Do These Green Beauty Products Really Work?

HOW IT WORKS Mix the untreated green illite clay (from volcanic peaks in France, $29; pursomalife.com) with half a cup of water and—poof!—you've got a skin-soothing mask that can suck up pore-clogging oil and grime.

HOW GREEN IT IS There's nothing in that pouch but earth itself.

OUR TAKE You'll need a mirror and some alone time. "I covered my entire body, which was dry and scaly post-winter, with the pudding-like mask," says our tester. Unable to easily move as the stuff dried, "I just stood in the tub and zoned out for 15 minutes." After she sponged off with a wet loofah, her skin "felt hydrated, soft, and renewed." An admittedly "patient" person, she thinks "it's a relaxing, pampering ritual." While she didn't need to make a Drano run, the mask left "sediment in my tub that was hard to remove," says another tester.

HOW IT WORKS: The lotion ($24; drugstore.com) relies heavily on 6 percent titanium dioxide and 6 percent zinc oxide to block sun rays from baby (and grown-up) skin.

HOW GREEN IT IS: The sunscreen and its packaging are free of parabens, phthalates, and formaldehyde-releasing fragrance. Dermatologist and brand creator Amy Kim also kept peanuts, dairy, and soy out of the mix.

OUR TAKE: You've got to rub it in well. But once it's settled, it's not sticky or stinky, and it leaves just the faintest cast on medium-brown skin.

HOW IT WORKS The lotion ($15; sephora.com) relies heavily on 6 percent titanium dioxide and 6 percent zinc oxide to block sun rays from baby (and grown-up) skin.

HOW GREEN IT IS The sunscreen and its packaging are free of parabens, phthalates, and formaldehyde-releasing fragrance. Dermatologist and brand creator Amy Kim also kept peanuts, dairy, and soy out of the mix.

OUR TAKE You've got to rub it in well. But once it's settled, it's not sticky or stinky, and it leaves just the faintest cast on medium-brown skin.

HOW IT WORKS This roll-on ($24; drhauschka.com) is loaded with natural ingredients and antimicrobial agents like citric acid and witch hazel to target the odor-causing bacteria that feed on your sweat.

HOW GREEN IT IS The ingredients in the mix look solid and naturally derived, says New Jersey cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson. Absent from this formula: aluminum, a sweat-stopping ingredient used in many underarm products. The metal is a red flag for some folks who've read that it could be linked to breast cancer. (The National Cancer Institute has reported no conclusive research connecting the use of antiperspirants or deodorants to the development of the disease.)

OUR TAKE Feel free to break out your LBDs: "This deodorant goes on clear, and doesn't leave residue when it dries." After a series of stress tests ("a first date, a weight-training class, a 12-hour day"), our tester reports that "there was no odor."

HOW IT WORKS The concentrated elixir ($34; drugstore.com) delivers active ingredients, including antioxidants vitamin C and E, as well as plumping hyaluronic acid, to brighten, tighten, and smooth skin over time.

HOW GREEN IT IS It packs natural and naturally derived ingredients, like calming chamomile and vitamin-rich konjac-root powder. Bonus points for the wind energy used to print the soy inks on the labels.

OUR TAKE Lightweight and fast-absorbing, "it dried in seconds," says our tester. "It's great that I'm warding off future spots and lines, but I love that it gives me an immediate little glow."

HOW IT WORKS The blend of organic jojoba, tamanu, olive, avocado, and sunflower oils ($9; target.com) promises to nourish and moisturize adult and infant skin sans irritation.

HOW GREEN IT IS Co-founder Jessica Alba helped produce an honestly eco-friendly, USDA-certified organic product with sustainably grown ingredients—so we'll forgive her for Good Luck Chuck.

OUR TAKE "I tend to get scaly legs, and I've noticed after using this that they look and feel really moisturized all day long." Our busy tester also loves how "fast and easily" the formula slips on and absorbs into the skin.

HOW IT WORKS: Organic flour and sea salts absorb oil and round up superficial dead skin cells that are totally harshing your glow ($24; swbasicsofbk.com).

HOW GREEN IT IS: Completely. There's literally nothing else here besides oat flour, almond flour, and salt. The Brooklyn-based brand isn't exaggerating when it claims, "It's pure kitchen-cabinet awesomeness."

OUR TAKE: "The soft, soothing mixture left my skin just as smooth as it gets after using an at-home chemical peel pad," says our seasoned scrubber.

HOW IT WORKS Light the cotton wick ($45; liteandcycle.com), and enjoy a 40-hour, guilt-free burn.

HOW GREEN IT IS Paraffin, the main component in many candles at your local mall, is actually a petrochemical, explains Wilson. This vessel-less pillar (read: less glass in the landfill) is 100-percent-natural veggie wax, with no animal by-products.

OUR TAKE "I get migraines quite often, so I love having lavender candles and oils around to soothe and calm my head." The scent isn't overpowering, "but at times I wish it were stronger," says our tester.

HOW IT WORKS The cooling steel roller-ball applicator ($65; hollybethorganics.com) battles fine lines and discoloration with targeted doses of carrot-seed oil (containing vitamin C), black cumin--seed oil, camellia oil, rose-hip oil, and pomegranate-seed oil.

HOW GREEN IT IS Bravo for displaying the USDA Organic seal on the packaging. "I love that the product is just natural oils," says Dr. Fishman.

OUR TAKE "I love it. I use it every day, morning and night." Our tester's skin felt moisturized, "and I did Iook less puffy and a little fresher." Is it wishful thinking? "Well, it could have been this serum—or the extra sleep I logged. Either way, I like it!"

It includes "10 of the most potent aphrodisiac essential oils," but on the ingredients list you won't find them listed by name—you'll see the word "aroma," (derived from a clinical-grade essential-oils blend). So do a spot test first if you have sensitivities to any essential oils ($40; tataharperskincare.com).

The handle is made of bamboo, a renewable resource; the brush head from plant-based plastic; the bristles, nylon. The hole allows air to circulate so hair dries faster (a time and an electricity saver, $11; ecotools.com).

HOW IT WORKS You know the drill: Lather up to get clean, then slather on conditioner for more hydration and shine (from argan and pumpkin-seed oil). The products are also stabilized at a more acidic pH to better match the pH of your scalp and promote stronger, healthier hair ($9 each; target.com).

HOW GREEN IT IS The lack of parabens, phthalates, and silicone (a synthetic smoothing agent) puts these naturally derived formulations in decent standing.

OUR TAKE We've got a winning pair. "I used both of these together for a month, and I'm still using them," says our tester. "The shampoo has a good lather, but the conditioner was runnier than expected." Her curly hair is behaving as it usually does, "but it does look less greasy."

THE CLAIM

✓Carmine-free

✓Paraben-free

✓Synthetic fragrance—free

Totally Natural 

 Natural & naturally derived ingredients 

OUR TAKE  Our testers fell in love at first sight with the modern, pebble-like packaging ($46; lilahbeauty.com). But it's what's on the inside that counts, right? "For such a featherweight formula, it packs a ton of color payoff," says one smitten reporter. 

THE CLAIM

Carmine-free

✓Paraben-free

✓Synthetic fragrance-free

✓Totally Natural

Natural & naturally derived ingredients

OUR TAKE  "The cream blends without a fight, yet it's not so sheer or slippery that it disappears," says our tester. "I have light olive skin, and I used it as blush and even as a contouring bronzer ($36; vapourbeauty.com)."

THE CLAIM 

✓Carmine-free

✓Paraben-free

✓Synthetic fragrance-free

Totally Natural

✓Natural & naturally derived ingredients

OUR TAKE Our tester typically avoids non-glossy pencils "because they drag and feel dry on my lips." Spoiler: She still hasn't returned this sample stick. "I fill my lips with it, and the color lasts hours yet feels moisturizing ($17; antonymcosmetics.com)."

HOW IT WORKS Like many dry shampoos from bigger and less eco-oriented brands, it contains starches that soak up oils emanating from your roots ($29; oneloveorganics.com).

HOW GREEN IT IS Aside from the absorbent rice and corn starch and Georgia kaolin clay, this formula boasts strengthening bamboo extract and a light, floral fragrance derived from natural essential oils.

OUR TAKE Meh. Our tester has medium-thick, wavy hair and is no stranger to dry shampoo. "Having to shake it into my hand then work it into my hair is a little tedious. I'd rather just spray and go, to be honest," she says. "It works, and the white residue disappears easily, but you need quite a bit to make the grease and shine go away.

THE CLAIM

✓Carmine-free

✓Paraben-free

✓Synthetic fragrance-free

Totally Natural

✓Natural & naturally derived ingredients

OUR TAKE Diorshow girls, look away. "You have to be going for a more natural, everyday look to use this mascara ($28; rmsbeauty.com)," says our tester. "It made my lashes a little bit longer, a little bit darker, and a little more defined."

THE CLAIM

✓Carmine-free

✓Paraben-free

✓Synthetic fragrance-free

Totally Natural

✓Natural & naturally derived ingredients

OUR TAKE It's a soft, almost liquid formula ($30; iliabeauty.com) that can provide a sheer brightening boost or be layered for bulletproof coverage. "I tap down a coating and let it set before adding another," says one sleep-deprived reporter. Success.

While no one's yet made polish from oil and herbs, this brand omits controversial chemicals including camphor, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene. It stayed chip-free for almost a week ($12 each; chromegirl.com).