Plastic-Free Face Moisturiser: 4 Best UK Brands To Know
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Ready to ditch single-use plastic when it comes to your skincare routine? Here are four of the best plastic-free face moisturiser brands to try, including vegan-friendly and palm oil-free brands.
Let’s face up to facts. The beauty industry – as glamorous and feel-good as it may appear – has an ugly side.
Statistics report that 120 billion units of packaging are produced every year by the global cosmetics industry. The majority of which isn’t recyclable or easily recyclable. And much of this plastic packaging ends up in landfills and in our oceans, where it’s bad news for the environment.
Thanks to consumer pressure, many brands have started to reduce the amount of plastic they use in their packaging. And when it comes to moisturiser, some pioneering brands have gone completely plastic-free.
But where to start? Let me help! Over the last few months, I’ve thoroughly tested lots of plastic-free face moisturisers, focusing on performance, packaging, ingredients, and value for money, to help you find the right brand for your skin type.
Guide To The Best Plastic-Free Face Moisturiser
Here are the best zero-waste and plastic-free facial skincare brands out there right now, delivering impressive results without compromising on ethics. These all balance effective skincare with lower-impact packaging. I’ve highlighted who each one is best for, along with honest thoughts on how I’ve found using them:
The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser
⭐ Best for dull or tired skin
| Vegan-friendly | 💚 |
| Cruelty-free | 💚 |
| Organic | ❌ |
| Palm oil-free | ❌ (uses RSPO palm oil) |
| Made in | Poland |
| Jar size | 50 ml |
| Price | £22 |
| Price per ml | 44p |
| Available from | The Body Shop |
The Body Shop was a huge part of my childhood in the early 1990s. My friends and I loved spending our pocket money on fruity soaps, bath pearls, and lip balms by a brand that was at the forefront of greening the beauty industry.
With L’Oreal buying The Body Shop in 2006, I gave up on The Body Shop. L’Oreal’s links to animal testing and other factors felt incompatible with everything The Body Shop stood for.
Thankfully, L’Oreal no longer owns The Body Shop. It sold it to sustainable, ethical and cruelty-free beauty brand Natura & Co (who also owns Aesop) in 2017, who quietly switched out plastic where possible, and introduced refillable options.
Unfortunately, at the end of 2023, The Body Shop was sold to Aurelius, a private equity firm. However, it seems like the same values have been upheld – it’s still cruelty-free as standard, and many of its products still come plastic-free.
The Body Shop’s Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser is one of them. This comes in a recyclable glass jar, which is topped with an aluminium lid, and is packaged inside a cardboard box. I think the label *might* be plastic, but that’s the only plastic here. This is fairly minimal compared to conventional packaging, so I reckon it just squeaks into plastic-free territory!
In practical terms, both glass and aluminium are widely recyclable in the UK, making this an easy option to dispose of responsibly.
The Body Shop says:
“Our moisturiser instantly peps up skin, helping it feel hydrated and refreshed, with a glowy finish! Made with 96% ingredients of natural origin, our vitamin C moisturiser is infused with camu camu berry extract. Camu camu berries are known to contain more than double the vitamin C content you’d find in juicy oranges. Skin feels instantly smoother and softer, with a visibly less dull and more radiant complexion.”
Wendy says:
I was surprised to find that the moisturiser itself has more of a gel texture to it than a cream, but it doesn’t affect how moisturising this lovely product is.
I have found that it takes a minute or two to sink into my skin, but once it does, it leaves my skin feeling soft and refreshed, without any stickiness or pilling. It really does feel like a boost for tired skin. I don’t think it’s quite moisturising enough for my maturing skin care needs, though – I think next time I would try its Edelweiss moisturiser – also plastic-free.
I also love its slightly citrus scent. It’s very mild, so if you don’t like strong scents, then I don’t think this would bother you.
And on an entirely superficial level, this sleek jar looks very pretty in my bathroom cabinet!
Silvan Skincare Rejuvenate Face Cream
⭐ Best for plastic-free moisturiser for over 40s
| Vegan-friendly | 💚 |
| Cruelty-free | 💚 |
| Organic | 💚 |
| Palm oil-free | ❌ (from a COSMOS-approved sustainable source) |
| Made in | The UK |
| Jar size | 50 ml |
| Price | £24.00 |
| Price per ml | 48p |
| Available from | Counter Culture |
Looking for a plastic-free, vegan, and cruelty-free moisturiser for more mature skin? It might feel like an impossible find, but thankfully, Wales-based Silvan Skincare fills this niche perfectly.
Silvan’s mission is to create effective, affordable and gentle skincare using the highest quality organic and sustainable plant-based ingredients.
Using organically, ethically and Fairtrade-sourced ingredients, each product is blended by hand in small batches. Its award-winning products are blended to suit sensitive and reactive skin types.
Whilst Silvan offers a wide range of plastic-free beauty products, I opted to buy its Rejuvenate face cream.
Silvan Skincare says:
“[Use this] nourishing vegan moisturiser to care for naturally ageing skin with organic macadamia oil, frankincense and rose geranium to replenish the skin and help to reduce the appearance of fine lines.”
Wendy says:
Ever since I came across Silvan Skincare, I’ve been keen to try out its award-winning Rejuvenate moisturiser. Especially because it’s specifically formulated for more mature skin. Since I hit my 40s, my skin feels like it needs more TLC, especially in winter.
I was instantly impressed. This really rich cream provides instant hydration – day and night – and has quickly become a new favourite. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave your skin feeling tacky or oily – making it a great base for applying makeup.
I was worried the smell would be powerful, but it wasn’t at all. Instead, it’s incredibly delicate and is a real treat to apply.
FaceTheory Glow-C Daily Moisturiser
⭐ Best for moisturiser with sun protection
| Vegan friendly | 💚 |
| Cruelty-free? | 💚 |
| Organic | ❌ |
| Palm oil-free | ❌ |
| Made in | The UK |
| Size | 50 ml |
| Price | £20 |
| Price per ml | 40p |
| Available from | FaceTheory |
If you want a plastic-free facial moisturiser that offers sun protection, then try FaceTheory’s Glow-C Daily Moisturiser. This face cream offers SPF 30 protection and comes in a recyclable aluminium tube. This is recyclable either at home (if your local council recycles these tubes) or in places like Boots beauty recycling points.
Plastic-free isn’t the only thing that FaceTheory has got going on. This British beauty brand is certified cruelty-free and vegan. Each and every single product is made in Sheffield, with ingredients and components from UK suppliers. And each product is also packaged sustainably, using minimal plastic.
FaceTheory says
“What SPF should have felt like all along. A weightless, mousse-textured SPF moisturiser that hydrates, brightens, and protects – without the cast, tack, or chaos of traditional sunscreens”.
Wendy says
Sun protection is really important to me and my very fair Scottish skin, so I use an SPF every day (even in winter).
I quite like this as an SPF, but less so as a stand-alone moisturiser. Texture-wise, it’s more of a thick mousse than a cream. On my maturing skin, I don’t find it quite as moisturising as I would like, so I tend to find I need to use a moisturising serum underneath it.
That being said, it does a great job at protecting my skin from the sun’s rays. It also doesn’t leave your face shiny or greasy, it doesn’t pill, and it doesn’t leave a white cast (although do bear in mind I have very pale skin). Crucially, I’ve also found it doesn’t sting my eyes – a common problem I have with facial sunscreens.
I bought the grapefruit scented version, but you can choose a fragrance-free version if you prefer. All in all, I find it a great staple at a great price.
Get 15% off your first order when you sign up for the FaceTheory mailing list.
UpCircle Face Moisturiser With Vitamin E
⭐ Best for palm oil-free and organic plastic-free moisturiser
| Vegan-friendly | 💚 |
| Cruelty-free | 💚 |
| Organic | 💚 |
| Palm oil-free | 💚 |
| Made in | The UK |
| Jar size | 60 ml |
| Price | £21.99 |
| Price per ml | 37p |
| Available from | UpCircle |
Finally, if you prefer your face cream to be palm oil-free AND organic, then you are in luck. UpCircle’s award-winning and fully plastic-free moisturiser avoids palm oil and uses organic ingredients.
New to UpCircle? UpCircle is a British brand specialising in upcycling food waste ingredients into effective skincare products. All of its products are vegan and cruelty-free. Meanwhile, UpCircle never uses any SLS, SLEs, parabens, mineral oil, perfume or sulfates in its products.
Upcircle says
“A multi-award-winning, deeply hydrating, fast-absorbing face moisturiser with Vitamin E to nourish and brighten the skin.
This dermatologically approved vegan face cream is suitable for all skin types. Vitamin E-rich argan powder is combined with skin-soothing cocoa butter, aloe vera and blood orange.”
Wendy says
I was excited to try this moisturiser as I was impressed by its eco credentials. It ticks so many boxes. What’s more, if your local zero-waste shop offers UpCircle refills, you can even refill your jar there, minimising your environmental impact further.
I’m pleased to report that it lived up to my expectations (and beyond). This rich yet non-greasy cream sank quickly into my skin, leaving it feeling soft and supple all day. It didn’t pill or leave a sticky or oily finish.
I also like that it’s not heavily scented. Instead, it has a delicate fresh scent that isn’t overbearing.
The only thing I would say is that I think it’s best for daytime use – it feels a little too light for overnight use.
In A Nutshell
If you’re still trying to decide what option is best for you, here’s my quick guide:
- Opt for UpCircle if you prioritise palm oil-free and organic ingredients.
- Try Silvan if your skin needs something richer.
- Try FaceTheory for built-in SPF (although if you are over 40, or have dry skin, then bear in mind you may need to also use a moisturising serum).
- Finally, opt for The Body Shop if you want a lightweight glow boost.
More Sustainable Skincare Guides
Looking for more help with your skincare? I’ve also put together a guide to the best organic body lotion – including lots of plastic-free options. You can also try my big guide to plastic-free cosmetics. I’ve found all of the best UK brands offering exciting options without plastic.
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Great article as always! I wondered if you have had looked at Tropic skincare at all? I’ve started using it because of their eco credentials and then how the products work. They’ve redone their packaging recently which is better than it was but probably still improvement possible. Anyway I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’ve always avoided Tropic as I believe it’s an MLM. I don’t know too much about the ins and outs of its structure other than sellers need to pay an upfront £200 cost to start, and that it’s half-owned by Alan Sugar.
Neal Yard create ointment is in a recyclable food grade pot . Shame it’s not glass . I rang they don’t re use their pots , but I guess one 200ml pot is better than four 50 ml pots .
Home made deodorant is easy . Combine equal amounts coconut oil , cornflour and bicarbonate of soda . The coconut oil can be warmed to help mix everything , add essential oil if wanted . I use a teaspoon to take it from a ceramic pot just for cleanliness . It’s easy to apply fingers warm the mixture .
Toothpaste is made the same but without the cornflour .
The cornflour helps the deodorant to stick
Cheap. no plastic ,no waste , works fine
Thanks for the info Janet, really useful!
I use upcircle and have refilled several times now. As you say, it’s ideal for daytime!
Great to hear Rachel – it really is so good for daytime!
I’ve swapped moisturiser for ointment and it’s a game changer. I buy it for £7 from Neals Yard, and you can add your own fragrance via essential oils or in a variety of other ways. I use their ‘Calm’ blend, so it has the added bonus of calming me down before bed. I slather it on at night and then put on sunblock in the morning. And that’s it! My skin is very happy and I don’t miss moisturiser one tiny bit. The best part? I can use my ointment as a body lotion and hand cream too. I”m assuming it’s plastic free but do let me know? I got this tip from a dermatolgist on Instagram whose name I have completely forgotten…
Thanks so much for the tip! I’ve just looked it up and it sounds great!