Think about how many of those small make up containers you’ve thrown out since you’ve been old enough to wear makeup. They all add up right? That’s why it’s important to switch to zero water makeup brands!
Not only are they a more ethical and sustainable option but they are almost always better for you as well. They generally have less of the nasty toxic stuff and more of the natural, healthier ingredients. Zero waste makeup is a win-win situation. It’s better for you and the planet.
Here are zero waste makeup brands that are ethical, sustainable and created with low toxic ingredients.
Clean-Faced Cosmetics has an amazing zero waste, plastic free, organic, vegan and cruelty free make up range. They do also have a refill system where they send out a refill within a biodegradable celo bag, and you get a 10% discount when ordering refill products.
Clean Faced Cosmetics will also create custom powder foundation to match your skin!, recycled alum
Products: foundation, mascara, lipstick, blush and body butter
Eco Roots sells so many products that help you live a more sustainable and zero waste lifestyle, including some makeup. They currently create vegan and zero waste makeup including blush, lip balm and tinted moisturizers.
Their extensive range of products are vegan and zero waste, with all packaging and shipping materials being recyclable. Eco Roots also donates 1% of sales to Ocean Conservancy to help protect our valuable oceans.
Products: lip balm, blush, tinted moisturizer and many other products including toothbrushes, zero waste dental floss and shampoo and conditioner bars.
River Organics was created by husband and wife team, Coriene and Fabian, who has worked extensively as a natural product chemist in France. Now they’re based in the US and have created River Organics, a zero waste, vegan makeup and cosmetic brand
Their products include concealer, lip balm, eyebrow wax, facial oils and zero waste makeup tools. As well, they make sure all their packaging and shipping materials are as close to zero waste as possible, including recycled envelopes, sugar cane based labels and don’t include other marketing materials.
Products: lip balm, concealer, eyebrow wax, facial and body oils and zero waste makeup tools.
Elate Beauty is working towards getting to 100% zero waste with their makeup products. They currently use bamboo, recycled plastic, recycled aluminium, seed paper and recycled glass jars. Elate Beauty also has an ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ program where any products that don’t meet their quality standards are available for purchase at a discounted rate, instead of being added to landfill.
Ingredients used within their products are cruelty free and vegan. They are made with natural ingredients, 75% organic and gluten free. They use ingredients that are good for you and good for the planet.
Products: full range of makeup
Eco Minerals is an Australian based, vegan and cruelty free company that uses only natural ingredients in their makeup products. Their products are free of palm oil, parabens, chemical preservatives, nano-particles, talc, fillers, coated mica, colorants and dyes. Products within their range include mineral foundation, concealer, blush, eye and brow powder, bronzer, vegan lipstick and mascara.
They also source their minerals from Australia, US and Europe and not from Africa, Asia and India for ethical reasons.
Eco Minerals has a refill system to help reduce waste. Their lipstick is made with recycled aluminium, all packaging and shipping materials are recycled, the refill packs are 100% biodegradable and sachets are plastic free.
Products: mineral foundation, concealer, blush, eye and brow powder, bronzer, vegan lipstick and mascara.
Alima Pure is a low waste, 100% carbon offset brand that stocks a full range of makeup including foundation, eye makeup, blush and lipstick. They also have a refill system to reduce their waste even more.
All of their products are free of parabens, sulphates, phthalates, dimethicone, petroleum, talc, bismuth, oxychloride and nanoparticles. On top of that they are never test on animals and they also contribute 1% of total sales to conservation.
Products: full range of makeup products
Aether Beauty was founded by Tillia in the US. Having worked in the industry, we realised that not all ethical, sustainable and low toxic brands within the cosmetic space were all created equally. She also learnt that the US had 11 banned ingredients whilst the EU has over 1300. She decided to create an ethical, child labor free, vegan, cruelty free, fair trade, organic and zero waster makeup brand.
Aether Beauty stocks eye shadows that are infused with crystals and are currently working on creating more products. Their packaging is made from recycled paper and recycled aluminium so the packaging is 100% recyclable.
Products: eye shadow
Zao Organic Makeup is an eco-luxury makeup brand that creates all natural, certified organic, low toxic, cruelty free, gluten free and vegan cosmetics. They widely use bamboo within their products and their packaging, all in an attempt to keep their footprint as low as possible. They do also have a refill system to keep their lines zero waste or as low waste as possible.
Products: foundation, concealer, BB cream, makeup remover, blush, bronzer, highlighters, eyeliner, mascara, eye primer, eyebrow powder, eye shadow, lipstick, lip gloss and skincare.
We hope that this zero waste makeup guide helps you to make more conscious purchases easily. Reducing our waste is one of the most ethical things we can do for the planet and future generations.
Related post: 6 Ethical Underwear Brands We Love