Ethical Skincare Products
Which skincare brands are the most ethical and sustainable? For the answer, see our Ethical Skincare comparison table to compare brands’ ethical scores.
Cleaning up skincare
Skincare is often the first thing we do in the morning and the last thing we do at night. For many of us, skincare is a big part of our self-care routines and a crucial aspect of a healthy lifestyle. With the skincare market growing rapidly and social media driving awareness of new ingredients and trends, consumers are more tuned in to the health of their skin than ever before. Choosing natural skincare UK consumers can trust — and avoiding brands that greenwash their credentials — is increasingly important as the market expands. With all the skincare publicity, it comes as no surprise that greenwashing abounds — many so-called eco skincare brands are not as squeaky clean as they might seem. The GOOD Shopping Guide has been independently researching and rating brands on ethical criteria since 2001, making our comparison tables one of the most trusted resources for sustainable skincare UK choices.
Many skincare products contain ingredients that are harmful to the Environment, Animals, and People, and their laboratory practices are not always ethical or vegan. There is also a growing problem with greenwashing — vague sustainability claims that do not reflect real ethical practices. When it comes to skincare ingredients, there are a few that cause particular environmental concern. The UK Government’s REACH chemicals regulation provides a framework for assessing the safety of substances used in consumer products like skincare — a useful reference when evaluating brand ingredient claims.
Another growing concern is the presence of microplastics in skincare products. While the UK banned rinse-off microbeads in 2018, leave-on skincare products can still contain liquid polymers and synthetic plastic particles that wash down the drain and accumulate in waterways, harming aquatic life and entering the food chain. Choosing natural, organic skincare brands that avoid synthetic polymers is one of the most effective ways to reduce your personal contribution to microplastic pollution. The Plastic Soup Foundation’s ‘Beat the Microbead’ app allows consumers to scan products and identify microplastic ingredients — a practical tool for ethical shoppers.
How to find vegan skincare products
Many non-vegan skincare products are still tested on animals. You can learn more about the issues with animal testing in our Ethical Makeup article to understand more about The GOOD Shopping Guide’s firm opposition to animal testing.
Moreover, many skincare products are made with animal-derived materials, making them unsuitable for vegans. Look out for non-vegan ingredients in your skincare products, such as collagen, honey, beeswax, lanolin, and silk. Cruelty-free means a product and its ingredients were not tested on animals at any stage. Vegan skincare goes further by avoiding all animal-derived ingredients. Trusted certifications from organisations like The Vegan Society are useful indicators that products meet these criteria. The best option for addressing animal welfare issues within the skincare sector is to buy vegan skincare products from ethical skincare brands. For a full breakdown of how we assess brands across environmental, animal welfare and people criteria, visit our How We Rate page.
Fortunately, our Ethical Skincare comparison table shows you all the options to make the most sustainable purchase, including ethical skincare brands offering a range of vegan skincare products. By comparing your favourite brands on how they score in our table, you can choose the best ethical skincare brands UK consumers can trust for their skincare routine.
Our findings: Animal testing and the rise of vegan skincare
The GOOD Shopping Guide’s latest research into the skincare sector found that many brands are still testing their products on animals, thus contributing to the unethical treatment of millions of animals who are subjected to lab experiments.
All brands found to test on animals, either directly or through their parent company, have received a bottom rating under our Animal Welfare category. This includes popular brands such as Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, Nivea, and CeraVe, but unfortunately there are many more. If you are concerned about buying products that have been tested on animals, avoid brands that received a bottom rating under Animal Welfare.
On the bright side, research from The GOOD Shopping Guide also found that vegan skincare is on the rise. Many brands are now offering a range of clean skincare UK options for consumers who care about animal cruelty. To find vegan skincare products, look for companies that have received a top rating under our Vegetarian/Vegan category. You can look for logos from The Vegan Society or The Vegetarian Society on their products to ensure they are fully vegan.
Our top picks for the best ethical skincare brands and vegan skincare products
Investing in vegan skincare products is a great way to ensure your skincare routine does not come at the expense of animal welfare. However, it is important to buy vegan skincare products from ethical skincare brands that are not involved in other ethical issues.
We can recommend several ethical skincare brands that have received excellent scores within our research, with many of them offering vegan skincare products. This includes ethical skincare brands that have received our Ethical Accreditation, due to their positive record on ethics and sustainability. To find accredited brands within our table, look out for brands that have our logo displayed next to their rating. Find out more about the benefits of Ethical Accreditation.
There are over 14 accredited skincare brands on our Ethical Skincare comparison table, many with perfect scores of 100. These include Fushi Wellbeing, Green People, Odylique and Tropic Skincare — all of which achieve top scores across environmental reporting, animal welfare and vegan certification criteria.
Is squalene vegan and cruelty-free?
One hugely popular ingredient in skincare products is squalene or squalane. Big skincare brands have touted this product as a ‘wonder-ingredient’, and it is common in cleansers, moisturisers, anti-ageing products and makeup. Squalene or squalane is an oil which helps the skin to absorb other skincare actives and prevents fine lines by helping to retain the skin’s moisture.
But where does this oil come from? Squalene or squalane is often derived from the livers of sharks, and so this ingredient is sometimes not vegan. Deep-sea shark hunting can be a cruel practice, and as an apex predator, sharks play a vital role in the biodiversity found in the ocean. The Marine Conservation Society highlights shark finning and commercial hunting as major threats to shark populations globally — choosing plant-based squalane is one small but meaningful way consumers can help.
Plant-based squalene or squalane is becoming more popular, as consumers become more aware of how this ‘natural’ ingredient is harvested. For example, olives are a good source of squalene. Be sure to check the labels of your skincare products. Look out for ‘100% plant-based squalane’, ‘vegetable squalane’, or vegan skincare products. Our Ethical Skincare comparison table identifies brands that use plant-based squalane, helping consumers make an informed choice without spending hours reading ingredient labels.
Is the palm oil in skincare sustainably sourced?
One of the most notable examples of non-ethical skincare ingredients is palm oil. Palm oil can often be found in many skincare products. This ingredient is infamous for its role in deforestation, destruction of natural habitats, declining orangutan populations and increased carbon emissions. But palm oil is also associated with human rights issues.
Clearing land to make way for palm oil plantations can destroy the homes and livelihoods of local people. Indigenous people and First Nation groups are vulnerable to the destruction that deforestation can cause. In 2019, the livelihoods of many indigenous peoples were devastated, as the forest materials that they had previously relied on were destroyed, to clear room for a palm oil plantation. You can read more about this through Human Rights Watch. The Rainforest Action Network has extensively documented the links between palm oil supply chains and both environmental destruction and human rights abuses — their research is a valuable resource for consumers wishing to understand which brands are truly addressing this issue. Ethical skincare brands that have eliminated palm oil entirely — or source only via the most stringent Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification — score higher in our research.
Skincare packaging is another issue worth considering. The global cosmetics industry produces an estimated 120 billion units of packaging every year, the majority of which is not recyclable. Choosing ethical skincare brands that use glass, aluminium, or genuinely recyclable and refillable packaging significantly reduces your contribution to this waste stream. Some of our top-rated brands, including Odylique and Green People, use recyclable packaging as standard and are transparent about their packaging choices in their environmental reports.
Your skincare choices sit within a broader set of ethical personal care decisions. See our Ethical Shampoo and Conditioner comparison table and our Ethical Sun Protection comparison table for further guidance on sustainable choices across all personal care categories. For brands that have been independently verified as meeting our ethical benchmark across every beauty sector, visit our Top 200 Ethical Businesses page.
See our Ethical Skincare comparison table to compare brands
As well as ranking and rating skincare brands on our Ethical Ratings Tables, The Good Shopping Guide has also written up detailed research articles on each brand, with more information about what these companies are doing in terms of their business ethics and sustainability efforts. Click on any brand name to read more exclusive research from The Good Shopping Guide.
Fushi Wellbeing, Green People, Herbfarmacy, Living Naturally, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Odylique, Oy!, TanOrganic, Tropic Skincare, Love Ethical Beauty, incognito, Dr. Hauschka, Weleda, Bloomtown, Planted, E45, Lavera, Lush, Avon, The Body Shop, Bulldog, Glossier, L’Occitane, E.l.f, Clarins, Nivea, Clearasil, Olay, CeraVe, Clean & Clear, Garnier, Kiehl’s, L’Oréal, Liz Earle, Neutrogena, NO7, Aveda, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Origins, Simple Inkey, Elemis, La Roche-Posay and The Ordinary.
What ethical issues are most common in skincare products today?
Many skincare products include ingredients or testing practices that can be harmful to people, animals and the environment. Some use animal‑derived ingredients or have been tested on animals, while others contain controversial substances like palm oil linked to deforestation. There’s also a problem with greenwashing — vague sustainability claims that don’t reflect real ethical practices.
How can consumers tell if a skincare product is cruelty‑free or vegan?
Cruelty‑free means a product and its ingredients were not tested on animals at any stage. Vegan skincare goes further by avoiding all animal‑derived ingredients, such as collagen, beeswax or lanolin. Trusted certifications from organisations like The Vegan Society are useful indicators that products meet these criteria and don’t contribute to animal harm.
Why does the source of squalene matter in skincare products?
Squalene is a common ingredient that helps moisturise and improve skin texture, but it’s often derived from shark liver, which can contribute to cruel fishing practices and harm ocean ecosystems. Ethically focused brands use plant‑based alternatives (e.g., olive‑derived squalene) that avoid animal cruelty and reduce environmental impact.
What role does palm oil play in the ethics of skincare?
Palm oil is widely used in skincare but is linked to deforestation, habitat loss and biodiversity declines in tropical regions. Ethically conscious skincare brands either avoid palm oil entirely or insist on sustainably certified sources to minimise environmental damage and help protect ecosystems.
Can you name some skincare brands that score well on ethical and sustainability criteria?
Brands like Fushi Wellbeing, Green People, Oy!, TanOrganic and Tropic Skincare all achieve top ethical scores, reflecting strong environmental policies, vegan/vegetarian verification and transparency across their practices. Conscious Skincare also scores highly and is recognised for its cruelty‑free, vegan products and sustainable packaging initiatives.
Why do some mainstream skincare brands score poorly on ethical assessments?
Many popular brands score lower because they lack strong ethical policies on environmental reporting, vegan certification, or cruelty‑free practices. Some belong to large parent companies without transparent sustainability commitments, and they often don’t publicly commit to avoiding animal testing or using sustainable ingredients.
Is Fushi Wellbeing an ethical Skincare brand?
Fushi Wellbeing sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing strongly across all ethical areas including organic sourcing, animal welfare, and vegan credentials, and excelling in environmental and people‑related criteria. It has Ethical Accreditation, features Ethical Innovator Status, and appears on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, demonstrating a clear commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.
Is Green People an ethical Skincare brand?
Green People sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, excelling across all ethical areas including the environment, animal welfare, and people, and surpassing the ethical benchmark with strong performance. The brand holds Ethical Accreditation, enjoys Ethical Innovator Status, and appears on the Top 200 Ethical Business list, reflecting a deep commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Herbfarmacy an ethical Skincare brand?
Herbfarmacy sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing strongly in areas such as environmental impact, organic and vegan credentials, and animal welfare. It holds Ethical Accreditation, has Ethical Innovator Status, and features on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, underscoring the brand’s serious dedication to ethical and sustainable practices.
Is Living Naturally an ethical Skincare brand?
Living Naturally sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing strongly across all assessed ethical areas including environmental impact, organic and vegan credentials, and people‑related criteria. It holds Ethical Accreditation, has Ethical Innovator Status, and appears on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, demonstrating a robust commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.
Is Neal’s Yard Remedies an ethical Skincare brand?
Neal’s Yard Remedies sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing well across all core ethical criteria including environmental stewardship, animal welfare, and people‑related considerations. It holds Ethical Accreditation, has Ethical Innovator Status, and features on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, underscoring a long‑standing commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Odylique an ethical Skincare brand?
Odylique sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing strongly in areas such as environmental impact, organic credentials, animal welfare, and people‑related criteria. It has Ethical Accreditation, holds Ethical Innovator Status, and appears on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, demonstrating a firm commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Oy! an ethical Skincare brand?
Oy! sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, excelling across all core ethical areas including environmental, animal welfare, and people‑related criteria. It holds Ethical Accreditation, has Ethical Innovator Status, and appears on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, which highlights Oy!’s strong commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is TanOrganic an ethical Skincare brand?
TanOrganic sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing very well in areas such as environmental impact, vegan and cruelty‑free credentials, and people‑related criteria. It holds Ethical Accreditation, has Ethical Innovator Status, and appears on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, underscoring its clear commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Tropic Skincare an ethical Skincare brand?
Tropic Skincare sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, demonstrating strong performance across environmental, animal welfare, and people‑related criteria. It holds Ethical Accreditation, has Ethical Innovator Status, and appears on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, illustrating the company’s robust commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Conscious Skincare an ethical Skincare brand?
Conscious Skincare sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas such as animal welfare, environmental practices, and people‑related criteria, though it scores lower for organic certification. It holds Ethical Accreditation, has Ethical Innovator Status, and appears on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, demonstrating a strong commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Incognito an ethical Skincare brand?
Incognito sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing well across core ethical areas including environmental, animal welfare, and people criteria, though its organic score is lower. It holds Ethical Accreditation, has Ethical Innovator Status, and appears on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, which demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Love Ethical Beauty an ethical Skincare brand?
Love Ethical Beauty sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing well across environmental, animal welfare, and people‑related criteria, though its organic mark is lower. It holds Ethical Accreditation, has Ethical Innovator Status, and appears on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, reflecting a strong dedication to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Raven Botanicals an ethical Skincare brand?
Raven Botanicals sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing strongly in key areas such as environmental care, animal welfare, and people‑related criteria, though its organic mark is lower than other categories. It holds Ethical Accreditation, has Ethical Innovator Status, and features on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, underscoring the brand’s solid commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Dr. Hauschka an ethical Skincare brand?
Dr. Hauschka sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing well across ethical areas such as people‑related criteria, environmental impact, and animal welfare, though its vegan/vegetarian verification is middling. It does not currently hold Ethical Accreditation, and if it pursued formal ethical accreditation, it could further demonstrate its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Weleda an ethical Skincare brand?
Weleda sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in environmental care, animal welfare, and people‑related criteria, though it scores lower for vegetarian/vegan verification and lacks formal accreditation. It does not currently hold Ethical Accreditation, so if Weleda applied for ethical accreditation, this could further demonstrate its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Bloomtown an ethical Skincare brand?
Bloomtown sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing well across environmental impact, animal welfare, and people‑related criteria, though its organic and vegan credentials are lower. It has Ethical Accreditation, holds Ethical Innovator Status, and appears on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, highlighting the brand’s notable commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is The Body Shop an ethical Skincare brand?
The Body Shop sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas such as animal welfare, genetic modification, and people criteria, although it falls short in certified organic products and environmental reporting. It does not currently hold Ethical Accreditation, but if The Body Shop applied for ethical accreditation, this could further demonstrate its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Planted an ethical Skincare brand?
Planted sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in key ethical areas such as environmental care, animal welfare, and people‑related criteria, though its organic and vegan marks are lower. It holds Ethical Accreditation, appears on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, and this reflects a clear commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Lavera an ethical Skincare brand?
Lavera sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in environmental stewardship, organic and vegan criteria, and people‑related areas, although its animal welfare reporting is only acceptable. It does not currently hold Ethical Accreditation, so if Lavera applied for ethical accreditation, this could further demonstrate its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Inkey an ethical Skincare brand?
Inkey sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in several ethical areas such as animal welfare, vegan verification, and people‑related criteria, although it scores poorly on environmental reporting and organic credentials. It does not currently hold Ethical Accreditation, so if Inkey applied for ethical accreditation, this could further demonstrate its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Lush an ethical Skincare brand?
Lush sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Skincare Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in environmental reporting, animal welfare, vegan criteria, and people‑related areas, though it scores poorly on organic ingredients and has notable public record criticisms. It does not currently hold Ethical Accreditation, so if Lush applied for ethical accreditation, this could further demonstrate its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
How does The GOOD Shopping Guide's Ethical Accreditation complement other accreditations?
The GOOD Shopping Guide doesn’t replace existing certifications, it ensures your ethical credentials are clearly recognised so they are trusted by consumers. By appearing in our comparison tables, your brand reaches an audience that is actively seeking genuinely ethical options, while also being referenced by Google and AI search tools to enhance credibility and discoverability.
How is The GOOD Shopping Guide's Ethical Accreditation different from other accreditations?
Unlike many accreditations that focus mainly on compliance or internal audits, The GOOD Shopping Guide provides scored, research-led assessments across environment, people and animals. Our tables are consumer-facing and freely accessible, making it easy for shoppers and AI tools to compare brands based on verified performance, not just promises.
How does The GOOD Shopping Guide choose who is eligible for accreditation?
The GOOD Shopping Guide audits brands for their ethical impact across a variety of criteria in the human, animal and environment categories. We research the records of brands and their parent companies, and rate them across those criteria. If they are found to be above our benchmark, they are eligible to apply for Ethical Accreditation.
How can I apply for Ethical Accreditation?
You can apply for Ethical Accreditation if your brand is assessed as above our benchmark. Click on this link to fill out our online form, and our researchers will assess your brand’s viability for Ethical Accreditation.