Best Zero Waste Makeup for Eco-Conscious Women

If you are anything like most women, your travel makeup bag likely represents only a small percentage of your makeup collection at home. Packing light is a great practice, but do you also consider how eco-friendly your travel makeup really is? 

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For the longest time, I didn’t. But now I have the power to do it! Thanks to the Skin Helpers for letting me know that there is a natural pill supplement like Acnetame to treat my acne.

In an attempt to eliminate harmful ingredients such as parabens, sulphates and phthalates, I have eliminated a lot of traditional makeup from my kitI’ve transitioned almost entirely to natural makeup and chemical-free toiletries. 

But it was only recently that I started to pay attention to the packaging that my makeup came in. Much of it was plastic that I hated chucking in the bin every couple of months. 

Each year, billions of plastic cosmetic packages are produced and only about 30% of plastic packaging is recycled. This leaves the rest to end up in landfills. By using zero waste makeup from eco-friendly brands, it’s possible to improve this statistic!

 

So I set off on a new mission: to transition the contents of my makeup bag to zero waste beauty brands.

Best Zero Waste Makeup

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Looking to make the switch to eco-friendly, zero waste makeup but don’t know where to begin? This list features some great brands that are good for both your skin and the planet.

Axiology

Axiology is a brand that specializes in one thing and one thing only – lipsticks! It’s the only 100% evil-free lipstick brand on the market and a great addition to your zero waste makeup kit.

Zero Waste make up Axiology lipstick

Axiology products come in two formats – lipsticks and lip crayons. One of the most striking things about Axiology is that their lipsticks only have 10 ingredients. They are cruelty-free, palm oil-free, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and never tested on animals

One of my favourite things about their lipsticks is that they do not have that toxic lipstick smell. Instead, their lipsticks use sweet orange essential oil for fragrance. Yum!

Lipsticks and crayons come in a variety of colours and opacities, ranging from sheer balms to rich creamy bold tints. What’s more, their lip crayons are in fully zero waste packaging. They’re completely plastic-free with recycled paper and compostable outer packaging. No cruelty-free makeup kit is complete without a tube (or crayon) of this eco lipstick!

Bee You Organics

The founder of Bee You Organics, Larissa, was inspired to create the range after being hit by a drunk drinker in her youth. The incident left her with permanent scars and few places to turn for makeup that aligned with her sustainable values and worked for women like her. So, she decided to make her own.

Bee You Organic products are zero waste and formulated to improve skin tone and texture over time so less makeup is needed in the long run. They don’t use any GMOs, alcohols, or preservatives of any kind and state their ingredients plainly on their website. On top of that, they are 100% carbon neutral, offer plastic-free shipping, and plant a tree for every order!

Bee You Organics make up zero waste 09999

Bee You Organics offer a wide range of makeup including BB Cream, blush, lipstick, mascara, powder, sunscreen, and more. Plus, many of their products come in reusable metal tins so you can rejoice for plastic-free packaging! 

Keep in mind, if you are going to order their zero waste BB Cream, go one shade darker than normal. Due to the ocean and coral reef safe zinc in it, it has a lighter cast. With its natural formula and non plastic packaging, it’s a great addition to your waste-free makeup kit!

Elate Beauty

One of the eco-friendly makeup brands at the forefront of the industry is Elate Beauty. They sell extremely high-quality products in sustainable bamboo containers that are plastic-free. Their products are vegan, organic, and cruelty-free. Their best sellers include eye shadows, brow balms, lipsticks, and foundation.

Zero-waste makeup : Elate Cosmetics
Elate Cosmetics. Photo via Elate Facebook by @sprigflowerco

From production to arriving at your door, Elate’s entire process is thoughtful and intentional. Many of their products can be refilled so even plastic bottles can be continuously used and saved from the landfill. Better still, their refills come in seed paper so you can actually plant your packaging once you’ve refilled! This contributes beautifully to a zero waste lifestyle through a closed loop system.

Elate empowers women to make beauty a conscious ritual instead of a mindless daily routine. They have a concept called “capsules,” in which they encourage consumers to buy less and instead make thoughtful, deliberate decisions about what they use for beauty products. We love that!

Dab Herb Makeup

Dab Herb Makeup is a completely vegan makeup brand that is organic, plant-based, and food-grade. This is another great zero waste makeup brand that offers metal, glass, or paper packaging for all of their products. Some of their most popular products include face luminizereyebrow grower with tint, cheek stain, and face powder. 

DAB Herb Make up 09979

All the products in the DabHerbMakeup shop are handmade from scratch using only the best ingredients. Their line of vegan zero waste makeup is fair trade, cruelty-free, fully sustainable, and excellent for your skin. One of my favourite things about Dab Herb Make up is the wonderful smell – flowery and natural. 

Orders from Dab are shipped in compostable packaging and are conducive to any plastic-free life. Their formulas avoid mineral oils and focus on plant-based organic ingredients that you’ll love.

READ NEXT: 10 Best Organic Tea Brands That You Need to Know About

Antonym Cosmetics

If you’re looking for a brand of high-performance makeup that is still eco-conscious, then look no further than Antonym Cosmetics. Like other certified organic makeup brands, Antonym aims to bridge the gap between weak-coloured eco-friendly makeup and cheap but bold non-sustainable brands. Their high sellers include silky liquid foundation and shimmery highlighting blush.

They boast a whole range of sustainable certifications including Ecocert, FSC, Leaping Bunny, and a vegan certification from Vegan.org. They’re a bit on the pricier side, but that is a reflection of the quality of the ingredients that they use. Antonym believes that sustainability and luxe can go hand-in-hand and that’s evident through their superior ingredients and eco-friendly makeup packaging.

RMS Beauty

RMS Beauty is an all-natural skincare company that uses strictly organic ingredients. The founder created RMS with the mission of creating clean, healthy, and environmentally friendly makeup after dealing with health problems related to chemicals found in off-the-shelf beauty products. 

Of all the companies on this list, RMS Beauty has the largest selection of eco-friendly beauty products. They sell everything from powders to creams to mascara to lip tints.

The key difference with this natural makeup lies within the raw ingredients that go into it. Everything is made from unprocessed food-grade ingredients that are meant to nourish and rejuvenate your skin in their purest form. This is no waste makeup at its best!

Fat and the Moon

Self-described as “herbal potions,” the products from Fat and the Moon are some of the best zero waste makeup and skin care products out there. They specialize in plastic-free cosmetics for those looking for more natural, herbal options for their skin care. 

The company aims to reduce its waste in every way possible and uses a combination of healthy fats, organic oils, and herbs in their “potions.” These ingredients and plant oils are all ethically harvested and cultivated, aiming to nourish and celebrate your skin. Plus, they prioritize reusable and recyclable packaging to reduce waste and let their amazing products shine through.

Fat and the Moon makes everything from shampoo bars to deodorant pastes to body creams. In addition, they sell unique and quirky makeup products such as eye coals, lip paints, and tinted lip balm. They’re forging the way for natural, yet fun waste-free beauty products.

Eminence Organics

One of my favourite low waste makeup brands for clean-faced cosmetics is Eminence Organics out of Hungary. They’ve been proudly creating cruelty-free makeup and skincare from natural ingredients since 1958—long before zero waste living became mainstream.

Ecological Cosmetics: Eminence Organics
Photo courtesy of Eminence Organics Skin Care Facebook Page

Eminence embodies what ethical makeup is all about. They use sustainable farming and organic practices to produce environmentally friendly beauty products that look and feel amazing. Even their plastic-free packaging is made from recycled materials aimed to reduce waste and carbon emissions.

Their product offering ranges from mineral powders to herbal makeup remover, with everything in between. And the best part is that they plant a tree for every product sold through their Forests for the Future program. Adding Eminence Organics to your list of zero waste makeup options is a no brainer!

The Ordinary

Born from a desire for more transparency in the beauty industry, DECIEM’s line, The Ordinary, is a great addition to any zero waste lifestyle. Their products are vegan and cruelty-free and don’t contain any harmful sulphates or parabens.

Waste-Free Cosmetics: The Ordinary

The Ordinary makes a mean liquid foundation that’s super lightweight and is packed in glass bottles. Through their recycling program, you can bring back your empty containers and the store will properly recycle them. In fact, they’re so committed to zero waste solutions that you can even bring back other brands’ product packaging too.

All of The Ordinary’s eco make up goes great with their extensive line of skin and hair care. And the best part? It’s the most affordable organic makeup around so you won’t need to break the bank transitioning to low waste makeup.

The Best Zero Waste Makeup Brushes

Elate has a number of makeup brushes and beauty tools for sale on their website. Each of their brushes is made with sustainable bamboo and vegan fibres.

Similarly, Kjaer Weis has a luxe line of vegan, dermatologically tested makeup brushes that are great for sensitive skin. They’re completely cruelty-free and made from hypoallergenic fibres that don’t compromise quality.

In addition, these makeup brushes from EcoTools are a great affordable option. They’re made from cruelty-free materials, including recycled aluminum, cotton, and bamboo.

Eco tools DAB powder make up 09992
Ecotools brush

Getting started using zero waste makeup for travel doesn’t have to be hard. By investing a little bit more money into your beauty products, you can feel secure knowing you’re using products that are safe and healthy for both yourself and the earth.

Do you use zero waste makeup? What’s your favourite brand of zero waste makeup products?

 

Read Next: Best Zero Waste Shampoo & Conditioner Bars

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