The Ultimate 2020 Clean Beauty, Ethical Or Sustainable Fashion Gift-Guide – 15 Under $50
The holidays are here, and that means we must dip into our wallets as gestures of thoughtfulness and love to our loved ones. Before shopping for everything and anything, let me share with you what I do going into the holidays — don’t shop for anyone you don’t care about. Honestly, overconsumption isn’t worth it and the holidays produce an extensive amount of waste each year. And when shopping, try to shop from small-businesses or ones that practice ethical or sustainable production. TLDR; Affordable non-toxic presents for the non-toxic people in your life.
Note: A lot of the brands in the beginning contain affiliate links or promo codes, but each company I have shopped at before and put on this list because I believe in their brand, values, and products.
Comes with a hibiscus-infused tea and sleep bath salts. This gift is perfect for the restless insomniac or over-stresser. The bath salt helps lower blood pressure through its essential oils.
All Kaia Naturals products are formulated without the ingredients on Credo’s Dirty List and cruelty free.
Promo: Use code CLAIRESUA15 for 15% off
Recycled Fabric crewneck with inclusive sizing shipped with 100% compostable mailers and made in sweatshop-free factories — limited stock.
This company is female-founded, two of the founders I’ve met virtually and I can truly vouch for how much they care for fellow women and the environment. Self-admittedly not perfect in its environmental standards, it is nevertheless always trying within its reasonable means and always looking to improve. PLUS, it’s super difficult to find plus-size clothing within the ethical fashion industry, and Peachy Keen offers sizes XXS-5X.
Promo: Use code CLAIRE for 25% off
Female-owned sustainable jewelry company based in NYC with the most elegantly bold gold jewelry. I love their designs and although the ethical jewelry industry is extremely complicated and diamonds in particular are hard to truly ethically source to its rawest material, this company although in its imperfection is one of the best in my opinion for its quality.
Promo: CLAIRESUA20 for 20% off
This sustainable, non-toxic, (yes, a lot of furniture and home goods release toxic chemicals) eco-friendly pillow is the perfect gift for your yogi friend. I’ve purchased a mattress from this company, and love it for its price! This pillow is filled with buckwheat hulls and has GOTS & Oeko-Tex Certified Organic Cotton.
**Affiliate link
Where I buy most of my home goods, Public Goods is a great affordable options for those looking to live a more sustainable lifestyle. From reusable bags, to walnut scrubber sponges, to bamboo toothbrushes, this place has it all.
Use code CLAIREPGA for 25% off
One of my favorite beauty brands, I was thrilled when Kjaer Weis reached out to me for a partnership. Already having bought their liquid and cream foundations as well as the lip liner, I was so happy to be able to start endorsing them even more than I usually do on my own. I love their new liquid foundation (more so than the cream because of the drier climate these days), and they come in as many darker shades as lighter ones.
Sustainable through its packaging and refillable, non-toxic, and cruelty free.
Use Code CLAIRE10 for 10% Off
100% Organic cotton, and can be returned for store credit as part of F0R DAYS’s take-back program. This unisex shirt is a great gift for the man (or any he/she/they, really) in your life — there aren’t as many choices for men or androgynous ethical clothing compared to womens, so this brand that has more unisex clothing is perfect for anyone on your shopping list.
Use Code CLAIRE for 15% off
A discreet, minimal toy brought to you by Maude, a sexual wellness company that makes sex safer for you and your partner. Not only does it sell vibrators, but also non-toxic condoms, massage candles, lube, and bath products. I love the branding, packaging, and empowering message.
The cotton-wick, soy wax, paraffin-free candles are my favorite candles so far. The scents are so unique and everyone I’ve gifted this to so far loves the scents! If you’re thinking of buying someone a Jo Malone, Yankee Candle, or basically any other candle, re-think because those traditional candles are very bad for your health!
Many candles are petroleum-based, which may be the cause of your headaches whenever you light your paraffin candle.
This frame is made from a company with strong ethical standards in its production. Although not sustainable, this lucite frame is more shatter-proof than glass and can be used for many years to store your memories.
I love shopping from Australian company Country Road because of its wide range of goods, and since the seasons are opposite with New York, I usually can find upcoming season items on sale.
Handmade, and the perfect personal gift for the coffee/tea drinker!
Sézane uses mostly eco-friendly materials and has 3 reputable certifications — GOTS, Oeko-Tex, and FSC. According to Good on You, it does ensure payment of a living wage in some of its supply chain and audits the final stage of production, but like most companies, it cannot trace it fully and does not publicly share its Code of Conduct.
This cleanser leaves my skin feeling so tingly after use, so I love using it in the morning to wake me up. It helps calm blemishes, and is super gentle.
OSEA is one of the first brands I encountered when I started my clean beauty journey 3-4 years ago, and is what I think a major pioneer in the space. Founded by a mother and daughter, it mostly uses the potent power of seaweed (which as a Korean I can attest to its healing properties), to target skin concerns.
The Foundationals is a Public Benefit Corporation — one of the requirements of a Benefit Corporation is that it must produce an annual benefit report in which a third-party assesses its ethical standards. Its factory is also SA8000 and LEEDS Platinum certified. It also offers a virtual factory tour of its Vietnam factory. It uses mostly eco-friendly materials.
I love how it offers basics, but in a trendy and elevated way.
GOTS certified cotton and ethically made, these socks are the perfect gift for anyone on your list — because no one likes buying socks for themselves. There are more options on site that range from different colors to cozier options.
For the reader or the one friend who still doesn’t believe in the intersectional issues of climate change, this book is definitely on my to-be-read list. I often remind people I’m no sustainability professional or expert, so it’s important to remain educated, read, and learn.