Looking to conceal with a clear conscience? Search for plant-based or responsibly sourced ingredients like shea butter, sunflower-derived Vitamin E, and jojoba or hemp seed oil. Steer clear of uncertified palm oil or mica. While applicator tips usually can’t be recycled, paper-based secondary packaging (especially if it’s FSC certified) is a better choice than plastic. Bonus points for brands with takeback programs. Keep an eye out for certifications like PETA’s Cruelty-Free or Vegan, RSPO for palm oil, and FSC for paper goods.

Ingredients

Emollients

Emollients help concealer glide on easily and keep it from caking. They can be natural or synthetic, and both have their pros and cons.

• Natural emollients like shea butter and cocoa butter are popular picks. Shea butter gets extra points for supporting women’s economic empowerment in parts of Africa. Cocoa butter, on the other hand, has raised concerns about child labor and poor working conditions – something to keep in mind when choosing between the two.
• Synthetic emollients (like esters) are made through chemical processes, but that doesn’t automatically mean they’re bad. Some are made from coconut or sugar instead of petroleum, which can help lower emissions associated with raw material. 
• Fatty alcohols and acids, like cetyl alcohol, are often plant-derived but commonly made from palm oil. Because conventional palm oil is closely linked to global deforestation (yikes), it’s best to look for products that are certified by Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) or use alternatives like stearic acid derived from sunflower oil, which is considered lower-impact.

Pigments

Pigments in concealers are used to help soften the appearance of dark circles or skin blemishes. One of the most popular pigments is iron oxide – which is made of naturally occurring mineral deposits made of (you guessed it) iron and oxygen. In makeup, iron oxides are often synthetic to avoid contaminants like heavy metals. While mining iron oxide has environmental downsides (think habitat disruption and soil erosion), it’s generally preferred over mica, which is associated with child labor in some regions. That said, iron oxides alone can have limitations when it comes to formulating products for deeper skin tones. Brands may need to incorporate additional pigments to accurately match the full range of complexions which adds complexity to both the formulation and sourcing landscape. So, while not perfect, iron oxide is often the more ethical choice.

Antioxidants

Antioxidant-rich concealers help extend the life of your concealer by preventing oxidation. We love that for two reasons: first, we dread the day when our concealer is dried up before we’ve used it all and second, when products last longer then we have to make fewer purchases, rely on less packaging, and have less of an environmental impact overall – it's a win-win. Antioxidants are also rich in inflammation-fighting molecules, offering concealer wearers some skincare perks, too. Look out for:

• Vitamins E, B3, and C 
  
  • Vitamin E (or Tocopherol) comes from the oils of plants like sunflower, soybean, and palm – all of which have sustainability factors to consider: land-use, cultivation, and processing to name a few. Go for sunflower oil-derived Vitamin E over deforestation-linked soybean and palm oil.
  • Vitamin B3 (or Niacin) gives the skin a barrier and can help repair UV-induced skin damage, which is pretty cool. While usually produced through chemical synthesis, research is exploring how updated formulas can avoid more toxic reactants and waste.
  • Vitamin C from Kakadu plum, a nutrient-packed fruit native to Australia, is gaining popularity. Kakadu is wild harvested – a low-impact gathering technique with a long history of use by Indigenous Australians.
• Plant Oils like castor, jojoba, and hemp seed oil are also common.
  
  • Castor seeds contain ricin, a toxic compound that poses health risks to workers. Look for brands with responsible sourcing policies or brands meeting third-party certification standards within their supply chains. Want some good news? The production of castor oil generates husks and meal byproducts that can also be repurposed as nutrient-dense fertilizer. Everything in sustainability is about accounting for potential tradeoffs.
  • Jojoba is drought tolerant and can adapt to degraded soils, helping to fight desertification.
  • Hemp acts as a natural carbon sink by capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, can help prevent soil erosion, and often requires less water than many other crops.

Humectants

Humectants attract and retain water, making them skin hydration heroes!

• Glycerin can be derived through either an energy-intensive chemical process using animal fat or plants (like soybean, coconut, or palm), or made synthetically from petroleum. Despite the energy needs, we’d still recommend opting for non-synthetic options to avoid the emissions associated with refining petroleum. And, supporting organically-grown sources of glycerin – i.e. plants grown without the use of pesticides – is another way to reduce the impact of plant-based glycerin. Remember what we said earlier about RSPO certification for palm oil? That applies here, too.

• Hyaluronic acid exists naturally in our bodies but is often made in a lab for use in cosmetics. Today, it’s mostly produced using a bacterial fermentation process, rather than through animal extraction (using rooster combs or fish skin). Animal extraction is comparatively less efficient and requires high chemical usage due to the presence of impurities. Look out for vegan labels if that’s a priority for you!
• Both glycerin and hyaluronic acid are considered safe for use on skin.

Packaging

The global cosmetics industry creates a whopping 120 billion units of packaging every year – but here’s the silver lining: most concealers skip secondary packaging (like boxes or plastic sleeves) and stick to the basics – the tube, cap, and wand. That’s a small win! Still, there’s room for improvement.

Primary Packaging (Tube, Cap, and Wand)

Plastic & Glass: Most concealer tubes, caps, and wands are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, which helps keep costs down while enhancing durability. Some brands (albeit usually pricier ones) use glass, which – for better or worse – has a higher production footprint than plastic. Mining silica sand for glass production also contributes to land deterioration and loss of biodiversity and requires higher temperatures to melt and form. Our hot take? Glass still has a slight sustainability edge over plastic due to its *technically* infinite recyclability and non-toxicity (aka it won’t contribute chemical or microplastic pollutants if it ends up in the environment). If glass is not in the equation and you’re choosing between two plastic-packaged brands, then see if one uses any post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic – it’s a more sustainable pick than virgin plastic. 

Aluminum: Some brands use an aluminum cap or an inner aluminum tube encased in plastic. Like glass, aluminum can also be recycled infinitely – again, this is a technicality because just because it can be recycled infinitely doesn’t mean it actually is recycled – and generally has a higher recycling rate than glass, and has a more efficient recycling process. Aluminum is a bit less common than plastic or glass, but you can choose it if you spot it!

Foam/Nylon: We can’t forget the spongey applicator tip (side note: did you know this is called a doe-foot?!), which is typically made from polyurethane foam or nylon fibers. The production for both polyurethane foam and nylon is resource-intensive, relying on petrochemicals and fossil-fuel based energy. Neither material is widely recyclable because of how difficult it is to separate the tip from the wand and because small items like this can disrupt and contaminate the recycling process (or quite literally slip through the cracks). Innovation for improvements is underway, but for now, these are unfortunately best thrown in the trash. 

Secondary Packaging (Box or Bag)

If your concealer comes in single-use secondary packaging, we suggest opting for paper over plastic – both can technically be recycled, but if the packaging is left in the environment, paper poses less of an environmental risk. Better yet, look for paper made of recycled content or with a Forest Stewardship Council certification (more on that below). Pro tip: Support brands that offer drop-off or mail-in takeback programs for empty products. When in doubt, third parties like Terracycle or Pact Collective can help when other recycling avenues fall short.

Certifications

PETA Beauty Without Bunnies Program

This program offers brands a variety of designations:

• PETA Cruelty Free offers a searchable database of companies and denotes whether they conduct, commission, or test their products on animals.
• PETA’s Vegan certification recognizes brands whose entire product line is free from animal-derived ingredients.

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)

RSPO is a globally recognized standard for the sustainable production and use of palm oil. While it’s not a silver bullet, it helps assure that certain sustainability requirements have been met.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) 

The FSC Certification helps you choose products that support responsible forestry. The FSC is an international nonprofit that ensures its certificate holders source wood for their products (like your wooden makeup brushes) from forests that are sustainably managed, provide social and economic benefits to local communities, and preserve biodiversity.

Fun Fact

Modern day concealer was born from stage makeup! Back in the day, theater actors could get away with cracked or cakey makeup since the audience was farther away. With the rise of film, close-ups and hot lights demanded something more camera-friendly. In 1914, Max Factor created "flexible greasepaint" and then later launched “Erace” in 1954—the first commercially available concealer.