According to Forbes magazine, Target earned a perfect score on the racial and gender scorecard, meaning they’re actually paying people appropriately and fairly based on gender and race which a lot of other companies can’t say.
We know it’s very important to take care of the planet, but it’s also very important to take care of people. And even though we’re only individuals who can’t change everything, we can do things like supporting businesses that care. And although we can’t shop our way out of global warming or inequity, we can make an impact by applying pressure to companies. That way, they’ll be incentivized to make changes. So, although it may seem hard to tell, buying sustainable products from sustainable companies does make a difference. So, here are the [insert number here] sustainable skincare under $100 at Target.
CocokindCocokind Silk SPF Hybrid Sunscreen -$24.99
If you’re looking for a sunscreen that is hydrating and has some oils in it, this is really good. It protects against both UVA/UVB, and it is a sustainable brand.
All of Cocokind’s stuff is printed with soy ink, and according to their website, they are transitioning all of their packaging to being FSC certified, which means they’re considered environmentally responsible by theForest Stewardship Council. "FSC is an international membership organization, and it is a platform for forest owners, timber industries, social groups, and environmental organizations to come together to find solutions to improve forest management practices" (FSC).
Cocokind Daily SPF Mineral-Based Sunscreen -$24.99
Their regular sunscreen is also good. It’s mineral so there’s a little bit of flashback. If you’re looking for something that’s not overly mattifying and not super hydrating, it’s wonderful. There's also rice and banana flour in it, and overall, this formula is a good choice for like 75% of people.
Cocokind AHA Jelly Cleanser Clarifying Face Wash -$17.99
This is also a wonderful hibiscus-infused cleanser.
PacificaNext, Pacifica is a wonderful company based out of Oregon and California. Pacifica is one of the original leaders in sustainability. Pacifica used to donate to Oregon’s clean waterfront before it was ever trendy or cool.
Pacifica Reusable Masks Undereye -$14.99
If you use reusable undereye masks, these are amazing, and they're sustainable too. With undereye masks, you can put your favorite serum underneath and increase penetration. And if you have puffiness on your eyes, these definitely help to lift the eyes.
Pacifica Dark Spot Micropatches with Niacinamide and Kale -$14.24
These contain glycerin, cellulose gum, niacinamide, kale, tranexamic acid, and ascorbic acid in these. If you have dark, pigmented patches, these are great.
Pacifica Kale Charcoal Ultimate Detox Mask
This works for blemishes, blackheads, and oil. This has willow herb, green tea leaf extract, cucumber extract, kaolin bentonite clay, and charcoal powder. It's a great formula and not overly stripping to the skin. This is also really good for oily skin.
Pacifica Acne Warrior Clearing Astringent -$16
This is a true, acne product. This product has so many great things like salicylic acid. So, if you have sensitive skin, are struggling with blemishes, and want to support Pacifica, this is a wonderful product.
However, if you have more dry and dehydrated skin, Pacifica’s vegan collagen line is amazing. Vegan collagen equates to peptides. So, they’re more effective than animal collagen because they absorb into the skin!
Pacifica Vegan Collagen Complex Serum -$22
This is one of Cassandra’s favorites.
Pacifica Glow Baby Booster Serum -$17.99
If you’re okay with fragrance, this one from Pacifica is wonderful. It’s phenomenal, and it smells like an orange creamsicle. Plus, it exfoliates very well.
Dove
Dove Body Love Eczema-Prone Skin Care Body Cleanser -$12.99
Dove has a new eczema body line that is eczema society approved. And they’re not only fragrance-free but cruelty-free now! Furthermore, Dove started a Love Your Crown Campaign that encourages curly-haired girls to love their hair. On top of that, their packaging is 100% recycled,
Selfless by Hyram
Selfless by Hyram’s packaging is all made from sugarcane that’s fully recyclable. Sustainability-wise, it’s not perfect, but it’s a lot better than what other brands are doing.
Selfless by Hyram Centella & Green Tea Hydrating Gel Cleanser - $15.99
This cleanser is great for double cleansing, and it removes makeup well.
Selfless by Hyram Peptide Q10 & Ginger Daily Defense Antioxidant Serum -$12.99
For this product, the ginger component is a little concerning because ginger has gingerol which can be very irritating to some skin because it’s similar to capsaicin. Capsaicin is also in red chili pepper, and you don’t want to rub that on your face. But ginger can also be an antioxidant and help with dark spots.
Selfless by Hyram Retinol & Rainbow Algae Repair Serum - $24.99
This was not strong enough for Cassandra, but it’s a great beginner retinol.
Selfless by Hyram Salicylic Acid & Sea Kelp Pore Clearing and Oil Control Serum -$20.49
This was a good one, but Cassandra needed something more intense.
Selfless by Hyram Mandelic Acid & Rice Bran Gentle Exfoliating Serum -$20.49
This is a really good, gentle exfoliant.
Selfless by Hyram Niacinamide & Maracujá Daily Barrier Support Moisturizer -$20.49
To Cassandra, this is more of a serum. But if you have oily skin, this is one of the lightest moisturizers Cassandra has ever used. It doesn’t gum up on the skin, get all goopy under your sunscreen or makeup. But if you have dry skin, you might want to make a different choice.
Hero Cosmetics Rescue Retinol - $22.99
This is a 0.75% encapsulated retinol blend with a balm complex. This contains squalane, shea butter, propanediol, caprylic triglyceride, magnesium, and resveratrol which comes from wine and grapes. There’s also gluconolactone and ubiquinone which are hydrating and healing.
Curology
Curology used to be an online prescription only, but now there are products available in stores. The subscription for Curology is only five dollars a month. While Curology doesn’t match you with board-certified dermatologists, they do have doctors, NPs, and a lot of people who can help you with your skin care concerns and customize products for them. Getting customized skincare increases the chance of your skincare being efficacious. Given that consumerism is a huge driver of climate change, this is good because that way you don't have to buy or waste as much.
However, there are other customized skincare brands that match you with board-certified derms. If you have adult acne or hyperpigmentation, Cassandra doesn’t know if she would necessarily recommend Curology. Curology is a good choice for teenagers. It’s $5 per month, and Apostrophe is better for getting topicals.
This sunscreen has dimethicone, argan oil, co-polymer, shea butter, and urea. Urea is fine for acne but Cassandra doesn’t think it’s necessarily great for it.
These are a few sustainable brands available at Target. Of course, buying all of these is not a must, but hopefully, you'll find something that works for both you and the environment!