More Beauty, Less Plastic
Plastic-free July, a global movement originating in Australia that challenges millions of people around the world to reduce single-use plastic waste for the entire month of July, was a great reminder for us to take a step back and re-evaluate our spending habits, especially when it comes to beauty products. When shopping for beauty products, stop and think “where will this container go when I finish the product inside it and toss it in the trash?” Most plastic waste is either tossed into landfills and incinerated, which causes a lot of pollution, or it is scattered across oceans where it disrupts the ecosystem. Because of the nature of beauty products like mascara, lipsticks, shampoos, etc, tiny pieces of plastic, also known as microplastic, is a key part in most packaging. The problem with microplastic is that it is nearly impossible to recycle, and doesn’t break down easily, which means their life on Earth ends hundreds to thousands of years after you toss it in the trash. On the bright side, amidst the call-to-action for beauty brands to reduce plastic in their products, many Earth-friendly brands have reduced or completely eliminated all plastic in their packaging. We’ve gathered a list of some of the best plastic-free brands to try out as we start plastic-free July.
Skincare
Loli Beauty
Loli Beauty, which actually stands for “Living Organic Loving Ingredients,” focuses on clean, superfood ingredients in all their products, and a lot of their products come in a reusable glass yogurt jar, with compostable labels, bags and boxes. Among their most popular products is their Date Nut Brulee Moisturizer ($48), which is a “3-in-1 miracle melting balm that cleanses, moisturizes and treats.” For every purchase, they clean up to 2 LBS of plastic waste from the planet AND gift customer GIVZ credit to donate to the charity of their choice. That’s what we call zero waste beauty.
Face Theory
Face Theory offers affordable, clean, vegan, and cruelty-free skincare formulas for every skin type. The company is proudly B-Corp certified and is also mindful of packaging, as most products come in sleek amber glass jars with aluminum caps or 100% aluminum tubes, which are both easy to recycle. Their HydraOat Calming Toner ($24) blends colloidal oats, aloe, and vitamins C and E to help calm and soothe sensitive skin and balance uneven skin tone.
Mad Hippie
Mad Hippie offers sustainable and plastic-free skincare. As part of its commitment to sustainability and recycling, the company uses soy inks and FSC-certified paper for boxes, fully recyclable glass bottles and droppers, and tubes made from sustainably harvested sugarcane bioresin. With an emphasis on quality skincare with vegan and non-toxic ingredients, they consistently work to limit their carbon footprint and impact on the planet so consumers can feel good about looking good. This includes a partnership with TerraCycle in which the company accepts all of Mad Happy’s products for free recycling and donating $1 from every web sale to conservation. The Corrective Peptide Serum ($32.99) combines polyglutamic acid, ceramides, quinoa extract & silver ear mushroom to leave skin soft & smooth to the touch and fend off the damaging effects of environmental and life’s stressors.
Haircare
Plaine Products
Plaine Products is certified organic, vegan, and cruelty-free and does a great job with sustainable packaging. Most products come in aluminum bottles, which you can send back to them to get refilled once you use all of the products. Their shampoo ($30 for 16oz) is color-safe, palm oil-free, and is free of silicones, sulfates, and parabens. It comes in several scents, including rosemary mint vanilla, citrus lavender, cherry almond, and unscented for those sensitive to fragrance. It’s a gentle and great sustainable option for transitioning to plastic-free bottles.
EcoRoots
A one-stop shop for sustainable, vegan, and low-waste products, EcoRoots uses 100% recyclable packaging. Founder Antonia Pitica created EcoRoots to empower people by making it easy and convenient to reduce their impact. Their Natural Hair Oil ($36) is packaged in a glass bottle and formulated with all-natural oils including Organic Argan Oil, Vitamin E, Avocado Seed Oil, Rice Bran Oil, and Grapefruit Essential Oil. It’s designed to help maintain healthy hair growth, reduce split ends, and prevent frizz and damage against heat. It’s non-greasy, absorbs quickly, and only requires a little to reap the benefits. It is also suitable for all hair types and textures, including curly or color-treated hair.
The Earthling Co
The Earthling Co. does sustainable haircare and body care at an affordable price tag. The brand emphasizes creating clean and sustainable alternatives to products that typically come in plastic packaging and even giving back to the community by donating “a portion of every sale to a variety of environmental organizations that work on well-rounded ways to create the harmonious and sustainable world we envision.” Their plastic-free strengthening shampoo bars ($15.99) come in a beautiful rainbow of different natural fragrances and contain only concentrated, plant-based ingredients.
MakeUp
Athr Beauty
Athr specializes in clean and sustainable makeup, specifically zero-waste eyeshadow palettes, blush palettes, and liquid highlighter. They actually infuse their products with crystals for “the amalgamation of transcendent, shimmer and glow and profound wellness benefit,” which is a really unique way to incorporate natural elements into beauty products. Each and every ATHR Beauty palette is made with FSC Certified paper, water-based soy ink, and recycled aluminum pans, which means that once you’ve reached the end of the palette, consumers can simply pop out the pans & recycle each part separately. Their Summer Solstice Eyeshadow Palette offers the perfect warm shades for the summertime, with a high color payoff and a buttery texture for an easy one-swipe application. It is currently available for pre-order on their website.
Axiology
Axiology uses clean natural ingredients in its products, and all their products including their bestseller, the Balmies Singles ($15), come in a recyclable carrying case made from up-cycled materials, so no plastic waste is generated. This vegan, cruelty-free, and multi-use stick can be used on the eyes, lips, or cheeks. The singles come in 10 different shades, so you are bound to find one that suits your complexion. There are also two multi-use sticks available for purchase in the Balmie Duo Set ($26), with shades including berry earthy shades, champagne copper shades, and warm and rosy shades.
Oceanly Makeup
The Oceanly Makeup line from the brand Attitude is a plastic-free, clean, and EWG-verified makeup line. The line features foundation, concealer, cream blush, cream bronzer, cream highlighter, and lip products. Almost all of the products are fragrance-free, and many are sticks for easy application and portability. The product packaging is entirely recyclable, and for every product sold, one tree is planted. Featuring 5 natural shades, the Cream Blush Stick ($30) leaves the skin looking radiant. This blush is infused with hydrating phytoglycogen, castor oil, and algae extract, making it perfect for day or night wear.
–Nina Dagadev
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