12 Sustainable Beauty Brands to Help You Spring Clean Your Routine
It’s no secret that we love all things beauty—and if you’re reading this, it’s safe to assume that you do, too. Unfortunately the industry we love so much has a direct impact on the accelerating rate of climate change and negatively impacts the world around us. That’s because the industry is responsible for billions of units of waste per year, not to mention the CO2 emissions created by the shipping industry, which the beauty industry heavily relies on. Once you realize there’s a direct link between the two, the importance of sustainable beauty becomes more apparent than ever before.
But the truth is, trying to navigate the world of sustainable beauty is far from easy. At its core, sustainable beauty is about products with clean ingredients that are safe for your skin and most importantly the planet. That includes a focus on ethical sourcing, clean energy, a commitment to ethical waste management, using clean, cruelty-free, non-toxic ingredients, post-consumer recycled packaging, and even biodegradable packaging.
The good news? A ton of beauty brands are making steps in the right direction, including us right here at IPSY. Not only are we taking a closer look at the brands we feature to ensure they’re doing their part, but we’re taking it a step further with our Refreshments initiative. If you want to commit to a cleaner, greener future,it has to start with your bathroom shelf. To take the guesswork out of navigating the world of sustainable beauty, we’ve rounded up a slew of sustainable beauty brands that are really making a difference, because every day should be Earth Day.
Sustainable Beauty Brands You Can Trust:
1. INNBEAUTY PROJECT
Not only does this brand keep your shelfie looking fab with its Instagram-worthy pink packaging, but they’re also committed to delivering effective skincare that also shows love to our Mother Earth. INNBEAUTY PROJECT was founded by Alisa Metzger and Jen Shane (who run the world?! GIRLS.) out of the need for effective skincare that didn’t break the bank. As two pros with an extensive background in the beauty industry, the duo rose to the occasion and created a brand that Ipsters love.
The INNBEAUTY PROJECT product we’re currently obsessed with? The Slushy Serum Moisturizer. It’s a deeply hydrating powerhouse infused with bakuchiol (a plant-based retinol alternative) and hyaluronic acid to help plump your skin while helping to smooth texture and reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. In other words, it’s like a gallon of water for your skin. Plus, it comes with a pretty pink label that’ll add a little razzle-dazzle to your skincare shelf. What’s not to love?
2. JUICE BEAUTY
Karen Behnke founded JUICE BEAUTY thanks to her lifelong passion for environmentalism, wellness, and skincare. With that foundation and the help of PhD chemists, physicians, and microbiologists, JUICE BEAUTY has created a line of luxurious organic formulations that really perform. Another reason the brand stands out? Products are made with farm-to-beauty ingredients that are antioxidant-rich and certified organic.
We’re loving their Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer for its innovative formula enriched with a proprietary blend of fruit stem cells and vitamin C. It deeply moisturizes the skin while helping improve tone and luminosity.
3. REFRESHMENTS
Our very own line of clean, personal care products is made without sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, of 100 percent vegan ingredients that abide our BFA Clean Standard, and includes a ban list of over 1,800 ingredients. The program goes beyond good-for-you formulas, too. Thirty percent of product containers in the whole line are made out of post-consumer recycled plastic (PCRP)—a percentage that continues to increase over time.
It’s also budget-friendly and allows Ipsters to customize their orders to ensure you’re selecting products that fit your unique routine so nothing goes to waste. If you have yet to try REFRESHMENTS, start with the Luxe 5-Blade Razor, which comes with a reusable handle, or the cleansing face wipes, which are both biodegradable and compostable, with no harmful byproducts.
4. REN CLEAN SKINCARE
The brand has always been committed to clean skincare (with cruelty-free, vegan ingredients that are sustainably sourced), but in recent years they also committed to helping create a cleaner planet. In 2018 REN CLEAN SKINCARE pledged to become a zero waste company by the end of 2021 and started by first focusing their sustainability efforts on their best-selling skincare products, using 80 percent post consumer-recycled plastic for packaging on their best-sellers. They also eliminated the use of bulky, unnecessary packaging when they started rolling out their no-carton cleansers, which no longer come in a box.
If you want to support their efforts, reach for products in their Atlantic Kelp & Magnesium line, like the Atlantic Kelp & Magnesium Plastic Body Wash. The bottles are made of 80 percent recycled plastic and 20 percent of plastic debris that’s reclaimed from the ocean. By creating over 150,000 bottles of the body wash, body lotion, hand wash, and hand lotion from the line, REN was able to remove one and a half tons of waste from the seas, and their clean up efforts are only just getting started.
5. DAVINES
This beauty brand’s formulations, including their cult-favorite shampoos and conditioners, are sulfate-free, paraben-free, and phosphate-free with a focus on creating products that are as recyclable as possible, but the new standout in the line is definitely the brand’s waterless shampoo bars, which are completely plastic-free. Davines transformed four best-selling shampoos (Dede and Love) into solid bars, wrapped in 100 percent recycled paper. The shampoo is sulfate-free and 97.4 percent biodegradable, too. All of the carbon generated from producing the bars (including the way the brand transports them!) is offset thanks to a reforestation project in Ethiopia.
6. THRIVE CAUSEMETICS
In addition to offering vegan, cruelty-free products, THRIVE CAUSEMETICS is committed to becoming a carbon neutral company. The brand partnered with two organizations to offset the emissions of their shipments and redistribute funds to support reforestation and biodiversity efforts. They also donate to sustainability initiatives committed to reversing deforestation and converting landfill gas to renewable energy. Did we mention that the brand makes one of the best clump-free, smudge-proof mascaras around? Their best-selling Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara is one of the best mascaras on the market and the clean, good-for-you formula is safe for those who wear contacts or have sensitive eyes.
7. B CLEAN
If you want a natural-looking tan without nasty ingredients or sun damage, reach for an array of options from this natural beauty brand, which serves up everything from self-tanner to sunscreen. The Tanned AF self-tan mousse from the sustainably-sourced brand is made of 100 percent vegan, cruelty-free products that are free of palm oil, sulfates, and parabens and packaged in recyclable materials to deliver a healthy-looking glow that doesn't involve the sun's harmful UV rays.
8. ANISA BEAUTY
When you’re looking for quality brushes, look no further than ANISA BEAUTY. Not only is every brush PETA certified, cruelty-free, and sustainably made, but the brand creates each and every item with a closed-loop manufacturing system, which means the brand is in total control of every step of the supply chain, up to the point it reaches your front door. The high-quality, responsibly-made makeup brushes and beauty tools are made with 50 percent recycled water, 80 percent improved electrical efficiency with LED lighting, and 20 percent reduced landfill waste and scrap reduction. The Everyday Makeup Brush Set has everything you need to apply a full face of makeup, including the Pinnacle Foundation Brush, Multi-Powder Brush, and Angled Concealer Brush.
9. DIEUX
While disposable masks have been a major part of the self-care industry for decades, they’re terrible for the environment and create so much excess waste. Instead of disposable masks, DIEUX has created a 100 percent medical-grade silicone alternative (the Forever Eye Mask) that can be used daily so they don’t contribute to the waste cycle, made of vegan and cruelty-free ingredients, packaged in sustainable packaging.
10. CLEO + COCO
It can be hard to find a clean deodorant that’s tough enough to keep you feeling (and smelling!) fresh all day, but CLEO + COCO does just that, thanks to a potent combination of plant-based, natural ingredients that are safe and non-toxic. The hero in their lineup is the zero-waste deodorant bar that comes wrapped in compostable, grease-proof paper for clean storage. It’s packaged in an FSC-certified recyclable paper box to ensure nothing goes to waste as you glide the bar on. The aluminum-free formula uses activated charcoal, plant-based powders, clay, and essential oils to neutralize smells and detoxify impurities, providing you with coverage that lasts.
11. KLORANE
One of the things we really celebrate when the topic of sustainability comes to mind is the way in which brands are able to innovate—and one of our go-to hair care brands did just that with their revolutionary KLORANE Oil Control 2-in-1 Mask Shampoo Powder with Nettle that controls oil, all while detangling and boosting volume. It’s no secret that we can’t get enough of a good two-fer, and this one goes a step further. The brand uses a 100 percent recyclable, FSC-certified box that’s made with 72 percent less packaging and requires four times fewer CO2 emissions, three times less energy, and two times less water when compared to the standard liquid shampoo. The result? The same trusted formula you know and love, but now in a more sustainable and convenient medium.
12. FACE HALO
When it comes to creating excess waste, your disposable makeup wipes are the biggest culprit lurking on your bathroom shelf, that is, until now. FACE HALO launched in 2017 with a mission to create an effective, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient solution to single-use wipes when they created their dual-sided, reusable rounds that can last up to 200 wash cycles, which means you can reuse one round for a full year before you have to replace it. The brand’s innovation doesn’t stop there; they recently launched Modern Merch, a streetwear line created by designers in Australia, who turn upcycled FACE HALOs into wearable clothing to ensure nothing goes to waste. Not only are they sustainable, but they also get the job done, regardless of your skin type.
The Face Halo Pro - Eco Friendly Makeup Remover rounds are tough enough to wipe away dirt and makeup but they’re also safe for sensitive skin, thanks to pH neutrality, making them a safe choice for everyone looking for a more conscious way to remove their makeup after a long day.
Want in on more clean and sustainable beauty? Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started with your own IPSY beauty subscription. Already an IPSY member? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and TikTok @IPSY.
Like this article? Share it with your friends by clicking the icons below!