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I researched and tested the top clean skincare brands on the market — these are my favorites for natural, organic, and nontoxic ingredients at a range of price points.

My skin gave up on me in my early twenties. Rashes, psoriasis, alopecia. The kind of stuff that makes you rethink everything, down to what’s in your face cream. So naturally, I started making my own (sorry mom, for what the family blender went through).

A variety of skincare and beauty products are arranged on a granite bathroom countertop next to a sink and mirror.
I tested the bestselling cleanser, treatment product, and moisturizer from each of these clean skincare brands on my normal skin. Read on for my thoughts!

I’ve always been into makeup and skincare. Always trying the next new product to hit the shelves, touting full glam to my university classes. But once these issues came up, I put a halt to everything. At one point, I was deep in a DIY era: Melting slabs of shea butter, whipping up coconut and essential oils, all in the same doomed family blender.

Eventually, as I got older and learned how to take better care of myself, those health issues improved and went away. But a new fear took their place: That introducing anything new into my routine might bring it all back. The girl who once couldn’t get enough of trying every product on the shelf turned into someone who washed her face with water and slathered on unscented drugstore cream, calling it a “routine”.

It took some time, but eventually, I rebuilt trust in my own skin. And with it, a real routine. Not the 10-step kind I’d been influenced to chase when I was younger, but not so bare-bones that I wasn’t seeing results either. I wanted balance: Skincare with ingredients that actually do something, without the questionable ingredients that don’t need to be there.

Testing these clean skincare brands came at the perfect time. It brought back my love for caring for myself and reminded me what it feels like to trust the products I’m putting on my body again.

Whether you’re looking for a lightweight everyday moisturizer, a richer routine for dry skin, or want to know which clean skincare brands actually impressed me after testing them side by side, you’ve come to the right place.

Our criteria & methodology:

We’ve combed through ingredient lists, corresponded with brands, referenced EWG ratings, and researched and read through thousands of customer reviews to determine the very best clean skincare brands that are safe, use thoughtful ingredients, and are accessible for different types of skin and budgets. Most of these brands carry fragrance-free options if that’s your preference, and those that are scented derive their aroma from natural botanical extracts and oils rather than synthetic fragrances.

For each of these clean skincare brands, I tested the latest bestselling cleanser, treatment product, and moisturizer at the end of each day on my normal skin. I didn’t wear makeup during my testing process and only occasionally wore sunscreen, so I’ve noted which days I was wearing sunscreen and how the cleansers I used on those days performed. For each skincare routine, I followed each brand’s recommended instructions and put them to the test, sharing my thoughts on how well each routine cleansed, treated, and hydrated my skin. Most of these products work well for all skin types, though I’ve noted where I think certain products may be better suited to specific skin types.

For each brand, I’ve included close-up photos of the swatches for every product I tested, alongside a photo of how my skin looked immediately after each skincare routine. I was a bit skeptical that trying so many different products might cause my skin to react, but as you’ll see in the photos, my skin has never looked happier, glowier, or smoother! You can rest assured that these clean skincare brands are the real deal.

This list is regularly updated with emerging favorites that meet the criteria below.