There's a lot that can make a beauty product sustainable in some capacity: the packing materials, the carbon emissions required, sustainably-sourced and ethically-supplied ingredients. In short, there's a lot to consider, which is why we created a long list detailing our favourite sustainable beauty brands and what makes them the most sustainable products on the market.
The word "sustainable" can often be found sandwiched alongside other terms like "eco-friendly [1]", "clean", and "organic," but a natural product isn't necessarily sustainable and vice versa. Many companies also don't always elaborate on the word, making it confusing to know what certain brands are actually doing to contribute to a more sustainable future.
Zero Waste Week [2] data revealed that, in 2018, the global beauty industry contributed more than 120 billion units worth of waste, most of which were not recyclable. That's a lot of waste. But while it's been slow moving, the beauty industry has made some progress to become more sustainable thanks to pressure coming from many different sides. Concerned scientists helped expose the environmental damage caused by microbeads and chemical UV blockers, resulting in government bans [3] and restrictions on the harmful ingredients.
New brands who launched with a fully sustainable platform have been so successful that legacy companies have had to take notice. And social media's call-out culture has put a spotlight on brands who aren't being considerate of the environment whether that's by over-packaging products, not using biodegradable ingredients, or using shady sourcing. While call-out culture is entirely controversial and harmful in many ways, one good it's done is helped pressure beauty brands into being more accountable for their contribution to protecting the environment.
Although we don't want our beloved beauty products to go anywhere anytime soon, we do want them to be more environmentally friendly and considerate. There are plenty of things you can easily change in your current routine at home [5] in an effort to make it sustainable — taking shorter showers and stop using cotton buds [6] (which doctors would love you to do anyway), cotton pads, and makeup wipes, for instance — but it can be difficult to know where to turn when you want to invest in new products.
That's why, if you want to be more conscious when making beauty product buying decisions, we rounded up some of the best sustainable beauty brands you can buy in the UK. From the basics, such as reusable makeup-removing pads, to little luxuries like refillable metal makeup compacts, there's definitely a more sustainable option out there if you look hard enough — or in this case, scroll through our roundup.
Keep reading to see which beauty brands are currently doing the most when it comes to sustainable products, so you can shop without contributing to the shocking landfill statistics.
Bybi Beauty
Bybi Beauty [7] is a beauty brand that promises to not cause a "strain on biodiversity, non-renewable resources or the communities involved in their production." It operates a low carbon footprint by producing products in the UK, uses up-cycled ingredients, ensures suppliers adhere to ethical sourcing, and packages its formula in recyclable materials, hence the fact that most of the products are housed in pretty glass bottles.
We particularly love their Clean Hands Antibacterial Spray [9] (£6), which was created in partnership with hygiene charity, The Beauty Banks for their #helpinghands campaign by donating 3,000 units of Clean Hands.
UpCircle
In 2015, the founders of UpCircle [10] couldn't shake the feeling of how much waste was going into their favourite cup of coffee, so they decided to do something about it by turning old coffee grounds into beauty products. Since then, the brand has gone from strength to strength and given new life to all kinds of waste, becoming brand new beauty products that we love, like the Hand Cream with Hibiscus Flowers [11] (£20). UpCircle's packaging is 99 percent plastic-free and any marketing material used by the company is made from recycled coffee cups.
Okiki Skincare
Okiki Skincare [12] boast natural, sustainable products, which act like superheroes for your skin. The brand was dreamed up by the dynamic duo, Antonia Ogunsola and her mum, Ade. The pair were inspired by their British, Nigerian, and Ghanaian roots, and their goodies are cruelty-free, vegan, and smell heavenly. From lush lotions, like the Oat and Chamomile Body Lotion [13] (£9) to eco-friendly home care, take the Oro Candle [14] (£35) for example, Okiki's got you covered with prestige and planet-friendly pampering!
The Glowcery Shop
Founded by Roshanne Dorsett, The Glowcery Shop [15] is all about living your plant-based life to the fullest. They're on a mission to make your skincare routine as healthy and nutritious as your favourite smoothie bowl. Drawing inspiration from the goodness of fruits and vegetables, they whip up innovative, clean, effective and, most importantly, sustainable skincare treats that cater to all your skin needs.
The Sweet Orange Superfood Natural Lip Balm [16] (£12) is due to leave your lips nourished for hours, and the Tomato Tonic Fragrance-Free Superfood Facial Serum [17] (£33) is nutrient-rich with calming ingredients like antioxidant-rich tomato, nourishing pumpkin and moisturising flaxseed oils to restore tight and irritated skin.
EcoTools
Fancy high quality, planet-friendly beauty tools? Look no further than EcoTools [18]. Their products are not only effective, they are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free and made with recycled and renewable materials. For example, their Start The Day Beautifully Kit [19] (£11) is made out of highly sustainable bamboo handles, 100% cruelty-free synthetic taklon bristles and recycled aluminium ferrules.
Jurlique
Jurlique [20] isn't just a line of pretty-packaged skin care, although their Herbal Recovery Eye Roll-On [21] (£49) is adorable. It uses bio-dynamic farming to source the ingredients, which focuses on an organic approach, using composts and manures rather than artificial chemicals, and in the future, aims to reduce emissions of water and waste by 20 percent.
Saie
SAIE [23] teamed up with Pact Collective, a non-profit organisation that works towards improving packaging end-of-life and circularity within the beauty industry. They hope to make recycling difficult-to-recycle Saie empties super easy, so you indulge in their new Slip Tint Radiant All-Over Concealer [24] (£22) and iconic Glowy Super Gel [25] (£22) in peace.
Melior
Melior [26] means 'better' in Latin and that's exactly what the brand have set out to achieve. Not only is the eco cleaning brand completely zero waste, they're also on a mission to clean up injustice in the work place too. They've just launched the UK's first luxury powder-to-gel eco hand wash, their Eco Hand Wash - Sweet Clementine and Lavender [27] (£15) to be precise, made with vegan, natural plant based, and biodegradable ingredients, as well as 100 percent plastic free packaging. Not only does each bottle sold help make the planet a better place, it also creates a job for people with disabilities.
Ethique
Introduced into the UK in 2019, Ethique [28] is an entirely plastic-free range. In addition to its compostable packaging, the brand boasts a number of impressive sustainable claims. It's climate-neutral, meaning the carbon emissions caused by the brand have been balanced out by its environmental work elsewhere. It operates honest trading of its ingredients such as coconut oil, to ensure fair pay for workers, less environmental impact, and safe practices in communities.
And according to the brand, to date, it has prevented the manufacture and disposal of 10 million plastic bottles – with the aim to rid the world of half a billion plastic bottles by 2030. Trust us, these guys mean business, check out their Curl-Defining Shampoo Bar for Curly and Coily Hair [29] (£12).
Lush
Sustainability has been Lush's [30] raison d'être from the beginning. Known for its graphic campaigns around animal welfare and the environment, Lush strives to be a leader in the beauty industry when it comes to sustainability.
The brand has a focus on only using best sustainable practices in all of the products it produces and, when possible, raw materials to reduce further waste. Although almost all of the Lush packaging is recycled, the brand is striving to eliminate packaging entirely in the future. This is already the case with its Shower Gel [33] (£16) and Shampoo Bars [34] (£9), and even the lipsticks, which now come in refillable case with a cute vintage design.
We Are Paradoxx Shamopo and Conditioner Duos
We Are Paradoxx [35] is a plastic-free, cruelty-free, sustainable Irish hair brand that offers gorgeous, natural, and vegan care and styling products, like the We Are Paradoxx Repair Shampoo [36] (£18) and the We Are Paradoxx Volume Conditioner [37] (£20), shown here. The brand only uses aluminium and stainless steel packaging (and is currently doing research into recyclable pumps), whilst every formulation in the range is at least 90 percent natural, with one product that's 100 percent natural (the Super Fuel Face, Hair + Body Oil). All of the products also include extracts and ingredients native to Ireland, including hops (which add volume), carrageen moss (a natural conditioner), Celtic salt, and even Irish whiskey (to add shine).
The Body Shop
The Body Shop [38] has numerous campaigns and programmes to ensure continued sustainability, ethical trading, and kindness to animals. The brand has a strong focus on its Community Trade organisation, which works with 20 suppliers around the world to ensure fair trade. It supports 2,500 community pickers and will buy 250 tonnes of Community Trade recycled plastic in 2019, which they will then to use in nearly three million shampoo and conditioner bottles. But it doesn't end there. By the end of 2021, the brand aims to use Community Trade-recycled plastic across all of the PET plastic bottles. And by 2030, The Body Shop aims to have a completely closed loop system for all its packaging, meaning it will recycle or re-purpose 100 percent of its packaging.
POPSUGAR UK editors share their favourite products from the brand, including their Camomile Cleansing Balm [40] (£12), which recently got a limited edition [41] and the Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel [42] (£8).
Ren Skincare
Ren Skincare [43] is making serious moves when it comes to sustainable packaging. In 2018, the brand made the Zero Waste Pledge, meaning all packaging is designed to be recyclable or contains recycled materials. For skin TLC day and night, try their Radiance Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream [44] (£42) first thing, followed by their Evercalm™ Overnight Recovery Balm [45] (£46) in the evenings.
Face Halo
You'll forget face wipes forever if Face Halo [46] has anything to do with it. These Reusable Cleansing Pads [47] (£10) — which are cotton pad lookalikes — only need water (although I prefer a splash of micellar water) to remove all traces of makeup. The pads are totally reuseable and just need to be thrown in the washing machine when dirty.
The brand claims to have replaced more than 370 million disposable makeup wipes that would've ended up in landfill. Now, that's a lot of makeup wipes. Better still, the brand is launching a new up-cycling initiative, where customers can return their used Face Halo pads for proper recycling to be used on other materials in the future.
Floral Street
Floral Street [48] isn't just a line of pretty perfumes, it's a fragrance company with sustainability at its core. The brand has a refill station at its London store for those who just can't get enough of their signature scent, but don't want to repurchase a whole new perfume bottle. It's also the first perfume band to feature 100-percent biodegradable pulp carton packaging [49].
To discover the new fragrances from Floral Street, try the Fragrance Discovery Set [50] (£18) to smell samples of the following scents: Wonderland Peony, Electric Rhubarb, Neon Rose, Arizona Bloom, Wild Vanilla Orchid, Sunflower Pop, Chypre Sublime and Black Lotus.
Beauty Kitchen
Beauty Kitchen [51] was the first UK beauty brand to be B-Corporation certified, meaning the business is legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.
The brand doesn't use synthetic ingredients, all of the products are made in the UK to reduce carbon footprint, and it operates a return-refill-repeat scheme so customers can refill their favourite products without the extra packaging waste.
Their bestselling Five Minute Miracle Mask [52] (£17) boosts collagen production to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles, leaving your skin feeling instantly hydrated, soothed and renewed, making it a favourite at POPSUGAR UK.
Aveda
Aveda [53] is committed to reducing packaging waste and was actually the first beauty company to use post-consumer recycled materials in its packaging. The company runs on renewable energy in production, and the products are made from 100 percent, post-consumer-recycled packaging. Even better, the website tells you exactly how to recycle each product in the collection so that you can be sure that none will end up in landfill.
They recently revamped their Be Curly hair care range, aiming to protect curls from frizz and increase hydration, strength, shine and definition. The Advanced Co-Wash [54] (£12) and Shampoo and Conditioner Duo [55] (£64) particualrly stood out to our editorial coordinator, Lauren Gordon.
RMS Beauty
RMS Beauty [56]'s products come in refillable packaging, so once you're done with their Hydra Bronzer [57] (£33), for example, you can pop in refill [58] of the product while doing your bit for the planet. Also, all of their cartons are forestry certified and vegetable ink is used for printing. They've also meaningfully packaged many of their products in recyclable glass jars — well done RMS!
This Works
This Works [59] claims to have a conscience as clean as their formulas. They say that all of their products contain 100 percent natural fragrances, 100 percent pure essential oils and are free from phthalates, sulphates, GMOs, petrolatum and synthetic colours. They have 100 percent cruelty free PETA accreditation and 83% of the products are vegan. 100 percent of their boxes are also fully recyclable, compostable and biodegradable.
So with the sustainability box ticked, try out their new Perfect Body Vit C Glow [60] (£38) and Perfect Body Smoothing Wash [61] (£18).
Earth's Secret
Earth's Secret [62] admit that sustainability isn't just a buzzword for them. The brand focus on biodegradable, compostable and recyclable packaging and also use water and soy-based ink for an extra layer of goodness for the planet. Check out their Sleep Capsules [63] (£30) for a better night's kip, along with the Dream Sleep Mask [64] (£25).
e.l.f Cosmetics
As part of its Project Unicorn, e.l.f Cosmetics [65] has so far removed secondary cartons, vacuum-formed trays, and paper insert cards, eliminating a million pounds of waste within the first three years of the project. While also caring for our future the brand boasts incredible products, like their brand new Bronzing Drops [66] (£12) and their Camo Liquid Blush [67] (£7).
Hair Proud
Hair Proud [68] bottles and tubes are made from 30% PCR material and their packaging is widely recyclable. The brand is also proud to be vegan and PETA approved. Their Super Hydration Set [69] (£14) offers maximum hydration and moisture and is infused with hyaluronic acid, argan oil and jojoba oil for a nourishing cleanse.
— Additional reporting by Chloe Dunn and Lauren Gordon
Tori Crowther [70] is a freelance beauty journalist and former PS UK editor.
Chloe Dunn [71] is a social content producer at PS UK. With more than six years of experience in social media marketing, she is always on the lookout for the latest viral buzz. Working across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest, Chloe specialises in bringing people together virtually and building global online communities. She has previously worked in the music industry, including at a major record label and for the UK's biggest group of music venues.
Lauren Gordon [72] is the editorial coordinator at POPSUGAR UK, where she creates lifestyle and identity content. Lauren has a degree in journalism from University of the Arts London and previously worked as a showbiz and TV reporter at The Mirror US. Lauren specialises in pop culture, hair and beauty, focusing on trends, sharing in-depth tutorials, and highlighting hidden gems in the beauty industry.