Photographed by: Arrow Radisch; Set Design: Sarah PossamaiSave this storySave this story
The standards for “clean” beauty are about as opaque as this year’s Best of Beauty-winning liquid eyeliner (Lisa Eldridge Kitten Flick Liquid Eyeliner). While we do celebrate a little mystery in makeup, we would really like to see more transparency in so-called clean products. But there is no universal definition of clean in the beauty industry, and no agreed-upon rules a brand must follow to call its products “nontoxic”—a word that’s too alarmist, anyway, to be worth using. So we created Allure’s Clean Standard, a high bar that products must meet in order to win an Allure Best of Beauty Clean seal.
When you’re shopping for beauty products and see claims on a label like “clean,” or the even more vague “green,” it’s usually because that’s what a brand believes its product is. Yes, it’s completely up to the companies to decide which ingredients to use and not to use; and retailers choose what qualifies as such for their own sites.
To be fair, though, there is no right or wrong answer for what makes a product clean. There are so many cosmetic ingredients out there, and so many brands formulating with them, but no definitive study that weighs the risks and benefits of every single ingredient. In short, no one has all the answers.
But there are ways to make informed decisions, and that’s exactly what we set out to do when we created Allure’s Clean Standard in 2019. We interviewed epidemiologists, toxicologists, cosmetic chemists, and dermatologists about ingredients you can reasonably choose to avoid when shopping for cleaner skin-care, hair-care, makeup, and body-care products.
Ultimately, we identified 14 ingredient classes that a product cannot include if it is to qualify for our Clean awards: Parabens, phthalates, cyclic silicones, sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, microbeads (polyethylene and polypropylene), triclosan, talc, aluminum salts (antiperspirant actives), mineral oil, petrolatum, hydroquinone, formaldehyde, toluene, and chemical UV filters must all be excluded from an ingredient list. This makes our Clean standard an especially transparent one for brands to meet.
Some of these ingredients are known to be harmful for us and/or the environment (formaldehyde, microbeads) and have generally been abandoned by the beauty industry already; others, however, fall into more of a gray area, with no solid proof that they are harmful nor enough evidence to indisputably deem them safe. (You can read more about each of these ingredients, and why we chose to omit them, here.)
To be clear, we love all different types of beauty products (except for those with formaldehyde), but we also love having access to good information; the kind of information that values accuracy over marketing claims. The 24 winners below are considered worthy by Allure of being called clean, and worthy of a hard-won spot in your beauty routine—and that includes one perfect, bold liquid eyeliner.
Best of Beauty Awards 2026: Clean
Shop your favorite category or keep scrolling for the year's very best skin-care, hair-care, and makeup products in the clean category.
See our winners:LargeChevron
- Best Clean Skin-Care Products
- Best Clean Hair-Care Products
- Best Clean Makeup Products
- Best Clean Body Products
Best Clean Skin-Care Products
Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Skin-Care
Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm
Amazon
Beauty director Sarah Kinonen uses the Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm.
Sarah Kinonen
Why It Won: This dark green jar is full of surprises! What looks like a solid wax inside quickly dissolves into one of the most decadent-feeling face washes we’ve ever tried. Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm turns into a milky oil that deeply nourishes and softens skin with moringa seed oil, while melting away makeup and grime. The experience of using this balm—from smoothing it over dry skin to rinsing it off with warm water or a damp cloth—is relaxing, comforting, and leaves our skin totally refreshed.
Tester feedback from beauty director Sarah Kinonen
LargeChevron
"Waterproof mascara? No problem. Casty, mineral sunscreen? Easy, peasy! Summertime grime? You bet Farmacy's cleansing balm can remove it—and remove it quickly with ease. Trust me, as someone who has tried to smear off all of the above (and more), there's nothing this buttery, melt-in-your-fingers cleanser, made with sunflower and moringa oils and papaya extract, can't handle. I love it after a long day at the office where a full face beat is the norm, or after an incredibly stinky, sweaty workout. It removes everything in seconds, leaves skin with a smooth (not tacky) finish, and makes the perfect first step in my double-cleansing routine." —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director
Aunu Mānuka Salve
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Skin-Care
Aunu Mānuka Salve
Shop
Aunu
Why It Won: When skin hits a rough patch—becoming dry, flaky, or tight—this slim yellow tube is a soothing godsend. Aunu Mānuka Salve revives parched areas using a laundry list of moisturizing and calming ingredients, including manuka honey, glycerin, squalane, oat kernel oil, and linoleic acid. It’s all packed into a balm that offers quick relief even as you rub it in. And it’s light enough that you can use it on your face, proving a hardworking salve can also be downright elegant.
Tester feedback from Best of Beauty editorial assistant Arietta Hallock
LargeChevron
"My mom slathered me in salves for every ailment as a kid, so A+D ointment became my first introduction to a fix-it-all skin-care product. The Aunu Mānuka Salve fits firmly into that category, but with the perks of manuka honey and a less-greasy consistency. Everywhere I tested it, from dry face patches to irritated elbows, it did the soothing trick." —Arietta Hallock, Best of Beauty editorial assistant
Yepoda The Depuff Eyespresso
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Skin-Care
Yepoda The Depuff Eyespresso
Amazon
Why It Won: These jiggly green patches may look like the slime from Ghostbusters in the jar, but the only supernatural thing about Yepoda The Depuff Eyespresso is how these patches can deliver calming, cools-on-contact heaven to puffy, tired undereyes for 15 minutes straight. Each slightly oversized patch stays chill long enough to be thoroughly relaxing—which feels amazing, yes, but also helps to temporarily reduce bags—and covers both undereyes and crow’s feet at once, treating the whole area to a hydrating, tightening caffeine, green tea, aloe vera, and calendula-infused serum experience.
Tester feedback from Best of Beauty editorial assistant Arietta Hallock
LargeChevron
"As someone with sensitive skin, I typically make it only five minutes into an undereye patch or face mask before asking myself, Is this supposed to burn? But when testing the Yepoda patches before bed, my timer had to remind me to pull them off. They’re so cool and soothing and just the right balance between dry and slimy. I could easily accidentally fall asleep with them on." —Arietta Hallock, Best of Beauty editorial assistant
Innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Milk
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Skin-Care
Innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Milk
Amazon
Commerce editor Sarah Han applies the Innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Milk.
Sarah Han
Why It Won: Unlike so many watery essences that feel like, well, water when you pat them on, Innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Milk calms and hydrates, making skin feel refreshed and noticeably softer right off the bat. This formula contains ceramides and lipids (sourced from green tea) and nine types of hyaluronic acid (did you know there were that many?) to hydrate without leaving any tacky residue, so you can layer away without worrying about pilling. Instead, this creamy essence makes our skin so much smoother, our makeup can be applied more seamlessly on top.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
LargeChevron
"Milky toners are just so scrumptious, and this one from Innisfree checks all the boxes. Innisfree is one of the best brands that use green tea because they grow their own (for beauty) on Jeju Island (somewhere I'm dying to go, by the way). Innisfree's green tea products have always been super-reliable and soothing, and this one fits under that umbrella as well, helping to minimize any redness I occasionally have around my nose. Dry skin is no match for this milky toner. It instantly quenches my skin and provides lasting moisture throughout the day. Plus, nine types of HA? Incredible, give me all of them! I love spending a few extra seconds gently patting this into my skin for maximum absorption." —Sarah Han, commerce editor
Honest Hydrogel Cream
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Skin-Care
Honest Hydrogel Cream
Amazon
Why It Won: Sure, flower petals glistening in the early-morning light may be pretty, but they’ve got nothing on our skin: Honest Hydrogel Cream gives complexions the kind of natural-looking dewiness we’ve been chasing since our early 20s (when our skin looked radiant all on its own). The glow we get from this refreshing gel-cream is instant, and its plant-derived squalane and jojoba esters help support the moisture barrier, too, for more radiant skin in the long run.
Tester feedback from Best of Beauty editorial assistant Arietta Hallock
LargeChevron
"This moisturizer’s consistency is a hybrid between a gel and a cream (a.k.a. the best of both worlds!). Plus, it’s refreshingly fragrance-free, so my sensitive skin has been very happy with me." —Arietta Hallock, Best of Beauty editorial assistant
Doctor Rogers Day Preventive Treatment
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Skin-Care
Doctor Rogers Day Preventive Treatment
Amazon
Why It Won: Whether you're going to spend the day in the sun (safely!) or popping in and out of your car, a layer of Doctor Rogers Day Preventive Treatment under your sunscreen will help keep your skin protected from the pollution and free radicals it encounters along the way. Including an antioxidant blend of vitamin C and E derivatives, this thin, milky serum is almost as light as water. It has a lovely, silky feel that lets it play well with any sunscreen we’ve paired with it—and any makeup we might put on top of that.
Tester feedback from Best of Beauty editorial assistant Arietta Hallock
LargeChevron
"The Doctor Rogers Day Preventive Treatment is for you if, like me, you spend most of your time either soaking up the sun or staring at a computer screen. It’s formulated to help treat visible damage from the sun, pollutants, and blue light. Plus it’s fragrance-free with a serum feel, so it feels light on my skin under moisturizer and SPF." — Arietta Hallock, Best of Beauty editorial assistant
Best Clean Makeup Products
Saie CitySet Lightweight Setting Spray
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Makeup
Saie CitySet Lightweight Setting Spray
Amazon
Social media manager Bianca Richards mists on the Saie CitySet Lightweight Setting Spray.
Bianca Richards
Why It Won: Part hydrating face mist and part setting spray, this non-aerosol spritz actually makes skin feel softer and makeup look dewier with its radiant finish. Hydrating ingredients such as humectant glycogen and propanediol give your foundation, blush, bronzer, concealer, and highlighter (you get the gist) long-lasting hold. Instead of PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone) or acrylate polymers, Saie CitySet Lightweight Setting Spray uses plant-derived polymers (hydrolyzed corn starch) to form a flexible shield over your makeup, helping to keep it looking fresh, smudge-free, and, yep, glowing until you’re ready to take it off.
Tester feedback from features director Dianna Singh
LargeChevron
"I used to reserve setting spray for special occasions only, mostly because so many of them make me feel like I'm wearing a mask. Saie CitySet Lightweight Setting Spray has the opposite effect: I often forget I've applied it! The mist is super-fine, so it's almost impossible to overdo it. If you're like me and prefer a dewy finish to a matte one, you'll love the way this gives skin an immediate glow, even on top of powder products." —Dianna Singh, features director
Rye Beauty Tinted Brow Milk
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Makeup
Rye Beauty Tinted Brow Milk
Shop
Credo Beauty
Why It Won: Bay Area brow artist Michele Holmes set out to make graying brows (like her own) and sparse arches look believably fuller and darker, mixing tints and testing brushes for three-and-a-half years, ultimately creating Rye Beauty Tinted Brow Milk. This is a creamy take on brow pomades that effects a bold, fluffy look without stiffness or shine. The formula feels soft on application, conditions brow hairs with sodium hyaluronate, and helps strengthen them with licorice root, pomegranate extracts, and keratin-boosting peptides.
Tester feedback from senior art director Ingrid Fowler
LargeChevron
"This brow gel comes in the most natural hair color shades. The Cool Blond perfectly matches my dark blonde hair, which is rare. The bristles on the brush are dense, so it holds just the right amount of product for a precise application—no unwanted globs! And it leaves me with the right amount of tint to hold brow hairs in place." —Ingrid Fowler, senior art director
Ciele Cosmetics Conceal & Protect SPF 50
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Makeup
Ciele Cosmetics Conceal & Protect SPF 50
Shop
Sephora
Why It Won: This multitasking concealer accomplishes a lot before we’ve even had coffee, covering pimples, redness, sun spots, and undereye circles while also treating areas of discoloration with skin-tone-evening tranexamic acid. Ciele Cosmetics Conceal & Protect SPF 50’s small doe-foot applicator makes precise application a cinch, the creamy liquid is easy to blend with a few taps of your finger, and the formula’s gentle mineral sunscreens (21.34% zinc oxide and 4.25% titanium dioxide) help shield areas that need sun protection the most. Existing hyperpigmentation can be exacerbated by UV rays, for example, and the delicate skin under the eyes is especially prone to the effects of sun damage like fine lines and sagging. There you have it–-a concealer that helps protect skin from the sun and looks good doing it. A win, win!
Tester feedback from social media manager Bianca Richards
LargeChevron
"Since I have medium tan/golden skin, I'm weary of SPF-infused makeup. However, the Ciele Cosmetics Conceal & Protect SPF 50 has a lovely shade range that I think is the best SPF concealer adaptation on the market. I prefer using it on no-makeup makeup days as opposed to putting on a full beat. A couple of dabs underneath my eyes is all it takes to not just conceal and protect, but to brighten for a seamless, natural finish." —Bianca Richards, social media manager
Nooni Lip Oil
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Makeup
Nooni Lip Oil
Amazon
Managing editor Alessandra Foresto applies the Nooni Lip Oil.
Alessandra Foresto
Why It Won: A gleaming, tinted lip treatment that’s long on moisture, Nooni Lip Oil soothes chapped lips and keeps them soft and smooth with a fancy fruit basket worth of extracts like kakadu plum, cherry, and apple and raspberry seed oils. It’s got the color payoff of a sheer lipstick—in beautiful red, pink, and plum shades (plus one clear option)—and a glossy finish that mellows into a pretty stain while you wear it (but the moisturizing botanicals definitely maintain their intensity).
Tester feedback from managing editor Alessandra Foresto
LargeChevron
"As someone with perpetually dry lips (and skin) who loves to wear lip color, I'm normally pretty set in my ways and reach for the same few formulas over and over. What I look for is a hydrating, not matte, but not shimmery finish that lasts as long as humanly possible without the need to reapply. I was so impressed by the shiny finish of this lip oil and the way it builds color through the day versus fading (magic!). Plus, it didn't lead to flaky lips at the end of a long day even though it has serious staying power. Since I first tested it for Best of Beauty, I've almost finished a whole tube of the shade Applecranberry, and I also love bright pink Applecherry (and need to get my hands on the other 16 colors). I'm also a big fan of the applicator, which is pretty small and gives you a lot of control as you apply the color. You can definitely do it without a mirror." —Alessandra Foresto, managing editor
19/99 Liquid Pen Eyeliner
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Makeup
19/99 Liquid Pen Eyeliner
Revolve
Why It Won: With a precise brush tip, intense black color, and a long-wearing formula that doesn’t feather or fade, 19/99 Liquid Pen Eyeliner does everything possible to make liquid eyeliner look seamless, short of drawing the cat eye itself. (But could someone make that happen one day, please?)
Tester feedback from former Best of Beauty editorial assistant Edward Horgan
LargeChevron
"This eyeliner really packs a punch with the level of pigment you get at application. A high-pigment load, coupled with the pen's extremely fine tip, is the perfect combo for a fierce wing." —Edward Horgan, former Best of Beauty editorial assistant
Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Makeup
Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick
Shop
Sephora
Senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor applies the Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick.
Jesa Marie Calaor
Why It Won: Optimists say that each day is a chance to start fresh, and Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick certainly gives us at least one clean slate every morning. This creamy foundation-and-concealer stick (it doubles as both!) is richly pigmented; easy to buff and blend; comes in a whopping range of 30 shades; and has the most natural-looking, skin-like finish. All of that makes the business of hiding blemishes and discoloration easier than ever, creating the most flawless-looking complexions. Angry red pimples and stubborn areas of hyperpigmentation are more easily camouflaged by this base product than so many others we’ve tried.
Tester feedback from senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor
LargeChevron
"I have a few of Merit's The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Sticks in my vanity simply because they do it all. I use Khaki and Buff (the closest shades to my skin tone) to blur my complexion and conceal the redness I regularly have around my nose and along my cheekbones. I use Sienna to sculpt along my cheeks and jawline. They're buildable, comfortable to wear, and so convenient." —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
Best Clean Body-Care Products
Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Body Products
Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter
Amazon
Why It Won: We fell in love with this fluffy body moisturizer the moment we opened the weighty glass jar. The dreamy texture and incredible scents of Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter make us feel like we’ve spent the afternoon lounging with a book on a pristine beach, listening to the waves as we cap off the day with an unhurried outdoor shower before nourishing our body in Maran’s amber- or fig-scented awesomeness. Using this body butter is like that kind of unencumbered self-care, lady-of-leisure moment, even on the most banal, land-locked Tuesday. It doesn’t hurt that the hydration we get from this decadent formula is nearly unparalleled, with skin-smoothing argan oil and shea butter packed into a texture that feels like whipped cream (without the stickiness). As you spread it across skin, it sinks in quickly, bringing tons of radiance along. There’s also a fragrance-free option (Always Nude), and delicate scents to suit every taste: gourmand (sweet Vanilla Vibezzz), citrus (bright Topless Tangerine), woodsy (deep Bohemian Fig), subtly warm (amber Golden Hour), and more.
Tester feedback from former Best of Beauty editorial assistant ElleAnna Revell
LargeChevron
"This body butter is my after-shower go-to. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated and smooth without a greasy residue. Topless Tangerine, my favorite scent in the collection, is summer vacation in a jar!" —ElleAnna Revell, former Best of Beauty editorial assistant
Oak Essentials Perfecting Body Scrub
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Body Products
Oak Essentials Perfecting Body Scrub
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Revolve
Why It Won: Calling it a “body scrub” doesn’t really do this treatment justice because Oak Essentials Perfecting Body Scrub does much more than slough, making skin feel smoother with exfoliating sugar beads cushioned in moisturizing and aromatic botanical oils, including coconut, sweet almond, lemon peel, and more (there are a dozen in total). The sugar makes quick work of dead cells, while the silky oil-rich base has all the moisture—and comforting feel—of body oil for softer, superhydrated skin.
Tester feedback from Best of Beauty editorial assistant Arietta Hallock
LargeChevron
"There are plenty of strong-scented sugar scrubs on the market. While I love to treat myself to fun, seasonal scents, my sensitive skin needs something gentler for frequent use. The Oak Essentials Perfecting Body Scrub smells like the subtle aromas of a spa treatment. It’s a great exfoliating and moisturizing precursor to shaving—or sleeping!" —Arietta Hallock, Best of Beauty editorial assistant
Henry Rose Ripe Eau de Parfum
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Body Products
Henry Rose Ripe Eau de Parfum
Shop
Sephora
Credo Beauty
Content director Sophia Panych applies the Henry Rose Ripe Eau de Parfum.
Sophia Panych
Why It Won: Watermelon sorbet and lychee sound like the world’s most enticing palate cleanser, and this duo is every bit as refreshing as you’d want it to be, olfactorily speaking, in Henry Rose Ripe Eau de Parfum. The fruity notes are mellowed by light florals (jasmine, peony, rose water), soft sandalwood, and clean musk for a perfume that’s much more delicate and nuanced than the usual in-your-face fruit-forward fragrance.
Tester feedback from content director Sophia Panych
LargeChevron
"Ripe is fun and fruity, dewy and floral. On first spritz, it's like a juicy watermelon salad eaten al fresco (one of the top notes is watermelon sorbet, accompanied by green leaves and cardamom). The fragrance is best described as a watery, fruity scent, more aquatic and refreshing than sugary and sweet, thanks to dewy notes like lychee, rose water, and peony. All of this sits atop a clean, second-skin-like base of soft woods and musks, making it one of the most sophisticated fruit-forward perfumes I've tried. Honestly, it's unlike any fruity fragrance I've worn, and I can't stop spraying it, especially throughout this year's heatwaves. You can get the same refreshing rush as a cold glass of water or the blast of a handheld fan—just in scent form." —Sophia Panych, content director
Herbivore Coco Rose Deodorant
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Body Products
Herbivore Coco Rose Deodorant
Shop
Ulta Beauty
Why It Won: They say there are no small parts, only small actors; in the world of beauty products, then, Herbivore Coco Rose Deodorant is the supporting character that runs away with the show. The thoughtful fragrance—coconut, rose, berries, and vanilla—and minimalist pink packaging make this one of our favorite morning prep steps, which is definitely a first in our experience with deodorants. This nourishing, aluminum-free stick moisturizes underarms with squalane and coconut oil and helps counter odors with tapioca starch. We sometimes need to reapply, perhaps after a brisk walk or before a big meeting, but the stick smells so divine, we’re happy to comply.
Tester feedback from former Best of Beauty editorial assistant ElleAnna Revell
LargeChevron
"I love aluminum-free deodorant, but finding one with a scent that actually lasts all day can be quite a task. Coco Rose Deodorant stays put and keeps me smelling fresh and clean, even through an evening workout. It also doesn’t leave an annoying residue on my clothes." —ElleAnna Revell, former Best of Beauty editorial assistant
Each & Every Day Dream Body Wash
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Body Products
Each & Every Day Dream Body Wash
Amazon
Why It Won: When it comes to lovely ways to wake up, this gel body wash—with a bright citrus scent that’s a dead-ringer for a fresh orange—rivals breakfast in bed (without crumbs, so point one for body wash) or cappuccino with a balcony view (without using our miles, so point two for body wash). Each & Every Day Dream Body Wash is a mood-boosting morning dose of aromatherapy, with a scent that comes from naturally derived ingredients, including essential oils. Meanwhile, plant-based cleansers foam into a creamy lather, and rich oils (macadamia and moringa) hydrate skin.
Tester feedback from former Best of Beauty editorial assistant ElleAnna Revell
LargeChevron
"This body wash has a fantastic lather and refreshing citrus and vetiver scent. It always leaves my skin from head to toe feeling clean without stripping or drying it out." —ElleAnna Revell, former Best of Beauty editorial assistant
Sidia The Body Mist in Braless
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Body Products
Sidia The Body Mist in Braless
Amazon
Senior shopping director Shanna Shipin applies (and then blends) Sidia’s The Body Mist in Braless.
Shanna Shippin
Why It Won: This hydrating body mist’s creamy, woody scent is as sexy as can be. Of course, Sidia The Body Mist in Braless is first and foremost a moisturizer (and a great one at that), but it’s also unapologetically fragranced. Patchouli lovers will adore how it smooths the classic earthy note with coconut, leather, and vanilla. The scent, coupled with the hydrating (glycerin) and radiance-boosting (niacinamide) spritz, makes this mist worthy of big nights out—or big nights in, if you catch our drift. Just know that whenever you reach for it, you’ll be giving sultry, smoldering, and mysterious (pretty much all the alluring adjectives).
Tester feedback from former Best of Beauty editorial assistant ElleAnna Revell
LargeChevron
"This body mist is a cozy autumn day: It’s warm, woody, luxurious, and long-lasting." —ElleAnna Revell, former Best of Beauty editorial assistant
Best Clean Hair-Care Products
Bur Bur Growing Season Deep Repair Hair Mask
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Hair Care
Bur Bur Growing Season Deep Repair Hair Mask
Nordstrom
Revolve
Credo Beauty
Why It Won: The ingredients in this hair mask may read like ingredients for a peculiar recipe—garlic bulb, wasabi, and ginger root extracts; avocado oil; broccoli seed oil; and chickpea and lentil seed extracts—but they come together to create a very satisfying concoction (but please, no tasting). Bur Bur Growing Season Deep Repair Hair Mask takes a pinch of this and a sprinkling of that—using a diverse mix of botanical oils and, like any good recipe, lots of butter (in this case, sourced from plants)—to deep condition dry or damaged hair. We like to leave it on for at least 10 minutes if we can, leaving hair softer, smoother, and much more lustrous.
Tester feedback from senior art director Ingrid Fowler
LargeChevron
"This mask leaves my hair feeling very soft, and has a mild earthy scent. I like that the packaging is a metal tube, which not only looks chic, it's practical. Unlike masks packaged in pots, it prevents shower water from collecting inside. It's also not too thick, making it easy to apply through long hair." —Ingrid Fowler, senior art director
Rahua Aloe Vera Shampoo and Conditioner
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Hair-Care
Rahua Aloe Vera Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Why It Won: Itchy, dry, tight scalps, let us introduce you to Rahua Aloe Vera Shampoo and Conditioner. We just know you’ll hit it off. This shampoo is almost as rich and creamy as its conditioner sibling, bathing scalps in soothing moisture with aloe vera and Amazonian rahua fruit oil, helping relieve uncomfortable tightness and freeing you from the urge to scratch your scalp. The conditioner, surprisingly, is as light as the shampoo is dense, delivering sheer hydration with a mix of fruit, seed, and jojoba oils that helps keep hair shiny and frizz-free.
Tester feedback from senior art director Ingrid Fowler
LargeChevron
"Rahua Aloe Vera Shampoo and Conditioner smell so light and fresh; they remind me of crisp, cucumber spa water. You can really feel the aloe because of the way they feel cool to the touch on my scalp. The shampoo is cleansing, but still soothing, and the conditioner leaves my hair feeling so soft." —Ingrid Fowler, senior art director
Rizos Curls Heat Protection Multivitamin Leave-In
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Hair-Care
Rizos Curls Heat Protection Multivitamin Leave-In
Amazon
Social media manager Bianca Richards applies the Rizos Curls Heat Protection Multivitamin Leave-In.
Bianca Richards
Why It Won: Sometimes more is more. Take, for example, the whopping 16 vitamins and amino acids in Rizos Curls Heat Protection Multivitamin Leave-In, which make our hair feel stronger, softer, and shinier (so much shinier). Mango seed butter and rose water help protect against breakage and hydrate while ramping up brilliance, and plant proteins smooth over damage. We could go on, but we’ll just say this: Our hair has never looked healthier or shinier. (Did we mention the shine?)
Tester feedback from social media manager Bianca Richards
LargeChevron
"I am quite literally obsessed with anything and everything from the Rizos Curls brand, and their Heat Protection Multivitamin Leave-In is, by far, my favorite product in the entire lineup. The versatility of this product is truly impressive. Since I have thick, curly hair, I'm hesitant to use any cream-based heat protectant for blowouts because I don't want that sticky, tacky finish when I apply heat. That's not the case with this product due to its lightweight formula. It protects my hair without compromising the smooth finish I know and love. If I'm not heat-styling my hair, this leave-in is my go-to for prep-styling my curls on low-maintenance days (mostly at night when I wash my hair and quick-dry my scalp). I've noticed a significant difference in my curls when I prep-style like this, giving my hair a softer finish and a strong start to my curl routine." —Bianca Richards, social media manager
Ochre Everything Hair Cream
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Hair-Care
Ochre Everything Hair Cream
Shop
Ochre
Why It Won: Your blowouts are about to get a lot easier: Ochre Everything Hair Cream adds soft hold, heads off frizz, and ups the shine by about a billion notches. This formula uses panthenol to smooth hair for more polished styles, but it’s not just for the heat-stylers among us; if you comb it through damp hair before air-drying, the fragrance-free cream boosts natural texture in all hair types, while preventing flyaways.
Tester feedback from Best of Beauty editorial assistant Arietta Hallock
LargeChevron
"I used to skip leave-in conditioners after showering at night for fear that I’d get a breakout from the product on my pillow. The Ochre Everything Hair Cream is my new fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic solution. I can sleep in peace knowing that my skin and hair can both get their overnight care." —Arietta Hallock, Best of Beauty editorial assistant
Divi Dry Shampoo
Save to wishlist
Best Clean Hair-Care
Divi Dry Shampoo
Amazon
Allure Beauty Box content manager Hannah Brower applies the Divi Dry Shampoo.
Hanna Brower
Why It Won: Everything that can be off-putting about dry shampoos—cloying scents, chalky residue—is delightfully absent from Divi Dry Shampoo. This elegant mist soaks up oil with rice and corn starch and leaves roots looking fresh. The best part? Roots feel as clean as they look without an obvious smell or white cast after a quick zhuzh. In our experience (which is vast), a few spritzes are about as close as you can get to actually shampooing your hair.
Tester feedback from Allure Beauty Box content manager Hannah Brower
LargeChevron
"My thin hair gets greasy quickly, so it's rare to find a dry shampoo that refreshes without weighing it down. Divi Dry Shampoo instantly revives my hair with a fresh scent, extends my style for another day, and the clean formula is an added bonus that makes me feel good about using it." —Hannah Brower, content manager, Allure Beauty Box
Written by Elizabeth Siegel
What does "clean" mean in Allure’s Best of Beauty awards?
Allure defines "clean" based on ingredient transparency, safety, and efficacy, not fear-based marketing. In this category, clean refers to products that meet Allure's Clean standard: products that are formulated without certain ingredients that some consumers choose to avoid, like parabens, phthalates, or aluminum salts. (A full list of the ingredients you won't find in products in Allure's Clean category can be found here.) Like every other category in Best of Beauty, products in the Clean category are tested for performance—and to ensure they actually perform.
Are Clean winners free of fragrance, sulfates, or parabens?
Many are, but not all clean products are fragrance-free or completely stripped of synthetics. We include products with consciously chosen ingredients and call out when formulas are free of common irritants or allergens. Each listing makes it clear what’s in, and what’s not.
Are clean beauty products as effective as traditional ones?
Yes, every Clean winner earns its spot based on results, not marketing language. Whether it’s a serum with plant-based retinol or a deodorant that actually works, these products are editor-tested for real-life performance and ingredient integrity.
What kinds of clean beauty products are included in this category?
This list includes cleansers and face balms, body creams and aluminum-free deodorants, dry shampoo and hair masks, and lip oils and concealer. Products range from minimalist skin-care products to high-performing, super-pigmented makeup.
Are the clean beauty winners cruelty-free or vegan?
It’s not a requirement—Allure’s clean standard focuses on each ingredient’s potential health risk and/or its ability to irritate the skin—but all of the Best of Beauty Clean winners are cruelty-free, and the majority of them are vegan.
Like what you see from Allure's Best of Beauty Awards?
