If this is your year to switch over to ethical beauty, the world is certainly making it easier! Years ago, finding clean beauty meant that you were either buying over-priced specialty items or underperforming generic products. It meant that you smelled like lavender or patchouli and that you either had to look online at a specialty retailer or head into your local hippie grocery store. And, finding makeup was even more difficult.
But now! Now, you can find ethical, natural, clean beauty almost everywhere, including Target.
Most Targets now have a clean beauty section, and some of them are pretty extensive. And, they are working to make all of their beauty and personal care products clean in the coming years! Woohoo!
There is no excuse not to make the switch to ethical beauty (well, except maybe that special occasion lip stick that is the perfect shade of fuchsia). It is better for your skin (I promise, you will look better!), your hair, your health, and of course the planet and the people making it.
If you haven’t been to Target’s clean beauty aisle, now is the time!
Now that I have kids, I don’t have a lot of extra time to shop at specialty stores (I do miss those days!), so I buy most of my ethical beauty products from Sprouts, Target, and at a few of my favorite online shops like Credo, The Detox Market, and Thrive Market.
If you are like me, and end up at Target more often than you’d like to admit, this list is for you. If your Target is a City Target (like ours), your selection may be a little more limited. But, the good news is, they keep expanding their selection!
Of course, some of the items in the clean beauty section aren’t as clean or ethical as I’d like. There is greenwashing almost everywhere, unfortunately.
So, I’ve put together a pretty complete (and continually updated) guide to shopping for clean beauty at Target. It includes a list of ethical beauty brands that meet my criteria (or at least come pretty close) that are available there.
With a Target about a mile from our house, and on the way home from just about everywhere I go, it is an easy place to stop in and pick up something quick. I am also impressed with their 2020 sustainability goals. But, if I am honest, it is about the convenience. Plus, my toddler loves it there. It is one of our go-to places to hang out when it is really raining like it has a lot this year. He loves the toy aisle and is still young enough where he can play without asking to bring anything home. So, it has become my go to place for beauty products.
My Top Ten Clean Beauty Products at Target
(that I actually use almost every day!):
- Almost everything by Pacifica. I get most of my Pacifica products at Target (I do stock up at Sprouts and Whole Foods when they have their annual body care sales!). I love this oil,
- This mascara,
- And their pink and nude mineral eye shadow.
- Cocokind Facial Cleansing Oil. I love this stuff. 4 simple, organic ingredients, no fillers or water, pretty close to zero waste, and super gentle. It leaves my skin feeling clean and clear but not tight or dry. And, it is inexpensive at about $14).
- W3LL PEOPLE Bio Extreme Lip Gloss. I love the minty feel and the easy colors. I also love that it is vegan, mostly organic, has ingredients I can spell, and is made using sustainable energy. It is also hydrating and the cinnamon and spearmint are naturally plumping.
- Acure Seriously Soothing SPF Day Cream. I love this stuff. We have a bottle in the bathroom, in the car, and in the kids’ bags. It goes on their little faces easier (and with less of a fight) than other physical sunscreens, and doesn’t feel as cakey or heavy so works well under makeup.
- Ethique Eco-Friendly Hair Sampler. When I decided to go zero waste with my beauty routine, I tried a few shampoo bars. I bought this sample pack to get started. I highly recommend trying it out. I still haven’t gotten through it, it lasts a while (especially if you only wash your hair twice a week), but it is a great start to figure out what you need. I will probably finish it up and get their Frizz Wrangler when I finish up this sampler.
- Derma-E Vitamin C Night Cream. This is one of the first ethical beauty night creams that I ever bought, and I have been using it regularly ever since. It is creamy but not sticky, has all kinds of probiotics, vitamins, and other good stuff and just feels really good. And, while I am not all that good at making sure I get night cream on every single night (working on it!), when I do, I notice a difference in the morning.
- Burt’s Bees Lip and Cheek Stain. I love anything that does double duty. I can throw this in my purse and go. It gives me a little pop of color when I look a little blah, feels moisturizing on my almost always chapped lips, and blends well.
- Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap. I could not make a natural beauty list without listing Dr. Bronner’s. We are huge Dr. Bronner’s fans, and have been for a while. I use this good stuff all over the house, on myself, the kids, the dog, everywhere. After coconut oil, Dr. Bronner’s is probably my number one product.
Don’t you love it when ethical style goes mainstream? Me too!
If these items aren’t all that interesting to you, take a look at Target’s Clean Icon. An easy way to determine if something is ethical and clean. Target has also published a list of what “clean” means to them.
Still struggling with what to buy at Target that is actually ethical and not greenwashed (unfortunately a fair bit!)? Take a look at my guide to getting started with ethical beauty or my guide to shopping clean beauty at Target, with over 25 (and counting) brands to look for when you’re on your regular Target run.
