C.J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
10 Earth Friendly and Sustainable Beauty and Cleaning Products To Try Now
2023 Update: BONUS PRODUCT!
See one of my new favorite products by Mad Hippie that helps my aging skin glow….it’s added at the bottom of the post!
In 2019, I devoted lots of time to removing products from my beauty routine that weren’t cruelty free. I started doing a lot of research and found out many of the brands I loved were sold in China, therefore conducted testing on animals.
Being a huge animal lover, I realized my long-term love of using brands like Bath and Body Works, L’Oreal, Revlon, Maybelline (and many other brands I’ve used since I was a teenager), just weren’t worth it. No product, in my opinion, should be tested on animals.
I may be almost 42 years old, but I still am learning about sustainable beauty
While I am not a perfect consumer, I am still learning every day. I’m proud to say I am a more conscious consumer now than I was years ago and continue to do research on brands before making purchases. Not every product I use is still cruelty-free BUT I am still working to replace all my beauty and cleaning products with ones that are. Making changes that last a lifetime are never a fast task.
Here’s a skincare item to add to your routine for GLOWING SKIN…Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum! Watch how I use it in my 15 second video below or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden!
Kora Organics Turmeric Glow Certified Organic Moisturizer
After my search for cruelty-free products was started, I was then introduced to products that are packaged more sustainably. I received a jar of Kora Organics moisturizer from Influenster and it’s packaging concept opened up a whole new can of worms for me.
Kora Organics Removable Pod
It contained a replaceable pod of moisturizer packaged in a beautiful glass jar. The concept is that when you run out of moisturizer, you can just replace the pod instead of the whole jar. It’s cheaper to buy another pod AND you waste less materials when you finish the product.
The Kora Organics Moisturizer is Yellow From the Turmeric
Other brands, like Lush, have worked to remove extra packaging from their products for years. Read on to learn about some other product lines that I love and have more sustainable packaging.
Honest Company Bathroom Cleaner with Pods
The Honest Company Cleaner Pods: I received a bathroom cleaner kit from Influenster and the brand The Honest Company (created by Jessica Alba). It was my first introduction to pod-based cleaners. If you order a cleaner kit, you get a bottle and concentrated pods. The concept is to drop a pod in the spray bottle and fill it with water. According to the Honest website “These tiny pods pack some serious cleaning power while reducing plastic waste-we save 1.8 pounds of water being shipped per bottle by shipping our bottles empty.”
I didn’t think I’d like it (but I did) or that the pod would even dissolve (but it did!). I felt the bathroom cleaner was a little too ammonia scented, but it was effective in cleaning my bathroom. I would definitely try more from the brand as well as other cruelty free and sustainable cleaners. Click here to learn more about The Honest Company and their sustainability.
Lush Avocado Bath Bomb
Lush: I fell in love with Lush in 2003. I remember the exact year because I was about to get married and read about the brand in an Allure magazine. Their Skinny Dip body wash was featured in a “new products to try” article and it intrigued me. I researched the company and immediately placed an order on their website. While they stopped making the Skinny Dip body wash (oh how I miss it and many other things they’ve discontinued!), any time I smell clove, it takes me back to the days of planning my wedding to my best friend (and now husband), Tommy Braden.
They have worked to be a leader in the cruelty free and earth friendly bath and beauty product world for many years. The image above is from their website as I can’t seem to keep any of their products around after buying them. That’s how much I love Lush! Learn more about the brand by clicking this link.
Kora Organics Turmeric Glow Moisturizer
Kora Organics: I tried the brand’s (created by Miranda Kerr) Turmeric Glow Moisturizer after receiving it free from Influenster and after about 4 weeks, I was impressed by the results. It’s thick, making it a moisturizer I only use at night. It did not break out my combination skin, it left my skin glow-y upon waking up in the morning, it’s cruelty free, certified organic and has some of the smartest and most beautiful packaging I’ve seen in a long time.
It’s not the cheapest moisturizer, but I will be buying it again after I run out. I’ll purchase their replacement pod, as it is cheaper and produces less waste than buying another jar. I may even try more of the brand’s products. Learn more about Kora Organics by clicking this link.
Aether Beauty Supernova Crushed Pure Highlighter and Kora Organics
Aether Beauty (also known as athr beauty…they appear to be rebranding): I bought their Supernova Crushed Pure Diamond Highlighter from Sephora recently for four reasons: It was on sale, it had amazing reviews, it had sustainable packaging (no mirror!), and it was cruelty free. The brand is expanding it’s line and I will say that the gorgeous results the highlighter left on my skin made me want to try more. Learn more about the brand on their website by clicking this link.
Love and Beauty and Planet Delicious Glow Body Lotion
Love Beauty and Planet: Though owned by Unilever (which is not a cruelty-free company), this product line under the Unilever umbrella is cruelty free. You’ve got to give Unilever some credit for at least trying to jump on the sustainability and cruelty free product train. My thinking is this: If more people would start buying the sustainable lines produced by corporate giants like Unilever, then they would start producing more of them instead of their non-sustainable and cruelty free lines. Love Beauty and Planet uses recycled packaging, is cruelty free and sold in numerous big box stores like Target, Walmart and more, making it a cost effective and easily accessible earth friendly and sustainable product line. Learn more about their sustainability + download their reports by clicking this link.
Sustainable Nail Polish
Did you know that your nail polish may be harmful to the environment? Try selecting environment friendly polishes such as these brands (brands I use and love):
Zoya Vegan and Cruelty Free Nail Polish
Zoya: Founder Zoya Rezis is the nail tech and creator behind Zoya and The Art of Beauty Brand. It’s a long lasting polish that comes in numerous colors. Click here to learn about Zoya cruelty free and toxin free nail polish.
Adesse Cruelty Free Nail Polish
Adesse: Adesse is a product line I was first introduced to by receiving it in an ipsy bag. I started using their cuticle oil and liked it so much, I started using some of their other products.
FYI: I stopped my ipsy subscription to try Causebox because they could guarantee cruelty-free and more sustainable products. I received more Adesse in a recent Causebox and I was excited to try even more from the brand. Learn more about Adesse by clicking this link.
Pretty Woman and Nail Medic Cruelty Free Nail Polishes
Pretty Woman and Nail Medic: These polishes are free of 10 nasty toxins and come in a variety of gorgeous colors. The polishes last and the Nail Medic line actually works to repair damaged nails. I’ve been using them for a while now and love that they are cruelty-free. Learn more about the brands by clicking this link.
Margaret Dabbs Cruelty Free Nail Polish
Margaret Dabbs: I received a bottle of her rose scented nail polish in an ipsy bag years ago and it is truly a great product. I think if I am ever in London, I will definitely get one of her Medical Pedicures Or Luxury Food Therapy sessions. Read the brand’s Sustainability Statement on their website by clicking this link.
Dear Sundays Cruelty Free Nail Polish
Dear Sundays: I received this polish brand in an ipsy bag years ago and it’s a 10-free, cruelty-free and vegan winner! Learn more about the brand by clicking this link.
If you are wondering how you can reduce the waste caused by nail polishes, check out CHEMWISE and their nail polish recycling program.
Bonus Item: Vitamin C Serum
Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum
My version of being a Mad Hippie includes being MAD HAPPY about cruelty free skincare that works! I’ve used vitamin C in a lotion, but had the opportunity to test a Mad Hippie’s Vitamin C Serum and I love it! It claims to “Tighten, brighten, and smooth aging, acne-prone, or sun-damaged skin with an award-winning Vitamin C facial serum”, and it truly did just that.
Testing the Mad Hippie serum inspired a festival look
I tested it for two weeks and it did not irritate my skin, it has no fragrance, is packaged in a recyclable glass bottle, vegan, cruelty-free, clean and safe AND Mad Hippie gives back! They support environmental causes including Save the Elephants, Oceana & The Whole Planet Foundation.
Learn how to make my no sew festival crown in my YouTube video below!
Try vitamin C serum for glowing skin
My Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum package even came beautifully wrapped with a plantable wildflower “flower” and it made me so happy because I love flowers! It also came with lots of samples, which I also love!
If you love this article, we know you’ll love this one too: Cruelty Free Beauty Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day
C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.