Attention Clean Beauty Lovers: These Are the Best Products of 2024 (2024)

Buying a clean beauty product that’s supposed to be better for you and the planet sounds like a no-brainer, but if you’ve ever shopped for an all-natural moisturizer or green mascara, then you know that the reality can be more headache-inducing than anything else. Clean beauty is far from new, but navigating the category still feels wildly confusing and frustrating for most consumers. With no clear industry standard (or any formal regulating body to enforce them), buzzy terms like “clean,” “green,” “eco-friendly,” and “sustainable” are open to interpretation, which means brands and retailers are left to implement their own guidelines and working definitions. Some do a stellar job, and others, well, not so much (think: green-washing, fear-mongering, and shady marketing practices—yeah, it can be a mess out there).

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That’s why we spent the last eight months curating Cosmopolitan’s second-annual Clean Beauty Awards. Below, you’ll find 60 skincare, haircare, and makeup products, each carefully vetted by me, Cosmo editors, and a panel of industry experts—because keeping up with the clean movement takes a village these days. Together, we narrowed down hundreds of products to meet our current clean criteria (more on that below) and then swiped, dabbed, and swatched the finalists, paying attention not only to what a particular formula contains but also to how it performs and impacts the planet. Keep scrolling to learn all about our winners, the experts that love them, our clean beauty guidelines, and more.

Jump to:

  • Meet the experts
  • The best clean skincare
  • The best clean bodycare
  • The best clean makeup
  • The best clean hair products
  • How Cosmopolitan currently defines clean
  • Our methodology
  • Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Meet the experts

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Homer Swei

Homer Swei is a scientist and senior vice president of Healthy Living Science at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), overseeing the team’s groundbreaking research and market change work on chemical ingredients in everyday items. Swei also spearheads the EWG Verified program, which sets rigorous, science-backed standards with a goal of moving the market to answer consumer demands for safer choices for beauty and personal care products. Swei joined EWG after 30 years in the private sector, working for companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Dow Chemical.

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Mary Berry

Mary Berry is founder and CEO of Cosmos Labs, a contract manufacturer of cosmetic formulas for skincare, body care, haircare, and deodorant. She is experienced in formulating according to a number of clean guidelines, including Ecocert, EWG, Credo Clean Standard, and Clean at Sephora.

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Lauren Balsamo

Lauren Balsamo is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered clean beauty for a decade at Cosmopolitan and is constantly testing and researching new clean beauty products, brands, and trends.

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Amy Wechsler, MD

Amy Wechsler, MD, is a double-board-certified dermatologist and psychiatrist based in New York City with a focus on the mind-beauty connection. Using the latest technologies and techniques, Dr. Wechsler treats a wide range of dermatologic conditions, beginning with a careful evaluation of the patient’s psychological stressors and skincare concerns.

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Katey Denno

Katey Denno has been Hollywood’s go-to clean beauty makeup artist for well over a decade. She’s been using clean products on her celebrity clients (including Amanda Seyfried, Mindy Kaling, and Margaret Qualley, to name a few) long before the category became mainstream and has worked as a consultant with clean skincare and makeup brands over the years. She frequently shares her clean beauty expertise and favorite product picks on Instagram and her ShopMy account.

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Robyn Melissa Watkins

Robyn Melissa Watkins is an award-winning product developer and the founder of Holistic Beauty Group. Her approach to product development combines cutting-edge technology, the study of ancient beauty rituals, and data-driven insights to create conscious and culturally resonant beauty products. Over the past 20 years, Watkins has successfully launched products for industry giants and indie pioneers alike, specializing in fine fragrance, textured hair care, luxury spa goods, and clean beauty.

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Mona Vand

Mona Vand, PharmD, is a wellness expert, and content creator who uses her education and work experience to share wellness information in a relatable and digestible way. Vand is passionate about living a clean, sustainable life and educating her audience of over 2 million to make smarter choices every day—from healthier eating to using greener beauty and personal care products.

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Rogério Cavalcante

Rogério Cavalcante is a hairstylist with more than 20 years of experience and owner of The Second Floor Salon in New York City. He spends time traveling between New York, London, and Paris, exchanging innovative techniques with other experts and continually pushing his style to incorporate the latest worldwide trends. For the past three years, Cavalcante has been immersed in the product development process while creating his own clean haircare brand.

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The best clean skincare

Best Everyday Face Wash

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Versed The Purist Antioxidant Cleanser

Found: a daily face wash that doesn’t suck your skin dry or leave it feeling tight or irritated. This fragrance-free formula has an impressive combination of mild cleansers and antioxidants, including blueberry, raspberry, apple, and cucumber extracts. “Bonus points for extended label transparency—the brand site’s clickable ingredient list makes it easy for consumers to learn more,” Swei says.

Best Treatment Face Wash

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Norie Kimchii Cleanser

This exfoliating cleanser is a must if you’re dealing with breakouts, congested pores, or excess oil. “It has 2 percent BHAs, which will reset your skin by gently exfoliating away impurities and dead skin cells,” Mary Berry says, noting the formula contains two upcycled ingredients—sugar beets and apple fruit extract. “Not only do these ingredients help soothe skin, but they are derived from food waste that would typically just be thrown away,” she says.

Best Makeup Remover

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Ustawi Nourishing Cleansing Balm

Massage on dry skin to dissolve makeup—even a matte red lippie. The gel-to-oil formula transforms into a milky cleanser that, according to Berry, “not only removes makeup but also helps brighten and detoxify your skin.” “I love that it’s designed for melanin rich skin and helps prevent hyperpigmentation too,” she adds.

Best Toner

Farmacy Brighten Up 3% TXA Toner

This isn’t your average toner, people. “It’s my go-to for reducing dark spots because it has 3 percent tranexamic acid,” a natural skin-brightening ingredient, says Berry. Also in the formula? Azelaic acid and PHAs (a gentle type of chemical exfoliant) for added resurfacing and smoothing benefits.

Best Face Moisturizer

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Beautycounter Mighty Plump Ceramide Water Cream

If heavy moisturizers give you the ick, then you’re going to love this water cream—a bouncy, cushiony hydrator with a refreshing, weightless finish. “It gives skin a light layer of moisture and leaves your face feeling velvety smooth and looking nice and plump,” says Berry.

Best Barrier Cream

Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream

This buttery cream swaddles your skin’s protective barrier with nourishing lipids and ceramides, while also soothing any redness with anti-inflammatory zinc and copper salts. “It’s ultra-rich and repairing—perfect for the winter season,” Lauren Balsamo says.

Best Face Sunscreen

Kosas DreamBeam Comfy Smooth Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40 PA++++

Packed with stellar skincare ingredients—including peptides, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides—this daily sunscreen is the ultimate SPF multitasker. “Hailey Bieber is obsessed with this, and so am I,” Balsamo says. “It blurs, lightly hydrates, and protects skin with zinc-oxide-based SPF 40.”

Best Tinted Face Sunscreen

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Odacité SPF 50 Flex-Perfecting Mineral Drops Tinted Sunscreen

Tinted sunscreens typically take a one-shade-fits-all approach, but this lightweight formula comes in five shades designed to suit a wide range of skin tones. And with mineral-based SPF 50 (thanks to 12 percent zinc oxide), it’s derm-approved by Dr. Wescher. “I also like the other ingredients—an antioxidant blend of niacinamide, green tea, chamomile, and calendula—and that it’s fragrance-free,” Dr. Wechsler adds.

Best Overnight Treatment

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Nuebiome Empris-Peony Biotic Resurfacing Night Serum

A blend of healthy bacteria, exfoliating acids, and plumping peptides come together in this nighttime treatment for gentle anti-aging benefits. “Every time I use this overnight serum, I wake up with the glowiest skin. It resurfaces to smooth lines and brighten my skin tone but without any irritation, which I love,” Balsamo says.

Best Acne Treatment

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Versine Calm & Hydrate Serum for Acne-Prone Skin

Meet the standout acne serum from the ob-gyn-approved skincare line Versine.“I like that this serum contains azelaic acid because the ingredient has been proven to help treat acne and it is compatible with pregnancy and nursing,” Dr. Wechsler says. And even though it’s formulated with new and expecting moms in mind, anyone can use it, says Berry. The formula is full of brightening and clarifying ingredients, like vitamin C and niacinamide, that are beneficial for all skin types and tones.

Best Brightening Serum

Lion Pose Unspotted 4X Acid Jelly Night Serum

Fading hyperpigmentation and dark spots can be challenging, especially if your sensitive skin can’t tolerate strong actives like retinol or hydroquinone. The solution? This effective dark-spot corrector. “This is a great serum for hyperpigmentation thanks to tranexamic acid and azelaic acid,” Dr. Wechsler says. It also has glycolic and lactic acids and antioxidants to aid in skin brightening.

Best Calming Serum

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VIOLETTE_FR Sérum Superlatif Reactive Skin Rescue

Skincare product overload, environmental changes, and chronic stress—basically life!—can all be sources of inflammation that majorly mess with your skin’s glow. It’s why we love this soothing formula, which helps reduce redness and restore the skin barrier with calming ingredients like red algae extract and organic hop extract.

Best Hydrating Serum

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Ogee Hyaluronic Acid HA 1.5% Elixir

You honestly couldn’t hydrate your skin more effectively or safely if you tried. This elixir received the lowest possible hazard score in EWG’s Skin Deep Database. “I greatly admire Ogee’s commitment to responsible ingredient sourcing,” says Swei.

Best Anti-Aging Serum

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BioEffect EGF Power Serum + Gift

Clean beauty meets high-tech skincare in this anti-aging formula featuring two barley growth factors—including EGF, which boosts collagen production—and N-Acetly glucosamine, a compound naturally found in skin that minimizes hyperpigmentation. “I love, love, love this serum,” Balsamo says. “It makes a visible difference when it comes to skin plumpness and the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. It also layers really nicely with other skincare products.”

Slather this mask on clean skin, let it dry for about 10 minutes (go on, snap a selfie—everyone looks good in steel blue), and then rinse for a major radiance boost. “This is one of the only clay masks I’ve used that doesn’t leave my face feeling like a shriveled-up raisin. It cleans pores and leaves my skin feeling baby soft,” says Balsamo.

Best Exfoliator

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Dr. Loretta Resurfacing Enzyme Polish

Part scrub, part mask, this resurfacing treatment featuring pomegranate enzyme is a professional facial in a tube. “I love how this combines physical and chemical exfoliators to really smooth and resurface skin but without causing irritation or damaging the skin barrier,” Balsamo says.

Best Face Oil

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Clover by Clove + Hallow Balancing Oil

A face oil designed to control excess oil production sounds counterintuitive, but this blend of squalane, organic argan oil, organic black cumin seed oil, and organic rosehip oil does exactly that. It is anti-inflammatory and helps regulate your skin’s sebum production to balance breakout-prone skin. “It has very few ingredients, which I really like—plus, it absorbs easily and does not leave a greasy residue on skin,” says Dr. Wechsler.

Best Eye Cream

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Maya Chia The Advanced Eye Response Complex

“This eye cream is absolutely full of vitamins and actives—like encapsulated retinol, peptides, and amino acids—to nourish the delicate skin around my eyes,” says Berry, adding that the formula is “fantastic for helping smooth fine lines and wrinkles.”

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Fannie Schiavoni dress. Kloto earrings.

The best clean bodycare

Best Body Lotion

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Naturopathica Manuka Honey Creamy Body Lotion

“This lotion moisturizes very well, rubs in easily, and has manuka honey in it, which is a natural ingredient I love,” says Dr. Wechsler. FYI, manuka honey is a natural humectant, which means it attracts water to the skin to provide a hydrating effect—plus, it's packed with amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. And on top of that, the carton this body moisturizer comes in is made from 100 percent post-consumer waste recycled paper.”

Best Body Oil

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Mara Sea Sculpt Body Oil

This luxe formula checks all the right boxes when it comes to the perfect body oil. “I like it because it moisturizes well, absorbs quickly, and comes in an eco-friendly glass bottle,” Dr. Wechsler says. Not only does this look and feel ultra luxe, “it’s great for smoothing, firming, and nourishing skin thanks to marine actives like kelp sea oil and plankton,” adds Balsamo.

Best Body Serum

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HOUSE OF GRŌ Touch Hydrating Body Serum

Now 28% Off

This body serum dispenses a premium combination of organic oils and plant-based actives (like tremella and chaga mushroom extracts) via a roller applicator to nourish and smooth bel0w-the-chin skin. “Extra points for the brand’s commitment to responsible ingredient sourcing too,” Swei says.

Best Body Wash

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Youth to the People Superfood + Niacinamide Body Cleanser

“I love everything about this body wash—the light fluffy lather, the fresh, woodsy scent, and the way the formula (it’s packed with antioxidants and gentle, plant-based surfactants) makes my skin feel clean and soft,” Balsamo says. Also, the bottle is huge, so it’ll last you for months.

Best Body Bar

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Organic ground coffee gives this olive-oil- and shea-butter-based bar its delightfully scrubby texture. Body bars tend to be better for the environment “and this one cleanses well and smells delicious with its combination of coffee and mint,” Dr. Wechsler says.

Best Body Exfoliator

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Nécessaire The Body Peel

Leave it to Nécessaire to create a body exfoliator that’s clean, derm-approved, and housed in an eco-friendly cardboard box and bio-resin bottle. This is an excellent, nonirritating body chemical exfoliator with a 12 percent blend AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs, says Dr. Wechsler. It’s great for smoothing your skin texture, nixing rough, dry patches of skin, and treating ingrowns and KP.

Best Body Sunscreen

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Native Unscented Body Sunscreen SPF 30

Swei loves Native’s simple and effective approach to the formulation of this SPF 30 body sunscreen. “The 20 percent zinc oxide has superior EWG safety scores and is an excellent option for natural protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays,” he says.

Best Hand Cream

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Tenoverten The Cocoon

This plant-based formula tackles dry skin and cracked cuticles without any of the questionable ingredients commonly used in hand creams, like petroleum jelly, silicones, or lanolin. “I love the thick, velvety texture of this cream. I keep one on my nightstand, one in my car, and another in my tote bag so my hands are always nice and moisturized,” Balsamo says.

Best Deodorant

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Nez Workout Sesh Deodorant

“This is the best natural deo I’ve ever used,” says Balsamo. “It actually stops odor and minimizes dampness under my arms. And unlike many natural deos I’ve tried, it doesn’t cause irritation or get all clumpy during the day.”

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Cajalearrings.

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Ninfa earrings.

The best clean makeup

Best Mascara

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Victoria Beckham Beauty Vast Lash Mascara

The attention to every detail—including a nourishing, easy-to-remove formula, curved wand that fans out every lash, and sustainable tube made from 100 percent recycled glass—makes for mascara that’s both elevated and a little type-A (in a good way). “It’s a total game changer! The formula gives both length and volume without clumping and it stays put all day without smudging,” Berry says.

Best Eyeshadow

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Merit Solo Shadow

An eyeshadow brush or clean fingers work equally well when applying these cream-to-powder shadows that boast skin-smoothing peptides. “I’m very into these matte shades and love how blendable they are,” Denno says.

Best Eyeliner

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This waterproof, plant-derived pencil was dreamed up by a Hollywood makeup artist, but it’s made for real life. The shades are versatile (there are six in total) and the opposite end of the pencil has a handy blending tool to create a variety of looks. “It’s a smudgy formula that gets me that sultry, smoky eye look. It’s easy to blend, stays put, and adds the perfect touch of drama to my eyes,” Berry says.

Best Brow Product

ILIA In Frame Brow Gel

This brow gel’s precision brush makes application foolproof, says Berry—whether you’re combing it through clean brows or using it to set a powder or pencil. And the lightweight formula “makes brows look perfectly polished without flaking or getting stiff like other clear brow gels I’ve used in the past,” Balsamo says.

Best Blush

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RMS Beauty ReDimension Hydra Powder Blush

Without a doubt, this is the best clean blush on the market, Denno raves. “This formula hugs the skin rather than just sitting on top like so many other powder blush do,” she says. It is talc-free and has a creamy texture thanks to a sugar-derived gelling agent and ingredients like organic jojoba oil. The range of 10 shades is “exactly what I need as a makeup artist, but I also love wearing each of them myself,” Denno says.

Best Bronzer

LYS Beauty No Limits Cream Bronzer Stick

This stick formula is “super easy to use” and glides on without the streakiness that’s common with a lot of other cream bronzers, Denno says. She notes it also plays well with other makeup products, like foundation or blush, and comes in shades not typically offered by other brands. “It’s so popular with influencers because it’s an amazing formula—creamy and so pigmented! It instantly brings depth and dimension to my makeup,” adds Berry.

Best Highlighter

Westman Atelier Liquid Super Loaded

Blend a drop or two along the tops of your cheekbones or mix a drop or two with your go-to face moisturizer for the most stunning dewy look. It gives skin a natural-looking glow “without being too glittery,” says Berry, “and the formula is smooth, easy to apply, and adds the perfect touch of radiance.”

Best Lipstick

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Jane Iredale ColorLuxe Hydrating Cream Lipstick

How much lipstick do you ingest every year? It’s a question that makes you appreciate a high-pigment, plant-butter- and botanical-infused formula from a pioneer in clean beauty and a brand that provides ingredient transparency. “The color payoff is fantastic, the formula is creamy, and it feels so luxurious on my lips. Long-lasting and bold!” Berry says.

Best Lip Gloss

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Saie Glossybounce High-Shine Hydrating Lip Gloss Oil

High-shine lippies can often be too sticky or gloppy, but this hydrating formula feels like a cross between a comfy balm and a hydrating oil. It’s petroleum-free and packed with good-for-you hydrators like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and jojoba oil. “It has such a pretty glassy finish with a texture that’s wearable and doesn’t disappear in 10 minutes,” Denno says.

Best Lip Pencil

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Jones Road The Lip Pencil

The oldest trick in the book for fuller, plumper-looking lips is to use a lip liner that matches your exact lip color—aka your perfect neutral. No surprise these creamy lip pencils from the queen of natural-looking makeup Bobbi Brown are a dream lip base and come in an inclusive shade range of eight neutral shades. “The lip pencil is subtle and consistent with great wear,” Watkins says.

Best Lip Balm

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Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm

This balm, which comes in multiple colors and clear, “has a glowy finish that make my lips shine,” says Berry. “It’s amazing for using as an overnight lip mask too.”

Best Concealer

Kulfi Main Match Concealer

Not only is Berry a fan of this clean concealer’s extensive shade range, she has nothing but high praise for the formula too. “It covers imperfections seamlessly and feels so lightweight. I love how it brightens my under-eye area, giving me an instant refreshed look,” she adds.

Best Skin Tint

Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint

Skin tints are having a moment, and this pick from Summer Fridays is hands-down one of the most popular selections of 2024. “The perfect balance of hydration and coverage, this formula gives my skin a natural glow, evens out my complexion, and feels so light. A must-have for that fresh, no-makeup look!” Berry says.

Best Foundation

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MOB Beauty Blurring Ceramide Cream Foundation

Denno is a big fan of this foundation’s eco-friendly packaging and extensive shade range and the fact that it “can be used for light to medium to full coverage, depending on how you apply it.” The formula is so versatile that she uses it as a concealer too.

Best Makeup Primer

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Youthforia Pregame Primer

This lightly tinted silicone- and fragrance-free primer keeps your makeup on lockdown. “Lightweight and an absolute essential in my beauty routine, it creates a silky-smooth canvas for my makeup, blurs imperfections, and helps my foundation stay flawless all day long,” Berry says.

Best Perfume

Ellis Brooklyn Apple Love Eau de Parfum

This clean perfume is phthalate- and paraben-free and contains upcycled and renewable ingredients. And the scent itself? 10/10. “It starts with a bright, juicy apple and transitions with peach, sugar cane, and plum blossom notes. It’s complex and simply beautiful all at the same time, just like New York!” Berry says.

Best Nail Polish

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Sundays Nontoxic Nail Polish

This 10-free formula will reset your expectations for a nontoxic nail polish. “The shades are great and the formula is one of the most long-lasting I’ve tried—I get a solid five days of wear without dulling or chipping on my fingers and two full weeks on my toes,” Balsamo says.

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LaPointe top. Mussels and Muscles earrings. Shannon Bond bracelet. Annika Inez ring.

The best clean hair products

Best Dry Shampoo

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Act+Acre Plant-Based Dry Shampoo

It’s hard to find fragrance-free haircare, but this dry shampoo powder, which has an uncompromising ability to nix excess oil and unwanted odor, fits the bill with its unscented formula. Fragrance is often a hidden source of parabens, Vand says, which can be disruptive to the endocrine system, “so even a lot of ‘clean’ products aren’t as clean as you think with the added fragrance.”

Best Hair Mask

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Pacifica Coco Bond Damage Care Leave-In Mask

Now 22% Off

This vegan and cruelty-free mask helps moisturizes strands and repair the cracks and splits along the cuticle for hair that’s smoother, stronger, and more resistant to breakage. It’s a leave-in formula (a little bit goes a long way, so you’ll want to use it sparingly at first, says Cavalcante) that’s free of parabens, phthalates, SLS, mineral oil, sulfates, and silicones.

Best Leave-In Conditioner

Ceremonia Guava Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner

Craving deep hydration and serious smoothing benefits? Look no further than this leave-in conditioner that’s powered by natural ingredients like guava fruit extract, blue agave extract, and avocado oil. It leaves hair soft and tackles frizz without weighing strands down, says Cavalcante.

Best Repairing Treatment

Davines Heart of Glass Instant Bonding Glow

This repairing serum is technically for blondes, but it’s honestly ideal for anyone with color-treated or overprocessed hair thanks to a blend of strand-strengthening, bond-repairing, and shine-boosting ingredients. The lightweight, rinse-out formula is particularly effective for fine, frizzy hair, Cavalcante says. “Additionally, the bottle is crafted from 99 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, further contributing to sustainability,” he says.

Best Co-Wash

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Maria Nila Coils & Curls Co-Wash

According to Watkins, Maria Nila products—this top-rated co-wash included—are excellent for curls, coils, and wavy textures. Ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and aloe vera in the formula work together to simultaneously cleanse and condition both your hair and scalp.

Best Shampoo

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Uni Hydrating Shampoo

This shampoo sets itself apart by being vegan, gluten-free, and alcohol-free, says Cavalcante—plus, the rich, thick texture and gentle cleansing agents don’t strip away your hair’s natural oils while you wash. The recyclable and refillable aluminum bottle is a nice eco-friendly touch too.

Best Conditioner

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Natureofthings Hair Condition Concentrate

The lightweight yet ultra-moisturizing formula can be used on a wide variety of hair types and provides lasting protection and hydration, Watkins says. “It inserts a sense of ritualization to any hair routine with its potent, bioactive plant formula that only takes 90 seconds to work on the hair.”

Best Shampoo for Curly or Coily Hair

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Salwa Petersen Chébé Hydrating Shampoo

Chébé seeds grown on a regenerative farm in Chad are the star ingredient in this nourishing, sulfate-free shampoo, which also features argan oil to address textured hair. Founder Salwa Petersen “is bringing rituals from Chad to the masses,” says Watkins.

Best Conditioner for Curly or Coily Hair

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Authentic Beauty Concept Hydrate Conditioner

“I can confidently say that this paraben- and silicone-free conditioner is the best I’ve used in the last few years,” says Cavalcante, who notes that it leaves his clients’ hair incredibly soft without any heaviness, and it has a pleasant, fresh scent that doesn’t feel overwhelming. “It has a thick consistency that provides excellent slip and effortlessly detangles hair with minimal resistance when I run a wet brush through clients’ hair.”

Best Shampoo Bar

Superzero Hydrating Repair Shampoo Bar for Dry, Damaged Hair & Light Frizz

“We have used this shampoo bar at the salon and noticed softer hair with decreased frizz,” Cavalcante says, noting that an adjustment period may be needed when switching from a traditional shampoo to a bar format. “It also comes with the Shampoo Bar Savior Bag. As the bar gets smaller and breaks up, this bag helps gather the remaining pieces, ensuring none go to waste. It’s a clever addition that minimizes product waste,” Cavalcante says.

Best Heat Protectant

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Rahua Heat Protectant Shield

The organic shea butter and avocado, castor seed, almond, and ungurahua oils in this heat protectant help nourish hair while effectively shielding it from the damaging effects of hot tools. “It’s an important step in a haircare routine to prevent breakage,” Watkins says.

Best Scalp Treatment

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Buildup Detox Spray

All scalps need regular TLC, and this prewash spray makes it easy to get the job done, thanks to acids like BHAs, AHAs, and PHAs. It exfoliates to remove buildup and flakes without being too harsh, and Vand loves the combination of soothing tea tree and clarifying charcoal in the formula too.

Best Hair Oil

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LolaVie Lightweight Hair Oil

Ideal for dry, coarse hair that tends to be frizzy, this oil helps boost shine and hydration with coconut alkanes, Cavalcante says. The naturally derived scent (a bougie blend of herbal, citrus, and woodsy notes) is inspired by founder Jennifer Aniston’s favorite spas.

Best Detangler

Amika The Wizard Silicone-Free Detangling Primer

This silicone-free spray can be used on all hair types and textures (it’s even effective on hair extensions, notes Cavalcante) to nix knots and tangles and make strands feel silky soft. “A standout feature is its heat protection capability, guarding against temperatures up to 450 degrees, while squalane moisturizes and restores elasticity," says Cavalcante. And the presence of sea buckthorn (a superfruit rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and omega-7) “contributes to the overall health of the hair too.”

Best Styling Product

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EVOLVh UltraFlex Hairspray

This water-based hairspray doubles as a UV protectant, dry shampoo, and styler. “Hairsprays are difficult to create and sustain in this very competitive space. This one doesn’t disappoint,” says Watkins. It adds natural volume and shine with botanical oils and tapioca starch.

Best Styling Product for Curls

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Innersense Organic Beauty Quiet Calm Curl Control

“I’m an Innersense fan! The styler is so versatile, great for a multitude of hair textures, and really does give excellent curl control,” Watkins says. Testers love to work it through damp curls before air-drying or diffusing or as a blowout cream for a sleeker style.

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How Cosmopolitan currently defines clean

Right now, the Cosmo beauty team considers clean beauty to include brands and products that are not only effective and rooted in science but that also take people’s and the planet’s well-being into consideration when being developed, manufactured, and sold.

This means they often use the safest, highest-quality ingredients in formulas; utilize packaging that is refillable, recyclable, and/or created with sustainable materials; and are transparent with consumers about their production processes. From a formulation standpoint, you won’t find any potentially harmful or questionable ingredients or groups of ingredients—like the ones outlined below—in any of our winners.

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Chemicals commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics to prevent bacteria growth that may be linked to hormone disruption.

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Typically harsh surfactants commonly used to create foam and lather in cleansers and shampoos that may cause skin and/or scalp irritation.

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Chemicals once widely used to do a variety of things, like make hairspray flexible and nail polish chip-free. Today, due to awareness of the health risks they pose, the phthalates have been greatly reduced in cosmetics except for diethylphthalate (DEP), which is commonly used as a fragrance solvent and fixative.

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Moisturizing ingredients that, when not properly refined, can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which are associated with certain cancers.

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Potential skin irritants commonly found in antiperspirants.

Attention Clean Beauty Lovers: These Are the Best Products of 2024 (90)

A mineral found in many powder-based cosmetics that could potentially be contaminated with asbestos and has been linked to skin irritation.

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While any SPF is better than no SPF, most clean experts agree that mineral sunscreens made with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide are the safer choice because some chemical SPF filters have been linked to toxicity and potential hormone disruption.

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A preservative found in nail hardeners, soaps, and hair-smoothing products that’s associated with skin, eye, and respiratory irritation as well as asthma.

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A class of chemicals that function as surfactants, emulsifiers, or pH adjusters and are associated with skin irritation and allergies.

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Chemicals used to extend a product’s shelf life or protect against UV light that are linked to endocrine disruption and may be carcinogenic.

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A synthetic antioxidant commonly used as a preservative in lipsticks, eyeliner, and moisturizers that may cause skin irritation.

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    Attention Clean Beauty Lovers: These Are the Best Products of 2024 (97)

    Patricia von Musulinearrings and bracelet.

    Our methodology

    June 2023: Cosmo’s team of beauty editors and contributors begins researching and testing brands, products, and formulations that meet our current clean beauty criteria.

    September 2023: Cosmo beauty editors and contributors nominate 480 product finalists across 60 different categories, including hair, skin, and makeup.

    October 2023: Product finalists in each category send samples to our curated panel of clean beauty experts for their unbiased analysis and honest review.

    December 2023: Cosmo beauty editors and contributors comb through data from our experts to identify a winning product for all 60 categories.

    February 2024: We share the winners and our experts’ thoughts on clean beauty with you!

    Why trust Cosmopolitan?

    Erica Metzger is a freelance beauty editor, writer, and brand consultant with 19 years of experience in print and digital media. Metzger is founder of The Beauty Loop, an industry newsletter, and Virtual Beauty Closet, a digital space for new beauty launches.

    Photographer: Christine Hahn. Stylist: Andrea Zendejas. Beauty director: Lauren Balsamo. Digital creative director: Abby Silverman. Senior visual editor: Emily Adar. Senior digital designer: Khadija Horton. Assistant visual editor: Berkeley Brooks. Hair: Luisa Popovic at Forward Artists. Makeup: Tiffany Leigh Patton at Paradis NYC. Manicure: Jazz Style. Models: Symone Lu and Judes Kim at AMR Agency; Azu Nwogu at AMR Agency.

    Typography sourced from Getty Images.

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    Erica Metzger

    Erica Metzger is an established beauty director, freelance writer, brand consultant, and content creator with 19 years of industry experience in print and digital media. She is the founder and editor of The Beauty Loop, a weekly industry newsletter that reaches 600+ beauty journalists and PR executives. Previously, Erica was the beauty, fashion, and travel director at Better Homes & Gardens and the beauty director at Ladies’ Home Journal, along with its MIN-award winning beauty blog Gloss Daily. She has written for Allure, Women’s Health, NY Magazine’s The Strategist, The Zoe Report, O Daily, Refinery29, Seventeen, Shape, and Martha Stewart Living. Erica has also appeared on GMA, TODAY, E! News, and ABC News as a beauty expert. She lives in Forest Hills, NY with her husband and two daughters.

    Attention Clean Beauty Lovers: These Are the Best Products of 2024 (2024)
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