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(Beauty Hero Awards)

The 35 Best Eco-Friendly Beauty Products Of 2024

Clean up your routine with editor-approved buys.

by TZR Beauty Team

April 25, 2024

Emma Chao/TZR; Photos Courtesy of Brands

best eco-friendly beauty products 2024

TZR Beauty Heroes are vetted products out of the dozens that land on our editors’ desks throughout the year. This month, TZR’s beauty team shares its favorite eco-friendly beauty buys.

Being green is both a lucrative and tricky business. The clean beauty market is estimated to be worth $22 billion by the end of 2024, but an industrywide standardized definition of what makes a product “clean” still doesn’t exist. As more and more brands launch, virtual and physical product shelves remain crowded, and greenwashing marketing lingo is running rampant. That’s why TZR is aiming to cut through the noise with our 2024 Eco-Friendly Beauty Heroes Awards.

Over the course of several months, our beauty team tested countless products in the clean beauty space that meet our requirements (you can get a quick refresh on how we define “clean” by clicking here). Now, we’re highlighting the 35 skin care, makeup, hair care, and body care essentials that have become heroes in our routines. These award-worthy picks come from innovative brands that are taking strides to create products that minimize plastic waste, reduce carbon emissions, and don’t contribute to shrinking forests. Every little bit is beneficial to the wider goal of protecting the planet, but you’ll also go to bed guilt-free after doing your nighttime skin care routine or applying your favorite makeup look before an evening out.

Ahead, you’ll discover everything from an exfoliator made with olive pits to plastic-free shampoo tablets — and so much more.

The Smoothing Cleanser

Refining Cleanser

Refining Cleanser

Sure, LESSE’s sky-blue aluminum tube looks gorgeous in any medicine cabinet, but this cleanser is so much more than Instagram catnip. A quick massage of it onto your skin clears away makeup, debris, and built-up dead skin cells. Expect a smooth, fresh-faced glow once you’ve rinsed it off. Understanding that recycling protocols can be confusing, the brand has a guide on its website that clearly outlines how to dispose of each product’s packaging. On a wider scale, LESSE is Leaping Bunny certified and a member of 1% For the Planet.

The Calming Cleansing Oil

Rose Cleansing Oil

Rose Cleansing Oil

Treating yourself to a bouquet of roses can instantly lift your spirits, and using a cleansing oil infused with the popular flower can heal your skin. Conjured by master esthetician Athena Hewett, Monastery’s cleanser rids your complexion of makeup, dirt, excess oil, and debris, plus it helps to minimize inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, uneven texture, and dermatitis. The brand’s products are made in San Francisco and formulated without a slew of controversial ingredients it conveniently lists on its website for reference.

The Hydrating Makeup Remover

Starnectar Barrier Protect Marshmallow Jelly Cleanser

Starnectar Barrier Protect Marshmallow Jelly Cleanser

At the end of a long night, double-cleansing your skin can feel like a chore. Wildling understands the struggle and has provided a solution in its two-in-one makeup remover and cleanser. Massaging the jelly into your skin lifts foundation, mascara, and even sunscreen while simultaneously cushioning the skin barrier. What’s more, you can let the cleanser sit for 20 minutes for a nourishing face mask. The brand’s formulas are centered around plants and free of unsavory ingredients made with FSC, plus there’s plastic-free packaging and all products have functional fragrances safe for sensitive skin.

The Oil-Absorbing Toner

Apple Matcha Tea Clearing Toner

Apple Matcha Tea Clearing Toner

Like a cleansing apple matcha juice for your face, Byroe’s bi-phase toner made with upcycled fruit scraps mattifies and brightens skin for a clearer, brighter complexion. Succinic acid and a blend of fruit-derived acids are the hero ingredients of the formula, but an amino acid complex ensures skin stays soft and hydrated.

The Gentle Exfoliator

Triple Active Exfoliator

Triple Active Exfoliator

Olive oil is a workhorse in the kitchen — and in skin care, too. In fact, Furtuna Skin has built an entire line around it. The brand upcycles the entire fruit it harvests from its regenerative farm in Sicily, so nothing goes to waste. Along with AHAs and enzymes, the Triple Active Exfoliator includes soothing olive oil, purifying olive leaf extract, and buffing olive pit powder. Once you rinse it off, expect brighter, smoother skin with zero irritation.

The Peel For Sensitive Skin

Wild Huckleberry Radiance Recovery Peel

Wild Huckleberry Radiance Recovery Peel

Mention of the word “peel” can ignite PTSD for anyone with sensitive skin who’s experienced a bad reaction to an in-office treatment or at-home resurfacing product. Alpyn Beauty aims to put your mind at ease with its dual exfoliating treatment. Wild huckleberry (physical) and an eight-acid complex (chemical) are counteracted with calming chamomile and colloidal oatmeal to ease the risk of redness and irritation. The brand gets its plant ingredients by wild harvesting crops in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and gives back to its community by donating a portion of every purchase to the Grand Teton National Park’s reforestation efforts. It also has a net zero plastic footprint through its partnership with rePurpose Global.

The Wrinkle-Fighting Serum

Phyto-Retinol Vitamin A Booster

True Botanicals

Phyto-Retinol Vitamin A Booster

Perhaps one of the biggest skin care blunders, pumping too much serum on the palm of your hand results in wasting a ton of product. That’s where True Botanicals’ Phyto-Retinol Vitamin A Booster comes into play. The single-serving capsules are packed with plant-derived vitamin A, vitamin C, and fatty acids that fight off signs of aging without the irritation of traditional retinol. On top of formulating with ingredients sourced from regenerative farming, the brand considers sustainability through a product’s entire life cycle, including how fast it biodegrades once it’s rinsed down the drain to how recyclable its packaging is.

The Brightening Vitamin C Serum

Brightwave Face Serum

Brightwave Face Serum

After a long, dark winter, your skin probably could use a little pick-me-up. Formulated with brightening 10% vitamin C, plumping collagen peptides, hydrating red algae, and barrier-strengthening kinbiome, the Brightwave Face Serum is your straight shot to glowing, bouncy skin. Kinship has garnered a cult following for its effective cruelty-free, plant-based products, but fans also love that the brand takes strides to minimize ocean waste plastic by collecting it and reusing it for future packaging.

The Hydrating Serum

SundaSkin Essential Hydrating Serum

SundaSkin Essential Hydrating Serum

Inspired by the Ayurvedic ingredients that were part of founder Pritika Swarup’s childhood, the SundaSkin Essential Hydrating Serum is a blend of moisture-locking white snow mushroom, soothing patchouli oil, anti-inflammatory Zingiber officinale (ginger) water, and hyperpigmentation-fading licorice root for a smooth, plump, radiant complexion.

The Plumping Eye Cream

Cool Eyes

Hand blown by a master glass artisan and sealed with a cork, Kindred Black’s vessels are ones you won’t want to recycle when you’re finished with them because they’re actual works of art. And that’s exactly why the brand has developed a refill program for its products. The Cool Eyes balm is made with soothing cucumber seed oil and anti-inflammatory green coffee bean to repair and calm the delicate area of skin.

The Multitasking Daytime Moisturizer

Multi-Active Day Face Cream

Multi-Active Day Face Cream

A true definition of a multitasker, Clarins’ plant-powered moisturizer tackles fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin texture, dullness, engorged pores, and, of course, dryness. In an aim to be transparent, the brand’s website has a feature where you enter your moisturizer’s batch code to discover the origins of its plant ingredients. As for packaging, Clarins’ paper and cardboard comes from FSC or PEFC certified forests, and it aims to make all of its containers recyclable by 2025.

The Non-Greasy Face Oil

Pistachio Face Oil

Pistachio Face Oil

Each product in Irene Forte’s line is stacked with ingredients grown on its organic farm in Sicily. For its newest face oil, omega-rich pistachio takes a starring role, along with antioxidant phytomelatonin and vitamin E. Together, the ingredients work to nourish skin and improve signs of aging without leaving your face looking like an oil slick. In addition to utilizing local ingredients, the brand is vegan, certified B Corp, uses refillable eco-friendly packaging, and is verified by the Carbon Footprint Standard Accreditation with a goal to be carbon neutral by 2030.

The Do-It-All Balm

Goop Colorblur Glow Balm

Goop Colorblur Glow Balm

Goop’s multi-use, dab-it-everywhere pigment is a treat year-round, but it’s especially excellent in the spring and summer. The five distinct shades deposit what can only be described as a healthy, natural amount of color, made all the more skin-like by the vitamin E and essential fatty acids packed into the formula. Rub a little on lips, noses, cheeks, and eyelids for the dreamiest wash of rosy, peachy, or berry-toned glow.

The Dewy Highlighter Stick

Dewy Glow Cream Highlighter Stick

Dewy Glow Cream Highlighter Stick

Plenty of highlighters add sparkle and shine, but this twist-up glow stick can make your complexion look effortlessly, inherently radiant. Pick the shade closest to your undertones and watch how the adaptogenic herbs — including ashwagandha, brahmi, and triphala — soothe skin and tease out the ultimate candlelit glow. The best part? Just how layerable the highlighter is, making experimenting with different intensities so fun. Beyond the plant-based ingredients, the packaging is Earth-friendly, too. Mango People uses mostly aluminum and 50% PCR recycled plastic.

The TSA-Friendly Foundation

Skin Rewind Complexion Stick

Skin Rewind Complexion Stick

Part concealer, part foundation, and all skin-friendly ingredients, one of Ilia’s newest additions is also one of the brand’s all-time bests. Available in a whopping 42 options to match every possible shade and undertone, the creamy, glide-on stick uses kelp for a luminous finish, ceramides to fortify the skin barrier, and even butterfly lavender extract (a plant, don’t worry) to smooth out the look of fine lines. Somehow, even with buildable, long-lasting coverage, it feels utterly weightless on the skin. Like the rest of the line, this stick contains components that are recyclable curbside or through the brand’s partnership with Pact.

The Prettiest Lip Tinted Balm

Tinted Lip Balm

Tinted Lip Balm

You’ve heard the horror stories about some lip balm formulations that can actually further dry lips with regular use — but that’s not even close to a concern with Kjaer Weis. The sumptuous, extra-soft formula is powered by a nourishing blend of 10 distinct oils, which work beautifully with hyaluronic acid and squalane to deliver an instant flood of moisture where you need it most. Five lip-enhancing colors — plus a clear version — help cement this balm as an all-time classic. Plus, the gorgeous silver refillable packaging is made to last.

The Hydrating Matte Lipstick

Lip Suede Hydrating Matte Lipstick

Westman Atelier

Lip Suede Hydrating Matte Lipstick

Luxe is the best way to describe Westman Atelier’s matte — but never drying — lipstick, one of the most comfortable products in its category. The real key is in the bullet’s kaolin clay, which helps ensure that soft suede finish without feathering, cracking, or zapping lips of any necessary moisture. The sharp-shaped tip practically acts as its own liner, ensuring laser-precise application every time. Soon to come: refills so you can pop out and replace your bullet once you hit the end of it.

The Chip-Free Nail Polish

Green Flash LED Gel Nail Polish

Green Flash LED Gel Nail Polish

Every aspect of this instant-drying nail polish was formulated to be easy to apply and completely planet-friendly. Not only is the actual lacquer vegan and cruelty-free, but every component of the packaging from the biodegradable plastic brush to the recyclable glass bottle is sustainable. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, though, it doesn’t get much better than the nearly 90-piece color library, which covers every trendy shade of the moment.

The Radiant Concealer

Slip Tint Radiant All-Over Concealer

Slip Tint Radiant All-Over Concealer

No one has to choose between coverage and crease-free finishes thanks to Saie, which might have cracked the code on the ultimate fits-everyone concealer. The fine-shaped doe foot wand is ideal for targeted application in tricky zones like nasal corners and inner eyes, but the real draw is in the formula’s niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Thanks to all that smoothing and hydrating, users found that their apparent pore size seemed to reduce after just a few weeks. And once you’re ready to restock the makeup essential, you can refer to the instructions on Saie’s website, including how to send the packaging away so it can be repurposed.

The Extension-Rivaling Mascara

Peptide Lengthening Mascara

Peptide Lengthening Mascara

What’s better than immediate and compounding benefits? For a short-term solution for making lashes really stand out, Soshe’s inky formula and well-spaced wand bristles carefully coat each individual hair for an eye-opening look. Meanwhile, the biotin and strengthening peptides baked right in work to increase your natural lashes’ length and density over time. The product does it all while maintaining a fully vegan ingredient list. And its Earth-preserving efforts don’t stop at formulations. The brand has a recycling program with Pact and is 100% plastic neutral with RePurpose Global.

The Non-Sticky Lip Oil

Lush Lip Tinted Oil

Lush Lip Tinted Oil

The ideal hybrid between a lip treatment and lip makeup, this W3LL People bestseller doesn’t make you choose between form and function. The fat, comfy applicator deposits a dollop of the botanical oil-filled, conditioning formula, leaving behind an alluring shine and the faintest hint of color. It’s the look of a luxe gloss with the humectant powers of a lush overnight mask. For extra peace of mind — and to save you from scrolling through ingredients list — the entire Well People line is verified by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

The Crunch-Free Hairspray

Defining Hair Spray

Defining Hair Spray

Cough-inducing, air-polluting aerosol hair sprays are a thing of the past, thanks to this 98% plant-based formula that’s designed for all hair types. The natural cocktail of sugarcane extract and essential oils offers a firm-yet-flexible hold that lasts all day, sans a sticky or stiff finish. Inspired by the beautifying powers found in nature, Rahua’s clean hair and body formulas use ingredients sourced from the Amazonian rainforests, a region about which the brand is particularly passionate. Its environmental efforts include nonprofit Ecoagents, which was formed by Rahua’s founders and is designed to defend and protect the untouched natural areas of the world, with a special focus on the Amazons.

The Volume-Boosting Spray

Root Lift Spray

Root Lift Spray

Designed with a new-to-market nitrogen-propelled VOC-free aerosol, this volumizing spray is truly the first of its kind. Mushroom extract, rice water, and radish root work together to deliver lift and fullness pre-blowout or for a second- or third-day refresh. In addition to its sustainably sourced, cruelty-free ingredients, RŌZ employs a circular packaging model through shipping partner Boox, whose boxes are designed to be returned and re-used dozens of times.

The Take-Everywhere Shampoo

Daily Shampoo

Formulated without aggressive surfactants or irritants, Blu & Green’s hair cleanser is created in tablet form. To use, simply crush a tablet in your hand in the shower and add water to create a lather. The vegan formula of spirulina, biotin, and niacinamide work together to remove impurities while also strengthening the hair and promoting growth. All of Blu & Green’s products are made with clean ingredients and set in low-impact packaging that allow for easy travel and little waste.

The Resetting Hair Mask

Amla Oil Bond Repair Masque

Amla Oil Bond Repair Masque

The secret is truly in the sauce, or in this case, in the four-step bond repair system, which harnesses amla oil, an amino blend, and fair trade shea butter to repair damage and increase moisture and shine. Through its supplier, The Savannah Fruits Co., SheaMoisture is able to prioritize local sourcing, employing women-led cooperatives in West Africa to provide its handcrafted ingredients.

The Mess-Free Dry Shampoo Powder

Fairy Duster Dry Shampoo

Fairy Duster Dry Shampoo

Mojave yucca is the star ingredient in this talc-free, vegan formula that absorbs oil and boosts volume. Like all of Dae’s products, this buzzy dry shampoo is free of SLS, phthalates, parabens, and synthetic colors — and stored in an easy-to-recycle bottle. Also, a portion of every brand purchase is donated to nonprofit organization Charity:Water, which supplies clean water to developing countries.

The Heat-Protecting Leave-In

MahaMane Detangling Leave-in Conditioner

MahaMane Detangling Leave-in Conditioner

Frizz and dryness are a non-issue, thanks to this aloe-vera-infused leave-in conditioner that retains moisture, prevents breakage, and protects from up to 450 degrees of heat. Fable & Mane’s commitment to the well-being of animals extends way beyond its cruelty-free mantra. The brand is also persistent in its efforts to raise funds for organizations that support and protect the habitats of wild tigers.

The Scalp-Soothing Treatment

Scalp Revival Rosemary Pre-Wash Oil

Scalp Revival Rosemary Pre-Wash Oil

Take your hair care routine to the next level with this pre-wash formula that leverages the scalp-stimulating powers of rosemary. Simply apply and massage the oil onto your scalp and let it work its magic for 10 minutes or overnight for a deeper treatment. Rinse and witness the hair-softening benefits for yourself. The product also follows Briogeo’s commitment to conscious packaging that’s 100% recyclable.

The Smoothing Body Scrub

Sugar and Argan Oil Body Scrub

Sugar and Argan Oil Body Scrub

With new, infinitely refillable glass jar packaging, expect to enter a long-term relationship with Josie Maran’s beloved sugar and argan oil scrub. Thanks to the deeply nourishing oil, the formula transforms to milk as you massage it onto damp skin. Bonus: Use it as a shaving cream before rinsing it off for an unbelievably close shave. In addition to using recycled glass, the brand has paper cartons that come from 100% recycled materials stamped with soy-based ink.

The Decadent Body Lotion

Plumbody Hydrating Antioxidant Body Cream

Plumbody Hydrating Antioxidant Body Cream

Adopting the practices of their family’s regenerative farming business, Jacqueline, Allison, and Elaine Taylor created Le Prunier, a skin care brand that brandishes the power of plum. The decadent body cream is centered around the patented Midnight Muir, a plum extract rich in vitamins A, C, E, and B3, which helps address dryness, redness, and hyperpigmentation. Also in the mix: plum beauty oil for antioxidant protection and eragrostis tef extract to improve collagen production. In addition to sustainable farming practices, the brand upcycles plum kernels for ingredients and uses carbon neutral shipping.

The Firming Body Oil

Blackthorn Toning Body Oil

Blackthorn Toning Body Oil

When a massage appointment at your favorite spa isn’t in the cards, an at-home treatment featuring Dr. Hauschka’s toning oil is the next best option. The plant only blooms at the top of spring, producing the first wild fruit of the season. But its body care benefits also make it special. It warms upon contact and tones in addition to hydrating skin. Beyond using recyclable and recycled materials for its packaging, Dr. Hauschka keeps sustainability in mind throughout the entire production process of its products. There’s 100% CO₂-neutral operations at its head office in Eckwälden, Germany; more than 80% of its plant-based raw materials are organically grown; and 70% of the fresh plants used are locally grown.

The Skin-Softening Body Scrub

Undaria Cleansing Body Polish

Undaria Cleansing Body Polish

The secret to how soft and smooth this scrub leaves your limbs is the tag team of physical and chemical exfoliants and nourishing Undaria seaweed in the formula. Because the brand uses as many natural ocean-derived ingredients as possible, no two jars will be the exact hue. It’s all part of OSEA’s M.O. to make the earth better rather than take away from it, which is why the brand is certified climate neutral and ocean positive.

The Plastic-Free Cleansing Bar

Beauty Plant Milk Cleansing Bar - Coconut Milk & Sugar Lychee

Beauty Plant Milk Cleansing Bar - Coconut Milk & Sugar Lychee

While bar soap already uses less packaging than body wash, Dove has upped the ante with the ingredients used in its Plant Milk Cleansing Bars. Crafted with gentle cleansers and plant milks like turmeric and coconut, the pH-balanced soap cleanses skin without stripping it of moisture. There’s four delectable scents to choose from: Coconut Milk & Sugar Lychee, Turmeric Milk & Lemon Drop, Oat Milk & Berry Brulee, and Macadamia Milk & Willow Lavender.

The Moisturizing Body Wash

Superfood + Niacinamide Body Cleanser

Youth To The People

Superfood + Niacinamide Body Cleanser

Fans of Youth to the People’s wildly popular Superfood Cleanser are now able to douse themselves in it from head to toe. Part of the brand’s initial body care range launch includes a Superfood body wash with a similar ingredient story and fresh scent. It’s formulated with niacinamide and sodium PCA to retain moisture, plant-derived surfactants for that satisfying lather, plus nourishing vitamins and superfood antioxidants so skin stays soft and smooth. While it’s not refillable (yet), the body wash comes in a bottle made from recycled materials and paper cartons.

The Odor-Zapping Whole-Body Deodorant

The Deodorant Balm

The Deodorant Balm

The journey to finding a natural deodorant can be long, frustrating, and… a little smelly. However, if you’re looking to make the switch to an aluminum-free formula, starting off with AKT’s the Deodorant Balm will eliminate the trial and error. Created by two West End performers, the whole-body deodorant keeps unwanted odors and wetness at bay while smoothing skin with its all-star lineup of nourishing shea butter, vitamin E, and calendula. The aluminum tube is recyclable and plastic-free, not to mention the packaging makes it easy to squeeze out every last drop.