7 Eco-conscious Drugstore Beauty Products Worth Buying

Eco-friendly beauty products no longer need to cost an arm and a leg. Supermarket and drugstore chains are filling their shelves with authentic gems that are worth every cent, and more respectful of the environment.

As consumers, we are making a stand with every cent we spend. And here’s the perfect example: mainstream and drugstore brands are listening to their consumers (and the numbers), and working on formulas and packages that are more aligned with our current reality.

I love to discover new beauty products, especially if they are cruelty-free, with natural formula, and eco-conscious. Needless to say that I get even more excited when I run into a product that meets all these criteria, and it’s also effective and affordable.

That’s the case with all the products on this list. Products that I’ve been using for months, that are good, more respectful with the environment (and your skin), and on a budget.

Garnier Micellar Reusable Makeup Remover Eco Pads  

This is a recent discovery of mine and it already gained a spot on my “Favorite Products of the Year” list. 

As someone that has been using reusable cotton pads for a few years now, these are my favorite so far. Why? Instead of a flat cotton round, these are fluffy on both sides. Making these particularly gentle and really pleasant to use, if you have sensitive skin (like me). Also, I really enjoy using these with the Flor de Mayo Makeup Remover Balm (more on this one later).

Unlike other reusable makeup remover pads I’ve tried in the past, these came out from the washer perfectly clean. Like brand new kind of clean, which was a really good surprise.

Why is this an eco-conscious product worth buying? Well, besides all the good things I’ve already said… you can reuse each pad 1000 times, and the package is entirely plastic-free. Way to go, Garnier!

What about the price? It has a different price depending on the retailer or the market you’re in. But it usually retails for 10 euros or less. If you’re in Spain, I got mine from Druni for 5 euros.

Garnier Bio Micellar Water

What’s your favorite makeup remover product? If it happens to be Micellar Water and you’re looking for a more eco-friendly alternative, look no further.

Garnier’s Micellar Water is one of the most iconic products of the entire brand. So when they created their eco-conscious line (Garnier Bio), they knew they had to come up with one that met these standards.

Garnier Bio’s Micellar Water formula has organic ingredients. It is vegan and cruelty-free. Besides, the bottle is made out of 100% recycled plastic.

The price? Usually retails for 7 euros or less (depending on the retailer and the market), and it will last for weeks (or months).

Flor de Mayo Makeup Remover Balm

One of my absolute favorites on the list. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, made with natural ingredients, it comes in a tin and each package comes with a reusable makeup remover glove (it’s so soft).

The Flor de Mayo Makeup Remover Balm smells like chamomile and it’s quite easy to use. Just wet your skin and massage a little bit of balm throughout your face. Or, if you prefer, apply a little bit on the reusable glove and then your face. Here’s a tip: leave it still for a few seconds in the eye area, so it can melt your eye makeup more easily.

This product is quite similar to the one from The Body Shop, only cheaper and you can use it in your eyes.

If you leave in Spain, you can purchase it at Druni.

Nivea Solid Face Cleanser

What a nice surprise, this one! Nivea just launched a line of solid face cleansers. The package is made of paper, entirely plastic-free, and it retails for less than 6 euros.

At the moment, I have tried the face scrub one (the dark one) and it was a really positive surprise. Quite gentle on the skin, I could barely feel the scrub grains, and it was really easy to use.

Once I run out of my current face cleanser, I’ll definitely give it a go and start purchasing these from Nivea.

What makes this an eco-conscious product worth buying? Besides all the things I’ve just said, its formula is made out of 99 to 100% natural ingredients and a great alternative to the other not so eco-friendly face cleansers available in the same aisle.

Simple Kind To Skin Biodegradable Cleansing Facial Wipes

OK, we all know that reusable products are better. Not just for the planet, but for your wallet. However, we must also be realistic and recognize that we might have to use disposables once in a while.

So, if that’s the case or if you prefer to remove your makeup with a wipe… use a biodegradable version instead. Like these from Simple.

Easy to use, effective, and on a budget (retails for 4 euros or less). And yes, in case you’re wondering, it works on waterproof makeup.

Essence HELLO, GOOD STUFF! Mascara

I just can’t get tired of this one. Essence’s HELLO, GOOD STUFF! mascara is my favorite eco-conscious drugstore beauty product.

It retails for 5 euros and has 98% natural ingredients. Which is an absolute bargain!

Plus, it’s long-lasting, easy to apply and it doesn’t crumble or smudge after a few hours.

Has this product caught your attention? Take a look at Essence’s HELLO, GOOD STUFF! line, which they had recently added new products to. They have recently added new products to it.

EcoTools Plant-based Makeup Sponge

If you like to use foundation, you probably have a beauty blender lying around. While these kinds of sponges can make your makeup look more even, they have to be replaced more often than a makeup brush.

Luckily, brands like EcoTools are working on biodegradable versions of this makeup staple.

I’ve been putting the plant-based version to test and I am quite pleased with the experience. The sponge has doubled its size. And you don’t feel like you’re hitting yourself while applying your foundation. 

However, I found it a bit porous. This means you’ll need to use an extra bit of product to cover the whole face. But this is something pretty usual when it comes to makeup sponges.

What did I like the most? It has different edges and shapes, which are perfect to apply different products with a single tool. Which, for me, was particularly helpful when I had to apply my concealer.