At the end of a long, busy day, it can feel like our makeup is weighing down our skin. Many of us who wear makeup rush to remove all the oils, dirt, pollutants, and remnants of our foundation and forming black smudges once we step through the front doors of our homes. However, sometimes makeup can be more resilient than we initially thought and can become difficult to remove or even cause skin irritation from our aggressive efforts to remove that stubborn waterproof mascara or extra flawless foundation. As this is a routine that many across the world undergo every evening, we can notice the harsh effects of makeup cleansers that do not offer the friendlies ingredients or materials through visible skin irritation or drying effects. Many of these chemicals not only can be harmful to your skin but also leave lasting negative impacts on the environment. This is equally as true for the packaging that many of these products come in such as non-biodegradable single-use face wipes or single-use plastics that carry the cleansers that we use almost every day, requiring us to continuously needing to repurchase. 

To combat these not so healthy or positive consequences for our skin and the environment, some have even tapped into historical roots and traditions (although the history of makeup removal processes is understudied) and attempted to use everyday household ingredients like coconut oil or olive oil as cleansers and makeup rooms. But, these ingredients may not be beneficial to all skin types in their cooking forms and can even cause more problems than they solve.  Alternative solutions like water-based makeup removers or cleansers, which were first invented in 1995 by Bioderma, have contributed greatly to the consideration of skin health when removing makeup. With that in mind, consumers now favor skincare products that help maintain the health of their skin through the use of more natural and sustainable ingredients. 

As consumers are actively choosing to make more conscious purchasing decisions, they are also choosing skincare products that are also more sustainable for the planet. These 7 sustainable beauty brands offer makeup removers/ cleansers that are proactively taking part in transforming the skincare industry into becoming safer, healthier, and more sustainable for you and the planet through their conscious products.

1. Ocean Cleansing Milk by OSEA‍

Instagram | @oseamalibu
Based in | United States
Shipping | US, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, United Kingdom, U.S. Outlying Islands
Price Range | $18-54
Certification | Carbon Neutral, Leaping Bunny-Cruelty-free, PETA Vegan Certified

Female-founded, OSEA, offering innovative seaweed-infused skincare, has been involved in making skincare more sustainable since the 90s with the premise that the ocean should be part of everyone’s life. As one of the first climate-neutral certified brands, OSEA continuously implements sustainable initiatives to improve its impact on the environment such as transitioning product tips and pumps to PCR materials and reducing package sizing. The brand also incentives for recycling through its LA Recycling Program where consumers can return their empty product containers. Sustainable practices do not stop at packaging and are apparent in product ingredients that are transparently outlined. Ingredients are naturally derived, chosen for their efficiency, safety, and backed by scientific research. OSEA’s Ocean Cleansing Milk is created with these ingredients, providing a gentle cleanse that melts away dirt to makeup while leaving your skin feeling restored. 

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2. Nourishing Oil Cleanser by Tata Harper‍

Instagram | @tataharperskincare
Based in | United States
Shipping | Worldwide
Price | $88
Certifications | COSMOS Organic by Ecocert, FSC, PETA’s Beauty without Bunnies- Cruelty-free

Tata Harper is a pioneer in natural luxury skincare. They source 300+ organic ingredients from over 68 countries and are free of toxic chemicals. All products come in recyclable glass bottles. Tata Harper holds classes where you can learn about ingredients. These organic ingredients are paramount in the brand’s Nourishing Oil Cleanser which is formulated from 26 high-performance botanical ingredients which are transparently listed on their website. These ingredients provide three key functions in this multivitamin cleansing treatment to provide soft, supple, and healthy-looking skin, including antioxidants and nutrients, smoothen and soften skin texture, and dissolve buildup. 100% of the ingredients used are from natural sources and 62% are from organic farming practices. Ingredients are COSMOS Natural Certified by Ecocert by Greenlife.

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3. Deep Clean Micellar Water by Evolve Organic Beauty

Instagram | @evolvebeautyuk
Based in | United Kingdom
Shipping | Worldwide
Price | £20
Certifications | B Corp, VEGAN Society, COSMOS Organic by Ecocert, Leaping Bunny- Cruelty-free

Evolve Organic Beauty infuses organic into all its clean beauty products that go beyond sustainable beauty to eventually evolve into regenerative products, meaning their impacts are positive for the planet. Already having reached carbon neutrality, Evolve Organic Beauty makes vegan and cruelty-free products that are healthier, greener, and kinder for us and our planet, whose carbon emissions measures are transparently presented along with all ingredients. The brand uses 100% renewable energy and is also plastic-neutral, opting to use recyclable glass bottles. Products are formulated using upcycled ingredients from the food industry such as coconut, sugar cane, maca, raspberry, and avocado. This includes their Deep Clean Micellar Water, a gentle cleanser that also tones your skin through micellar molecules. Ingredients include moringa peptides which help remove micropollutants, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and organic pomegranate seed extract which is packed with antioxidants for clean, clear, radiant skin.

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4. 4-in-1 Essential Face Wipes by Ursa Major

Instagram | @ursamajorvt
Based in | United States
Shipping | Worldwide
Price | $26
Certifications | B Corp, Plastic Neutral Certified, Leaping Bunny

Ursa Major offers a fresh take on natural skincare. They provide clean-formulated and plant-powered products with natural aromas. Ursa Major is continuously putting effort into showing customers natural skin and body care products. These 4-in-1 Essential Face Wipes are composed of bamboo and clean, exfoliate, soothe, and hydrate your skin to leave it fresh, firm, and alive. Clean and vegan, the main, clean ingredients are aloe, sugarcane, green tea, willow bark, birch sap, and sodium hyaluronate, providing various skin benefits with each wipe. Additionally, they are free from petrochemicals, SLS, SLES, parabens, synthetic fragrances or colors, glycols, silicones and/or PEGs.

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5. Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil + Makeup Remover by One Love Organics

Instagram | @oneloveorganics
Based in | United States
Shipping | Worldwide
Price | $42
Certifications | PETA Cruelty-free, COSMOS Organic by Ecocert

Trusting in the healing power of plants, One Love Organics believes in the motto that you can achieve more with less. The brand’s innovative skincare is packed full of vitamins and antioxidants for holistic care with a mission to bring joy back to women’s skincare routines and make them feel like home. They do this without sacrificing the environment, animals, sustainability, and safety. All ingredients serve a specific purpose sans any fillers, bases, or shortcuts. They are directly involved in every step of the production process all the way to packing, which is FSC-Certified and 30% post-consumer waste or made of glass. Using small-match manufacturing, products are produced locally in Georgia. This is also true for their Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil + Makeup Remover which effectively removes impurities and makeup while supporting the skin’s natural pH balance and moisture barrier. Its ingredients are fully fruit-based, including papain for exfoliation and softening, a natural Botanical B complex for detoxing and toning, and pineapple and citrus aroma.

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6. Rose Jelly Gentle Makeup Remover & Hydrating Cleanser by Plenaire

Instagram | @plenaire_official
Based in | United Kingdom
Shipping | UK, Ireland, US, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Portugal
Price | £16-28
Certifications | VEGAN Society

Plenaire aims to provide a moment of self-care to its customers through its skincare products. Sustainability is achieved without compromising the design and experience of its vegan, cruelty-free products which are made locally in the UK and carbon neutral. All packaging is fully recyclable and BPA-free for a healthier environment. Products’ tubes and jars are made from a mixture of BPA- free Polypropylene (PP) and glass and cartons are biodegradable and FSC and PEFC accredited. To minimize its carbon footprint caused by shipping, all packs are compact without liners as well as fully recyclable. Furthermore, to reduce to confusion and stress caused by recycling, Plenaire has introduced a closed-loop recycling partnership with Handle Recycling, which reuses packaging materials. Rose Jelly Gentle Makeup Remover & Hydrating Cleanser is one of Plenaire’s sustainability-based self-care skincare products that hope to create a positive relationship with your skin. It rapidly dissolves makeup, refreshes and tones skin, and has a non-irritating, gentle formula.

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7. Makeup Remover Wipes by RMS Beauty

Instagram | @rmsbeauty
‍Based in | United States
‍Shipping | US and Canada
Price | $2-22
Certifications | PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies- Cruelty-free

RMS Beauty was founded in 2008 by Rose-Marie Swift, a globally-renowned makeup artist. They have been since creating high-performing cosmetic products made from food-grade organic ingredients, making clean beauty effortless. raw, food grade, organic, wildcrafted, and natural, ingredients are made to show love to your skin and the environment, and free of parabens, gluten, synthetic fragrances, GMOs, sulfate, phthalates, and talc. RMS Beauty promotes transparency of all ingredients and quality as well as circularity in its PCR packaging on its mission for a more sustainable future. The brand’s Makeup Remover Wipes are included in its line of clean beauty products which offer consumers a clean way to unwind after a long day. Wipes are fully biodegradable and contain lauric and caprylic acids from coconut oil to add natural antifungal and antibacterial properties. Cartons are made from 80% post-consumer recycled paper.

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If you are interested in discovering more conscious skincare brands, check out our Brand on Our Radar - ConsiderBeyond Directory, where you can discover sustainable brands from all over the world curated by ConsiderBeyond. Through the ConsiderBeyond App (IOS and Android), you can find local brands in your area or easily look for conscious brands during your travels! We actively aim to empower our Conscious Community members to keep learning more about conscious products and lifestyle tips through the ConsiderBeyond Newsletter where you can receive recommendations directly to your inbox twice a month!