When most people hear “clean beauty,” they immediately think expensive. And honestly? That’s fair. A lot of clean skincare and makeup launches come with $70+ price tags that make you wonder if you can afford to truly embrace clean beauty.

But here’s the truth: affordable clean beauty does indeed exist. There are thoughtful, highly effective brands making products with high-quality, plant-based ingredients — all non-toxic— and keeping them at prices that feel accessible. Whether you’re just starting your clean beauty journey or looking for budget-friendly swaps, these are some of my top picks for the best clean beauty brands under $50.

Note: this blog post is in partnership with Beauty Heroes, my favorite clean beauty online retailer and my go-to source for all things Clean Beauty. If you're interested in non-toxic beauty care products and/or just starting to swap out conventional products for better options, I encourage you to browse their extensive clean beauty collection. They are a wealth of information on all things clean beauty and the benefits that come from upgrading your skincare & cosmetics.

 
Disclaimer: after seven years of being a Beauty-Heroes customer (I regularly purchased their monthly discovery boxes), I'm proud to be a Beauty Heroes Ambassador. I earn a small commission if you shop through my links — at no extra cost to you. I only share products I personally use and love, and your support helps me continue creating free content on aging well naturally. 

Affordable Clean Beauty Spotlight: Three Ships

Three Ships has built its reputation on transparency and accessibility. You can look up every ingredient they use, see where it comes from, and why it’s included. Their skincare is 100% plant-derived, vegan, and cruelty-free. Most importantly, it’s affordable — with nearly everything under $40.

I like to think of Three Ships as a clean beauty brand that’s accessible, effective, and thoughtfully designed for mature skin needs. Their Firm Believer Smoothing Neck + Face Cream ($42) is a standout. Packed with goji stem cells, pomegranate extract, and edelweiss, many users age 50+ report smoother, firmer, and deeply hydrated skin around the neck and jawline.  And their Radiance Grape Stem Cell + Squalane Day Cream ($38) is another favorite; with grape stem cells, squalane, and bark extracts to bring hydration, elasticity, and environmental protection, InStyle readers credit it with “disappearing” wrinkles and a noticeable glow—even after just a few uses.

Earth Harbor: Luxe, Eco-Friendly, and Accessible

Earth Harbor is proof that eco-friendly skincare doesn’t have to come with luxury pricing. Their vegan, clean beauty products are packed with ocean-meets-earth actives, offering hydration, antioxidants, and glow without the markup.

Earth Harbor loves using top tier plant- and sea-based bioactives such as Botanical Vitamin A & Retinol Alternatives (like bakuchiol) help with fine lines, pigmentation, and texture; Seaweed peptides and amino acids that support collagen, soothe inflammation, and enhance elasticity; and Superfood antioxidants like those in Mermaid Milk moisturizer—think spirulina, matcha, and vegan hyaluronic acid—to deliver hydration, calm redness, and refine texture for a lit-from-within glow.

Some noteworthy products to try include their Azure Neck + Face Water Cream ($44), a lightweight yet plumping cream packed with seaweed amino acids, copper peptides, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, firm, and lighten dullness where we often need it most. And their Marina Biome Brightening Ampoule ($34) contains spirulina, which is packed with B‑complex vitamins & amino acids that brightens skin, protects against environmental stressors, and reduces breakouts; and  features blue tansy, a natural compound famed for calming redness, evening tone, and soothing sensitive skin - perfect for mature faces.

If you gravitate towards indulgent, ritual-like self-care, Earth Harbor gives you that experience at an affordable price point.

Free + True: Fewer Bottles, More Results

Founded by esthetician Tami Blake, Free + True is all about effective skincare without unnecessary complexity. Each formula combines science-backed actives with botanicals grown in California. The result? Multitasking products that simplify your routine. Instead of spending money on 10 different steps, you get powerful, multipurpose clean beauty that’s easier on your skin — and your budget.

Some of my favorite products include Great Awakening Peptide Eye Cream ($39). This rich, peptide-forward formula smooths expression lines around the eyes and boosts collagen over time. You’ll also find caffeine to de-puff and aloe/cucumber for hydration. For mature eyes—where fine lines, dryness, and puffiness often coalesce—it’s like a mini eye-lift in a jar.
I also love the Nature + Nurture Guava Seed Oil ($52); this two-ingredient oil (pure guava seed oil + squalane) is rich in antioxidants, vitamin A & C, and fatty acids that soothe inflammation, fade dark spots, and restore elasticity. It absorbs quickly, leaves a subtle glow, and plays beautifully under a night cream or mix-in. 

Doré: Everyday French-Inspired Clean Beauty

If you love the French pharmacy approach to beauty — less is more — then Doré should be on your radar. Their barrier-supportive, soothing products are perfect for skin that’s gotten a little drier or more sensitive with age. Think lightweight cleansers, hydrating creams, and everyday essentials that don’t overwhelm your routine. Doré’s formulas consistently avoid fragrance, essential oils, and unnecessary actives, focusing instead on soothing, hydrating ingredients like ceramides, squalane, and breadfruit seed oil. Each formula supports your skin’s resilience—without triggering irritation or disruption.

Products I'd check out include Le Cleanser ($26): a gentle cleanser that transforms into a silky milk when it meets water—cleansing deeply without stripping. The formula pairs witch hazel (a skin-soothing astringent) with white lily and goji berry extracts, both rich in antioxidants and known for restoring tone, fading sun damage, and combating everyday oxidative stress. Another excellent product is La Creme ($36), a deeply nourishing moisturizer built for modern skin. It features hyaluronic acid to draw and lock in moisture, plus marine algae to help replenish the barrier while supporting collagen and elastin — a perfect combo for mature skin craving hydration and firmness.

Alpyn Beauty: Wildcrafted Botanicals at a Fair Price

Alpyn Beauty is one of the most unique brands in the affordable clean beauty space. They hand-harvest wild botanicals from the mountains of Jackson Hole and blend them with clinical actives like niacinamide and vitamin C. The result? Potent products that support skin tone, texture, and elasticity.

A favorite of mine is Alpyn's Barrier Repair Cream ($62), a luxurious cream designed to deeply replenish hydration while addressing fine lines and firmness. It brings together 5 ceramides, firming peptides, and Ghostberry + Tasmanian pepper extract to soothe and visibly refine texture. An impressive 98–100% of users saw immediate hydration and smoother skin after 21 days. I reach for this regularly, in the summer when my skin is sun-loved and needs extra hydration, and in the winter when dry air can dehydrate my skin.
And If I'm needing an instant eye pick-me-up, I'll turn to Instant Bright Eye ($52), a gentle gentle peachy-pink eye cream that works like a soft color corrector, neutralizing dull darkness and giving the under-eye area a fresh, awake glow—while it's packed with niacinamide, reneseed and a peptide complex to bright dark circles and firm up the under-eye area. 

If your skin craves resilience and glow, Alpyn delivers luxury-quality formulas at approachable prices.

The Bottom Line on Affordable Clean Beauty

Clean beauty doesn’t need to be exclusive, intimidating, or expensive. One of the best parts about discovering these brands is knowing you don’t have to compromise your health — or your budget — to get results. Each of the lines I’ve shared here truly delivers: from Alpyn Beauty’s plant-powered actives to Doré’s elegant essentials, Three Ships’ simple and effective formulas, Free & True’s nature-meets-science blends, and Earth Harbor’s nutrient-rich botanicals.

Whether you’re searching for non-toxic skincare under $40, eco-friendly indulgence, or minimalist routines that really work, these brands prove that affordable clean beauty is possible. Because at the end of the day, beauty should feel like a daily ritual of care — not a financial burden.

If you’re curious to try them for yourself, I recommend browsing Beauty Heroes  — one of my favorite online clean beauty shops. They curate only the highest-performing, non-toxic products, making it easy (and fun!) to find your next skincare favorite.

As a special thank-you, you can use my code Juliana15 to save 15% off your first purchase. It’s my way of helping you get started with products that nourish your skin, respect your health, and fit beautifully into an aging well naturally lifestyle. 

Here’s to glowing, radiant skin — without the toxins, and without the splurge. 💕

Let's age well naturally, lovelies-

x
Juliana

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