that prioritize the health of the planet, its people, and its creatures.
These are ten sustainable face washes we recommend:
- Cleansing Face Balm by Upcircle
- Facial Cleanser Starter Set by Blueland
- Face Wash by Plaine Products
- Sea to Skin Cleansing Gel by Activist Skincare
- Ocean Cleanser by Osea
- Bamboo Charcoal & Tea Tree Facial Soap by Ecoroots
- Gentle Solid Face Cleanser by Ethique
- Juniper Bergamot Face Cleanser by Meow Meow Tweet
- Gentle Cleansing Foam by Rituals
- Amazing Face Cleanser by Aesop
Cleansing Face Balm by Upcircle
- Certifications | B Corp (96.3 Score); Leaping Bunny; Plastic Negative
- Suitable for | All skin types, including sensitive skin
- Shop At | us.upcirclebeauty.com / Amazon
Upcircle’s cleansing face balm, lauded with multiple awards, is a 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free product designed to enhance skin elasticity using only natural ingredients. It’s infused with antioxidant Vitamin E, and it is free from beeswax and palm oil. The packaging aligns with eco-friendly practices as the balm is presented with and packaged into refillable and fully recyclable materials.
The company employs sustainable upcycling methods to create this cleanser from apricot oil industry by-products. Additionally, Upcircle is B Corp certified and plastic-negative, meaning that they not only reduce their waste generation, but also actively remove plastic waste from the environment.
Facial Cleanser Starter Set by Blueland
- Certifications | B Corp (94.7 Score); Cradle to Cradle (Silver Score); Leaping Bunny; Climate Neutral; MADE SAFE
- Suitable for | All skin types; hypoallergenic
- Shop At | Blueland.com
Blueland’s Facial Cleanser is a powder-based formula that, once mixed with water, becomes a non-foaming gel. Activation for use takes one hour after the mixture is shaken for 10 seconds. Formulated with ingredients such as oats, vitamin E, and coconut acid, this cleanser is gluten, soy, and nut-free. It doesn´t contain aluminum, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, dyes, silicones, or PEGs. It is also fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, but consider that it contains synthetic ingredients and isn’t all-natural. Also, Blueland may replace certain items on its ingredient list with sustainable palm oil.
In the U.S., only 5% of plastic waste undergoes recycling. Thanks to Blueland’s refill system, however, you can reduce single-use plastic consumption in your life, preventing more waste from ending up in landfills. Additionally, the company’s commitment to cruelty-free practices is verified by its Leaping Bunny certification, ensuring no animal testing is conducted on its products.
Face Wash by Plaine Products
- Certifications | B Corp (89.9 Score); 1% For the Planet; Leaping Bunny
- Suitable for | All skin types; all genders
- Shop At | Plaineproducts.com (use code “Ecolife” for 20% off) / zerowastestore.com / earthhero.com
This face wash from Plaine Products is fully natural and devoid of toxins, sulfates, phthalates, parabens, and palm oil. Its ingredients are vegan, non-GMO, and the product is certified as cruelty-free. It is formulated to be non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, and safe for children. The sustainable packaging is designed to be refillable, aiding in the reduction of single-use plastic waste. Furthermore, the packaging is recyclable, and customers can return used bottles for free to be cleaned and reused.
Plaine Products is carbon-neutral, and each year, Plaine Products reports on its progress towards sustainability. These reports offer further insight into the company’s environmental initiatives, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, according to their most recent report, they are members of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and the Plastic Pollution Coalition.
Sea to Skin Cleansing Gel by Activist Skincare
- Certifications | 1% For the Planet
- Suitable for | All skin types
- Shop At | Activistskincare.com
Activist Skincare uses ethically sourced ingredients free of palm oil, talc, artificial fragrances and colorants, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, silicones, and other toxins. The key ingredients include eco-friendly cold-pressed botanical oils, which are produced without hexane. It uses a natural colorant called blue spirulina and is free from animal-derived ingredients. It is not, however, all-natural as it contains the synthetic ingredient Di-PPG-2 Myreth-10 Adipate, which is a non-hazardous chemical.
Activist Skincare is a woman-owned brand that uses sustainable, low-waste packaging and is committed to cruelty-free practices. Their glass containers are refillable, and refill pouches are recyclable via TerraCycle drop-off points, or by returning them back to the company. As a member of 1% For the Planet, the company dedicates a minimum of 1% of its revenue to environmental advocacy.
Ocean Cleanser by Osea
- Certifications | Climate Neutral, Ocean Positive
- Suitable for | Normal to combination skin types; non-gender specific
- Shop At | Oseamalibu.com / Amazon
OSEA’s Ocean Cleanser is a gluten-free and vegan skincare product that is free from palm oil, heavy metals, PEGs, parabens, and phthalates. The ingredients list does, however, contain synthetic ingredients such as sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, meaning that it’s not fully natural.
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the production cycle, the company prioritizes the use of alternative materials over virgin plastic and paper. Furthermore, they´ve partnered with TerraCycle for their recycling program.
OSEA is among the pioneering businesses to achieve climate-neutral certification. This female-founded company is also recognized as an Ocean Positive verified brand, committing to investments in blue-carbon coastal ecosystem projects. These initiatives are assessed and measured in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Bamboo Charcoal & Tea Tree Facial Soap by Ecoroots
- Certifications | 1% For the Planet
- Suitable for | All skin types, but best for oily skin; non-gender specific
- Shop At | ecoroots.us
This charcoal soap, crafted using only natural and some (but not all) organic ingredients, is suitable for use on the entire body. Cold-pressed by hand in limited quantities, this facial soap is free from synthetic fragrances or colorants, palm oil, parabens, sulfates, or animal-derived products. It is cruelty-free, plastic-free, and vegan.
Ecoroots is a woman-owned small business that emphasizes waste reduction. Their products are distinct for their minimalist packaging which is 100% recyclable or biodegradable, allowing for at-home composting. The company is committed to environmental stewardship, contributing a portion of each sale to environmental causes, including Ocean Conservancy.
Gentle Solid Face Cleanser by Ethique
- Certifications | B Corp (score 117.9), Leaping Bunny
- Suitable for | Normal to dry and sensitive skin
- Shop At | Ethique.com / Amazon
Ethique’s Solid Face Cleanser is cruelty-free, biodegradable, and carbon-neutral. It is formulated without palm oil, fragrances, or essential oils, and packaged entirely using plastic-free, home-compostable, or recyclable materials. For individuals with oily to balanced skin types, we would recommend their Deep Cleansing Solid Face Cleanser. As for the ingredients, the only one out of the list that is synthetic is sodium cocoyl isethionate: a non-hazardous chemical synthesized from coconut oil.
Ethique has achieved B Corp certification, reflecting a significant commitment to environmental and social responsibility, as evidenced by its high B Impact Score. They annually assess their carbon footprint with EKOS and collaborate with entities like Ecologi to offset their emissions. Notably, Ethique also donates 2% of its revenue to various charitable initiatives.
Juniper Bergamot Face Cleanser by Meow Meow Tweet
- Certifications | B Corp (score 86.3); Leaping Bunny; 1% For the Planet
- Suitable for | Oily, combination, and blemish-prone skin
- Shop At | Meowmeowtweet.com
Meow Meow Tweet’s face cleanser, cruelty-free, all-natural, and almost entirely comprised of organic ingredients, serves a dual purpose as both a cleanser and a shaving cream for face and body hair removal. This brand is committed to sustainable packaging practices: metal bottles used for this cleanser can be refilled, repurposed, or recycled, and the pumps can be reused or sent back to the company for Terracycling.
A certified B Corp with carbon-neutral and plastic-negative credentials, the company is committed to using materials that are safe for both wildlife and human environments. Their packaging is designed to be naturally biodegradable or easy to repurpose, aligning with their goal to minimize environmental impact. This product is also rated by the EWG, which highlighted a few ingredients of concern such as ocimum basilicum oil and lecithin.
Gentle Cleansing Foam by Rituals
- Certifications | B Corp (score 92.2)
- Suitable for | Normal skin type; primarily for women
- Shop At | Rituals.com / Amazon
Gentle Cleansing Foam from Rituals is a cruelty-free, 99% natural-origin product that uses packaging designs and materials to lessen its ecological footprint. However, please note that this product contains derivatives of palm oil (99% RSPO certified palm oil), alcohol, and fragrance, where the latter 2 ingredients could be an allergen to people with sensitive skin.
As a brand, Rituals Cosmetics, established in Amsterdam in 2000, is devoted to consistently enhancing its social and ecological impact. Since 2021, their commitment to sustainability has also been validated through B Corp certification.
Amazing Face Cleanser by Aesop
- Certifications | B Corp (score 87.1)
- Suitable for | oily, combination, and open-pored skin
- Shop At | Aesop.com / Amazon
Aesop´s Amazing Face Cleanser is a vegan and cruelty-free product certified by Leaping Bunny. It is free from parabens and palm oil, and it´s best suited for oily skin. For those with normal to combination or dry skin, Aesop offers the Fabulous Face Cleanser as an alternative. In terms of packaging, Aesop predominantly uses recycled PET for its plastic components, with a minimum of 97% recycled content.
Aesop, founded in Melbourne in 1987, earned B Corp certification in 2020, reflecting its commitment to environmental and social sustainability. The company engages in philanthropic activities by collaborating with various charitable organizations. In 2023, Aesop was acquired by L’Oréal, a company that does not conduct animal testing on its products or ingredients. However, the sale of cosmetics in China subjects products to local regulatory requirements, including animal testing. Consequently, its presence in the Chinese market affects Aesop’s ability to display a “cruelty-free” logo. Also, consider that this product contains many synthetic ingredients, including sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, polysorbate 20, phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol (moderately hazardous), sodium dehydroacetate, and benzyl benzoate (moderately hazardous).