You’ve been asking for it, and we’re finally tackling the rather large topic of the best non-toxic skincare brands! This topic is near and dear to our hearts, as what we put onto our skin is almost as important as what we eat and drink, due to the skin’s absorbent nature.
That’s why some medications are offered in patches; the skin literally drinks up the medicine, which goes directly into the bloodstream, organs, and systems. The challenge with finding the best non-toxic skincare brands isn’t a lack of variety, but the blatant greenwashing and lack of regulation in the beauty industry.
This makes it tricky to discern what ingredients are truly non-toxic, clean, and safe for your skin and body.
Fortunately, we live for this kind of research and have spent hours poring over the ingredients in the trendy non-toxic skincare brands, up-and-comers, and established brands to bring you this list of the best non-toxic skincare brands. Keep reading to learn more…
Note: This article contains affiliate links, meaning In On Around will make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us maintain the site. As always, we value full transparency & only work with brands we love and trust.
Author: In On Around Founder & CEO, Catherine Power.
- Published On:
- Updated On: October 6, 2025
Summary:
- The non-toxic skincare industry is booming, but regulations surrounding the terms “non-toxic”, “natural”, and “clean” are lacking.
- Unfortunately, many self-proclaimed “clean skincare” brands contain less-than-clean ingredients.
- This means it’s up to consumers to advocate for themselves and vet products and ingredients for purity and safety.
- We’ve spent hours poring over the new, established, and up-and-coming non-toxic skincare brands to bring you our top luxury and budget-friendly picks.
Table of Contents
Why “Non-Toxic” Or “Clean” Labeling Can Be Misleading On Skincare Products
The skincare and beauty industries are very loosely regulated in terms of ingredients, claims, and labeling, especially in the United States. This is why so many skincare products can get away with selling toxic formulas marketed as safe, effective, and even “clean”.
It’s also catalyzed the explosive growth of clean, organic, natural, and non-toxic skincare products.
People have (thankfully) clued in about these harmful ingredients, and they’re actively seeking safer alternatives.
However, many of the same regulatory issues plague the non-toxic skincare space, including the use of the terms “non-toxic”, “clean”, “natural”, and even “organic”, all of which are open to interpretation.
So, do these labels actually mean anything?
Yes. The good news is, there are transparent companies dedicated to making truly natural, clean, organic, and non-toxic skincare products. However, it’s up to us as consumers to know enough to decode labels and decipher which products are truly non-toxic versus greenwashed.
It also helps to know what the terms mean, even if they’re loosely defined.
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What’s The Difference Between Clean, Organic, Natural, And Non-Toxic Skincare Products?
Although these terms are poorly regulated, “clean”, “organic”, “natural”, and “non-toxic” all should relate to products made with safer, more natural ingredients.
Here’s a general but more detailed description of what each term implies:
Clean
“Clean” is typically used to describe skincare products that may contain natural ingredients— like plant extracts, naturally-derived ingredients—like foaming agents from coconuts, and even some synthetic ingredients derived from natural sources—such as squalene, vitamin C, or alpha lipoic acid.
Organic
This term is one of the most regulated, and products stating they are “certified organic” must contain at least 95% certified organic ingredients, so that’s a good thing!
However, some brands may try to skirt this by including verbiage like “made with organic ingredients”, which could mean slightly less than 95% organic or 1% organic, so read labels closely.
As a side note, I prioritize brands that contain organic ingredients, but also understand some non-organic ingredients are fine, such as wild-crafted herbs, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, beeswax, honey, and sustainably-sourced oils, for example.
Bottom line: Look for organic, but understand that some ingredients either cannot be sourced organically or are better off being sustainably sourced/wild-crafted.
Natural
The term “natural” is one of the most overused terms, meaning different things to different brands.
Fortunately, regulators and industry watchdogs have been cracking down on this term, but it’s still frequently misused. Used honestly, a “natural” skincare product would contain only ingredients from nature and no synthetics.
Used deceptively, “natural” skincare products may contain a limited number of natural or naturally-derived ingredients in a predominantly synthetic formula.
Non-Toxic
Non-toxic is used similarly to “clean” and refers to products that contain safe and gentle ingredients sourced from nature, naturally-derived, or synthetics derived from natural substances, like coconuts or corn.
Unfortunately, the definition of “non-toxic” ingredients is debatable, leading many brands to modify their labeling to “low-tox” or “human-safe”.
For example, someone might argue that a natural soap isn’t truly non-toxic because it could make you sick if ingested.
Ultimately, skincare brands labeled “non-toxic” focus on safer ingredients, all or most of which are from natural sources.
Finally, many, but not all, clean, natural, non-toxic, and/or organic skincare brands focus on eco-friendly packaging, sustainable and ethical sourcing, and recycling.
10 Toxic Skincare Ingredients To Watch Out For
There are literally thousands of skincare ingredients to watch out for, many of which are unregulated by the FDA, banned in the EU, and have studies showing they are harmful or potentially harmful to people or animals, or have never been tested for safety, period.
The great thing about buying non-toxic skincare products is that good companies have already weeded out the harmful ingredients for you (because who has the brain space to memorize thousands of harmful ingredients?!).
There are also consumer safety sites you can use to vet ingredients and brands, like EWG SkinDeep.
That said, here are 10 common toxic skincare ingredients I advise all my clients to watch out for – in conventional and non-toxic/organic/natural/clean skincare products: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
- Parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben): Synthetic preservatives are still common in many brands and linked to prenatal and postnatal development issues and hormonal disruption.
- Formaldehyde-based preservatives (quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea): Known carcinogens as well as skin and lung irritants.
- SLS and SLES: Harsh detergents that can irritate the skin may be contaminated with carcinogenic 1-4 dioxane.
- Fragrance: Proprietary fragrances can contain dozens of undisclosed ingredients, like phthalates, which are potent endocrine (hormonal) disruptors and may contain various other allergens and irritants.
- Natural fragrance: Like natural flavors, “natural” fragrances may be derived from natural sources, but are synthetized to create less-than-natural scents. Research has shown they often contain as many hazardous chemicals as synthetic fragrance, including VOCs.
- Hydroquinone: A skin lightening agent linked to irritation and potential adverse effects on unborn babies.
- PFAS: These forever chemicals may be used in skincare products to create a more slick feel. They lodge themselves in the body and the environment, and are linked to endocrine disruption, developmental toxicity, cancer, and more.
- Oxybenzone & Octinoxate: Found in synthetic sunscreens, these UV filters are hormonal disruptors and may be linked to cancer.
- Triclosan & Triclocarban: Antibacterial agents linked to microbiome and endocrine-disruption. Triclosan is banned in hand soaps, but is still present in some formulas and is also linked to thyroid disruption.
- Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds: These typically come from petroleum and may be contaminated with carcinogenic 1-4 dioxane.
Our Favorite Non-Toxic Skincare Brands
Now that you have the facts, let’s get into the good stuff: our favorite non-toxic skincare brands!
All the brands listed here are free from the toxic skincare ingredients to avoid, plus hundreds of other shady synthetics.
They also have a track record of delivering exceptional results, which, honestly, is where a lot of natural or non-toxic brands fall short.
Since everyone’s skincare budget is different, we’ve rated them in two categories: luxe and more affordable brands.
The luxury clean skincare brands are an investment due to their higher-ticket ingredients, including precious essential oils, enzymes, natural acids, and plant extracts.
These may be worth the cost if you can afford them and you have a challenging skin issue that more basic formulas aren’t addressing.
However, I encourage you not to judge a brand solely by its price point.
Many of my clients (and I!) have gotten fantastic results using the budget brands or a combination of the two. So, like all skincare, it may require some experimentation to find the right combination of products for your skin type and needs.
Also, some luxury brands offer products ranging from $20 to well over $100, so be sure to take a look before you brush them off (no pun intended).
The Best Luxury Non-Toxic Skincare Brands
Please note, these are not listed in order of “best, better, etc.” We like all these brands and recommend them wholeheartedly.
As mentioned previously, be sure to browse the brands, as many of their products are reasonably affordable, while others are more pricey.
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Fount Society Water Cream Moisturizer (20% Off: inonaround20)
Gel moisturizer that's hydrating and plumps skin. -
Fount Society Hydrating Serum (20% Off: inonaround20)
Restorative serum to help plump dehydrated skin. -
Fount Society Balancing Face Mist (20% Off: inonaround20)
Rosewater mist to hydrate and balance the skin.
Use code INONAROUND20 for 20% off.
Fount Society is another excellent luxury brand with clean, innovative ingredients and a strong environmental commitment.
Why we like it:
- It’s more affordable than other luxury brands and offers subscriptions
- It contains unique ingredients that perform well
- They have certifications to back up their “clean” claims
- Leaping Bunny Certified cruelty-free
- No synthetic fragrances
- Non-GMO
- Made and manufactured in the United States (Utah)
- The products smell great, even without synthetic or natural fragrance
- They have a variety of products for different skin types
- They practice ethical sourcing, including supporting sustainable agriculture, respecting indigenous rights in ingredient sourcing
- They’re transparent about the ingredients they don’t use (found here)
- Products are vegan
If you’re looking for a clean skincare brand priced between luxe and affordable, Fount Society is highly recommended.
Use code INONAROUND10 for 10% off.
Osea is one of the OG clean beauty brands, was founded by a mother-daughter duo, and has been in business since 1996.
Their products are formulated with seaweeds, which are a rich source of trace minerals and well-known for benefiting various skin types.
They’re also ultra-committed to sustainability and totally vegan.
Why we like it:
- Products range in price from affordable to luxe, meaning there’s something for everyone
- Wide range of products for all skin types
- Their formulas are very unique due to the seaweeds and algae/algal extracts used, which are great for anti-aging, dry skin, and other skin issues
- They offer face and body care products
- They maintain an internal database of over 30,000 ingredients they avoid and publish their “free of” list here“
- They conduct clinical studies to test the efficacy of their products (learn more here)
- One of the first skincare brands to be The Climate Label Certified through The Change Climate Project.
- Vegan certified by PETA
- Products made in the USA
- Cruelty Free-certified by Leaping Bunny
- The first Ocean Responsible verified beauty brand
- There’s a subscribe and save option
- Their website has a helpful “build your routine” quiz, which makes choosing the best products easy
Like Fount Society, this is another excellent brand that’s between luxe and affordable, and definitely worth a try.
Agent Nateur was born from the founder’s struggle with endometriosis, which forced her to start making her own high-quality skincare products free from hormone-disruptors and other toxic ingredients.
Their line is more expensive than others, but they offer really unique formulas, made with vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, and cool, naturally-derived actives, like Calcium Ketogluconate, a French-patented natural molecule that helps plump fine lines, give a natural lift, and restore elasticity and Leucojum aestivum bulb extract, which slows muscle contraction, reducing the appearance of wrinkles (cool, huh?).
Why we like it:
- In our experience, the products work as advertised, provided you’re consistent
- This brand contains some really unique ingredients and actives not found in other brands
- It’s free from the ingredients mentioned above to avoid
- They offer an extensive collection of products, including skincare, body care, hair care, beauty supplements, travel, deodorants, sunscreen, hair growth serum, and makeup
- They work with European labs to rigorously test products for purity and performance
If you’re used to using high-powered conventional skincare products and treatments, Agent Nateur offers one of the best comparable alternatives.
The only thing I don’t love is that their website isn’t very transparent about their “no list” or third-party certifications.
However, after reviewing all the ingredients in their skincare products, they meet our non-toxic standards.
This brand offers an excellent retinol alternative along with a range of other clean skincare products suitable for all skin types.
Herbivore walks the line between luxe and affordable, with a few products being over $60.00, but it really does have something for everyone.
Why we like it:
- Products have received impressive awards, like the Glamour Readers’ Choice Beauty Award for Best Natural Skin Care Product
- Well-known for their natural retinol alternative made with Bakuchiol, an Ayurvedic herbal extract
- Wide variety of skincare products
- Ethical sourcing and sustainably-harvested ingredients
- Palm oil used in bar soaps comes only from RSPO-certified sources
- Most ingredients come from the United States
- Natural preservatives
- 100% natural colors and scents
- Made with 99% natural ingredients
- EWG Verified
- Leaping Bunny Certified cruelty-free
- 100% vegan
- FSC Certified packaging
- 30-day money-back guarantee for products purchased from their site
Ursa Major is a clean skincare company out of Vermont with very cool, botanically-based formulas and a deep commitment to sustainability, as well as high-quality ingredients.
Their products are on the more affordable side of luxury.
Why we like it:
- Products contain a nice combination of botanicals, plant oils, and natural enhancers, like hyaluronic acid
- Ethically-sourced ingredients
- They have a wide variety of skin care, body care, deodorant, sunscreen, and hair care products
- Certified B Corp
- Free samples
- Products for men and women
- 83% of products are in glass or aluminum
- Helpful skincare quizzes to make selection easier
- Recycling program with Pact Collective
- Leaping Bunny Certified cruelty-free
- Free returns
- Certified plastic negative
The Best Affordable Non-Toxic Skincare Brands
Clean and non-toxic skincare products don’t have to cost a fortune.
In fact, some of our favorite brands are made from ultra-simple, clean ingredients, and work brilliantly.
Here are some of our faves.
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Beauty By Earth Bakuchiol Toner (12% Off: inonaround)
A retinol alternative. Learn more in bakuchiol article. -
Beauty By Earth Facial Oil (12% Off: inonaround)
Glowing facial oil that's lightweight and hydrating. -
Beauty By Earth Eye Cream (12% Off: inonaround)
Helps to brighten the under eye and reduce dark circles.
Use code INONAROUND for 12% off.
Beauty by Earth is a unique brand in that they offer non-toxic self-tanners tinted with a form of DHA derived from non-GMO sugar beets (how cool is that!).
They also offer great sun care and after-sun care products, as well as your skincare basics. We’re fans!
- Naturally-derived DHA from non-GMO sugar beets
- Products contain mostly certified organic ingredients
- No synthetic colors
- No synthetic fragrance
- No SLS/SLES
- No parabens
- Certified cruelty-free
- Many products are vegan, with some using beeswax and boar hair
- Available through Amazon
- Affordably priced
- Subscription savings up to 55%
- Wide variety of products for sun, skin, hair, and self-tanning
An oldie but a goodie, Dr. Bronner’s has been making 100% pure, natural, toxin-free all-purpose castile soap products for over 100 years.
If your parents were hippies or health-conscious, chances are, you grew up with Dr. Bronner’s!
This brand is super versatile and has stayed true to their original formula and mission, with the exception of some products containing natural fragrance (avoid those ones).
We also love their baby soap, which is naturally fragrance-free and awesome for a low-tox lifestyle.
Why we like it:
- They’ve been around forever and have a stellar reputation
- The liquid castile soap is extremely versatile and can be diluted and used on your skin, hands, hair, pets, babies, dishes, laundry, and as a base for natural, DIY cleaners
- Most products are vegan
- Most products are certified organic
- No synthetic preservatives
- No synthetic surfactants or foaming agents like SLS/SLES, etc.
- Regenerative organic certified coconut oil, and they’re working for more ROC certifications
- Primary ingredients are Fair For Life Certified (fair trade)
- Non-GMO Project verified
- They offer fragrance-free products scented with pure essential oils, and naturally-fragranced products
- We’d only recommend the fragrance-free and those scented using pure essential oils
- They also offer fluoride-free toothpastes, which are ultra-clean
- Bar soaps can be used for face and body, reduce single-use plastic, and last a long time
- Leaping Bunny Certified Cruelty-free
- 100% post-consumer plastic
- Carton refills
- Simple ingredients
Dr Bronner’s is a great option for families looking to buy in bulk and save on natural skin care, hair care, hand care, and cleaning products.
Use code INONAROUND for 15% off.
Earth Harbor is a more affordable plant-and-ocean-based brand founded by a toxicologist + herbalist.
Their products have clean ingredients, innovative formulas, and a great variety of cleansers, toners, moisturizers, masks, serums, and more.
Why we like it:
- The line focuses on organic, high-performing, food-grade, and upcycled ingredients
- The founder is big on research, so the ingredients are highly functional as well as safe and natural
- Free from over 2,700 other questionable chemicals found in the beauty industry— including all 1,300+ banned in the EU
- Formulas contain plant oils, seaweeds, salts, and earth
- Wide variety of clean products for all skin types
- Affordable compared to competitors
- Certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- All ingredients are certified organic, non-GMO, and/or wildcrafted
- 100% recyclable/reusable plastic-negative packaging with reclaimed ocean plastic, carbon-negative offset
- Ethical sourcing
- Free and easy 30-day returns
We also really like the packaging of this product line; it just feels fun, clean, and fresh.
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Primally Pure Citrus + Mint Body Butter (10% Off: inonaround10)
Nourishing body butter with grass-fed tallow. -
Primally Pure Oily Acne Cleansing Oil (10% Off: inonaround10)
Dissolves skin impurities without being drying. -
Primally Pure Blue Tansy Body Oil (10% Off: inonaround10)
Blue-hued body oil to soothe irritated skin.
Use code INONAROUND10 for 10% off.
If you’re into regenerative agriculture and clean skincare, Primally Pure may be your perfect match.
Unlike most other clean skincare companies, they offer a plant and animal-based line, rooted in their founders’ background as a regenerative organic farmer and rancher. Think, botanicals plus tallow, or tree bark extracts plus beeswax.
Their deodorants are legendary, and the rest of their line is clean and affordable with a cult-like following.
Why we like it:
- The products are very unique and work incredibly well
- All formulas are super clean and free from all the previously discussed ingredients to watch out for
- Products are scented only with pure essential oils
- They have a variety of very effective deodorants
- They offer a variety of bar-cleansers, which cut down on waste
- Affordable for the quality
- They offer a wide variety of skin, hair, and body care products, including clean sunscreen
- Tallow is only sourced from farms that can prove they follow ethical and sustainable practices
- They prioritize working with regenerative organic farms
- Honey and beeswax used are only harvested in seasons when there’s plenty of excess produced
- Products for men and women
- They have a recycling program through Pact Collective
- Most products are in glass or recycled containers
- Made in the USA
- 100% happiness guarantee
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Toups & Co Unscented Tallow Balm (10% Off Link)
Made of 100% grass-fed tallow that's whipped into a smooth texture. -
Toups & Co Body Oil (10% Off Link)
Natural oils to moisturize your skin. Not sticky or greasy. -
Toups & Co Face Balm (10% Off Link)
Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and combats the loss of firmness.
Use this link for 10% off
This is another ancestral animal and plant-based skincare company with excellent tallow-based products.
Toups & Co has been around a long time, and their line keeps expanding to encompass pretty much anything you need for face, body, and personal care, plus makeup.
Why we like them:
- They only source from farms and brands that are fair trade and ethical
- Awesome selection of hair, skin, and makeup
- Affordably priced for the quality
- Lots of bar-based cleansers, which save on packaging
- Herbs and botanicals are organically grown or wild-harvested
- Minerals are ethically sourced
- Products for men and women
- Plant oils are cold-pressed or expeller–pressed
- Tallow always comes from grass-fed, grass-finished cows that are regeneratively raised
- Made in the USA
- No GMOs
- No soy
- No gluten
- No silicones
- No EU-banned ingredients
- They publish their own “never list” of ingredients
- They offer a mail-back recycling program to help reduce waste through Pact Collective
Toups & Co. is very similar to Primally Pure, except they also offer makeup. Both their lines are excellent.
Final Thoughts: The Best Non-Toxic Skincare Brands
Switching to non-toxic skincare is one of the most efficient, easy, and practical ways to reduce your toxic load without a lot of sacrifice.
In fact, many of my clients report vast improvements in their skin and overall quality of health simply from switching to non-toxic skincare. It can be that profound!
You can find all these awesome non-toxic skincare products in the In On Around Shop, including the discount codes.
What are your favorite natural, organic, or non-toxic skincare products?
Tell me about it in the comments below, and we’ll update this article as new brands and information become available.
What’s your favorite brand from the list?
Let me know your thoughts and key takeaways in the comments below!
xoxo,
Want to read more? Check out our other articles here!
Other references on Non-Toxic Skincare Brands from: EWG: The Toxic Twelve Chemicals and Contaminants in Cosmetics, Science Direct: Sodium lauryl sulfate and its potential impacts on organisms and the environment, A holistic review on triclosan and triclocarban exposure, Drugs.com: Hydroquinone topical Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings, NIH: Toxicological Profile for 1,4-Dioxane, PMID: 26617461, PMID:21196139, PMID: 30470793, PMID: 32108942, PMID: 35721761
Copyright In On Around LLC 2025 ©. The statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration). They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information provided by this website should not be used as individual medical advice and you should always consult your doctor for individual recommendations and treatment. The information contained in this site is provided on an “as is” basis. Related to this site, there are no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, or timeliness. In On Around LLC assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site.
Frequently Asked Questions – Clean Beauty Brands
Click on the below FAQs to learn more about: Clean Beauty Brands
- There is no single legal or regulatory definition of “clean beauty” in most places, including the US. The term is largely used by brands and marketers.
- Generally, “clean” refers to products formulated to avoid certain ingredients considered potentially harmful (or controversial), and to emphasize safety, transparency, simplicity, and sustainability.
Some commonly excluded ingredients are:
- Parabens (preservatives)
- Phthalates (used in fragrances, plastics)
- Sulfates (especially harsh cleansing ones like SLS/SLES)
- Synthetic fragrances or vague “fragrance/parfum” listings without disclosure
- Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents
- Some “synthetic dyes” or certain preservatives like certain PEGs, etc.
Here are things to look for:
- Full ingredient list (ideally on the label or website), with minimal vagueness (e.g. “fragrance” or “parfum” without more detail is a red flag).
- Ingredient avoidance list / “no-list” on the brand’s website (which ingredients they never use) is a good transparency signal.
- Certifications / third-party verification — e.g. EWG Verified, USDA Organic, COSMOS, ECOCERT, Leaping Bunny (for cruelty-free), etc. These help, but each has its own standards.
- Sustainability and packaging: clean brands often try to use recyclable, minimal, or refillable packaging; avoid unnecessary plastic.
- Cruelty-free or vegan options: many clean brands emphasize they don’t test on animals, and often avoid animal-derived ingredients. But clean ≠ automatically vegan, so check.
- Using “clean,” “natural,” “green,” “organic” as marketing buzzwords without much evidence. These terms are often not regulated.
- Vague ingredient disclosures (e.g. just “fragrance” with no breakdown) so you don’t know what’s inside.
- Over-romanticizing natural = always better. As above, some “natural” ingredients can be irritating, unstable, or ineffective.
- Charging a big premium for small changes or for branding without better efficacy.
- Hiding or glossing over how products are preserved, how shelf life is handled, etc.
