Clean beauty has been at the forefront of the makeup industry for the past few years. With more insight into the creation, testing, and production of our most beloved makeup brands, we have come to learn more about their commitment to cruelty-free and sustainable formulas. In this article, we’ll dive into the top 10 clean makeup brands to shop at Sephora, which have earned the Clean at Sephora Seal.

Clean Makeup Highlights

 

Photo: Saie Beauty

 

How Sephora Defines Clean Beauty

Sephora has a ranking system to determine which brands are sustainable. At Sephora, “clean” refers to any of their brands that meet the standards that center on ingredient avoidance, formulation, sourcing openness, and transparency.

Their system highlights five categories:

• Clean Ingredients: Products need to be without the use of phthalates, formaldehyde or its releasers, triclosan, coal tar, oxybenzone, octinoxate, hydroquinone, insoluble plastic, or microbeads.
• Responsible Packaging: Packaging must not include single-use plastic or unnecessary packaging.
• Climate Commitment: Brands must commit to one of the following goals: carbon-neutral operations, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, or being powered entirely by renewable energy at corporate offices and leased or owned facilities.
• Sustainable Sourcing: Products must be sourced sustainably and be cruelty-free.
• Environmental Giving: Brand must donate 1% of its profits to a Certified B-corporation or a long-term multiyear group.

My #1 Clean Makeup Pick

ILIA’s Balmy Tint Hydrating Lip Balm – A clean tinted lip balm with active levels of moisture-boosting ingredients and sheer color that builds with each swipe.

 

Clean Makeup Brands to Shop at Sephora

These 10 clean makeup brands to shop at Sephora have earned the Clean at Sephora Seal. They are all well-loved in the beauty community and for good reason. 

 

1. Saie Beauty

Saie Beauty has made significant headway in the beauty industry! Founded in 2019 with a clean beauty mission, they continue to see exponential growth year after year. Saie Beauty’s wide variety of products have garnered extra attention from beauty influencers in the last year. My personal favorite product is their Saie Slip Tint, a lightweight, dewy foundation that gives a fresh, radiant complexion with SPF 35 protection. This foundation is perfect for everyday wear, providing light coverage with the added bonus of sunscreen, which is very important! Another favorite of mine is the Saie Dew Blush, a perfect creamy blush to add color to your face. It can be applied lightly or built upon with a heavier hand on the doe-foot applicator.

 

 

2. Rose Inc

Founded in 2018 by former model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Rose Inc. creates classic beauty basics that accentuate your natural characteristics, without compromising on clean formulas. With their recent partnership with biotech company Amyris, they have continued to prioritize what goes into their products. Rose Inc. is Leaping Bunny Certified, given their 100% vegan and cruelty-free formulas. Try their Softlight Skin-Smoothing Hydrating Non-Comedogenic Foundation for buildable coverage and a radiant finish –– perfect for brightening your skin.

 

 

3. Caliray

Founded in Laguna Beach by Wende Zomnir, Caliray is a brand focused on creating sexy makeup that emphasizes sustainability. Their motto is “You are what you wear!” After all, who wants to wear formulas that are bad for your skin and your body? One of Caliray’s most loved products is the Come Hell or High Water Volumizing & Lengthening Tubing Mascara. Tubing mascara has become a recent sensation due to its easy removal and the look of false lashes. The package is made from 100% recycled ocean plastic.

 

 

4. Ciele

Ciele has redefined color cosmetics with skin-driven formulas made with broad-spectrum SPF and non-pore-clogging, clean, vegan ingredients. Going beyond what is known as clean, Ciele believes in more than just beauty, creating recyclable products that are non-disruptive to the skin and the planet. Right now, we’re loving their Tint & Protect SPF 50+ Tinted Serum Foundation, rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Sephora. This mineral SPF 50+ is a weightless, tinted serum with buildable light to medium coverage and a natural finish.

 

 

5. Merit

 

6. ILIA

ILIA Beauty is a prestige line of natural, organic, and clean beauty products that combine superior color performance and nourishing organics. In addition to creating safe, potent formulas that protect and revive your skin, ILIA strives towards more sustainable packaging through the use of recycled aluminum, glass components, and responsibly sourced paper. Our favorite products are ILIA’s Balmy Tint Hydrating Lip Balm and Multi-Stick Cream Blush + Highlighter.

 

 

7. Tower 28 Beauty

Tower 28 Beauty is known for its high-performance beauty products made with non-irritating ingredients. Dermatologists love that this brand is pH balanced, alcohol-free, oil-free, and fragrance-free. It also has the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance making it safe for even the most sensitive skin types. We love Tower 28’s LipSoftie™ Hydrating Tinted Lip Treatment Balm.

 

 

8. Summer Fridays

Discover Summer Fridays’ skincare formulas with good-for-you clean ingredients that will relieve your stressed out skin. Their collection includes face masks, treatments and serums to leave your skin glowing. We recommend Summer Fridays’ Lip Butter Balm –– an Allure 2023 Best of Beauty Award Winner!

 

 

9. Milk Makeup

Try Milk Makeup’s Sculpt Cream Contour Stick, a matte, cool-toned cream contour stick that blends easily to add instant depth and dimension to your face by mimicking the look of natural shadows. Or, try their Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick, a multi-use cream blush and lip color with a nourishing formula that builds and blends effortlessly for a natural flush.

 

 

10. Sephora Collection

Sephora Collection is perfect for all skin types and budgets! Their collection offers a wide variety of products, which earn the Clean at Sephora Seal. The collection focuses on attainable beauty with clean ingredients –– without the steep price of many brands. For example, Sephora offers a wide variety of face masks that cater to various skin care needs, from hydrating to purifying and everything in between. Their Sephora Collection Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer is highly acclaimed. It offers lightweight coverage that lightens and smooths the under-eye region for a fresh look. 

 

 

Bonus Clean Beauty Brand

11. Youth to the People

Youth to the People is a skincare brand, but we couldn’t resist including it. A clean skincare routine is vital for pre-makeup care and after-makeup care. This company’s philosophy is focused on combining plant ingredients with clinical actives. Among their top products is the Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser, a light and simple cleanser that combines superfood antioxidants from kale, spinach, and green tea to make your skin feel fresh. Combine this with their Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream to seal in the moisture for up to 24 hours. In the past few years, makeup wipes have also been all the talk, as we’ve learned how harsh rubbing can damage our skin. Youth to the People’s Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm rapidly removes all types of makeup in a gentle way that is suitable for sensitive skin.

 

Clean Beauty Knows No Bounds

With a wide range of clean beauty products from well-known companies like Saie Beauty, Rose Inc., and Milk Makeup, Sephora encourages people to embrace a holistic view of beauty that promotes both the environment and personal well-being. As Sephora continues to set the standard for accessible and inclusive clean beauty, we will continue to see more clean makeup brands to shop at Sephora with the Clean at Sephora Seal.