Your skincare routine has an environmental impact. From packing to ingredients, what products you purchase can influence your carbon footprint and the planet. Here are five skincare brands with a sustainable mission to improve your skin and the environment.
Facetheory is based in the UK but ships worldwide. They offer concentrated yet affordable products to target any skin concern. On their website, you can build a personalized regime based on your personal skincare goals, whether you have dry, combination, oily or sensitive skin.
At Facetheory, one of their core missions is to support healthy skin without exploiting animals or the planet. They are Leaping Bunny and PETA certified, and all of their products are offered in glass jars with aluminum covers or 100% aluminum tubes to fight plastic pollution and make recycling your empty containers a breeze.
The founder of Earth Harbor, Ali Perry-Hatch, created the brand to improve the skincare market with products that are free from synthetic ingredients, GMOs, gluten, soy, toxins, fillers, chemical additives, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, phenoxyethanol, dimethicone, emulsifying wax, nanoparticles, mineral oils, petroleum, and all 1,300+ banned ingredients in the European Union.
Earth Harbor holds an impressive list of sustainable credentials. Of their 15+ certifications, Earth Harbor is a 1% For The Planet® partner, Carbon Neutral Certified (Climate Neutral®), Plastic Negative (RePurpose Global®), EU Certified, ISO Good Manufacturing Practices Certified, a Pact Collective member, Forest Stewardship Council® Member, Leaping Bunny® Certified, and Nontoxic (Think Dirty®) Certified.
They source their packaging from local suppliers and use recycled materials whenever available to reduce their waste from production to distribution.
Based out of California, Activist sources their packaging and ingredients from other sustainable businesses. Their skincare line is completely vegan and cruelty-free. What makes Activist unique is they offer refill packages for many of their products to reduce waste and help consumers pay for only what they need. Their products are also handcrafted in small batches by the founder.
Activist also donates 1% of sales to environmental advocacy, supporting nonprofits including Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Rainforest Trust, Outdoor Afro, Changing Tides Foundation, Communities for a Better Environment, Cultural Survival, and more.
ILia is a cosmetics brand specializing in good-for-you cosmetics and skincare. Their products are low-tox options for those looking to rid their routines of harsh chemicals and additives.
ILia uses recycled components in its packaging, like aluminum, recycled paper, and glass. The brand is a 1% for The Planet contributor and partners with One Tree Planted, with a goal of planting one million trees by 2023. In 2022, Ilia will focus on reforestation projects in Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador to help combat climate change.
ILia also partners with the TerraCycle recycling program to process hard-to-recycle cosmetic
Founded in 1996, OSEA is a women-owned and operated skincare line specializing in rejuvenating and reviving skincare ingredients with the ocean in mind. Many products use sustainable seaweed extracts packed with antioxidants.
As OSEA, sustainable and recyclable glass packaging and carbon neutral shipping are standard practices. The company also offsets any additional carbon emissions of production and distribution by donating to organizations and programs eliminating carbon emissions, like reforestation projects.
OSEA and its staff also lobby for regulations to protect consumers from toxic skin care and cosmetic ingredients. In 2004, they became the first company to sign The Compact for Global Production of Safe Health and Beauty Products, an initiative from the Environmental Working Group to ensure products are free of chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer and other health ailments.
Key Takeaways
The cosmetics and skin care products you purchase have a direct impact on the environment, from ingredients to production and during disposal.
Supporting sustainable brands that partner with environmental organizations can help combat climate change and plastic pollution.
Certifications like Carbon Neutral®, Plastic Negative (RePurpose Global®), EU Certified, ISO Good Manufacturing Practices Certified, are a good ways to tell if a brand has sustainable ingredients.
Your skincare routine has an environmental impact. From packing to ingredients, what products you purchase can influence your carbon footprint and the planet. Here are five skincare brands with a sustainable mission to improve your skin and the environment.
Your skincare routine has an environmental impact. From packing to ingredients, what products you purchase can influence your carbon footprint and the planet. Here are five skincare brands with a sustainable mission to improve your skin and the environment.
Facetheory is based in the UK but ships worldwide. They offer concentrated yet affordable products to target any skin concern. On their website, you can build a personalized regime based on your personal skincare goals, whether you have dry, combination, oily or sensitive skin.
At Facetheory, one of their core missions is to support healthy skin without exploiting animals or the planet. They are Leaping Bunny and PETA certified, and all of their products are offered in glass jars with aluminum covers or 100% aluminum tubes to fight plastic pollution and make recycling your empty containers a breeze.
The founder of Earth Harbor, Ali Perry-Hatch, created the brand to improve the skincare market with products that are free from synthetic ingredients, GMOs, gluten, soy, toxins, fillers, chemical additives, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, phenoxyethanol, dimethicone, emulsifying wax, nanoparticles, mineral oils, petroleum, and all 1,300+ banned ingredients in the European Union.
Earth Harbor holds an impressive list of sustainable credentials. Of their 15+ certifications, Earth Harbor is a 1% For The Planet® partner, Carbon Neutral Certified (Climate Neutral®), Plastic Negative (RePurpose Global®), EU Certified, ISO Good Manufacturing Practices Certified, a Pact Collective member, Forest Stewardship Council® Member, Leaping Bunny® Certified, and Nontoxic (Think Dirty®) Certified.
They source their packaging from local suppliers and use recycled materials whenever available to reduce their waste from production to distribution.
Based out of California, Activist sources their packaging and ingredients from other sustainable businesses. Their skincare line is completely vegan and cruelty-free. What makes Activist unique is they offer refill packages for many of their products to reduce waste and help consumers pay for only what they need. Their products are also handcrafted in small batches by the founder.
Activist also donates 1% of sales to environmental advocacy, supporting nonprofits including Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Rainforest Trust, Outdoor Afro, Changing Tides Foundation, Communities for a Better Environment, Cultural Survival, and more.
ILia is a cosmetics brand specializing in good-for-you cosmetics and skincare. Their products are low-tox options for those looking to rid their routines of harsh chemicals and additives.
ILia uses recycled components in its packaging, like aluminum, recycled paper, and glass. The brand is a 1% for The Planet contributor and partners with One Tree Planted, with a goal of planting one million trees by 2023. In 2022, Ilia will focus on reforestation projects in Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador to help combat climate change.
ILia also partners with the TerraCycle recycling program to process hard-to-recycle cosmetic
Founded in 1996, OSEA is a women-owned and operated skincare line specializing in rejuvenating and reviving skincare ingredients with the ocean in mind. Many products use sustainable seaweed extracts packed with antioxidants.
As OSEA, sustainable and recyclable glass packaging and carbon neutral shipping are standard practices. The company also offsets any additional carbon emissions of production and distribution by donating to organizations and programs eliminating carbon emissions, like reforestation projects.
OSEA and its staff also lobby for regulations to protect consumers from toxic skin care and cosmetic ingredients. In 2004, they became the first company to sign The Compact for Global Production of Safe Health and Beauty Products, an initiative from the Environmental Working Group to ensure products are free of chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer and other health ailments.
Key Takeaways
The cosmetics and skin care products you purchase have a direct impact on the environment, from ingredients to production and during disposal.
Supporting sustainable brands that partner with environmental organizations can help combat climate change and plastic pollution.
Certifications like Carbon Neutral®), Plastic Negative (RePurpose Global®), EU Certified, ISO Good Manufacturing Practices Certified, are a good ways to tell if a brand has sustainable ingredients.