10 Best Eco Luxe Beauty Finds For A Sustainable Routine
Green beauty is increasingly popular, with consumers seeking out products with a minimal environmental footprint. Thankfully, it’s easier than ever to find ethical makeup and skincare. These eco luxe beauty brands have put sustainability at the top of their agenda.
Eco Luxe Beauty Brands
Before we reveal our favorite ethical beauty brands, it’s first worth considering what makes a beauty product green. In the absence of specific government regulation, it can be hard to work out which products are truly sustainable.
You may also have heard of greenwashing, in which a company makes an unsubstantiated claim to be more green than it really is. Therefore, it’s up to consumers to do their own research and to read labels carefully.
Select brands who respect one or more of the following factors:
- Ingredients not tested on animals
- Made from natural or organic ingredients
- Recyclable packaging and/or refillable bottles
- Socially responsible business practices
How to Have a More Sustainable Beauty Routine
According to a 2015 Nielsen report, consumers would spend up to 72% more for a sustainable product. However, it’s not always necessary to pay more for eco friendly skincare or makeup. Here are some ways in which you can incorporate sustainability into your beauty regime.
- Avoid microplastics – these are plastic particles that are smaller than 5 millimeters. They’re too small to be filtered by sewage systems and enter the oceans where they’re consumed by marine life. Microbeads have been banned in 11 countries including Canada, the USA and UK.
- Buy giant bottles rather than miniature sizes. They will hopefully last a lot longer.
- Favor multi tasking products – use hybrid products to cut down on packaging.
- Look for the recycling sign on packaging – this means that it has been made from recycled materials.
- Opt for brands that are transparent about their sourcing and production process.
- Swap makeup wipes which take over 100 years to biodegrade for washable face cloths or reusable bamboo makeup remover pads.
- Read the labels on your products – steer clear of ingredients such as octinoxate which is found in many sunscreens and is harmful to coral reefs.
- Recycle beauty products – use a split waste separation bin to separate recyclable and non-recyclable products.
- Try products with less packaging – shampoo bars are a great example.
- Use refillable bottles or a refill service such as the one offered by Lush for its cosmetics.
Best Eco Luxe Beauty Brands
Long gone are the days when green beauty products were hard to find and under-performing. These days, sustainable beauty products are extremely effective and stylishly designed. Here’s our pick of the best natural and organic beauty and skincare.
1. Germaine de Capuccini
This prestigious beauty brand prides itself on its sustainable and cruelty free suncare and skincare. Established in 1964, Germaine de Capuccini is certified as the first professional skincare company committed to compensating and reducing CO2 emissions.
Their natural ingredients are ethically sourced, and nothing is tested on animals. Many of the Germaine de Capuccini products are designed for specific skin types.
Their new TIMEXPERT SUN range is anti-ageing and made with ingredients that respect marine flora and fauna. The collection includes 13 face and body sunscreens, self-tanners and after-sun treatments with innovative textures.
We tested the Anti-Ageing Protective Fluid Wrinkles + Dark Spots, which comes in two protection factors: SPF30 and SPF50. Containing ginger extract, it has powerful antioxidant and anti-pollution properties. With an innovative texture that’s runny but not sticky, this facial sunscreen combats dark spots and sun-induced wrinkles.
We also tried Icy Pleasure, an after-sun facial repair treatment that relieves redness and burning thanks to Canadian Willowherb extract. It left our skin feeling soothed and supple.
If you want a long lasting tan, we recommend Sun Idyllic Tan Subliming Oil – Nourishment and Well-Being. This nourishing oil will soothe, protect and moisturize your skin, extending your tan and the holiday vibe with its delicate scent and gorgeous golden hue.
2. Angela Langford
A talented cook who has appeared on Masterchef UK, Angela Langford also knows the recipe for great skin. She uses the finest natural ingredients, without parabens, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances or colours.
Angela’s skincare is tested on friends, family and herself – never on animals. One of our favorite products is Bloom & Glow Radiance Restoring Face Oil. This natural organic oil was awarded 91% in a blind testing by Good Housekeeping Institute.
It contains powerful actives including chia seed and rosehip to improve elasticity and reduce fine lines. Jojoba and rose geranium help to balance skin, while bisabolol calms and sea buckthorn repairs.
A little of this facial oil goes a long way. You just massage a few drops onto your face, neck and decolletage.
3. Embryolisse
You may well have heard of Embroylisse before as this French brand is popular with makeup artists and celebrities. They are a cruelty-free skincare brand who don’t test their products on animals.
Embryolisse Smooth Radiant Complexion Anti-Fatigue Gel is a skin perfector which gives a radiant appearance. This cream is vegan and adapts to all skin tones to give you luminous skin. The soft focus particles reflect light and smooth imperfections such as open pores and fine lines.
4. Natural Nail Polish
If you’re keen to find a nail polish that’s long lasting but also cruelty free and vegan, then Dr.’s Remedy is the perfect choice. Their natural nail polishes are made from biotin and tea-tree oil, garlic bulb extract, lavender wheat protein and vitamins.
This quick drying, long lasting nail polish is antifungal, cruelty free and vegan friendly. The natural nail polish set features three great shades: ALTRUISTIC Auburn, AMITY Amethyst and STABILITY Steel.
5. Baebody
Made with no parabens, phthalates or sulfates, Baebody products are also 100% certified cruelty-free. The brand are known for their face mask trio, however they took a conscious decision not to produce sheet masks.
This is because sheet masks contribute to landfill waste and use preservatives and dies to make them white. Instead, Baebody use a gel in their masks that functions similarly to a sheet by creating a barrier to effectively drive ingredients into the skin.
Their pods, cards and boxes are all recyclable. What’s more, the products are all free from parabens, petrochemicals, sulfates and synthetic colors and fragrances.
6. Olverum
Since 1931, German brand Olverum has been famous for its eco bodycare. Taking its name from the Latin words oleum verum, meaning true oil, the Olverum range is known for its therapeutic properties.
Olverum Bath Oil is a potent blend of natural essential oils to help you unwind. These include pine, lavender, eucalyptus, lemon and verbena.
Essential lavender oil will also help you to go to sleep. This bath oil is extremely nourishing for dry skin too.
The luxurious bath oil is free from artificial preservatives, colourants, silicone, parabens, sulphates and fragrance. Cruelty free and vegan, it contains no animal derived ingredients.
7. Skin Alchemists
This London eco-luxe beauty brand is known for its natural skincare products, inspired by the island of St Lucia. Theresa Edward, the founder, grew up on the Caribbean island and learnt about the power of plants from her herbalist aunt Mano.
Her organic skincare incorporates the finest ingredients, including coconut oil, nutmeg and turmeric. No synthetics or toxic preservatives are used.
The glass packaging is environmentally friendly and preserves the ingredients by keeping sunlight out. The outer packaging is completely recyclable.
Sesenne Facial Elixir contains 24 botanical actives to regenerate and brighten skin. The Humble Warrior Complete Cleansing Oil combines 14 natural oils to great effect. It can be used not only as a cleanser but also as a massage oil, for after sun care, as a cuticle or beard oil and for scalp therapy.
Skin Alchemist products are suitable for all ages and skin types and are unisex. They’re available from www.skinalchemists.com.
8. So Eco
For cruelty free, vegan bath products, hair brushes and makeup brushes, So Eco is a great choice. They focus on ethical sourcing and are an official partner of Tree Nation.
So Eco plant a tree for every 100 products sold. They have planted 15,612 trees already!
One of our favorite So Eco products is their Biodegradable Detangling Leaf Brush. The hair brush is designed in the shape of a leaf and is very gentle on your scalp.
9. Ultrasun
This Swiss skincare brand incorporates the latest technological advances, yet is suitable for vegans, fragrance free and contains no parabens. Ultrasun Face with SPF50 is also reef friendly and won’t harm corals, unlike many other sunscreens.
This sunscreen is not tested on animals and is cruelty free. Suitable for those with sensitive skin, it also contains an anti-ageing ingredient that brightens your complexion.
You can use it instead of your daily moisturizer for once a day UVA and UVB sun protection. The sunscreen is quickly absorbed into the skin, so you can put on makeup immediately after application.
10. Vanderohe
Founded by Olivia Thorpe, a former banker who sought to cure her severe dermatitis, Vanderohe prides itself on its integrity. Olivia only uses the best wild-harvested plant oils and organic oils in her formulations.
Vanderohe donate a percentage of their profits to the Marine Savers Programme at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives and also contribute to a tree planting initiative in a private nature reserve in the UK.
Vanderohe’s products thoroughly cleanse skin and boost cell renewal. No.1 Purifying Cleansing Oil easily removes makeup in just one cleanse.
Combine the cleansing oil with Vanderohe No.1 Exfoliating Powder, a micro granular formulation that brightens and polishes skin. VANDEROHE No.1 Nourishing Face Serum, Exfoliating Face Cloth and Exfoliating Powder are available from www.net-a-porter.com and www.vanderohe.com.
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