8 ethical beauty brands to keep on your radar

It’s no secret that our love for beauty products is taking its toll on the planet, from the ingredients they contain, to the packaging they’re contained in. But that’s not to say that all brands are bad. In stark contrast, many of them are doing their utmost to reduce their impact on the environment, whilst offering us sustainable ways to take care of our skin and look our best. Here are eight of our favourite ethical beauty brands that truly care.

1. Upcircle

As big coffee lovers here at Veggie HQ, we often add used grounds into our home compost to enrich the soil, but unfortunately the majority of used grounds across the country go to waste. That's where Upcircle comes in. The brand saves used coffee grounds and chai tea spices from ending up in landfill by repurposing them as beauty products: after all, nature gave us wonderful ingredients that are great for our skin, so why waste them?! Aside from being 100% natural, vegan, cruelty-free, organic, and palm-oil-free, the products are handmade here in the UK, and come in 100% recyclable packaging.

2. Whitfords

Whitfords takes its impact seriously, and we love the brand all the more for it. Driven by compassion, the brand is aware of how its actions affect people elsewhere, as well as future generations. All of the ingredients in its skincare collection are cruelty-free and vegan, whilst the oils and butters used are purchased from cooperatives that help local people, particularly women. It’s not only about what’s in the products, but what they’re packaged in, too. Shunning plastic, Whitfords houses its goodies in fully reusable and recyclable aluminium jars. It also plants a tree for every product sold in an effort to offset its carbon footprint. So it's safe to say that every Whitfords item you purchase has a positive impact on people and the planet.

3. Love Beauty Planet

This company was established on the belief that looking good and doing good should go hand-in-hand – and we couldn't agree more! It may look like plastic, but the bottles are actually made from 100% recycled materials (with plans to tackle the caps next), so if you prefer bottles over bars, then this is the ideal option. But what's inside is equally as important! Each of the brand's skincare collections uses plant-based formulas that contain organic and sustainable ingredients sourced from around the world – even the fragrances are ethically sourced. The brand also works with sourcing partners that help promote fair wage jobs, and is working hard to reduce its carbon footprint at each stage of production.

4. Botanicals

Given its name, it's hardly surprising that this brand found inspiration in the English countryside where all of its products are made. Everything Botanicals creates is certified organic, vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and made in small batches from sustainably sourced natural ingredients. The brand gives back, too: it signed up to the Tree Sisters pledge, with a goal of planting 1,000 new trees by the end of 2020, so you can be sure that your purchase is contributing to a healthier planet.

5. ECO WARRIOR

If you consider yourself to be an eco warrior then you need to know about this brand. We're all about cutting down on plastic and packaging in general, but when it comes to skincare products, this can often be tricky. Enter ECO WARRIOR: a range of eco-friendly, unisex soap bars. Made in the UK, free from plastic, vegan and biodegradable, these bars come simply wrapped in a recyclable box to rid sinks, bathrooms and wash bags of single-use plastic bottles. What's more, it’s estimated that over the course of a year, sales of ECO WARRIOR soap bars could save over one million plastic bottles! Choose from shampoo, shaving, charcoal, hand and body, sensitive skin, and exfoliating bars.

6. Skin Sapiens

We often hear the phrase 'clean beauty' being touted, but what does it really mean? Well, the concept is still quite vague these days, and many brands are making pretty bold claims when it comes to being 'green and clean'. But we reckon Skin Sapiens comes pretty close. The sustainable skincare brand is certified natural and 100% vegan, and believes in total transparency, from ingredients to packaging. What does that mean exactly? Every ingredient and where it comes from is clearly listed on the packaging, in plain and simple English, and using minimalist formulas that offer real results. Fewer ingredients in your products means more control of what you put on your skin, and into the environment. Skin Sapiens is also part of 1% for the Planet: a global movement committing 1% of every sale to charities that fight climate change.

7. Zao Essence of Nature

Zao is a firm favourite of the Veggie team. The organic, cruelty-free, and vegan brand was inspired by the essence of Tao and Zen, Asian philosophies connected to respecting nature, and that's just what the brand does. Its products are available in bamboo packaging that's both stylish and sustainable, as bamboo is a carbon capture champion in its life cycle. Its refill scheme also means that Zao has tackled plastic waste in an industry where waste is rife, using 90% less plastic overall in its products. Zao’s ethical credentials extend to its ingredients, focusing on a traceable supply chain, and only using RSPO palm oil derivatives where no other alternative exists.

8. Beauty Kitchen

Billed as 'the Sustainable Beauty Pioneers', this skincare brand is on a mission to create the most sustainable and effective beauty products in the world. Sound like a bold claim? It is, but the brand is already making headway. A certified B-Corp, the team is all about using business as a force for good. But we particularly love its Return, Refill, Repeat scheme: the company currently accepts almost all of its products back (specifically the ones with the Return, Refill, Repeat logo on them) to be refilled, or you can visit the refill station at Boots in London's Covent Garden to top-up yourself. Too far to travel? Then you'll be glad to know that the scheme will be rolled out across the country soon! You can also drop off empty containers at Holland & Barrett store across the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium in exchange for free points on your Holland & Barrett loyalty card.