At eveelife.com, we know that being kinder to Mother Earth is a journey, and every small step counts. That means thinking consciously about all aspects of your life. Yes, even your makeup routine. While it may not have the same impact as going solar or buying an electric vehicle, choosing eco-friendly makeup products can help prevent more plastic waste and harmful chemicals from entering the environment, and that matters.
At a time when the environment needs you most, making eco-friendly choices about all aspects of your life is crucial. When it comes to your beauty routine, this means finding brands that don’t engage in animal testing, that use organic ingredients, and that actively emphasize sustainable packaging and responsible sourcing. Let’s glow up and explore some sustainable makeup brands that stand out in their commitment to environmental responsibility.
Sorry, beauty lovers, we’ve got some upsetting news for you. According to Zero Waste Week, the beauty industry produces a whopping 120 billion units of packaging each year. This includes paper, plastic, glass, and metals that end up in landfills or as litter. Ready for another shocking number? Five hundred and fifteen. That’s the number of products the average woman puts on her body every. single. day. What’s worse is that 60% of those chemicals are absorbed into the skin.
Sorry, beauty lovers, we’ve got some upsetting news for you. According to Zero Waste Week, the beauty industry produces a whopping 120 billion units of packaging each year. This includes paper, plastic, glass, and metals that end up in landfills or as litter. Ready for another shocking number? Five hundred and fifteen. That’s the number of products the average woman puts on her body every. single. day. What’s worse is that 60% of those chemicals are absorbed into the skin.
Choosing sustainable makeup brands just makes sense for you and the environment. Beyond their clear environmental benefits, these brands prioritize natural and organic ingredients that are gentle on your skin, avoiding the use of harmful chemicals and synthetic compounds. Did we mention that research has shown many of these ingredients could cause cancer, damage reproductive health, and produce harmful effects on the nervous system? Even makeup marketed to kids isn’t safe. Opting for sustainable makeup brands means doing something good for the environment while also ensuring your body’s health and vitality.
To be fair, finding products that contain no hazardous substances when it comes to makeup and other beauty products is no easy task. For those of you who are committed to nontoxic certified ingredients, you can check out madesafe.org and find items that have been thoroughly screened to contain zero banned or restricted substances.
For those looking to upgrade their eco-conscious-makeup game, we at eveelife.com are excited to share some of our best finds.
Starting with RMS Beauty, this brand is renowned for its commitment to creating products formulated with raw, food-grade, and organic ingredients. Their tagline is “Groundbreaking beauty since 2009.” Not only is it beneficial for your skin, but its use of recyclable or reusable packaging also underscores its commitment to eco-friendliness, reinforcing your contribution to environmental sustainability. They focus on packaging many of their products in recyclable glass jars and source materials that are recycled. Starting in 2022, RMS Beauty moved to using 100% post-consumer resin (PCR), an environmentally friendly packaging option, in many of their most popular products. They’ve also started a refillable packaging program, which significantly reduces the use of plastic.
Elate Cosmetics is another brand leading the way in sustainability. Noteworthy for their use of bamboo packaging, Elate’s products are vegan, cruelty-free, and over 75% organic. They also focus on fair trade practices. Their zero-waste policy amplifies their contribution to environmental preservation, allowing you to beautify yourself with a clear conscience about the planet’s welfare. Nearly all of their packaging is recyclable, reusable, or wait for it…plantable! Plus, they have their own recycling program, which has saved more than 697,000 plastic packages from landfills. If that’s not impressive enough, they’ve also planted 15,000 trees and counting since they plant one for every order.
We couldn’t be more thrilled about these fun color sticks and crayons from Axiology. As the company says, these products are “Honest and ethical from lip to lid.” They offer vegan, cruelty-free, clean products in packaging made from island trash that is also 100% recyclable – in other words, completely plastic-free. Axiology offers makeup sticks and crayons made from 10 simple ingredients that you can use on your eyes, lips, and cheeks. A multi-tasker and good for the environment. What more could you ask for? Axiology takes it a step further by donating a portion of its sales to animal welfare organizations, solidifying their commitment to both the environment and animal rights.
With a dedicated focus on minimizing waste through recyclable packaging, Alima Pure ensures your beauty regimen is eco-conscious and waste-free. Their range, including foundations, blushes, and eye shadows, is gentle on the skin. Using clean ingredients in all their products is just the beginning. They are also committed to operating using sustainable practices. According to their website, they are the first color cosmetics company to become a B Corporation. This means they meet specific social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency standards. As a member of 1% for the Planet, they donate 1% of their revenue every year to organizations that are working to protect the planet. What’s more, they offset 100% of their carbon emissions through Carbon Fund.
ZAO Organic Makeup stands out with its 100% natural ingredients and sustainable, refillable bamboo packaging that also happens to look great. This environmentally friendly packaging allows for easy replacement of your products without additional waste, promoting an eco-friendly approach to your makeup routine. Another fun benefit of refillable products is that you get premium products without having to pay extra for fancy packaging, making it more affordable for you. They’ve got everything from foundation, mineral powder, nail polish, mascaras, eye shadows, lipsticks and so much more!
Transitioning to sustainable brands is a straightforward process. Begin by using your existing products and ensuring there’s no unnecessary waste. Don’t use expired products, though. Those are not good until the last drop and should be disposed of properly. When it’s time to purchase new makeup, prioritize these sustainable brands. This simple change can make a real difference in reducing your environmental footprint.
Embracing sustainable beauty and makeup brands is just one small part of your sustainability journey, but make no doubt about it: this move transcends trend-following. More and more brands are recognizing that people like you are looking to make meaningful shifts in all areas of life to help benefit the planet, even if it costs a little more. It’s a win-win for the planet and for you since you’re supporting long-term environmental gains while also benefiting from skin-friendly, natural, and organic products.
At eveelife.com, we are here to encourage and support your commitment to eco-friendly living. We find all the best and latest in eco-conscious tech, trends, and news to share with our growing community of dedicated planet lovers. “Join the Charge!” by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on Instagram and Facebook. Together, we can champion a healthier planet and look good while doing it.
Published October 12, 2023 5:34PM
Eveelife is an eco-oriented lifestyle platform that helps consumers make more purposeful choices about how they live and what they consume. We do it by curating content and products that help them make more conscious, carbon-free choices while amplifying their EV ownership experience.
