Welcome to one of my absolute favorite times of the year – the annual deep dive into my beauty cabinet to curate the ultimate list of clean beauty champions! This year presented a unique challenge, as increased time at home meant my beauty obsession reached new heights. Choosing favorites felt akin to picking a beloved child, given the sheer number of incredible products I discovered and cherished. However, some truly exceptional items shone brighter than the rest, solidifying their status as the best of the best in the realm of clean beauty for 2020.
In a year where self-care became more important than ever, my focus on clean, effective, and ethical beauty products intensified. This roundup isn’t just a list; it’s a testament to the power of formulations that nurture your skin without compromising on performance. Get ready to explore the must-have items that not only met but exceeded my expectations, becoming indispensable parts of my daily routine.
Just a quick note on my selection criteria for these annual reviews: these products weren’t necessarily launched in 2020. Instead, they earned their spot because I either discovered them this year and fell head over heels, or they consistently proved their worth, solidifying their place as enduring favorites that I reached for every single day. While many were new additions to my routine, some long-standing heroes continued to impress, earning their place among this year’s top picks. I have a strong feeling many of these gems will reappear on my 2021 list, but as we know, the clean beauty world is ever-evolving, so who knows what exciting innovations next year will bring!
In addition to my top clean beauty discoveries, I’m also including a detailed breakdown of my everyday makeup routine products further down. This will give you a complete picture of how these star performers integrate into a simple, natural look. Now, let’s dive straight into the extraordinary products that made the cut!
The Best of Clean Beauty 2020: My Ultimate Picks
This year’s clean beauty landscape was vibrant and innovative, offering effective solutions for every step of a beauty routine. From game-changing skin tints to nourishing hair masks, these are the products that genuinely transformed my approach to beauty in 2020.
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
Where do I even begin with this absolute masterpiece? The ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint has officially claimed its place as my ultimate holy grail product. It’s an all-in-one marvel, seamlessly blending the benefits of a daily moisturizer, a powerful SPF 40, and a lightweight skin tint. For anyone with dry skin like mine, ILIA has truly hit the nail on the head. In a year defined by minimal makeup and mask-wearing, this product became indispensable. It offers a beautiful, very light coverage that evens out skin tone without feeling heavy or, crucially, transferring onto your mask. My love for this product knows no bounds; it’s a true everyday superhero that delivers radiant, protected skin with minimal effort. I personally wear shade ST5, which blends flawlessly.
Range Beauty Foundation
For those rare occasions when I venture out or simply desire a touch more coverage than my skin tint provides, the Range Beauty Foundation has become my absolute obsession. This foundation offers a beautiful light-to-medium coverage that impressively dries down to a completely matte finish. I found it remarkably similar in texture and wear to the popular Vapour foundation, but with the distinct advantage of being entirely shimmer-free. If a sophisticated, fully matte look is what you’re after in a clean beauty formula, then this foundation is an absolute must-try. Its accessibility has also improved significantly, as Range Beauty products recently launched at Target, making it even easier to get your hands on. My perfect match is the shade Villa.
Mented Brow Pencil
My discovery of the Mented Brow Pencil was an exciting one, initially featuring in my comprehensive review of black-owned clean beauty brands. I was instantly captivated by the applicator’s exceptional precision, which made filling in my brows an incredibly quick and effortless task. With half my face often concealed by a mask throughout 2020, my brows naturally took on heightened importance, framing my face and adding expression. This brow pencil, used in conjunction with the brow gel mentioned below, became a non-negotiable duo in my daily routine, ensuring perfectly defined and natural-looking brows every time.
Ere Perez Clear Brow Gel
While not a new discovery for me in 2020, the Ere Perez Clear Brow Gel officially solidified its status as an indispensable member of my brow product hall of fame this year. This remarkable clear gel is my secret weapon for setting my brows perfectly without ever feeling stiff or “glued down.” It offers a flexible hold that keeps every hair in place, ensuring a polished, natural finish. Some days, especially if I’m not leaving the house, I might skip the brow pencil, but even on those low-key days, I genuinely haven’t missed a single day without applying this fantastic product. It’s the ultimate finishing touch for well-groomed brows, whether worn alone or over a pencil.
Kosas Sport Hyaluronic Lip Balm
Oh my goodness, where has this lip balm been all my life? I truly regret not trying the Kosas Sport Hyaluronic Lip Balm sooner! Throughout my life, I’ve tried countless lip balms, and while many were decent, this one completely blew me away. Its performance was so exceptional that I’ve been enthusiastically recommending it to everyone I know. What sets it apart is its incredible texture: it is absolutely not sticky whatsoever, yet simultaneously delivers an intensely moisturizing experience. This makes it an absolute dream for battling cold, dry weather and providing much-needed hydration under a face mask. I primarily use the clear version, but it’s worth noting that Kosas also offers two beautifully tinted shades for a subtle pop of color.
ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara
Let’s be honest, who isn’t utterly obsessed with the ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara? This product is certainly not new to the clean beauty scene and was a firm favorite of mine in 2019, too. However, its consistent performance and my almost daily application throughout 2020 made it an undeniable contender for this year’s top picks. If you’re on the hunt for a clean mascara that truly delivers without compromise – meaning no flaking, smudging, or clumping – and genuinely provides incredible lift and volume, then you can confidently skip exploring other options and go straight for this one. It creates long, defined lashes that open up the eyes beautifully, making it a true desert island beauty essential.
Briogeo Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
I think it’s safe to say that everyone’s hair endured its fair share of challenges this year. With fewer salon visits and increased stress, my dry locks were definitely crying out for some serious TLC! Enter the Briogeo Deep Conditioning Hair Mask, a true savior for parched strands. I often incorporate this luxurious mask into my bath routine, allowing the steam and warmth to help it deeply penetrate my hair. The results are consistently impressive: my hair feels remarkably softer, smoother, and visibly healthier, even after just a single use. I wholeheartedly recommend this product to anyone struggling with dry, damaged, or over-processed hair. While I acknowledge that it may not be the *cleanest* product available on the market, it boasts an impressive list of exclusions, being entirely free of silicones, parabens, sulfates, DEA, phthalates, and artificial dyes. It does contain fragrance, however, so if you have sensitivities, that’s something to be aware of.
Lovinah Power Cleansing Balm
The Lovinah Power Cleansing Balm, alongside the Marie Veronique Retinol Serum, represented my primary beauty splurges of 2020, and I can confidently say they were incredibly, undeniably worth every penny. While the market is saturated with various oil cleansers and cleansing balms, this particular one stands out with its truly luxurious feel and a wealth of incredible skin benefits. What’s more, it comes in at half the price of Beautycounter’s cleansing balm, a product I actually quite like from their range, making Lovinah’s offering an even more appealing choice. You can genuinely sense the care, thoughtfulness, and dedication that goes into every product Lovinah creates. Supporting this exceptional, purpose-driven company is an absolute pleasure.
Marie Veronique Gentle Retinol Serum
My admiration for the Marie Veronique Gentle Retinol Serum runs so deep that I dedicated not one, but two separate blog posts to it this year (you can read them here and here). Honestly, I never envisioned myself including a retinol product in a clean beauty roundup, but my perspective has fundamentally shifted, thanks to the remarkable benefits I’ve personally experienced. I can unequivocally state that 2020 was the year I finally gained a solid handle on my persistent breakouts and no longer live in fear of waking up to a massive blemish. This gentle yet effective retinol has truly been a game-changer for achieving clearer, healthier skin within a clean beauty framework.
My Go-To Everyday Makeup Look for 2020
While I’ve highlighted many of my essential daily makeup products within the comprehensive list above, I wanted to provide a full rundown of my complete go-to face routine for 2020. My approach this year was all about simplicity, natural enhancement, and products that felt light and breathable on the skin, especially with increased mask usage. This routine is quick, efficient, and delivers a polished yet effortless look perfect for any day.
- Foundation: ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint (my everyday staple for light, dewy coverage) or Range Beauty Foundation (for those occasions when I desired a bit more coverage and a matte finish).
- Bronzer: Lily Lolo Pressed Bronzer in Miami Beach. After finishing my previous HAN bronzer, I decided to dive into this one, and I’m so glad I did – it provides a beautiful, natural warmth to the complexion.
- Blush: ILIA Color Haze in Dusty Mauve. This creamy, multi-use product gives a soft, natural flush that blends seamlessly into the skin.
- Highlighter: RMS Living Luminizer. The iconic clean beauty highlighter that imparts a subtle, healthy glow without glitter or shimmer.
- Mascara: ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara. My go-to for defined, voluminous lashes without flaking.
- Brows: Mented Brow Pencil for precise filling, followed by Ere Perez Clear Brow Gel to set them in place. (Lord help my brows in 2020 – I was truly letting them grow wild for much of the year!).
- Lips: Kosas Sport Lip Balm for instant hydration and a comfortable, non-sticky feel.
*FYI: This photo was taken on my iPhone and is unedited, as I believe it provides a more authentic and less airbrushed representation of how the makeup truly looks on the skin!*
And there you have it! My complete, super simple, and natural-looking makeup routine. Noticeably absent are concealer, eyeliner, eyeshadow, or really anything particularly “fancy.” The beauty of this regimen is its efficiency, taking under 5 minutes to complete, and its ability to enhance natural features without masking them. I have a strong inclination that this minimalist yet effective approach won’t change much as we transition into 2021; it perfectly aligns with my ongoing commitment to clean beauty and effortless radiance.
Explore More Clean Beauty Favorites from Previous Years:
Curious to see what made the cut in past years? Dive into my previous clean beauty roundups for more timeless favorites and inspiring product discoveries:
Best of Clean Beauty 2019
Best of Clean Beauty 2018
Best of Clean Beauty 2017