Most ethical European cosmetics brands, ranked (2026)

L'Occitane and KIKO Milano are the most ethical European cosmetics brands in our ranking. L'Occitane is a certified B Corp on 100% renewable electricity. KIKO scores on refillable packaging and vegan lines. Chanel and LVMH have dated climate plans and left Russia in 2022. L'Oréal and Beiersdorf post strong climate numbers but still sell basic products in Russia. Yves Rocher, Oriflame and Clarins rank last: business in Russia as usual.

Under EU cosmetics rules, every brand here faces tighter limits on ingredients, animal testing and packaging than brands elsewhere. The labels tell only part of the story. This list looks at what the groups actually do, so you can tell real commitment from green marketing.

How we judged

Five checks, all from public sources. Each card carries our verdict.

• Certification: certified B Corp or not.

• Climate: a net-zero target with a date, and reported progress.

• Packaging: refillable, recycled or recyclable targets with dates.

• Animal testing: banned in the EU since 2013, so we look at markets outside the EU.

• Russia: left, scaled back to essentials, or business as usual. Business as usual moves a brand to the bottom.

Which European cosmetics brands still sell in Russia?

Yves Rocher, Oriflame and Clarins carry on as usual. As of September 2026, LeaveRussia lists all three as operating in Russia, and Yves Rocher sits on Ukraine's list of international sponsors of war. L'Oréal and Beiersdorf closed stores and stopped investing, but still sell basic products there. Chanel, LVMH and L'Occitane closed in 2022. Henkel sold its Russian business in 2023, Unilever in 2024.

The ranking

Strongest first. Each card shows what the brand is known for, where it makes its products, and our verdict.