My 7 Favorite Conscious Beauty Products of 2021

It’s that time of the year! Before we jump into new year’s finds, let’s recap 2021’s gems when it comes to conscious beauty.

2021 was an important year for me in terms of conscious beauty finds, both in makeup and skincare (low cost and high-end). I feel lucky to try so many products (it could always be more) and write about these. All the products I’ve had the chance to put into the test last year were either purchased by me or gifted by family members.

I am not an apologist of owning many products or having many open simultaneously, especially when it comes to skincare. So, I am pretty proud of how I managed to try many things without going bad.

My main goal with this piece is to share my personal experience and the beauty founds that made a positive impact on my beauty routine last year.

Without further ado, these were my 2021’s favorite conscious beauty products:

REN’s Ready Steady Glow Toner

I have to be honest. I was a bit apprehensive about trying this product. In case you don’t know, REN’s Ready Steady Glow Toner has AHA - an acid that slightly exfoliates your skin. I’ve never tried such ingredient before and, as I’ve had skin problems for years, I was afraid if this product was suitable for me. But, after facing dull skin after one more time (besides the efforts), I decided to give it a go.

Even though this product is available in different formats (and sets), I’ve opted to purchase a travel-sized version to see how it worked for me. I noticed my skin better after just a couple of weeks. As I apply it on the palm of my hands before dabbing the product on my face (instead of soaking a pad), I still have an 80% of the product remaining - and I have been using it am/pm for over two months now (Win!). 

As the package mentions, the product is suitable for nine months after opening it for the first time. So, if you’re planning to apply this toner the same way I do, I wouldn’t recommend you spend your money on the full-size version as you’ll end up wasting some product or using it when the brand no longer recommends it.

This toner is also suitable for people with visible pores (my case). If you’d like to get started on AHA but don’t know if these are suitable for you, feel free to contact an assistant from a local sales assistant or ask for a sample.

If you don’t want to (or can’t) spend 31,99€ on the full-size, travel-sized versions are pretty easy to find these days. Especially now that there might be some holiday season gift sets (on sale) still available at Sephora.

Rare Beauty’s Foundation

I prefer the “no-makeup makeup” kind of look for makeup. As so, I’ve never had more than a foundation on my makeup collection - and I ended up taking the package for recycling with still a lot of product on it. 

I had no foundation on my collection for over a year - until a friend recommended me this one from Rare Beauty. 

That’s right, even though Rare Beauty isn’t exactly on my end when it comes to clean formulas, it sure matches my values in terms of enhancing your natural beauty and what makes you unique instead of hiding it.

Out of all the Rare Beauty products I’ve tried (here’s my honest review), everyone enhanced my looks without covering my quirks, making me feel more confident without feeling that I was using a lot of makeup.

Rare Beauty’s Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation works more like a veil than a standard foundation. It’s so light that you won’t feel that you’re wearing a foundation at all, which is excellent.

Even though it’s not exactly low cost, you only need a teeny tiny amount to cover the whole face. So, if you’re looking for a reliable and natural-looking foundation, this might be a good fit for you - mainly because it’s available in a large array of shades. 

Plus, 1% of all sales goes to the Rare Impact Fund - a fund created by Rare Beauty to increase access to mental health services in educational settings.

Milk Makeup’s Mascara

You probably already know by now that I am a mascara fan. Yes, that’s my absolute staple when it comes to makeup. And in 2021, I was lucky enough to try a few ones (from low cost to high-end). But out of all the mascaras I’ve tested, the one from Milk Makeup was my favorite.

Made with natural ingredients, Milk Makeup’s Kush High Volume Mascara was everything I could ask for on a mascara. A dark natural formula perfectly combed and longer lashes without lumps or clumps. 

Besides, unlike some mascaras on the market, the volume (and its intensity) remains for hours.

The best part? This mascara is available in different formats, so you can give it a try without blowing the bank on the full-size version.

Urban Decay’s Naked Cyber Eyeshadow Palette

I have to say that I discovered makeup late in my life. Even though I’ve spent most of my 20’s covering up my complexion with layers and layers of foundation (I had severe acne) and a little bit of powder blush, I never really understood what each product was for or even how to have fun during the process.

It wasn’t until I had to work for a mainstream beauty brand and visit their headquarters several times a week that I started diving into this universe and watching makeup videos on YouTube.

So now, I am finally in that place where I know the kind of products I like, which ones will help me enhance my features, and how I can play with them.

After mascara, eyeshadows are one of my absolute favorite makeup products and, without a doubt, the ones I spend the most money on.

While Urban Decay is one of my favorite makeup brands, despite their eyeshadow palettes having the appreciation of beauty enthusiasts, these never caught my attention - until they launched the Naked Cyber last year.

This eyeshadow palette is all about the Y2K. The packaging resembles a PC component, and the eyeshadow tones are soft and shimmery - and I love that!

I received this one as a birthday gift, and I haven’t stopped having fun with it ever since. I mix and blend colors, adding some lighter and shimmery bits to enhance my eye area.

What do I like the most about this eyeshadow palette? Besides the colors available and what I can do with these, I love that the formulas are vegan and cruelty-free.

However, if you’re looking for something utterly pigmented and bold in terms of color… this won’t be a good fit for you.

Burt’s Bees’ Lip Mask

This product is one of my absolute staples for nourishing my lips, and I can’t get tired of recommending it to everyone I know - that’s how much I enjoy this product.

Burt’s Bees Overnight Intensive Lip Treatment is my go-to not only when I want to pamper my lips but to keep these moisturized (instead of using a standard lip balm).

I like the texture of this lip mask. It’s soft, non-sticky and it gives me a glossy look. One of the main reasons I enjoy this product so much is because it isn’t anything like other highly praised lip masks on the market (like the one from Laneige), and it costs a fraction of the price. Plus, you have the product for months - even if you use it several times a day.

Feel free to read my review on this (and several others) Burt’s Bees products. 

Youth To The People’s Eye Cream

This one was my biggest surprise of the year regarding skincare. Even though I’ve already known about the existence of this natural skincare brand, it wasn’t until I received a mini version of Youth to the People’s Dream Eye Cream that I decided to give it a try.

Soon after I started using this eye cream, I could tell that my under-eye area looked more nourished, less pigmented and that my fine lines were also less visible. Precisely what I was looking for at the time.

Besides the natural formulas, its packaging is minimalist, recyclable, and made with eco-conscious materials (let’s ignore the plastic lid). However, their products are a bit pricey (at least for my budget).

Given that I enjoyed this product so much, I do my best to make it last longer (using only a tiny amount), and I only purchase it when there’s a 30% off deal at Sephora Spain.

If the price (45,99€ per 15ml) isn’t an issue for you (or you can purchase it with a nice discount) and you’re looking for a sustainable yet reliable eye cream, look no further.

Feel free to ask for a sample at a local store and try it for a few days before taking the plunge. 

Garnier Makeup Removal Pads

As a sustainable living enthusiast, I have been using reusable cotton pads for years now. I purchased some in bulk at local stores or sustainable living websites. 

Unfortunately, until last year, I’ve never found one that was gentle enough to remove my makeup - especially when it comes to the eye area. Even though the ones from Mind The Trash have a softer side more oriented to removing your eye makeup, sometimes I felt that it wasn’t as gentle enough - especially when my eyelids were more sensitive.

Despite being a mainstream brand, the truth is Garnier has been making some changes and coming up with more eco-conscious products for the masses. Whether we like it or not, the fact is this will be the first contact a lot of people will have with eco-friendly products - either because of their price or because they’re easy to find. Which, for me, is an essential step towards where we need to go as a society.

When I first heard that Garnier launched their reusable cotton pads, I knew I had to give it a try. And I was pleasantly surprised by these. Not only are these super soft and gentle, but they are also quite affordable (about 5 euros per three pads) and can be reused 1000 times.

These are my absolute favorite of all the reusable cotton rounds I own when removing my eye makeup. And in my case, that’s my makeup most of the days - just eyeshadow and mascara.

So, if you’re getting started on reusable cotton pads, or you could use a couple more, look no further. Plus, Garner makeup removal pads are super easy to find at supermarkets and drugstores.