4 of the best zero waste skincare brands

Most of us are increasingly aware of the need to reduce our environmental impact, and where better to begin than our dressing tables?

Beauty lovers know that most brands are hardly environmentally friendly – single-use plastics are the norm in this industry, even among up-market labels. However, there’s been an upsurge of new, zero-waste skincare brands disrupting the traditional beauty market.

The result is excellent beauty products to give you a glow, without the guilt that comes from harming the planet with unnecessary waste.

Importance of zero waste

The ambition of any zero waste initiative is to send nothing to landfill. People who support zero waste initiatives believe they have an ethical responsibility to protect our planet’s finite resources.

Zero waste skincare brands endeavour to not send anything to landfill during the process of product development, from idea formation to production and packaging.

Our favourite zero waste skincare brands

These market-leading zero waste skincare brands are disrupting the conventional beauty industry’s wasteful practices – and helping you look great while doing it.

Ethique

Just say no to single-use plastics and choose Ethique instead, who pioneered beauty bars which are entirely plastic-free. Ethique’s beauty bars resemble traditional soap bars, except they’re infinitely more nourishing for skin and hair than soap typically is.

Ethique sell shampoos, conditioners, face serums, deodorants… you name it, and they have in a plastic-free bar. Not only are Ethique entirely plastic-free, but they plant a tree for every order they receive.

Balade en Provence

Invite a little French romance into your life with Balade en Provence – and protect the environment while doing it. Like Ethique, Balade en Provence specialises in beauty bars. Still, they bring a typically Gallic je ne sais quoi to the construction process. Every Balade en Provence product is entirely vegan and free of palm-oil.

All bars are cold-processed, which means the products they use retain their moisturising qualities long after packaging.

Beauty Kitchen

Beauty Kitchen harness the scientific expertise of their chemist founder Jo, to create beauty products that are great for the environment and effective at targeting common skin concerns.

Their unique products include an eye cream which targets dark under-eye bags with probiotics. And a serum which uses Abyssian oil – an ingredient that’s not frequently used by conventional beauty brands, and is all the more desirable for it. Each product unites scientific rigour with environmental consciousness, to the benefit of great looking skin.

UpCircle

UpCircle packaging’s cool pink, mint, and blue tones make for perfectly Instagrammable ‘shelfies’. Not only do these products look great, but they’re also great for the environment. All of UpCircle’s hip skincare offerings are sold in packaging that’s 99% plastic-free and recyclable.

UpCircle began by turning disregarded coffee grounds into exfoliators. Now, they apply their resourcefulness to all aspects of skincare. Keeps your eyes peeled for inventive uses of nuts and spices in UpCircle’s luxurious beauty treatments.

Shop All Zero Waste Beauty

Author: Janine Aquino, Regulatory Affairs Joined Holland & Barrett: October 2018 Qualifications: BSc (Hons) in Cosmetic Science Janine started her career as a Technical intern at Superdrug Head Office while studying for her Cosmetic Science degree at the London College of Fashion, assisting Product Technologists in their roles by progressing NPD from initial concept through to post-market launch analysis and complaints. Her experience spanned all categories sold at Superdrug, including colour cosmetics, toiletries, accessories and electrical goods. After graduating her degree, Janine took up the Technical specialist role at Morrison’s Head Office leading the cosmetic and toiletries category from a Regulatory angle, including visiting manufacturers and attending and carrying out audits. Afterwards she moved onto become the lead Regulatory specialist for cosmetics at 151 Products. Janine joined Holland & Barrett in 2018 as Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager for beauty. Janine specialises in Regulatory and Technical aspects of all cosmetics including claims, EU and International compliance, and project management.

Last updated: 18 December 2020