It shouldn’t be difficult to find sustainable personal care products that are also effective & affordable. Let’s check out FOUR eco-friendly brands that focus on the “real you”.
We are constantly bombarded with advertisements, beauty box subscriptions, and companies promising to “give you the best skin of your life.” It’s no wonder that it’s difficult to find sustainable personal care products that are also effective, natural, and affordable. Is that too much to ask!? It certainly seems like it, but I don’t think it should be. So, let me introduce you to a few brands I’ve stumbled on that are true gems.
And, don’t think this is just for women in the traditional sense! Personal care is important across the board, and even makeup is no longer gender exclusive. I see many men not taking care of themselves beyond the basic necessities of deodorant, soap, and some shampoo. And this is understandable. In the past, it was socially unacceptable for men to be too “high-maintenance.” However, our world is changing. This isn’t about being high maintenance, but about taking care of and celebrating our bodies.
Sustainable Personal Care Products for Real Skin: cocokind
No better place to start then with cocokind. There are just so many things I love about this company. It’s a small, WOC-owned skincare business that is focused on natural products for real people. Not only that, but they are so transparent about their business practices, including the diversity of their team, product ingredients, and the sustainability of their packaging.
Many of their personal care products are packaged in glass bottles, while others utilize materials like sugarcane. Both of these examples are easily recyclable materials. That being said, are all of their products packaged perfectly? Not yet, but they are genuinely working on it. I can stand by that.
Does anyone else get tired of picture-perfect models showcasing their acne-free, airbrushed skin? Realistically, many models have skin concerns, but most companies are afraid to show it. This marketing concept makes sense in theory. If someone looks amazing using a product, consumers are theoretically going to want the product. But many surveys actually show that consumers prefer seeing real people in advertisements, people they actually resonate with.
Cocokind uses real people to model their products and seeks to normalize acne and other skin concerns. They also provide a wide array of products for all different skin types. As someone with baby-sensitive skin, I love knowing exactly what’s in my skincare. I could eat most of it if I wanted — truly, that’s how natural it is!
The Current “Faves”
A few “Holy Grail” products in our house include the rosewater facial toner (now in bulk!), oil to milk cleanser, mymatcha all-over moisture stick (best lip balm ever), and the turmeric stick (ultimate redness conqueror). There are several others I have tried and enjoyed, as well.
In addition, their affordable prices make trying new products much easier, so you can find what truly works for you. This is not a “break the bank” company; it’s a “break into a smile” company because it shouldn’t be expensive to be comfortable in and proud of your own skin.
Fruity Personal Care Products: Juice Beauty
I’ve been familiar with Juice Beauty for awhile, but YouTuber Cassandra Bankson tipped me over the edge into actually purchasing a few of their products. If you’re looking for product recommendations, skin-care tips, and some quality laughs, I would highly recommend her YouTube channel. It’s nice to be educated and entertained simultaneously.
Back to Juice Beauty. One of their slogans is “Radically transforming the chemistry of beauty.” Man, that just resonates with me. They take the science (chemistry) of skin care seriously, while putting proper thought into the natural ingredients and environmental impact of their products. What you may not know is that many skin care products have a base of petroleum glycols or just plain old water. This means that you could be paying for something potentially harmful for your skin or overpaying for something that is mostly water. Juice Beauty provides you with a full list of what ingredients are not acceptable in their products. They also certify that their products are only made with USDA-approved, organic ingredients.
Their eco-values and sustainability page is quite impressive, as well. From a sustainable farmhouse where they grow their ingredients, to using 48% recycled content and 32% glass for their products, they clearly care about their business practices.
A “Mask-ne” Recommendation
“Mask-ne.” A word that strikes fear into all of our hearts. Mask-wearing is a part of our daily life right now during the COVID-19 pandemic, which unfortunately means “mask-ne” might be for you as well. For those of you who may not be familiar, “mask-ne” is the acne that develops under and around your mask, ruining your beautiful face. I’m a Snow White type over here, so there is just no hiding a zit. It’s like a red blinking light is on my face saying, “LOOK, I have a zit!”
If you are also in this boat, Juice Beauty has a wonderful mask (the spa kind, not the COVID kind) that may be your new best friend. It even claims to specifically help with “mask-ne.” Meet the “Bamboo Pore Refining Mask.” The main ingredients are bamboo-charcoal, kaolin clay, and aspen bark, which are proven to draw out impurities, hydrate, and smooth. If you’ve ever tried a mask before and felt that dry, tight feeling, this is not that. I don’t know how this mask manages to feel so hydrating and refreshing at the same time, but it does.
For those of you saying you’re too busy to add a mask into your skincare routine, this mask stays on the skin for only 1-2 minutes. So put those excuses back in the cupboard!
Personal for Hair Hydration: Plaine Products
Speaking of excuses, I made excuses for straightening my hair for years, but the main reason I continued straightening was that my hair no longer looked very good if I didn’t. So, I have been on quite the hair journey. From harsh, chemical-filled hair products to those years of hair straightening, my wavy mane needed some TLC.
I switched to natural hair care a few years ago and stopped washing my hair so frequently. It was a rough go for a while; it truly felt like my hair was detoxing. I found it would be really oily in certain spots and dry and frizzy in others. But I’m glad that I pushed through because I have seen such improvement.
Plaine Products is a pioneer in sustainable personal care products with their recycling program. They utilize aluminum bottles for all their products. These bottles are strong enough for Plaine Products to clean and reuse them several times. They include a return label with every refill, so that their customers can return their empty bottles for reuse by the company.
Love for the Locks
After trying a few different natural hair care products, I finally settled on Plaine Products shampoo and conditioner and have not looked back. My goal was to find a product that was sulfate and paraben free and not tested on animals. However, I also wanted a sustainably-packaged product. For those of you who have found success with bar shampoo, I’m so glad. I just had a rough time using bar shampoo with the amount of hair I have on my head.
I personally love the Rosemary, Mint, Vanilla scent. They also offer a a Citrus and Lavender scene, as well as unscented! I’m also a big fan of the traditional lathering that their shampoo offers. Even better, their products are free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicone, and palm oil, as well as being vegan. Since using, my hair has felt soft, manageable, and so much healthier. For me, that’s a big win!
Now for those of you who may be used to shampoo that is $5 or less, $30 may seem pricey. However, as someone who only washes their hair 2-3 times a week, this lasts me between 5-6 months. In addition, if you subscribe and save, you save 10%. I’ve certainly found the environmental impact and hair health to be worth it!
Sustainable Personal Care Products to Illuminate: Ilia Beauty
Advertisements very rarely keep my attention but for some reason, when an Ilia Beauty video pops up on my Instagram feed, I am always sucked in to watching. They do such a beautiful job showcasing their personal care products on diverse skin colors and ages. I so appreciate the focus on highlighting natural beauty, as well as the idea that makeup should also be skincare. Warning: sarcasm ahead. What a crazy idea that makeup should also be skincare. Makeup should clog the pores, causing us to break out more, right? Unfortunately, I think many of us experience that problem and even start to expect it!
I’m certainly not looking for makeup that is bad for my skin, yet many products are. And what a dangerous cycle it can be. We start by using makeup, it creates skin problems, and then we turn back to makeup to cover the flaws it created.
What we use to enhance our natural beauty should not turn around and harm our skin in return. Ilia Beauty is all about skincare being at the root of their products. They particularly focus on SPF and ingredients that hydrate without clogging pores. In addition, they collaborate with TerraCycle to help their customers responsibly recycle up to five products a month (whether their product or not!).
My Skin Has Been Wearing
Recently, I have been in LOVE with Ilia Beauty’s limitless lash mascara. I have sensitive eyes, and this blend of bee and carnauba waxes has never caused a problem. Their mascara also contains shea butter and keratin, which promotes the health and growth of your lashes. The best part: I’ve never experienced the end of the day “raccoon” eyes or any flaking.
I’ve tried both their Super Serum Skin Tint and the True Skin Serum Foundation, and I honestly like them both for different reasons. The skin tint is, in essence, a tinted moisturizer sunscreen. The foundation provides a bit more coverage while still being lightweight and hydrating. With so many shades to choose from, you’re sure to meet your match! And what I love most is that my true skin shines through. I feel and look like myself.
Beauty More Than Skin Deep
And that’s just it, friends, I want to feel comfortable in and proud of my own skin. It’s a balance, right? I know that my personality and confidence contribute to my appearance, but I also want to nourish the body I’ve been given. So, while the earth gives to us it’s wonderful, natural ingredients, we give back by being responsible with our personal care product choices.
There are two beauty companies I’ve had my eye on for a while but haven’t tried yet: Elate Cosmetics & 100% Pure. Let me know if you have experience with either and would recommend. If you have other personal care thoughts or recommendations, give a shout out in the comments.
Be Well. With Love.
Mikaela says
Love this so much! Thanks for all these great recommendations! 💛
Maggie says
You’re so welcome!! I’m glad you found it helpful!
merridee benham says
Maggie – a whole new world of skin care ideas to enlighten and brighten my world – thanks!
Maggie says
I am so glad it was helpful! Self-care is definitely important!
Gabriella Abbott says
Hi Maggie! I was wondering what antiperspirant you would recommend? I care very much about not having pit-stains, even more than smelling nice, which seems to be hard to find with natural, eco-friendly products 😜
Maggie says
Hi Gabriella! This is a great question, but I may not have the answer you are wanting to hear. Ultimately, many health experts will say that anti-perspirants are not the best for your body. You are counteracting your body’s natural need to sweat. Sometimes it just takes some getting used to when we (as Americans) have been raised with anti-perspirants. My biggest advice would be to at least make sure your deodorant doesn’t have aluminum and comes in a plastic-free container.
I think that finding a natural deodorant can be difficult for a lot of people. It has been for me (especially since I have a baking soda allergy). My best advice is to try different options until you find what works best for you. If you are wanting something more similar to what you may be used to, Dove makes a re-fillable deodorant that is aluminum-free. I love seeing bigger companies start to embrace sustainability! Native also makes a plastic-free deodorant, and I know many people who have had success with Native. Both these options are available at Target too, which makes them more accessible. If you want to try a cream deodorant (these usually come in glass jars), you could try Meow Meow Tweets’ Deodorant. Personally, I am loving Little Seed Farm’s deodorant cream right now! Odor is never an issue, but I do sweat a little bit. That being said, I’ve never noticed pit stains on my clothing and I’ve just gotten used to a little bit of sweat!
On the pit stain note, usually a good laundry detergent helps with that. Dropps has AWESOME eco-friendly laundry detergent (including one specifically for stain and odor). Their Oxi Booster also keeps clothing (even whites) super crisp and stain-free!
Happy deodorant shopping 🙂
~ Maggie