When it comes to overhauling your beauty routine, it turns out that you don’t have to choose between luxury products and helping the planet. Jenna Farmer rounds up some of her favourite luxury beauty brands that has sustainability at their core.
1. Skin Bureaux
This targeted CBD skincare brand is a capsule collection of just five products, all with sustainability at the forefront. The luxury brand adheres to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) standards which guarantees the business’ ‘green’ impact; whilst all products are vegan, palm free, responsibility sourced and made in the UK.
Hero product: Rescue & Relieve Probiotic Moisturiser, £114
Struggling with tired, red and generally stressed-out skin? Enter Skin Bureaux’s rescue and relieve moisturiser, which contains anti-inflammatory CBD and CBG; hydrating hyaluronic acid and vitamin B and E. Serum-like in texture, it glides on silky smooth, instantly leaving our skin more hydrated and less red.
2. Green People
This organic skin care brand has been around for decades. With over 400 products, Green People use organic ingredients, partner with 40 charities and have won over 200 awards.
Hero product: Moisturing After Sun with Insect Repellent, £16
Green People’s new after sun is perfect for popping in your suitcase this summer. It’s deet free but instead uses natural insect repellent (from lemon eucalyptus) to keep mosquitos away. As well as hydrating, this lotion instantly cools tired sun-exposed skin, helping fade redness (thanks to chamomile). and prevent dryness. Suitable for both face and body, the product is of course planet friendly too-with the tube made from sugar cane plastic.
3. Made by Coopers
Made by Coopers is a modern apothecary brand crafting natural products to boost and balance mental and emotional wellbeing. Founder Clare created the brand after discovering essential oils in a bid to help her anxiety. Each product in the range uses nutrient rich essential oils and botanical ingredients; as being free from any sulfates, parabens and
artificial fragrances.
Hero product: Grapefruit Passion Cleansing Oil, £26
We’re obsessed with this cleanser for taking make-up away and leaving skin super refreshed and smooth. Containing organic grapefruit and passion flower oil, this cleanser smells incredible. Just add a few drops on to your hands and massage all over the face-leaving your skin feeling indulgently nourished. A little goes a long way.
4. SURI
Brush your teeth the sustainable way with SURI and their brand new sustainable sonic toothbrush. As well as delivering on the super stylish front, SURI (short for sustainable rituals) are a B Corp and are committed to solving an urgent problem-the fact that 4 billion toothbrushes are disposed of every single year.
Hero product: SURI Sustainable sonic toothbrush with UV Case, £95.00
SURI’s sustainable sonic toothbrush has been designed to last and, most importantly, avoid ending up in the ocean. The Morning Wave touch brush is designed with an aluminum body (that can be repaired not replaced) and a plant-based head (that is the elongated brush style of a regular toothbrush, rather than the circular style of most other electric toothbrushes). Everything about this toothbrush feels premium, from the minimalistic slate grey toothbrush (a far cry from the brash white ones on the high street) to the self-charging and self-cleaning UV case. It even sounds quieter than any we’ve tried before.
5. SBTRCT
SBTRCT is which is where luxury meet sustainable skincare. Recently certified B Corp and awarded the Vegan Trademark, SBTRCT is a luxury, zero-waste skincare brand developing solid alternatives to skincare fundamentals, with its current range including a solid Cleanser, Exfoliator, Moisturising Balm, Make-Up Melt, Retinoid and Vitamin C Serum, all of which are 100% plastic-free, palm oil-free and waterless, addressing the three biggest environmental challenges facing the industry.
SBTRCT is also the Best Zero Waste Beauty Brand, according to both the Marie Claire Sustainability Awards 2022, and the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2021, 2022 and 2023. It recently became the first solid skincare brand to launch into Harrods, followed with a launch into Sephora and other leading luxury retailers.
Hero product: The Double Cleanse Bundle, £58.
The Double Cleanse Bundle combines their Makeup Melt (to remove heavy coverage make-up) and Gentle Foaming Cleanser (for a luxury, deep cleanse). Both come with their bespoke dish made from a blend of diatomite, a form of fossilised algae, and plaster, absorbing any excess water and with mold resistant and anti-bacterial properties.
6. FUL
FUL products are all vegan and cruelty free and have been created with innovative and efficacious ingredients, from a plant derived alternative to keratin and prebiotics, to familiar actives hyaluronic acid and collagen, all housed in recyclable packaging.
Hero Product: FUL Intense Moisture Hair Mask, £32
A nourishing hair mask with a pH balanced formula means that it is optimised for ultimate hair hydration that you can both see and feel.
7. Neom Organics
B-Corp Neom Organics uses 100% natural fragrances, and are working towards all packaging being both recyclable and refillable. Known for their dreamy candles, Neom have also expanded skincare and beauty too.
Hero Product: Magnesium Bath Milks, £40
These newly launched bathmilks use NEOM’s fragrances (perfect night and really luxury) and combine magnesium (perfect for achy muscles) and organic oils, such as jojoba, argan and olive oil. A real bath of luxury.
8. Kear
All Kear’s products are multi-use, cutting down the need for a large amount of products and extra packaging, which is better for the environment. All Kear products come in glass packaging with a wooden lid and in a carton box that are fully recyclable. They are suitable for all ages, genders, and skin types and are free from synthetic chemicals, toxic preservatives, artificial fragrances, paraben, silicon, and petroleum and are never tested on animals.
Hero Product: Kear’s Antioxidant Face Balm, £75
The Antioxidant Face Balm has a potent concentration of superfruit seabuckthorn berry oil. It is designed to combat free radicals and slow down the aging process. Its powerful enzymes shield the skin from UV light exposure, pollution and toxicity. Corrective vitamins C and E stimulate collagen, promote hydration and reduce sun spots. Beeswax, a natural humectant, pulls moisture from the air and delivers it to your skin, while olive oil polyphenols provide the highest level of free radical absorption. Propolis contributes to a healthier, more vibrant complexion.
9. L’ORGANIQ
L’ORGANIQ is an award-winning, female founded British indie skincare brand. With the ethos ‘beautiful skin shouldn’t cost the earth’ all their products are vegan, sustainably packaged, and our formulations incorporate effective, botanically derived ingredients.
Hero product: Hyaluronic Acid Triple Fruit Serum, £27
We have a lot of good things to say about this award-winning and oil-free serum. It feels really luxurious and is packed full of good stuff: hyaluronic acid (which helps elasticity and moisture of skin), vitamin B5, and natural extracts such as cranberry, grapefruit, and raspberry. The serum is super rich and moisturising, we loved applying this after our cleanse under moisturiser. It really helped brighten dull, dry skin.
10. Inlight Beauty
Sustainability is at the heart of Inlight Beauty, being 100% organic across their entire range. COSMOS and Soil Association certified, their business only uses green energy. Water and synthetic-free, their products are effective without any nasties or using the precious resource of water. Their packaging is a mindful choice, with recyclable and mostly recycled materials used.
Hero product: Inlight Beauty Deep Moisture Balm, £64
The Inlight Beauty Deep Moisture Balm is a deeply moisturising and nourishing daytime balm formulated to intensively moisturise and repair the skin. Macadamia oil offers invaluable antioxidants in the form of Vitamins A & E and essential fatty acids. Evening primrose, rosehip and carrot oils bathe the skin in moisture and calendula, plantain and gotu kola promote elasticity and tone. The result – skin looks youthful, supple and healthy.
Jenna Farmer is a freelance journalist and blogger. She writes regularly for Top Sante, The Independent and Metro Online- as well as running her own blog A Balanced Belly about gluten-free, healthy travels and her pregnancy journey.
