With more consumers choosing non-toxic options, many retailers have launched their own “clean” labels. Examples include Target Clean, Ulta’s “Conscious Beauty” collection, and Amazon’s “Amazon Aware” label.
Because there is no universal definition for terms like “clean,” “non-toxic,” or “natural,” each retailer and brand sets its own standards. Some standards are stricter than others, so shoppers need to evaluate each label and decide whether to trust it.
This article breaks down the pros and cons of the “Clean at Sephora” label so you can decide whether to buy from that collection.
What this guide covers:
- “Clean at Sephora” Is An Evolving Label
- What “Clean at Sephora” DOES Mean
- What “Clean at Sephora” Does NOT Mean
- The “Planet Aware” Collection
- My Personal Take
- Pros & Cons of the “Clean at Sephora” Label (In a Nutshell!)
- A Few “Clean at Sephora” Products I Would Buy
This guide includes product recommendations; we may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. Recommendations are genuine.
“Clean at Sephora” Is An Evolving Label
The original “Clean at Sephora” launched in 2018 with a limited banned-ingredient list and faced criticism for being too weak. Since then, Sephora has tightened the standards: in 2019 the banned list expanded to more than 30 items, in 2021 intentionally added PFAS were banned, and in 2022 limits on 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide contamination were introduced.
Beginning December 31, 2025, packaging restrictions take effect: PFAS, bisphenols, silver salts, and mineral oils will be prohibited in packaging used for “Clean at Sephora” products.
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication, but Sephora may continue updating its standards. If you’re reading this later, check Sephora’s current criteria to see any changes.
What “Clean at Sephora” DOES Mean
Sephora offers two main conscious collections: “Clean at Sephora,” focused on ingredient safety, and “Planet Aware,” focused on environmental sustainability like reduced packaging. A product can be in one or both collections, with a combined logo shown when included in both.
To qualify for “Clean at Sephora,” products must exclude the following intentionally added ingredients:
- Acetaldehyde
- Acetonitrile
- Acetone
- Acrylates
- Aluminum salts
- Benzophenones and related compounds
- Bisphenol A (BPA)
- Butoxyethanol
- Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
- Coal tar
- Ethanolamines
- Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers
- Hydroquinone
- Methoxyethanol or methyl cellosolve
- Methylene chloride
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Resorcinol
- Retinyl palmitate
- Styrene
- Sulfates
- Toluene
- Triclosan and triclocarban
- Octinoxate and octocrylene
- PFAS
- Nitromusks and polycyclic musks
- EDTA and derivatives
- Mineral oil and derivatives
Some ingredients are prohibited as intentionally added, but allowed as trace contaminants below defined limits:
- Ethylene oxide: <2 ppm for lip products; <7 ppm for other products
- Lead and lead acetate: <0.5 ppm for lip products; <10 ppm for other products
- Mercury and mercury compounds (including thimerosal): <1 ppm
- 1,4-dioxane: <10 ppm for rinse-off; <3 ppm for leave-on
- Cyclic silicones: <0.1% as unavoidable impurity only
- Benzene: <1 mg/kg (0.001%)
- Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT): <0.1% as incidental impurity only
Other ingredients are restricted but not fully banned, with limits or testing requirements:
- Acrylamide/polyacrylamide: residual limits per EU guidance
- Acrylates: impurity limits for acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, and total monomers
- Benzalkonium chloride: max 0.1% of formula
- Phenoxyethanol: ≤1% of formula
- Talc: only talc tested with no asbestos detected
- Synthetic fragrance: allowed if it meets Clean at Sephora requirements and is <1% of formula in skincare, body care, makeup, and hair products; fragrance allergens must be listed
- Other heavy metals: specified impurity thresholds for arsenic, cadmium, chromium VI
- Nanomaterials: limits on nano-forms of certain UV filters and pigments per EU standards
Packaging standards banning PFAS, bisphenols, silver salts, and mineral oils will be enforced starting December 31, 2025.
What “Clean at Sephora” Does NOT Mean
The Clean at Sephora list is substantial, but several areas remain where potentially concerning ingredients are allowed or not fully addressed.
Other bisphenols: Sephora bans BPA, but other bisphenol types are not explicitly banned in formulations. However, all bisphenols will be prohibited from packaging under the 2025 packaging rule.
Chemical sunscreens: Octinoxate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone are banned, but other chemical UV filters like homosalate or avobenzone, which may raise concerns for some consumers, are not uniformly prohibited.
Ethoxylated ingredients: Ethoxylated ingredients can carry contaminants such as ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane due to manufacturing. Sephora restricts allowable contamination levels and requires testing, but details about testing frequency and scope are not fully transparent.
Undisclosed fragrance or flavor: Brands may still use generic “fragrance” or “parfum” without listing every component. Fragrance allergens must be declared and certain banned ingredients are excluded, but full fragrance transparency is not required.
Some quaternary ammonium compounds (“quats”): Some quats that act as formaldehyde releasers are banned, but other quats like stearalkonium chloride may appear in products. While generally safe at typical concentrations, quats can irritate sensitive individuals and have been discussed in the context of contributing to antimicrobial resistance.
Lake colors: Lake dyes are petroleum-derived and can be a source of heavy metal contamination; they are regulated but still permitted.
Non-nano titanium dioxide: Nanoparticles are limited, but non-nano titanium dioxide is allowed. It’s generally less concerning when not used in inhalable products, but sprays and powders containing titanium dioxide are best avoided.
Microplastics: Definitions and regulation of microplastics remain debated. Some ingredients under evaluation as potential microplastics (for example, certain silicones) are not banned or restricted in the Clean at Sephora list.
Other ingredients: Some products may include ingredients of concern in isolated cases, such as myrcene, which has been classified by IARC as possibly carcinogenic. Also, “Clean at Sephora” does not imply all ingredients are natural or vegan.
The “Planet Aware” Collection
The Planet Aware collection follows a tiered approach: brands must meet a set of mandatory criteria and then additional optional criteria depending on brand size and product type. The top-tier requirements include:
- No intentionally added microplastic beads or certain banned ingredients like some chemical UV filters
- RSPO certification for palm oil and a minimum percentage of palm derivatives certified
- Mica sourced through vetted suppliers that avoid child and forced labor
- No animal testing of finished products anywhere in the world
- No sourcing from CITES-protected species for plant- or animal-based ingredients
Brands must also meet one or more second-tier criteria, such as conducting environmental impact assessments for a portion of the ingredient portfolio, applying green chemistry principles, or maintaining deforestation-free policies for natural ingredients. Packaging reduction, corporate practices, and consumer information categories follow a similar structure of required versus optional criteria.
These standards encourage progress, but “sustainable” remains a loosely defined term. Many Planet Aware products still use plastic packaging or ingredients that persist in the environment, and some criteria lack clear verification details. Overall, it’s a step forward, but not a guarantee of full sustainability.
My Personal Take
Third-party standards and retailer labels like Clean at Sephora are useful but imperfect. Sephora’s standards are more robust than I expected: they exclude many of the most concerning ingredients and set contamination limits for others. That said, whether to rely on the label depends on your personal priorities.
If you’re new to low-tox living and don’t have specific health concerns, shopping within the Clean at Sephora collection is a convenient way to reduce exposure to endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, and common allergens. If you already follow stricter personal standards, you may want to inspect ingredient lists rather than rely solely on the label.
Personally, I wouldn’t buy all Clean at Sephora products without checking ingredients. Many products in the collection are fine for occasional use, but I wouldn’t use multiple products with similar ingredients every day without reviewing labels.
Pros & Cons of the “Clean at Sephora” Label (In a Nutshell!)
Potential PROS:
- Excludes many of the most concerning ingredients, such as phthalates, parabens, and PFAS.
- Provides a helpful starting point for beginners aiming to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals.
- Sephora appears to update and strengthen the standard over time.
- Planet Aware products are cruelty-free for finished products.
Potential CONS:
- Not all products are natural or vegan.
- Some potentially problematic ingredients remain allowed or only partially restricted (e.g., undisclosed fragrance, certain ethoxylated ingredients).
- A brand may have some products labeled clean and others that are not; label does not guarantee consistency across a brand.
- Labels represent progress rather than perfection and may lack full transparency on testing and verification.
A Few “Clean at Sephora” Products I Would Buy
If you shop at Sephora and want a short list of Clean at Sephora options, here are products I would consider:
- Cleanser: Kora Organics or Herbivore Pink Cloud cleanser
- Moisturizer: Kora Organics or Tata Harper Superkind Fortifying Moisturizer
- Lip color: Ilia Multistick
- SPF: Supergoop mineral sunscreen
- Body lotion: Kate McLeod body moisturizers
- Mascara: Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara
- Foundation: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
- Blush: Ilia Multistick
- Eyeshadow: Ilia Eye Stylus Shadow Stick
- Shampoo: Sienna Naturals hydrating shampoo
- Dry shampoo: Act + Acre fulvic acid volumizing dry shampoo
Will you be shopping from the “Clean at Sephora” collection?
If you have further questions about the label or specific products, leave a comment.