Beauty and the Beach I
Beauty / Society

10 sustainable beauty brands loved by the experts

By Esteban G Villanueva

Photo: Hasse Nielsen

From skincare to make up, below are 10 clean beauty brands approved by professional makeup artists

Sustainability and ‘being green’ have never been as central in conversation as they are now. Throughout all industries, the hunt for a greener, more eco-friendly approach has permeated the corporate actions, goals and visions — beauty being one of the industries to embrace the new green mantra.

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To become more sustainable, the beauty industry has to band together and work towards a better collective future. One of the most effective ways to do so as a consumer? To support and uplift brands that are properly succeeding in matters of being green.

Why is it important to seek sustainable beauty brands?

Crystabel Riley, a pro-makeup artist and clean beauty advocate, explains the integrality of what being sustainable means in the beauty industry and why this is relevant to consumers. “Beauty is a luxury, and part of that is knowing that you are using brands that focus on their impact on the planet and its people,” she says. This includes transparency in the sourcing of ingredients, the communities involved in creating the product, the way materials are cut, extracted and processed, packaging specification, and even the deconstruction of said packaging. “The very core of beauty has to happen with a consciousness of these elements. Otherwise, it’s not that beautiful,” Riley adds.

What is the best way to find sustainable beauty brands?

The key lies in buying local. One of the biggest detractors for customers regarding eco-conscious consumption is availability. There is a misconception that it’s hard to find sustainable products to purchase. This is not necessarily true. “I think every region has its own brands that might be unique to the locality, I have various brands I love globally, but it is worth seeing what is local to where you are, and if you can encourage any brands to provide this service,” adds Riley.

That being said, here are to beauty brands that Riley urges everybody to try today.

1

Axiology

Founded in 2013, Axiology's main product centres around pigmented crayons called Balmies. Completely zero-waste, they range in colour and finish suited for every need. They are also vegan, never tested on animals and sport a palm oil-free formula.

2

Haekles

With all its products based on seaweed, Heckles — started in 2012 — is a brand driven by its mission to aid in the waste issue within the beauty industry. Through reusable and compostable packaging, they offer high-quality products that are up to standards with the best products on the market.

3

Bybi

Born in 2017 and mainly focused on producing skincare with the lowest possible environmental footprint, Bybi created the world’s first carbon-negative skincare product: Glowcurrant Booster. This facial oil brightens, nourishes, and moisturises the skin.

4

Wild Seed Botanicals

Founded in London but has its roots in holistic African traditions. Their philosophy is that nature has the power to heal, nourish and restore. Consequently, they move away from mainstream products containing synthetics and fillers and use organic cold-pressed and steam distilled carrier oils, butters and botanical herbs to create products.

5

Upcircle

Created in 2016 by siblings Anna and William Brightman, Upcircle focuses on creating simple, gender-neutral, body-positive and diverse products based on fully organic raw ingredients.

6

Manasi 7

Manasi 7 is a Swedish brand founded in 2018. They use raw material, preservatives extracted from minerals, wild plants and flowers to create multi-purpose products that focus on pigment and usability. With sustainability as their core value, they offer a timeless approach to Nordic beauty.

7

Madara

Founded in 2006 by four Latvian women, Madara creates beauty products with cutting-edge technology and formulations. Nature is used as a source of ingredients with mushrooms, aromatic herbs and berry seeds commonly found in their formulas.

8

Weleda

Centenary brand Weleda, founded in 1921, has had sustainability and product effectiveness as its core values since the beginning of time. With healing herbs and natural oils at their centre, they've positioned themselves as a well-known classic that makes eco-friendly and biodynamic cultivations available in beauty for everyone.

9

R&R Luxury

With shea butter as their prima-ballerina, R&R is a natural, plant-based skincare brand from Africa, founded on the philosophy of transforming natural products and resources into elegant beauty products that moisturise and renew the skin.

10

Absolution

Former creative director Isabella Carron identified a lack in the market for a beauty brand that would break with conventional codes of what is expected aesthetically of skincare products. That is why she founded Absolution. The brand now makes products from organic or wild-plant extracts, minerals and vitamins, keeping natural ingredients as a core in their formula.