Ok ok. You’ve done it. Your beauty drawer is full of beautiful, clean, non toxic products that are making your skin be the best version of herself. You’ve found the products that your skin loves with ingredients that are full of nature, now it’s time to think about taking it to the next step. Making it sustainable. Sustainable beauty? is it possible? I’ll explain here.
where to start?
One thing we can be thankful for atm is that so many brands are focusing in better packaging. I can’t think of too many brands that where doing this when I started switching to a more sustainable lifestyle 10 years ago. I think it was easier to just do the things yourself, and that often resulted in disasters, at least for me. But, fear no more! A lot of clean skincare and beauty brands now offer sustainable packaging. And by saying this, I don’t mean that they are compromising in quality or effectiveness of the product in itself.
By choosing products that use sustainable, zero waste packaging is the most convenient way. Simply because you don’t have to worry about disposing of it the right way. And I have to say some are being super imaginative and creative and that is of course, always fun too. Intrigued? Let me share with you some great brands that are winning in the sustainable packaging department.
beauty
It was only a few years ago that it was so hard to find a great clean and nontoxic beauty product. Most of them just didn’t deliver, they didn’t last long, had really funky smells, and just didn’t work.
But the brands I’m about to show you, are just…WOW. Not only are they amazing in quality but also in taking care of the environment. This is true sustainable beauty.
madame gabriela
You’ve heard me talk about Madame Gabriela many times before on Instagram. I am in love with the brand and that is why I am an ambassador. Not only are the colors pristine and perfect, the ingredients amazingly clean, but also, the packaging is on point.
And by on point I don’t mean chic (although it is super chic) but it is not plastic. It is actually made of aluminum which makes it very easily recycled and durable as well.
And also I love the fact that they carry only three colors, which are super versatile and usable for everyday. I have even started venturing into mixing them on my lips to get some extra shades and it is so much fun! And since I always like to blend the product on my lips with my finger, I end up adding that excess that’s left on my cheeks for a super long lasting blush. It works wonderfully.
I explain a little bit more in detail about the ingredients and the brand here.
Buy here. You can use code LUISAKISS for a discount (affiliate code)
axiology
If you are looking for a good multipurpose beauty product, these balmies are amazing! You can use them on eyes, lips, and cheeks, and you can blend them in with your fingers.
They are the standard size of a lipstick they ditch the packaging. Also, they come in a box made with recycled trash.
The ingredients are clean and vegan, there’s no synthetic fragrances and no alcohol. They are made with elderberry, hemp and vitamin E oil so they don’t dry your skin.
And the colors are so pretty! They have a few colors now, some nudes some brighter and even some shimmery ones that could work for highlights. They have sets of 3 or you can purchase them individually.
river organics
I’m pretty sure this is a new brand and I can’t wait to try it! They carry lip balms, blush, highlighter, bronzer, concealer, an eyebrow wax. And they will be soon releasing a lip stain.
All of their beauty products come in cardboard packaging and come in tubes most of them, which makes them really easy to apply. For someone that doesn’t like to spend much time doing my makeup, I do appreciate the tubes.
And since I am always wearing lip balm, I like they have a few to choose from. They offer a lip balm set of 2, and a makeup set with a lip balm, a blush and highlighter.
aether beauty
Do you love dreamy eye shadow palettes? Me too. Aether Beauty carries an amazing collection of eye shadow palettes, and it has now starting to incorporate blushes and highlighters, all made with crushed crystals.
And the packaging uses no plastic. All the cases are made of cardboard with cool designs that you wouldn’t even think they where made of paper. And I have just noticed on their website that they are starting to carry single eye shadow pans so you can refill your palette. Genius.
And what I like is that the creator of Aether Beauty is truly committed to the environment and focuses on giving to charities that help the planet and the launch of her products is very meticulous to make sure it has her sustainability stamp of approval.
ELATE COSMETICS
Ok, Elate seems to be the winner when it comes to personalizing your palette. Doesn’t it happen to you that you get an eye shadow palette and end up using only one or two colors? It happens to me. Well, Elate offers palette cases that you can fill however your heart desires, so you are only paying for colors that you will actually use. I would probably fill mine with all brown tones. And they not only carry eye shadows, but pretty mush anything you need to do your makeup. Blush, foundation, concealer, mascara, lip products, eye brow powders, and even makeup brushes, amongst other products.
And if you wonder what are those palette cases made out of, well, they’re bamboo. And for their liquid foundations, lip balms and primers they use glass as well. There are only a few products that use recycled plastic such as the lipsticks and mascara.
I feel like they are doing the best in the sustainability game.
What about the products I am using now?
Well, I have a few great ideas that I’m sure you will find useful. And since I am on this same boat with you, I’ll talk from experience on how I’m dealing with the switch.
- Reuse. Some of the packaging can be reused, so try and find ways that you can reuse them around the house.
- Nordstrom Beautycycle. This is a program collab with Terracycle. Nordstroms accross the country now offer to recycle beauty packaging for free. You just have to take it to the store. This is a great way to ensure that the items are getting recycled. Learn more about the program here.
- Buy sustainable options as you are running out of products. So you don’t create unnecessary waste, finish up the products you already have and as you are running out, replace it with a sustainable option. That way you don’t end up spending too much at one time, which I’m sure your wallet will be thankful for.
So what do you think? Are you ready to make your beauty cabinet more sustainable? I know I am!
