Best Sustainable Skincare Products of 2024

It’s time for a slew of beauty reviews, featuring the best beauty products of 2024. I’ve tried my fair share of new brands – Boop, Romilly Wilde, Stella McCartney Beauty – and lots of new launches too. But what’s actually held up? Instead of doing my customary summer beauty routine posts, I wanted to instead highlight some of the best cosmetics that I’ve tried this year – these are the ones I’ve kept in my beauty cabinet, used until empty, and in some cases, repurchased! This is the part one of my trio of guides on skincare, body care, and haircare, and as with all my beauty reviews, all of these products are cruelty-free.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray

I’ve always had pretty dehydrated skin, and this year I finally discovered the antidote thanks to Make Up Artist Saj Mak on TikTok. The missing piece of my skincare puzzle was a hydrating facial spray!

After watching a few of Saj’s tutorials on TikTok, I ran out to my local Boots* and picked up the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater*. This spray is designed to be hydrating – as opposed to the other sprays in the range – and at £7 it’s an inexpensive yet effective option. Every morning and evening, fresh after cleansing, I’ll douse my face in two or three layers of this spray, and pat down into my skin. It helps to lock in moisture, and keeps my makeup from going flaky (unless I’m in the sun alllllll day). Absolute game-changer!

My rating: 9/10

Comfort Zone Luminant Defense Fluid SPF

I love SPF. I wear it religiously, come rain or shine. But the best SPF I’ve ever tried – maybe save for Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Sun Drops – is Comfort Zone’s Luminant Defense Fluid SPF (gifted).

I’m normally a little sceptical about skincare products that promise ‘defense’ and ‘anti-pollution’ properties, but this one is different. First off: the ‘defense’ refers to anti-dark spots, which comes from a great SPF. This one protects against UVA and UVB, at SPF 50. It has a vegan formula with 65.6% natural-origin ingredients. And it applies beautifully, as a thin fluid that spreads well and dries without a sticky residue.

It also leaves a little dewy glow, which is the perfect base for a few dots of concealer or a full face of makeup, depending on the day.

My one wish – the applicator nozzle could do with a redesign. The product can leak and dry in clumps if not careful or when travelling.

My rating: 9/10

Whind Marrakech Sun Drops

Finally, I have to confess my love for Whind’s Marrakesch Sun Tinting Water (gifted). I’ve always avoided tinting drops because I prefer to always cover up my rosacea. However, when Whind invited me to try their bestselling Marrakech Sun Tinting Water, I decided to rethink that. What I found: combined with a tinted moisturiser or my foundation, Whind’s Marrakech Sun drops are incredible. They’ve given me the ability to adjust the colour of my skincare products to match my tan, so I haven’t had to make any wasteful repurchases over the summer.

If you’re like me and you still want to use tinting drops with a product that offers coverage, I recommend mixing one to two drops into the liquid before applying for an even application.

My rating: 8/10