9 Best Clean Drugstore Makeup Brands For 2024
The Good Trade editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.
Many of us go to the drugstore for everything from toilet paper to mascara, moisturizers, and eyeshadow—so why not shop there for skin care and makeup, too? Rather than only shopping online for our natural beauty needs, we can lower our carbon footprint and invest in our local communities by shopping brick and mortar.
Of course, with safer-at-home instructions, shopping online for clean beauty is the preferred option. (Psst! If you do need a one-stop online spot for many of these clean beauty products, we recommend checking out Credo!) But when you find yourself running to the local drugstore (or even the occasional big box store), consider snagging some of these clean skincare and beauty products. They are as effective as they are affordable, and most can be found on the shelves of well-known shops. Instant gratification, anyone?
Best Overall | Best Skincare | Most Affordable
1. Well People
Best For | Eyeshadow palettes
Natural & Organic | Natural & organic certified ingredients
Who Carries It | Target, Credo
Price Range | $14–$66
Founded by a makeup artist, cosmetic dermatologist, and sustainability-focused entrepreneur, Well People showcases the power of plant-based makeup. Known for its Allure-winning mascara, best-selling multi-stick, and natural beauty sets, the team promises flawless coverage and effective protection using simple formulas made in small batches. You can find just about all of the products in the Well People collection at your local Target.
2. cocokind
Best For | Glow serum
Natural & Organic | Certified organic ingredients
Who Carries It | Target
Price Range | $3–$30
cocokind’s mission is to make “clean, conscious, and accessible beauty for all.” And it’s fulfilling that promise by offering products (like masks, oils, serums, and salves) that are cruelty-free and gluten-free—all at an affordable price. While you aren’t going to find traditional pigmented makeup here, you will find products that will give you a natural glow. Most of its formulas feature certified organic ingredients too, like blue-green algae extract, watermelon seed oil, and turmeric root powder. So expect only the best from Mother Nature, while still being budget-friendly.
3. Burt’s Bees
Best For | Bronzer and highlighter stick
Natural & Organic | Products on average use 99% natural ingredients
Who Carries It | Target, CVS, Walgreens
Price Range | $4–$17
You can find Burt’s Bees lip balm in most checkout lanes at your local grocery and retail stores—but did you know it also offers a full line of cosmetics and skincare products? This long-standing brand is dedicated to only using thoughtfully sourced natural ingredients and never tests on animals. What’s more to love than the brand’s nourishing shimmer balms? This: Burt’s Bees is landfill-free with operations waste and has been certified carbon neutral since 2015. Read more about its sustainability initiatives here.
4. Tower 28
Best For | Lip Jelly
Natural & Organic | Natural ingredients
Who Carries It | Credo
Price Range | $15–$32
Tower 28 is designed for sensitive skin– without the stuffy doctor’s office vibes. Named after a lifeguard tower in the brand’s base town of Santa Monica, CA, Tower 28 is all about good, clean, fun. Cruelty-free and vegan, they have a strict no-no list of ingredients you’ll never find in their products. The brand also gives back to ocean conservation and beach cleaning initiatives, and uses minimal packaging with compostable and PCR packaging. Love that!
5. Honest Beauty
Best For | Tinted lip balms
Natural & Organic | Natural and organic ingredients
Who Carries It | Target, CVS
Price Range | $9–$24
Honest Beauty aims to provide safe, organic makeup staples that won’t irritate your skin. Formulated without talc, phthalates, synthetic oils, or fragrances so as to avoid triggering allergic reactions and breakouts, Honest Beauty products are clean enough to use even while pregnant. While their Invisible Blurring Loose Powder is basically an Instagram filter IRL, we particularly love their super hydrating lip balms, which come in buildable, juicy shades like Plum Drop and Summer Melon. Yum!
6. ILIA
Best For | Multi-use products
Natural & Organic | Natural ingredients
Who Carries It | Credo, Sephora, Walmart
Price Range | $24–$64
For nearly a decade, ILIA has been pushing the clean beauty movement forward. Skincare-powered with conscious and carefully selected ingredients, this brand offers indulgent lip, eye, and facial products—including multi-use sticks and pigments—for a radiant finish. And the team goes the extra mile to be sustainable: Packaging is made from recycled aluminum, grass, and responsibly sourced paper—all of which can be returned via the recycling program. So you can look good while doing good.
7. Kosas
Best For | Tinted face oil
Natural & Organic | Natural ingredients
Who Carries It | Credo
Price Range | $15–$42
Makeup and skincare powerhouse Kosas can be found in many higher-end drugstores and makeup shops, like Credo. Hyaluronic lip balms, vibrant eyeshadow palettes, and inclusive foundation shades are just a handful of reasons this brand is loved by many. Crafted with natural ingredients, there’s a product for everyone, in every range, and for every skincare need.
8. RMS Beauty
Best For | Buildable concealer
Natural & Organic | Natural ingredients
Who Carries It | Bluemercury, Credo
Price Range | $15–$58
For an ethereally light look, we love RMS Beauty. This all natural brand is a one-stop-shop for makeup, skin care, and even supplements, along with everything else you may need for your personal routine. And by using only raw, food grade, and organic ingredients, the formula’s enzymes and antioxidant properties can work their magic. For a soft, dewy finish that heals as well as glows, RMS is a step above the rest.
9. Ella + Mila
Best For | Lip gloss
Natural & Organic | Natural ingredients (7-free)
Who Carries It | Target
Price Range | $5–$39
You may be familiar with Ella + Mila as a nontoxic nail care brand, but did you know the company has expanded its range to include clean beauty and body products? Today, the team has launched bold liquid lipsticks, luxurious scrubs, and versatile eye palettes, which are made in the USA, PETA-certified, and affordable.
