The Best Clean Beauty Products of 2022

I'm new to serums, but I had no issues adjusting to this one. It's packed with hydrating and soothing ingredients like vitamin E and Swiss stone pine extract, so it calmed my redness and left me feeling hydrated, without irritating my sensitive skin. —Lauren Brown, senior visuals editor 

The combination of winter weather and a retinoid left my skin flaky and rough, so I was in the market for a good hydrating serum—and boy, did this one deliver. It immediately plumped and softened my skin (courtesy of the hyaluronic acid and peptide blend) and sank in almost immediately. Followed with moisturizer, it's just what my skin needed all season. —Deanna Pai, beauty contributor 

While I happen to think there are a lot of perks to getting older, dehydrated skin, decreased cell renewal, and producing less collagen are not among them. Insert Caudalie, a true pioneer in the clean and sustainability space that I love for its breakthrough formulas. The star ingredient in its latest Premier Cru Anti-Aging Serum, TET8, was created in partnership with Harvard University, and is designed to combat signs of aging, from reducing deep wrinkles to improving elasticity and boosting hydration. While consistency is key to seeing results, I do love that this serum also delivers instant results. It hydrates before drying down, creating a smooth surface for my moisturizer or primer. Plus, it’s housed in 100% recyclable packaging. Love to see it. —Lara Eurdolian, founder of Pretty Connected 

I fell in love with this product upon first application. The instant, and gradual, plumping effects and heathy glow are addictive. I noticed over time that my skin felt softer and appeared exponentially brighter. I can’t leave my house without applying this product before my moisturizer. Say goodbye to dullness the moment this product touches your skin. I’m obsessed! —Madison Werner, writer, influencer, and advocate 

I am always battling dry, breakout-prone skin, but it just got a little easier thanks to this moisturizer. Squalane, niacinamide, and peptides hydrate my skin, while prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics repair the skin barrier. The formula absorbs quickly, doesn't clog my pores, and leaves me feeling hydrated and soft. —Anna Moeslein, deputy editor 

Summer Fridays broke the internet with its Jet Lag mask, but more recently the brand launched this lovely multitasking eye cream. I have tried countless eye creams as a dermatologist, and what I like about this one is its lasting hydration, enabled by the hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and shea butter that it’s packed with. I love that they also added vitamin C, which neutralizes free radicals from pollution and UV rays, helps prevent collagen breakdown, and helps brighten skin. Peptides, which stimulate collagen production, and caffeine, which helps with dark circles, round out the formula. And of course, I love that its vegan and cruelty-free. —T.L.

This mask has a unique texture and feel—it applies almost like a cleansing balm. It’s rich and thick in the jar, but once it’s applied, it has a thin and lightweight feel. It contains AHAs to exfoliate away dry skin and clogged pores, but is formulated specifically for sensitive skin, so my skin is never angry or irritated. Instead, it's left glowy and clear. —Ru Wolle, associate editor 

I swear by acne treatments with salicylic acid, but this formula goes the extra mile. Not only does it banish my blemishes, but it also has azelaic acid to fade hyperpigmentation caused by acne and niacinamide to regulate oil and prevent pimples from popping up in the first place. It's helping with the whole life cycle of a zit: past, present, and future. —Erin Reimel, beauty contributor 

I used to be wary of natural deodorants because, while I'm not a heavy sweater, I didn't want to run the risk of midday B.O. At the beginning of quarantine, I decided to make the change and I haven't looked back. This deo lasts all day long, doesn't leave a chalky white cast like some other natural versions, and smells like a spa. —E.R.

Body scrubs always flummox me a bit—some products have so few particles that I’m never sure I’ve really scrubbed the reachable parts of my body, or I’m worried I’m going to stress my skin with grit. The Tula Take Care+Polish has a substantial concentration of scrubbies that doesn’t leave me fearing I’ve sandpapered myself. The lemon peel, cherry seed, and hibiscus flower acid are suspended in a gel and augmented with a triple blend of AHA, so I get an exfoliating effect on every inch of skin, even that parts I have to just skim over. —Talley Sue Hohlfeld, copy director

I didn’t expect to fall in love with Tower 28’s tinted sunscreen foundation, mainly because most tinted sunscreens soak right into my skin and offer no real coverage. If I’m buying something that’s tinted, whether it’s a sunscreen or a foundation, you'd better believe I want coverage! And this does it perfectly. My skin looks airbrushed and smooth, making it easier to apply bronzer and blush, and it lasts all day. I’m obsessed. —Jessica Radloff, West Coast editor 

This creamy concealer checks all the boxes: It offers buildable coverage, is a dream to blend in, and actually works to improve skin while it conceals. But what I appreciated the most is that it lasted all day without feeling cakey—no touch-ups needed here. —D.P.

As someone who's been wearing blush since sixth grade, I'm something of cheek connoisseur—so I know a good blush when I see one. And this formula delivers: It imparts sheer, seamless color with a dab of the doe-foot brush, which allows for targeted color. The result? A fresh-from-the-gym flush that looks completely natural. —D.P. 

Cream highlighters should be friendly to every beauty routine, no matter how much makeup you wear—gorgeous on bare skin, and blinding on top of your foundation. The Clover highlighter does both and more. I love applying this product before my powder highlighter for an extra pop on my cheekbones. —M.W.

This the most luxurious-looking bronzer I’ve ever seen, with its tortoise-shell design and substantial weight (it’s not heavy, necessarily, but it definitely says, “I’m here and I’m not moving from your vanity!”). With two different shades in the brick—one warm, one cool—it’s easy to contour your cheekbones and add some sun-kissed dimension to your forehead, nose, and cheeks. And it looks super natural and lasts from morning till night. —J.R.

I've only recently discovered that I look completely bare without makeup on my brows. As much as I love brow gels, I don't feel they give me enough color and shape. This Code8 brow pencil is brilliant. It's creamy and bendable, but still precise enough for natural-looking strokes. I now use it every day I venture out into the world, and feel naked without the shape it draws in. —L.B.

I never leave the house without black eyeliner. Sadly, I have incredibly sensitive and watery eyes, which makes that reality all the more unfortunate. But Bare Minerals Mineralist Lasting Eyeliner has a clean, vegan, mineral-based, and waterproof formula that delivers vibrant pigment. The fine point makes precision and even strokes effortless. Once applied it doesn’t smudge or budge, and it’s housed in a retractable case that doesn’t annoyingly break off or require sharpening—because with the amount I line my eyes, who has time for that? —L.E.

I have never felt like a sunscreen was more nourishing or protective than this one—and as a beauty editor, I wear a lot of sunscreens. This rich formula melts into your skin to give you a glow, and the antioxidants not only work to shield your skin from sun damage; they work overtime to fade discoloration and dark spots. —E.R.

When it comes to Jones Road eye shadows, the possibilities are endless. You can create so many different looks with these colors and finishes, from a subtle daytime office look to a dramatic glam smoky eye. Dress it up, dress it down, these shadows will complement any skin tone. The solo packaging makes it great for eye shadow beginners, but the quality is good enough for pros. —R.W.

I've tried a ton of different mascaras, but Milk Makeup's is definitely a keeper. It has a large brush that gives a dramatic and bold look. The formula is very thick, so you get a good amount of mascara coating each and every lash. The result? Falsies-level lashes with little clumping or flakes. —Cortni Spearman, social media manager

If you think there's not a shade of red out there for you, do yourself a favor and look to Pound Cake's line of Cake Batter lipsticks that—yes—smell like vanilla cake. The collection is red and red only, and ranges from bright cherry shades to deep wine. Each goes on like a smooth gloss and dries down to an opaque finish that feels smooth and hydrating. The Black-owned brand is also, it's worth noting, approaching makeup in a revolutionary way, writing on its website, “Lipstick shows up differently on different lip tones. In essence, this means someone with pink lips and someone with deep brown lips wearing the same lipstick will achieve different results. Our solution? Approach all products like foundation.” —Perrie Samotin, digital director 

After nonstop mask wearing, my dry lips welcomed the Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm with a literal smile. The pretty sheen, coupled with the hydration and nourishment of almond oil, organic jojoba oil, and shea butter makes for an ultra-luxurious formula. Available in six shades, the lip oil offers a soft tint on its own or layers beautifully over lipstick for some added shine and hydration. —L.E.

Lip biting is one stress habit I can’t seem to shake, so you’ll always find me with a lip balm in hand to try and soothe my always dry, cracked lips. This one quickly became a new staple, thanks to mango butter and agave nectar, which work together to instantly condition and hydrate dry lips. —Talia Abbas, commerce editor 

With some dry shampoos, my hair actually feels greasier after, but not this one. BeautyBio's dry shampoo gave me great volume and lift, but leaves my hair actually feeling clean, fresh, and touchable. Not only does it give great volume at the roots, but if I spray it underneath my hair, it gives me lift all over and doesn't leave my hair too dry or oily. That combination is very hard to do! —Laura Polko, celebrity hairstylist 

From her nontoxic candles to her clean perfumes, Bee Shapiro’s scents are truly intoxicating—and the fragrance Bee, which rolls together notes of dark rum, honey, vanilla bean, and sandalwood, is no exception. The scent is warm and heady, and perfect for year-round use. —T.A.

According to my research (points to a thousand skin-care YouTube videos and TikToks,) a 10% AHA—in this case, lactic acid—is a great exfoliant, especially for skin on my arms and legs. This cream from First Aid is designed to address keratosis pilaris, which are those annoying patches of little red and white bumps our arms and legs that make it that much harder to look Kardashian-smooth in a tank top. This cream is visibly helpful and smoothing without any irritation. —Jenny Singer, staff writer 

Love Beauty & Planet is tackling its “clean” mission by creating biodegradable formulas with ethically sourced and naturally derived ingredients. This shampoo is micellar-water based, which threw me for a bit of a loop—I couldn't squeeze it in my palms without it dripping away. The label, which I read much later, says to dot it directly onto your head. Once applied, the shampoo lathered lightly and spread nicely through my hair; it felt gentle with rose water and vitamin B3 to nourish, as well as coconut oil and sunflower seed oil to boost body, suppleness, and sheen. —TSH

When it comes to my hair, I normally wash and go. But my hair is very fine, so it is generally flat to my head. When I got out of the shower after using this, my hair actually had some lift at the roots. And when it dried, it had some lift at the roots, and some body! It’s safe for color-treated hair, vegan, and contains biotin (a.k.a. vitamin B7), which is where most of the extra thickness comes in. —TSH

I became a fan of Grown Alchemist after staying at the Roundtree Hotel in Amagansett, New York, where the bathrooms are stocked with the brand's ultra-luxe body and hair products. While most scented hand soaps verge on sickeningly sweet, the cedarwood atlas and tangerine fragrance smells revitalizing, cozy, and—dare I say—sexy. Who knew hand wash could be sexy? I'm also obsessed with the lather, which is rich and creamy, and never leaves my hands feeling dry. —A.Y.