What if Eco-Friendly Makeup Wasn’t as Expensive As You Thought?

It’s always a fun treat to scan the beauty supply aisles of a grocery or drugstore. Whether it’s a leisurely stroll or even just a quick minute on the way back from picking up sponges, the beauty aisle is always home to a fun new product worth checking out.

If you’re familiar with the term “we are what we eat,” the same applies to what we apply on our skin. In fact, 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bodies, so its worth taking a minute to consider the ingredients before applying.

Unfortunately, studying cryptic lists of ingredients typically doesn’t fall on the fun list, and can leave us even more tempted to take the ignorance is bliss route when it comes to shopping high street beauty. Fortunately, among the growing selection of sparkly nail colors and the latest low-end innovations exist some pretty fantastic eco-friendly options which contain healthier ingredients without compromising quality, price, and beauty—fragrance and packaging included. Even if you can’t find 100% eco, the drugstore still has cleaner and less expensive options to consider.

To make life a little easier and keep beauty aisle browsing magic alive, we discovered a few essentials that are pretty luscious, easily accessible, and definitely worth adding to your list. For an extra gold star, don’t forget to bring your own bag.

100% Pure Brightening Scrub and Mask, $21

This mask/scrub hybrid might have people stopping you to ask what juice cleanse you’re on or where you’ve been getting your facials. As winter approaches, it’s especially important to keep your skin hydrated and nourished—and this drugstore find is packed with pure ingredients such as, aloe, coconut oil, and pomegranate seed oil. Lemon juice and lemon oil give this treatment an amazingly fresh citrus smell, but please don't eat it! As always, 100% Pure products are free of harsh ingredients—skin is left soft, not stripped. A little bit on the pricier side of drugstore, but completely worth it.

Sula Lip and Cheek Tint, $10, and Sula Eye Crayon, $9

Sula's ingredient-friendly products are a fresh, high quality addition to the shelves. Both the Canadian brand’s Lip and Cheek Tint and Eye Crayon are huge eco wins! The pencil has just the right thickness to transition from day to night, and unlike the staying power of most “natural” eye pencils, this formula doesn’t smudge halfway down your face. Their lip and cheek tint feels more like a tinted moisture stick for your face, formulated with sunflower, sesame, argan, and jojoba oils. The packaging is simple, beautiful, and fun!

Physician’s Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Jumbo Lash Mascara, $10

Looks aren’t deceiving for this leafy green lash booster. True to claims, Physician’s Formula Organic Wear mascara is actually formulated with 100% natural products, and nearly half of the ingredients are sourced from organic farms. The wand gives lots of volume and thickness without clumping. The best part—no smearing or smudging!