As part of our beauty routine, we use many tools, most of which are made of plastic.
While makeup brushes and co. are a necessity, they can have a negative impact on our environment. As part of a sustainable beauty regime, you want to reduce this impact.
To help you with this, we’ll tell you all you need to know about switching to eco-friendly makeup tools.
How Conventional Makeup Tools Impact The Environment
Let’s start with the reasons why we need to switch in the first place. Because if we know what the problem is, we can find solutions.
There are three reasons why conventional makeup tools have a negative environmental impact:
- Materials they are made from
- Disposablility
- Packaging
Most Makeup Tools Are Made Of Plastic
It probably comes as no surprise that most of the tools we use with our makeup are made of plastic. Whether it’s a blending sponge or a makeup brush, they will be made of plastic.
While plastic is a hugely versatile and useful material, it poses huge challenges for our environment:
- Over 90% of the plastic produced is made from fossil fuels – and we know that we need to keep fossil fuels in the ground to avert a climate catastrophe. (Rayner 2020)
- Plastic production releases huge amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG) into our atmosphere – in 2019 it was responsible for 5.3% of total global GHG emissions (Karali et al., 2024)
- While most plastic can be technically recycled, the UK doesn’t have the facilities for many types, nor the capacity to manage the huge amounts of plastic waste – in 2024 only 10% of plastic waste was actually recycled in the UK
- Plastic can only be recycled 2 to 3 times before its quality is too low – so even recyclable plastic will quickly end up being waste
- Plastic can take hundreds of years to break down, during which time it releases toxic chemicals (Li et al., 2016) – this puts a lot of pressure on our environment, whether it breaks down in landfill or somewhere else due to littering
- Sheds microplastics when used, washed, or when it breaks down – these tiny particles are then ingested by wildlife (Baalkhuyur et al., 2018, Hernandez-Gonzales et al., 2018), Provencher et al., 2020)
Disposable Items Create Huge Amounts Of Waste
Many makeup tools we use come with the makeup we buy, such as brushes, powder puffs, mascara brushes, lipstick applicators, eyeliner brushes, eyeshadow applicators, etc.
When you’re finished with the makeup product, you throw away the tool because you get a new one with the new product.
Even if it’s perfectly usable, the way the beauty industry packages up their products, the tool becomes useless.
In 2024, UK households have thrown away a staggering 28 tonnes of waste, according to Waste Direct.
And it’s the same picture all over the world. We are basically drowning in waste. And with so much of our waste being plastic, the impact on the environment is huge.
Plastic Packaging Dominates
And plastic also features prominently when it comes to packaging, as many tools come encased in plastic.
And all too often, this plastic packaging isn’t even recyclable. So yet more waste that comes from our beauty routine.
Whether a tool comes in a plastic bag, a sturdy plastic casing, or a plastic box, it all ends up in landfill.
And when the items packaged like that are disposable or even single-use, the issues become even worse.
Reducing The Environmental Impact Of Makeup Tools
Now we’re aware of the problem, let’s look at the solution. And there are several things we can do to reduce the impact of our makeup tools:
- Use fewer tools – the fewer tools we use, the smaller the environmental impact
- Opt for reusable tools – anything you use for a long time has a smaller impact on our environment
If you want to create an eco-friendly beauty routine, it’s important that you look closely at the products, tools, and accessories you use.
Before we can look at switching to sustainable tools, we first have to decide which ones we actually need.
When you look at makeup brushes, you will find a wide range of different types for different uses. But are they really all necessary?
The beauty industry is very good at convincing us that we need lots of products and tools to make ourselves look good.
But you don’t. I just used my fingers to apply liquid foundation for a long time. It worked just as well as with a blending sponge for me.
The same goes for blush. You can just use a finger to apply it to your cheeks.
I also only need one applicator for eyeshadow, even if I have different shades. I just make sure I wash it out gently after each use so that I can use it for any shade next time.
And the tools that you do need and use, make sure they are reusable for a long time. If you take care of a tool, such as a brush, you can use it for years.
Especially if you buy a good quality one. Yes, it will cost more, but if you don’t have to replace it for a long time, it will still be value for money.
The longer you use an item, the better it is for our environment.
Once you have decided which tools you absolutely need, it’s time to choose sustainable alternatives.
Choosing Eco-Friendly Makeup Tools
When it comes to choosing sustainable makeup tools, there are some criteria to follow:
- Buy from a company that focuses on sustainability within their niche
- Look for tools that are made of sustainable materials
- Look out for tools that come in zero-waste packaging
By following these three key factors, you will easily find makeup tools that are eco-friendly and help you make your makeup routine greener.
Why Who You Buy From Matters
Many companies have jumped on the green bandwagon. They have realised that many consumers care about the environment and look out for sustainable choices.
To cash in on these conscious consumers, they bring out eco-friendly ranges, while at the same time continuing to sell products that have a big environmental impact.
For example, a beauty brand that adds sustainable makeup brushes with bamboo handles to their range. But they continue to also sell ones with plastic handles.
This is a tactic that I would call greenwashing. Because they try to tell their consumers that they care about the environment, when really they only care about making more money.
By buying from such a business, you support them to continue to sell products that harm our environment.
So before you buy, check out who the seller is and what they’re about. You can read more about this in my article about finding eco-friendly cosmetics.
Look For More Sustainable Materials
We have seen the huge impact plastic has on our environment, so it’s vital to choose makeup tools that are made from sustainable materials.
There are several options:
- Wooden handles – bamboo is often seen as an eco-friendly material because it grows quickly and doesn’t need much care – but make sure the renewable bamboo used is FSC certified. This means it’s been grown and harvested responsibly without causing deforestation.
- Metal – metal, especially aluminium, can be recycled indefinitely and is easy to recycle. Most UK councils will accept metal in their recycling programmes.
- Compostable materials – sponges made from plant-based compostable materials will break down into soil in the right conditions, such as a compost heap.
- 100% post-consumer recycled plastic – plastic that has been made from plastic waste.
All of these sustainable materials are better than virgin plastic. The last one, recycled plastic, is better but not as good as the others, because the issue of disposal, and leakage of microplastics and toxic chemicals is still there.
True eco-friendly brands will give you a lot of information about the materials they use, how they source them, and how they are better for the environment.
So make sure to check out their website, so you can be sure that you are buying a makeup tool that is really sustainable.
A Word On Synthetic Bristles
In one respect, avoiding plastic is difficult, and that’s when it comes to the bristles of brushes. While animal hair brushes are available, they aren’t classed as vegan and cruelty-free makeup brushes.
But animal hair is also coarser and more likely to harbour bacteria. As such, they aren’t really that suitable for applying makeup.
This means synthetic bristles are the only option for the time being. It’s not ideal, because nylon bristles can’t be recycled and are made from fossil fuels.
So here we have to accept plastic until science finds a better solution that is less harmful to our environment.
Zero-Waste Packaging Is The Gold Standard
In an ideal world, you only buy products that have zero-waste packaging. This means it can either be recycled, reused, or composted, but doesn’t end up in landfill.
Ideally, the packaging material itself is made from recycled materials, such as recycled cardboard.
It’s not always easy to find out what items are packaged in, especially if you buy online. So it’s worth doing a bit of digging before committing to buy.
While zero-waste is the ideal, any packaging that is made from recycled materials, even plastic, is better than material that has been newly produced.
One thing I learned during my search for eco-friendly makeup tools is that you can buy them, such as sustainable makeup brushes, cheaply on online sites such as Amazon.
That’s great, but often they are sold by faceless Chinese companies that don’t sell them because they are eco-friendly. There are two issues here: first, they aren’t really interested in sustainability. And finding out about them is tricky, to say the least.
Often, their sustainable makeup brushes and tools come in plastic packaging, because they aren’t eco-friendly companies.
The second issue is that these tools come all the way from China, which means the transport emissions will be high.
For these reasons, it’s much better to buy from companies that take sustainability seriously and are also closer to home, ideally the UK, or alternatively Europe. Only then can you find out more about the packaging they use and expect sustainable packaging.
Recommended Eco-Friendly Makeup Tools
To make it easier for you to choose sustainable makeup tools, we have done the legwork for you and put together a list of eco-friendly brands you can choose from.
Flawless
This UK company is based in Wales and its focus is on creating cruelty-free, vegan, and sustainable cosmetic products.
They only use natural ingredients for their cosmetics and their makeup tools are made with sustainable materials. They want to be part of the solution, with their plastic-free, zero-waste ethos.
That’s exactly what we want to see, and Flawless are the kind of homegrown small business we want to support here at EcoHomeLife.
Their sustainable makeup brushes are made from sustainably sourced bamboo, recycled aluminium and nylon bristles. As we have already said, at the moment, there isn’t really a sustainable alternative to plastic bristles.
The bamboo is compostable as it’s wood, and the aluminium can be recycled again.
And we hope that they will be able to find a solution to replace the nylon bristles with an eco-friendly alternative at some point.
They make all their products by hand at their premises in Wales, which is great because it means they have a low carbon footprint. But it also ensures the highest quality.
Their brushes can be used to apply powder makeup and liquid makeup, so you should find a tool for most, if not all, your makeup needs.
Check out their sustainable makeup brushes and see if they are a fit for your needs.
BristolMade
As the name says, this small business is based in Bristol. The founder started the business because she couldn’t find skincare that didn’t contain harsh and harmful chemicals.
All their products are made in Bristol, and their sustainable makeup brushes are made from eco-friendly materials. Bamboo handles, which are compostable, with aluminium ferrules, which are recyclable.
As they are vegan brushes, the bristles are made of nylon.
The packaging is designed to be zero-waste and plastic-free too, which is perfect.
One slight downside is that they only sell their bamboo makeup brushes in a set of 10. That’s fine if you need them all, but for me, makeup brush sets aren’t really worth it. Because I don’t need that many.
But one of BristolMade’s tools I have fallen in love with is their konjac cleansing sponge. It’s 100% natural and plastic-free as it’s made from the konjac plant root.
You can use it to clean your face on a daily basis, as well as to remove makeup. I just love it.
Check out their sustainable makeup brush set and konjac sponge. They might be the makeup tools you need.
Hurtig Lane
This company is based in Spain, and was founded to provide high-quality vegan watches. But they have extended their range and now also make sustainable makeup brushes.
For Hurtig Lane, vegan doesn’t just mean not to eat or use animal products. It also means to help animals and the environment.
They only use sustainable materials and create products that are designed to last. No disposable items in sight.
Their vegan brushes are made from ethically sourced bamboo, sustainable wood, recycled aluminium, and cruelty-free nylon bristles.
They have a huge range, and sell makeup brush sets as well as individual brushes. They can be used to apply any kind of makeup.
It’s not entirely clear where they make their makeup brushes, but I suspect they are made in China, like their watches.
While this isn’t ideal, they seem to ensure their manufacturers operate ethically and adhere to the same values as they do. This is better than most companies.
Check if Hurtig Lane makeup brushes might be the ones for you.
Zao Essence Of Nature
Another European company, based in France. They make all their products in France, while their bamboo reusable packaging is made in China.
Given that bamboo grows mostly in Asia, this isn’t surprising. And whether just the bamboo or the finished reusable packaging is shipped over doesn’t really make a difference.
It’s difficult to get bamboo from anywhere else. Zao has chosen bamboo because it regenerates in 4 to 5 years, which is much quicker than trees, which need several decades.
Their makeup brushes are made of bamboo, recycled aluminium, and nylon.
Zao does use plastic in their packaging, but minimise their use of this material as much as possible. They also use 30% recycled plastic.
While they say their refills, which are mostly made of plastic, are recyclable, it’s not clear if this means you can put it in your recycling bin at home.
It’s best to check with your local council to make sure.
They offer a good range of makeup brushes, which can be used for applying any kind of makeup.
Zao also makes cosmetics, for which they only use 100% natural ingredients, which is great for the environment.
Check if Zao has the eco-friendly makeup tools that work for you.
Want more information about sustainable makeup? EcoHomeLife has you covered with these helpful and informative articles:
