Six Clean Beauty Beauty Brands to Add to Your Makeup Bag

Falling asleep in your makeup after “one” too many espresso martinis is far from ideal. However, with the clean beauty brands we've curated for you, there's a little less guilt involved.

As you aimlessly wander through the aisles of Sephora, the term “clean beauty” might catch your eye. What does it mean? Well, "Clean Beauty" implies that a brand's products are free from harmful chemicals. ⁤⁤However, much like "sustainable" in the fashion world, it often serves as more of a marketing buzzword than a genuine seal of safety. ⁤⁤With no set definition of “clean beauty”, it's up to us to establish our own meaning. ⁤⁤These brands are our true definition of clean beauty, formulated with natural ingredients, committed to eco-friendly practices, and avoid thousands of harmful chemicals. ⁤

Jones Road

Finding clean yet high-performance beauty products was daunting, that is until makeup mogul Bobbi Brown stepped in with Jones Road. Leaving her name brand behind to forge a new path, Brown developed Jones Road with a focus on clean, strategic, and high-grade ingredients. Standing by their clean beauty promise, every formula follows a strict set of guidelines and is free from over 2,700 potentially harmful ingredients.

Images courtesy of Jones Road

With their excellent wear life and versatility, these products can take you from the farmers market to cocktail night with ease. Whether you embrace the full glam or a more natural look, Jones Road caters to every beauty enthusiast.

Merit

Merit Beauty: the solution to your overflowing vanity and bathroom sink. By the mind of Katherine Power, Merit was created to simplify the beauty industry and our makeup routines. Featuring beauty sets like the “5-minute Morning Routine,” and “The Weekday,” Merit highlights their “less is more” philosophy, creating products that are not only safe and effective but also filled with skin-healing vitamins. Merit is an ode to minimalistic beauty, and passes our “clean beauty test” with flying colors.

Images courtesy of Merit

Saie

Blush enthusiasts, take notes. Laney Crowell founded Saie with a vision for a fresher and greener beauty brand—and oh, she delivered. Saie brings a new approach to beauty that is sustainable and planet-conscious, snagging them a well-deserved Glamour beauty award for their “Dew Blush.”

Images courtesy of Saie

Beyond giving you flawlessly rosy cheeks, Saie’s products nourish your skin for long-term health, made with organic dermatologist-tested ingredients and free from harmful chemicals and fragrances.

Axiology

Are you the type of girl who never leaves the house without lip color? You’re not alone. Meet Axiology Beauty, renowned for their multi-use balms and lipsticks made with just nine ethically sourced ingredients. Perfect for your eyes, lips, and face; these balms are rich in antioxidants, natural oils, and butters. And the eco-chic bonus? All their products are plastic-free, artfully packaged in boxes crafted from recycled paper waste by women in Bali.

Images courtesy of Axiology

Exa

In a “Get Ready With Me” video for Glossier, Olivia Rodgrio revealed her go-to foundation is from the esteemed clean beauty brand, Exa. Every product from Exa Beauty is backed by the strict Credo Clean Standard, ensuring they are vegan, cruelty-free, and dermatologist-tested. More than just a clean beauty brand, Exa is dedicated to inclusivity, providing for all skin tones, genders, and incomes.

Courtesy of Exa

Available in 28 shades, their latest product the High Fidelity Brightening Concealer Stick, is designed to nourish and protect your skin's barrier, containing cannabis sativa seed oil and vitamin E. With Exa Beauty, there's no need to be Sour—you can achieve Rodrigo's glowing skin, knowing it's inclusive and skin-safe.

Araza

Introducing the first-ever paleo makeup brand, Araza Beauty, emerged from the wellness journey of two sisters, Linsey and Jen, who sought makeup that was gentle on their skin and crafted from plant-based ingredients. Araza stands for more than beauty—it symbolizes healing and health. Crafted with healthy fats and minerals, Araza’s products aim to nourish your skin and enhance your natural glow. The brand is fully transparent about its formulas, using loving ingredients like natural oils, coconut postbiotics, and mango butter.