Light Creams & Lotions
Description
November 1, 2022
By Lisa Petrison
In trying out various face creams, I came across some lotions and light creams that I would not personally be inclined to use at all, due to their being intended for skin that is much less dry than mine.
I decided to consolidate all of those products on this page, so that those who have skin types that might benefit from them can find them easily and compare them with one another.
The Performance Ratings here are my estimates of how they might perform for sensitive skin that is less dry than mine, rather than on how appropriate they would be for me to use personally.
It might also be possible for those with drier skin to use these products successfully by combining them with appropriate face oils or face serums containing needed moisturizing ingredients.
TOP PICKS
♣ Living Clean Superstars
Aveda Botanical Kinetics All-Sensitive Lotion ($37)
Bare Minerals Pureness Soothing Light Moisturizer ($35)
Beekman 1802 Bloom Cream Daily Probiotic Moisturizer ($54)
Burt’s Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream ($15)
♦ Additional Possibilities:
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Lotion ($37)
+Evanhealy Day Moisturizer ($49)
+Honest The Daily Calm Lightweight Moisturizer ($30)
♥ Lisa’s Choice:
None
Notes:
1) Living Clean Superstars – Products with high scores on both Performance Rating (5) as well as Ingredients Rating (4/5). + Clean Pick (Ingredients Rating = 5).
2) Lisa’s Choice – Products that I would purchase for my own personal use. √ Lisa’s Favorite
The next section contains affiliate links. Living Clean in a Dirty World may receive a commission if readers click on these links and then purchase products. Living Clean in a Dirty World also may accept product review samples but receives no other compensation from companies mentioned on this website.
Aveda Botanical Kinetics All-Sensitive Lotion – $37
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
Performance Rating: 
(5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: 
(4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: None
Silicone Level: Low
The description of this product reads, “Gentle, aroma-free moisturizer formulated for sensitive skin. Hydrates and conditions with oat extract and certified organic aloe. Non-acnegenic.”
This is one of the few fragrance-free skincare products offered by Aveda.
Although the product was too light for me, my skin seemed to do okay with it without being irritated.
I think the use of caffeine in the formula could be a plus for some people since it might be helpful for facial puffiness as well as having other skincare benefits.
Size: 5 oz.
Aveda Rating: 4.3 Stars (63 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Unclear
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Glyceryl Laurate, Phenoxyethanol)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Aloe (3), Glyceryl laurate (3), Dimethicone (3), Phenoxyethanol (3).
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, C14-22 Alcohols, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Jojoba Seed Oil, Olive Fruit Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Caffeine, Oat Kernel Extract, Algae Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Algin, Sea Salt, Sclerotium Gum, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Laurate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Lotion – $37
Living Clean Rating: 6 out of 10
Performance Rating: 
(3 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (3 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: Mild
Processed Fragrance: Natural fragrance, Linalool, Citronellol, Citral, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Geraniol, Eugenol
Silicone Level: Low
The description of this product reads, “Nurturing your skin comes naturally with this quick-absorbing lotion—containing emollients derived from coconut, jojoba and other naturally derived ingredients—that replenishes moisture with a gentle touch. For all skin types. Dermatologist-tested. Non-acnegenic.”
This product is basically the same as the Aveda Botanical Kinetics All-Sensitive Lotion described above, except that has a pretty strong natural scent deriving from a number of different fragrance ingredients.
I found the fragrance to be reasonably pleasant in terms of the smell but to be a little irritating to my skin.
A plus is that this product may be available in a smaller trial-size container.
Size: 5 oz.
Aveda Rating: 4.8 Stars (1058 reviews)
Credo Clean: Unclear
Clean at Sephora: Unclear
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Natural Fragrance, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Laurate)
EWG Product Rating: 5 (yellow)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 7 (red)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Natural fragrance (8), Hydroxycitronellal (6), Citral (5), Limonene (5), Alpha Isomethyl Ionone (5), Geraniol (5), Eugenol (5), Citronellol (5), Phenoxyethanol (4), Glyceryl laurate (4), Dimethicone (4), Linalool (3), Aloe (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: Natural fragrance, linalool, citronellol, citral, hydroxycitronellal, limonene, geraniol, eugenol
All Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, C14-22 Alcohols, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Jojoba Seed Oil, Olive Fruit Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Caffeine, Oat Kernel Extract, Algae Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Algin, Sea Salt, Sclerotium Gum, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Laurate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fragrance, Linalool, Citronellol, Citral, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Eugenol, Phenoxyethanol
Bare Minerals Pureness Soothing Light Moisturizer – $35
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: None
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “A gentle vegan face moisturizer that provides all-day hydration and is shown to visibly reduce redness and sensitivity. Made with just 15 ingredients, it leaves skin feeling calm. Provides instant and all-day hydration. Sensitive skin feels soothed. Shown to reduce tightness and dryness. Helps improve the appearance of sensitive skin over time.”
This is a fragrance-free lotion containing fairly simple and mostly natural skincare ingredients.
It does contain phenoxyethanol (a preservative), but otherwise is suggested to be pretty clean by EWG.
The main objection that I see in user reviews is to the smell of the product, which some people say smells to them like baby throw-up.
I have found the product to smell okay to me and haven’t minded using it at all even though it is really not moisturizing enough for me.
Size: 1.7 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.4 Stars (1175 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Unclear
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Phenoxyethanol)
EWG Product Rating: 1 (green)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Phenoxyethanol (4)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Opuntia Vulgaris Extract, Coconut Fruit Juice, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum.
Beekman 1802 Bloom Cream Daily Probiotic Moisturizer – $54
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: None
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Our #1 best-selling daily moisturizer goes beyond the glow…to make your skin bloom! Show your skin some kindness by feeding your skin a shot of goat milk prebiotic and milk postbiotic to restore healthy, youthful radiance and see your skin in full bloom. This elegant, lightweight formula is designed to work on all skin types and literally blooms out of the bottle with every pump. It’s your new multitasking moisturizer that is certified Microbiome-Friendly by MyMicrobiome AG. Our formula mimics your natural skin barrier and absorbs instantly to perfectly support, nourish, and protect your skin.”
I found this to be such a light lotion that it barely provided my skin with any moisture at all.
However, the product does contain some fermented ingredients (such as bifida ferment lysate) that may have the potential of providing other benefits to the skin.
I did feel that my skin did okay with this product and that it was not irritated by it, despite it not providing any significant moisturizing benefits.
It’s a little on the costly side but perhaps it would be worth using in combination with a facial oil for those hoping to improve the microbiome of their facial skin.
Size: 1.69 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.5 Stars (914 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Sodium Benzoate)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Aloe vera leaf extract (4), Sodium benzoate (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: Blue thistle flower extract, Cucumber fruit extract, Matricaria flower extract, Comfrey leaf extract
All Ingredients: Water, Coconut Alkanes, Coco-Caprylate, Propanediol, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Goat Milk, Colostrum, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactose, Milk Protein, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Honey, Blue Thistle Flower Extract, Cucumber Fruit Extract, Matricaria Flower Extract, Comfrey Leaf Extract, Sunflower Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Whey Protein, Gluconolactone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Zinc Stearate, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Tocopherol, C10-18 Triglycerides, Lecithin.
Burt’s Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream – $15
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: None
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Sensitive skin requires especially soothing skin care, like this soothing blend of Rice Extract and Aloe, coupled with the qualities of Cotton Extract so you can enjoy intense, everyday hydration—without the harsh irritants. 98.9% natural origin.”
I think that this is a nice light cream that did not irritate my face at all.
It does not contain any fragrance ingredients and has what I consider to be a neutral scent.
The fact that it comes in a pump bottle rather than a jar is also a plus for hygiene reasons.
The availability of a small size (0.5 oz.) for $6 makes it easier than most creams to try out.
In addition, since Burt’s Bees products are widely available, there is the possibility that this product might be obtainable through a local retail store.
While I personally prefer creams that are richer than this one for night use and that contain squalane or other similar hydrators during the day, I still would be willing to use this lotion at either time on a short-term basis if that were what was easily available to me.
Size: 1.7 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.3 (688 Reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Unclear
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Glyceryl Laurate, Sodium Benzoate)
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Think Dirty Rating: 1 (green)
EWG Product Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Phenoxyethanol (4), Benzoic acid (3), Glyceryl laurate (3), Sodium benzoate (3). (Also contains Corn starch, Cotton flower extract, Trehalose, Alcohol denat.)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Water, sunflower seed oil, glycerin, cetyl alcohol, zinc oxide, corn starch, cotton flower extract, rice extract, beet root extract, artemisia umbelliformis extract, euphrasia officinalis extract, shea butter, sugar cane extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, jojoba esters, hydrolyzed jojoba esters, kaolin, lecithin, sucrose, fructose, glucose, inositol, citric acid, benzoic acid, trehalose, xanthan gum glyceryl laurate, potassium sorbate, sucrose stearate, sucrose polystearate, sodium benzoate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, sodium PCA, alcohol denat., phenoxyethanol
Evanhealy Day Moisturizer – $49
Living Clean Rating: 8 out of 10
Performance Rating: (3 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: Mild
Fragrance Ingredients: Lavender Oil, Blue Chamomile Oil, Carrot Seed Oil
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Gentle Botanicals: Essential oils of blue chamomile and lavender instantly reduce redness in inflamed, allergic, and acne-prone skin. Natural Beauty: The deeply moisturizing formula contains organic plant and seed oils. Its anti-aging properties help prevent premature aging and hydrate all day without feeling heavy, sticky, or waxy. Beyond Hydration: Vitamin E, essential oils, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids combine to nourish, repair, and protect delicate skin. Purity & Potency: Certified organic argan oil, carrot seed oil, and handmade whipped shea butter blend beautifully to restore moisture to the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Ideal for All: Ideal for use on irritated, mature, and reactive skin. For dry, oily, or combination skin, our experts recommend the evanhealy Rose Vetiver Day Moisturizer.”
Although this light cream contains only natural ingredients, my own skin did not do very well with it.
I think that much of this was related to the presence of the essential oils, especially the blue chamomile oil (which I also found to be annoying in terms of the smell).
It is possible that other ingredients were annoying to my skin as well.
Evanhealy makes another version of this cream, called Rose Vetiver. I don’t think that I would like that one any more, though, since it contains rose geranium essential oil (which I seem to have done consistently poorly with in other products).
Other people who do well with these particular essential oils might like these products, however.
Size: 1.4 oz.
Amazon Rating: 4.5 Stars (168 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Maybe (Essential Oils)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Licorice root extract (5), Flower essences (4). (Also includes Carrot Seed Essential Oil, Lavender Flower Oil, Blue Chamomile Oil)
Fragrance Ingredients: Lavender hydrosol, Bladderwrack extract, Calendula officianlis flower extract, Honeysuckle flower extract, Yarrow flower and leaf extract, Elderberry flower extract, Carrot seed oil, Lavender flower oil, Blue chamomile flower oil, Carrot seed essential oil, Flower essences.
All Ingredients: Water, Lavender Hydrosol*, Aloe Leaf Juice*, Sunflower Seed Oil*, Jojoba Seed Oil*, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Shea Butter*, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Ethyl Palmate*, Vegetable Glycerin, Argan Nut Oil*, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Olive Oil*, Bladderwrack Extract*, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Green Tea Leaf Extract*, Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Yarrow Flower & Leaf Extract, Elderberry Flower Extract, Niacinamide, Licorice Root Extract*, Carrot Seed Oil, Candelilla Wax, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Lavender Flower Oil*, Blue Chamomile Flower Oil*, Carrot Seed Essential Oil, Flower Essences. *Organic
(All information is for the Blue Chamomile version)
Buy From Amazon (Blue Chamomile)
Buy From Amazon (Rose Vetiver)
Honest The Daily Calm Lightweight Moisturizer – $30
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
Performance Rating: (4 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: None
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Does your skin feel irritated? Infused with our Calming Phyto-Blend (containing Phytosterols + Phospholipids), this lightweight moisturizer helps support the skin barrier and helps visibly reduce redness. Micro Hyaluronic Acid penetrates deeply to help hydrate, while Liquid Crystal Technology creates a moisture-seal to help keep the good stuff in.”
Although I am a fan of some of Honest’s other moisturizers (especially the popular Honest Hydrogel Cream), I don’t feel like this product was very good for my skin.
In addition to being lightweight and not seeming to give my skin much moisture, I don’t think that my skin liked it very much even though it didn’t cause obvious irritation.
This was a bit of a surprise since it is supposed to be specifically for sensitive skin.
The product does contain a few ingredients that I have not seen very often in other products, and so perhaps I am slightly reactive to one of them.
Size: 1.7 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.4 Stars (41 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Pregnancy Pick: Yes
Think Dirty Rating: 3 (green)
EWG Product Rating: EWG Verified
EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Sodium hydroxide (4). (Also contains Citric acid.)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Phytosterols, Phospholipids, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sclerotium Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Linoleic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid.
Shopping List
This section lists products that seem that they may have potential and that I am hoping to try in the near future.
Readers are highly encouraged to bring other relevant products that they have tried to my attention so that I can add them to this list.
Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer – $54
Evanhealy Light Moisture Replenishing Fluid – $44
LilyAna Naturals Face Cream – $24
About This Website
The Living Clean in a Dirty World shopping website is designed to provide guidance to those seeking out products that are relatively low in toxicity and that provide generally positive user experiences.
Although the skincare and makeup sections have a particular focus on products appropriate for women who are in their 40’s or beyond, the information provided may be useful for other people as well.
The products are curated by Lisa Petrison, who has been focused on helping people to improve their health by avoiding toxicity since 2008 and who heads the Paradigm Change organization.
Her Living Clean in a Dirty World blog site discusses a variety of topics of relevance to those who are working to pursue a more natural lifestyle with less exposure to harmful toxicity.
Lisa is the author of several books, including A Beginner’s Guide to Mold Avoidance (co-written with Erik Johnson).
She also runs the Paradigm Change website (focusing on issues related to toxic mold illness) and the Mold Avoiders Facebook group (designed for the discussion of all topics of interest to those pursuing the mold avoidance approach described in the “Beginner’s Guide” book).
Lisa was born in August 1964 and has yet to try cosmetic surgery, Botox or other cosmetic treatments requiring interactions with a physician, or beauty products containing retinoids.
In her former life, Lisa worked as a business school professor, as a marketing consultant to a variety of large companies, and as a reporter covering the advertising industry.
She holds a Ph.D. in marketing and social psychology from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University as well as B.S./M.S. degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern.
Lisa would like to extend a special note of appreciation to Ellen Kleiman-Redden for her help in trying out products and discussing issues related to this project.
She also would like to thank the many members of the Mold Avoiders community who have shared suggestions of products to be included here.
A Note From Lisa
Products that I have tried or researched and that I have not found to be acceptable from a toxicity standpoint have been omitted entirely from the discussions on this website.
However, since a goal of this project is to introduce people to a range of options in terms of price and functionality, some products discussed on this site include ingredients that may not be appropriate for everyone.
It’s my hope that all individuals making their way to this site will find at least a few options from each product category that meet all of their own needs and wants from a variety of perspectives.
The vast majority of cosmetics marketers now offer affiliate programs in which Internet content creators may earn commissions if people who are referred to the companies’ sites by clicking on links end up making purchases.
I participate in quite a few individual affiliate programs as well as in the Sovrn/Viglinks program (which automatically converts regular links into revenue-generating links).
Links on this page that may result in affiliate income may include – but are not necessarily limited to – those from the following companies: Amazon, Aveda, Bare Minerals, Beekman 1802, Burt’s Bees, Evanhealy, Honest, Lilyana, Pharmaca, Ulta, and Vitacost.
Reader comments about products discussed on this website are very welcome.
Thoughts may be shared either by posting them in the comments section at the bottom of this page or by sending them directly to me at the following email address:
info at paradigmchange dot me
Companies that would like to offer me complimentary products to try out may contact me at this address as well.
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