Clean beauty products that our editors are obsessed with

Beauty editors and writers come into contact with countless beauty brands and products on a daily basis. We test a myriad of items on our skin, and we all have our favourites. So, it’s safe to say that when we take a liking to a product, it’s really good.

These days, we’re obsessed with clean beauty brands and products. They’re made with ingredients that are better for you, and some of these brands even give back to worthy causes. Here are the best clean beauty skincare and makeup that we love:

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Created by supermodel Miranda Kerr, Kora Organics uses certified organic and certified natural ingredients. All the products are cruelty-free (most of them are vegan-friendly) and free of sulphates, parabens, synthetic fragrances and colours, and silicones. This overnight mask has certified organic silver ear mushroom, coconut milk, and caviar lime and kakadu plum extracts to renew and repair your skin while you sleep. It’s also super hydrating and helps even out and brighten skin tone.

“On nights that I’m too lazy to do an entire skincare routine– read multiple serums and moisturiser, I slather this mask all over my face and neck, let it absorb and head to bed. The next morning my skin always looks plump, bouncy and brighter. My makeup also goes on better. I love how fuss free and effective it is!” – Smita Desouza, beauty editor, Cleo
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This new-to-Singapore, Unilever-owned brand looks at sustainability and clean beauty from all angles – from sourcing its ingredients from sustainable and certified organic sources to using post-consumer recycled plastic for the packaging. It is also vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.

“The shampoo, conditioners, shower gels and body lotions all feel great to use and smell wonderful. Besides the focus on sourcing from organic, sustainable and responsible producers, and using recycled and recyclable materials, I like that the conditioners have a special fast-rinse technology that speeds up washing time and saves water. Plus, the brand is also founded with the aim of having zero carbon footprint. The super-reasonable prices are easy on the wallet too – $10.90 for a body wash, $12.90 for a shampoo or conditioner and $13.90 for a body lotion, all in generous 400ml bottles.” – Melissa Chew, associate beauty editor, Her World

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This cruelty-free brand has reef-safe sunscreens, and most of its products (except a handful of them like the lip balms, hand creams and mineral sticks) are vegan-friendly too.

“I’m a sunscreen advocate, so it’s not surprising that I’m very particular about my sunscreen. I’m generally a bit iffy about products that claim to smooth out pores because they usually contain silicones that are not great for my skin, but I liked how this one smooths out my skin without breaking me out. It also has a mattifying effect, which means I can skip my primer and my makeup can still last me through the day. Plus, it’s tinted so it helps to even out my skin tone on days when I decide to go makeup-free.” – Hidayah Idris, associate digital editor, Cleo

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This New Zealand brand uses sustainably-sourced ingredients and recyclable packaging. Its organic and vegetarian products also go through independent verification and certification. This eye cream has Manuka honey from New Zealand, which has moisturising and anti-blemish properties. Persian silk flower extracts blended with vinanza grape seed also give this eye cream rich antioxidant properties while kiwi skin helps brighten delicate skin.

“This very lightweight yet hydrating eye cream is absorbed quickly into skin without a tacky afterfeel. I use it in the morning because it helps diminish the appearance of fine, dry lines. It doesn’t work for my dark circles, though (they’re are due to bad blood circulation) but it does help in brightening up my eye contour area.” – Chua Shi Min, online writer, Nuyou

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This cruelty-free French brand is known for its passion for supporting many different wildlife conservation groups. Its products are free of phthalates, sulphates, mineral oil, palm oil, synthetic fragrances and colour and GMOs.

“The lipsticks have a plush gel texture that sets to a comfortable satin finish. The formula doesn’t emphasise lines or dry patches, and fades to a pretty stain after my meals. Touch-ups are fuss-free as I don’t have to remove the lipstick completely; the new layer meshes well with previous one. The best part is that for every sale of the lipstick, 5 per cent of the profit goes to this organisation called Space For Giants (an organisation that helps protect elephants against poachers so they can safely travel on their usual migratory routes). Good lipstick for a great cause – there’s nothing to not love.” – Chelsea Tang, beauty writer, Her World

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New-to-Singapore brand Kjaer Weis is founded by Danish-born makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis and based in New York City. Its mission is to create luxury beauty that uses certified-organic or certified-natural ingredients. The products come in these metal packaging that can be reused – the brand has refills for all its products: blushers, foundation and even lipstick and mascara, so it creates less waste. This blusher has certified-organic rose rubiginosa seed oil to fight signs of ageing, and is free of gluten, petroleum, parabens, artificial colouring and fragrance.

“I’m obsessed with Kjaer Weis’ ultra-luxe, substantial packaging. My current favourite is the cream blush — it’s creamy and melts seamlessly into the skin, making it a great choice for anyone who’s into the whole ‘yoga skin’ trend.” – Engracia Ang, beauty writer, Her World

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Established in 1987, Aesop focuses more on sustainability in its ingredients and packaging and formulations that are effective rather than going for purely natural ingredients. Their amber glass bottles which hold many of its products are recyclable, and the brand is also cruelty-free and doesn’t include mineral oils, silicones and parabens in its products.

“While this cleansing milk removes makeup effectively, I like to use it in the morning because the calming scent of lavender and sandalwood helps me start the day right. I also like how it doesn’t strip my skin of its natural oils and makes it feel soft and nourished.” – Kayce Teo, beauty content specialist

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