When switching to a more sustainable or zero waste lifestyle the first places we tend to look at is our single-use plastic usage. And while single-use plastic is a huge problem, what about other plastic? Like the plastic containers that your makeup and skincare come in?
They might not be single-use but they’re not meant to last forever. They still end up in our landfills and water systems. SO how can we prevent this? By using and supporting sustainable skincare brands, making some of your own products, and disposing of containers properly.
Not all sustainable skincare brands come in glass bottles, some of them come in plastic but are made from post-consumer waste/recycled plastic and can be recycled again. It’s important to pay attention to that so we can make sure we’re being responsible when we’re discarding these products.
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Here are 15 sustainable skincare brands that are good for you and the planet:
1. Earth Harbor
Earth harbor offers an array of skincare products including serums, oils, moisturizers, eye creams, facial soaps, and face masks!
They check all the sustainable boxes and are paraben, phthalate, and sulfate-free. They’re also cruelty-free, non-GMO, handmade in the USA, vegan, organic and they’re apart of 1% for the planet. Which is always a surefire way to know that a brand is as sustainable as they claim to be.
Earth harbor was inspired by the founder’s love for nature and marine life which is evident throughout the skincare brand.
They also have an ethical supply chain sourcing ingredients that are fair-trade and use a minimal amount of plastic on their packaging. All of the products come in a paperboard box and are 100% recyclable.
2. Fat and the Moon
Formulated by herbalists, fat and the moon strives to create a very little impact on the planet from the sourcing of their ingredients to their packaging which ranges from glass, aluminum, reusable containers, and fully recyclable containers.
Their ingredients and herbs are grown organically and full of all the nutrients that benefit our skin.
In addition to being organic, they are also handmade, paraben, phthalate, and sulfate-free.
3. Meow Meow Tweet
Meow Meow Tweet is arguably most famous for its baking soda free, compostable deodorants. But they also sell shampoo and conditioner bars AND a small line of powerful skincare including lip balms, facial soap, toner, spot serum, and cleaners.
Their products are made with organic, unrefined plant oils, cold-pressed essential oils, and wild-crafted botanicals.
Meow Meow Tweet is dedicated to using the least amount of plastic possible in its packaging by using compostable packaging or glass containers.
They are currently supporting over 25 organizations including Black Lives Matter, One Tree Planted, and Earthjustice.
4. Plaine Products
Plaine Products is most known for its shampoo and conditioners but they also carry some skincare products like moisturizers, cleanser, toners, and oils.
Plaine uses aluminum bottles for packaging that can be recycled without losing any value and at a fraction of the cost of plastic containers.
They also strive for a circular economy, by using a refill program. Simply send your bottles back to be refilled. The aluminum is sturdy and can survive numerous refills before Plaine recycles them.
Their ingredients are all vegan, non-GMO, hypoallergenic, and free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicone, and palm oil.
5. Seed Phytonutrients
From lip balms, moisturizers, face washes, serums, creams, and masks, Seed Phytonutrients really has it all!
Described as a “young company with old school values” Seed embraces organic farming infusing a love for the planet, and its diverse species of plants, into every bottle.
Made with recycled packaging and a package of seeds in each bottle, Seed is changing the face of sustainable skincare.
6. Plum Brilliance
With a wide range of skincare and body products, plum brilliance is sure to have what you need including facial/body oils, body butters, cleansing balms, repair creams, tonics, face masks, and more!
They use the power of nature to offer healing and don’t rely on preservatives, additives, and hard-to-pronounce chemicals or excess plastic packaging. In fact, many of the ingredients are sourced from the brand’s founder Apryl’s own organic farm.
She hand makes the products in small batches using energy-intensive practices and they are proudly vegan, sustainably sourced, and free from any chemicals.
7. Botanical Republic
While avoiding harmful ingredients like ethoxylates, parabens, petroleum, formaldehyde, artificial colors, synthetic fragrances, and more, Botanical Republics’ small-batch skincare line is designed to keep your skin looking vibrant.
Handmade right in Los Angeles, their commitment to sustainability shows through their lack of preservatives and by packaging their products using glass bottles and jars to reduce how much plastic ends up in landfills and oceans.
From cleansers, oils, toners, and serums, and more, Botanical Republic is a trailblazer when it comes to sustainable skincare!
8. Lily Farm Fresh Skincare
From seed to packaging, sustainability is at the heart of Lily Farm Fresh Skincare. Their products are packaged in glass making them reusable or recyclable. They also guarantee that the trash produced from both their laboratory and their farm is less than half of one trash bag, per week, on average.
Their products contain no synthetic ingredients, chemicals, or dyes and with products ranging from masks, toners, serums, mists, and lotions, this is one skincare brand to add to your cart immediately!
9. Activist Collective
Branded as “fuel for activism” Activist Collective is rooted in animal activism ensuring each product is 100% Vegan and cruelty-free.
In addition, they also package their products in glass with minimal plastic components. They also have a refill program where they will send you an aluminum bottle with your refill and a shipping label to send back the aluminum bottle.
You’ll never find common toxins like parabens, phthalates, silicones, sulfates, artificial colors, or fragrances in their products.
10. Province Apothecary
Organic skincare made in Canada, Province Apothecary is committed to avoiding the ten most toxic ingredients as specified by the Environmental Defense organization in Canada including petroleum, parabens, synthetic fragrances, endocrine disruptors, dyes, alcohol, pesticides, and GMOs.
They’re also apart of 1% for the planet, are proudly vegan and cruelty-free and their headquarters is powered by 100% renewable energy
Their products are also packaged in recycled plastic and conscious packaging.
11. Derma E
Known as an “Eco-Ethical” skincare brand, Derma E lives up to its slogan by manufacturing its products with wind power for over 10 years and by offsetting 100% of conventional electricity use with wind energy certificates.
But their sustainability doesn’t stop there, their facial wipes are 100% compostable and every component of their other packaging is recyclable and they only use renewable resources.
Their products are also reef-safe and 100% clean using non-GMO ingredients and are vegan and cruelty-free.
With an ethical supply chain, Derma E also gives back to numerous organizations including Keep America Beautiful and The Special Olympics which has a special place in my heart.
12. Mad Hippie
Dedicated to the preservation of the planet, Mad Hippie offers a range of skincare products including creams, oils, mists, and eye creams.
They always working to limit their carbon footprint and environmental impact by utilizing sugarcane tubes and printing with soy ink.
A dollar from every web sale goes to Save The Elephants and they’re apart of the Whole Planet foundation an organization that provides loans to female entrepreneurs globally, helping to lift up families and provide relief from poverty worldwide.
Related reading:
I tried zero waste beauty products so you don’t have to
The beginner’s guide to clean beauty
There are so many amazing sustainable skincare brands out there who are doing amazing things for the planet! And they’re not as crazy expensive as you might think. When companies put you, their employees, and the planet first, it shows and everybody benefits.
Thank you for reading my sustainable skincare brands list! I hope to add to this list as I find more and more brands! Please don’t forget to share this post and follow me on Instagram for daily low waste living inspiration!
Thanks for sharing this! As a sustainable lifestyle blogger, there’s a ton of brands on this list that I wasn’t aware of that I would love to try out. I really believe that more people should live as conscious consumers and purchase from sustainable skincare brands.
Exactly! I’m glad this post was able to help you and hope you find a new favourite brand to try out!