Many of us use a wide range of beauty products regularly. But because the conventional products we use have a negative impact on our environment, it’s time to look for eco-friendly alternatives.
I’ve done quite a bit of research into makeup’s environmental impact and what sustainable cosmetics looks like. Armed with this knowledge, I set about finding eco-friendly alternatives.
It’s fair to say that it’s not that easy to find truly eco-friendly makeup, unlike with other products, such as shampoo bars. But it’s out there.
And in this article, I have compiled a list of the best eco-friendly makeup in the UK I found, so all you have to do is choose the one for you.
Best Truly Sustainable Makeup In The UK
| Products | Makeup Type | Coverage | Value For Money | My Rating | Full Review | Official Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mineral Powder | Outstanding | Excellent | 4.85 | Read Review | Visit Website |
 | Mineral Powder And Liquid | Outstanding | Great | 4.8 | Read Review | Visit Website |
 | Mineral Powder And Liquid | Excellent | Great | 4.7 | Read Review | Visit Website |
What Is Truly Eco-Friendly Makeup
But first, let’s quickly look at what green makeup looks like and what to look for. There are three reasons why conventional makeup is bad for the environment: ingredients, packaging, and application and removal.
The issue with the ingredients is that they are predominately synthetic ingredients, which are often made from petrochemicals, i.e. fossil fuels, and are harmful to our environment.
So a truly eco-friendy makeup doesn’t use these, instead it uses natural ingredients. When it comes to makeup, this means mineral makeup or cosmetics that use non-artificial ingredients.
One of the benefits of mineral makeup, is that it comes in the form of powder, which means no preservatives or other inactive ingredients (cosmetic ingredients that you should avoid) are needed. This isn’t just better for the envirnoment, but also your skin.
Plastic-Free Packaging
Plastic packaing is another reason, why conventional makeup has a negative impact on our environment. From they way it’s produced, from fossil fuels, to it’s disposal, it’s a hazard for our planet.
As it breaks down it releases toxic chemicals and microplastics. So plastic-free packaging is a must for any eco-friendly makeup alternative.
Ideally, you want makeup that can be bought as refills. This means you by a container once, which you then uses again and again. The refills should come in plastic-free and zero-waste packaging.
Disposable No More
Often when you buy makeup, you also get a tool to apply it, like a brush. The issue is that once the makeup is empty, the container and application tool is no longer useful and gets thrown away.
This creates a lot of waste, which is bad news for the environment. Especially, because many of those tools are made of plastic.
So truly eco-friendly makeup shouldn’t come with disposable application accessories. Use sustainable makeup tools that you can reuse over and over again.
Knowing all this, we can now look at sustainable cosmetics brands that fulfill all these criteria and deliver truly eco-friendly makeup.
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The Best Eco-Friendly Makeup In The UK
The products we have listed below will either be made in the UK or in Europe, but no further afield. That’s because we believe that shipping any product from the other side of the planet isn’t sustainable, if you can get it closer to home.
Further more, all the brands we recommend have sustainability at the heart of what they do, so you can be sure that by using their products, you can live a more sustainable life without having to compromise.
Apart from the sustainability aspect, we also looked at performance and result and value for money, among other criteria. So let’s get started…
#1: Love The Planet Mineral Makeup (Our Rateing: 4.85/5)
This UK-based cosmetics brand is purely focussing on mineral makeup in powder form. Their aim was to create zero-waste mineral makeup that is better for the planet.
And they have succeeded. Their makeup comes in resusable aluminium tins, which you keep and refill. Their refills come in compostable pouches. So there is no waste at all, an no plastic in sight.
Love The Planet also makes all their products in the UK and they have created a sustainable supply chain, including for the Mica they use.
Long Lasting Performance
I have tried their blusher and eyeshadow and I’m really impressed. A little goes a long way and it has true staying powder. Even in hot and humid weather during our holidays, the makeup stayed on and looked as in the evening as it did just after I put it on.
You can easily build both the blusher and the eyeshadow up to the level of coverage you want. A very small amount is ideal for light coverage for my day makeup. If I go out on an evening, I can use a bit more to get the perfect night-out look.
Another bonus: because you don’t need much, the makeup will last longer, saving you money. What’s not to like?
Ideal For Sensitive Skin
One thing I love about the Love The Planet makeup is that it’s pure mineral makeup, which means it doesn’t contain any preservaties or ather additives. This means it’s ideal for my sensitive skin.
I have to be very careful what I put on my face. Most products will irritate my skin, making it red, dry, and feeling uncomfortable. Not so this makeup.
Even after wearing it all day, my skin isn’t dry, which is a game changer for me. If you, too, have sensitive skin, give this makeup a go, you won’t be disappointed.
Read my full Love The Planet mineral makeup review to see what else I loved about it and if there are any drawbacks.
#2: Zao Makeup (Our Rating: 4.8/5)
Zao is a slightly different proposition. This French company was created to be a makeup brand focussed on sustainability. All their products are produced in Europe, which is not as good as the UK, but still means you can lower your carbon footprint if you use them.
While they do have some mineral makeup products, they also sell non-powder products, such as mascara, lipstick, eyeliner, and nail polish. As such they have quite a good product range.
But what sets them apart from other conventional brands is that they only use natural ingredients and sell refills. They have designed various bamaboo containers for their different makeup products.
While they have eliminated plastic as much as possible, some of their refills do still come in plastic packaging. And while they say it’s recyclable, I’m not sure it is here in the UK. France recycles so many more plastic items than we do here in the UK.
Good Coverage That Lasts
I’ve tested their aloe vera mascara and I’m impressed. Despite it not being waterproof, as this isn’t easy to achieve with natural ingredients, it lasts all day. The odd small black smudge might appear, but I had the same with my waterproof mascar from L’Oréal.
They’re easy enough to wipe away and the main bulk of the mascara stays put all day. The coverage is also impressive. With only one stroke my full lashes were covered lightly, ideal for day-makeup.
If you want more for a night out, you can build on it, without it clumping or feeling heavy. It’s amazing how light this mascars is, even when built up.
No Eyemakeup Remover Needed
One thing I love is that you don’t need special eyemakeup remover. As it’s not waterproof, the mascara is easily removed with a face cleanser. That’s great because it saves money and is better for the planet.
I just use my face cleanser, which is especially for sensitive skin, rub my closed eyes with it and wash it away. It’s that simple.
Find out more about this sustainable makeup brand in my full Zao makeup review.
#3: All Earth Mineral Cosmetics (Our Rating: 4.7/5)
The next sustainable cosmetic brand on my list of the best eco-friendly makeup in the UK is All Earth Mineral Cosmetics. This UK-based company has been founded by a makeup artist who believed that cosmetics don’t have to contain harmful synthetic ingredients.
Because she couldn’t find the kind of makeup she wanted to use on her clients, she decided to make her own. Keeping with sustainability, she also designed a pot for life for her mineral powder makeup with handy sifter.
It’s made from old fishing nets removed from the sea on the Cornwall cost, keeping it from harming aquatic life. And the sifter is so useful, making using the powder makeup much less messy.
So Light You Don’t Notice You Wear It
I tried the All Earth Mineral Cosmetics powder foundation. They offer sample sizes, so you can find the right shade for you, which I found very useful.
Two things struck me after using it for the first time. First, how good the coverage was, even with a small amount. The mineral foundation covered the red patches on my skin with only a thin layer so they very much less visible.
And if I wanted to cover them up completely, I can build it up to the desired coverage, which is just great. Secondly, how light the foundation was. The old foundation I used, which was liquid, always felt like my face was plastered. But this powder foundation I hardly noticed, so light is it.
No Irritation Or Redness
Other foundations I used left my skin dry, red and often irritated. But this foundation is different. My skin feels and looks comfortable, even when I have been wearing the foundation all day.
This is down to the natural ingredients, and even more so, the lack of any inactive ingredients, such as preservatives or synthetic fragrances, often responsible for skin irritation.
All of their mineral powder makeup is ideal for people with sensitive skin like mine, so I can recommend it to anyone looking for makeup that is kind their skin and the planet.
Read my full All Earth Mineral Cosmetics review to find our more.
Truly Eco-Friendly Makeup Isn’t Easy To Find
When I was researching to fin the best eco-friendly makeup in the UK, I realised that there aren’t that many option around.
Partly that’s because I have very high standards and will only put cosmetics brand on my list that have sustainabilty as part of their buisness model. So you won’t find an eco range from a big brand or brands that might sell mineral makeup, but don’t have sustainability at the hear of what they do.
I strongly believe that we have to support businesses who want to do the right thing for the planet. Because if they succeed, our envrionment will too.
I will continue to look other sustainable makeup brands that I can add to this lit. In the meantime, give the ones I have already found a go and turn your beauty routine green.
Top 3 Eco-Friendly Makeup Picks
| Products | Makeup Type | Coverage | Value For Money | My Rating | Full Review | Official Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral Powder | Outstanding | Excellent | 4.85 | Read Review | Visit Website |
| Mineral Powder And Liquid | Outstanding | Great | 4.8 | Read Review | Visit Website |
| Mineral Powder And Liquid | Excellent | Great | 4.7 | Read Review | Visit Website |
