The UK Zero-Waste & Plastic-Free Makeup Brands To Know
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Looking for the best zero-waste and plastic-free makeup brands? Right this way! I’ve got nine brands for you to know about, all eschewing single-use plastic.
A couple of precious makeup items of mine have just run out. A lovely peachy cream blush, and some black eyeshadow that I use to line my eyes.
As much as I have loved these products, the packaging they are in is plastic-based. Rather than do the easy thing and replace like for like, I’ve been in prime research mode for the last little while. This has seen me searching out zero-waste and plastic-free makeup options, to see what’s out there before I make any purchases.
The Guardian reports that cosmetic packaging is the hardest to recycle. This is due to the mixed materials used in every product – from compacts to lipsticks, and more. As such, I’ve been down all sorts of internet rabbit holes, and come up with what I believe are seven zero-waste and plastic-free makeup brands.
I’ve concentrated primarily on what’s available in the UK because that’s where I live. However, I have included a US option for international readers.
Here’s what I found!
The Best Zero Waste and Plastic-Free Makeup Brands
For this guide, I’ve focused on the plastic-free makeup brands that cater to a wide range of skin tones, from pale to dark skin. It’s 2023, and no one should be left out of the makeup discussion.
- HoneyPie Minerals (UK)
- Axiology (UK)
- RMS (UK)
- Kjaer Weis (UK)
- Zao (UK)
- Fat & The Moon (UK)
- Clean Faced Cosmetics (US)
HoneyPie Minerals
HoneyPie Minerals offers its entire range of mineral-based makeup – including foundation, blusher, bronzer and eyeshadow – in plastic-free and compostable refill bags, from just £5. You can refill any makeup jar of your choosing, making it a true zero-waste solution.
What’s also to love about HoneyPie Minerals is that its entire award-winning range is both vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. The 100% natural ingredients contain no harsh synthetic chemicals, talcs, nano-particles, parabens, fragrances, or additives. Being mineral-based, the makeup offers long-lasting wear so frequent touch-ups become a thing of the past.
HoneyPie Mineral’s foundation is available in 12 inclusive shades. Meanwhile, with 8 different shades of eyeshadow and 5 different shades of blusher, you can change up your look as often as you like without leaving a plastic footprint.
HoneyPie Mineral makeup is available via Etsy, and ships from the UK.
Axiology
Axiology – available in the UK at Content Beauty – makes plastic-free and zero-waste multipurpose crayons, that deliver beautiful colour for your lids, lips, and cheeks.
Wrapped in paper, and packaged in a recyclable cardboard carrying case, these palm oil-free and cruelty-free crayons deliver a sheer colour, suitable for all skin types, that’s easy to apply and blend.
Axiology is committed to using vegan ingredients and pledges that its cosmetic products will always be 100% cruelty-free.
Prices start from £35 for a set of three.
RMS
RMS Beauty, available in the UK via Content Beauty – sells a beautiful range of plastic-free makeup products, packaged in only metal and/or glass (except for the mascara). The brand gets rave reviews and has many celebrity endorsements, including from Meghan Markle.
What’s more, RMS prides itself on using only natural and organic ingredients, sourced from sustainable sources, that soothe and soften skin. As much, all of its products are cruelty-free, and many of its products are vegan-friendly. And in terms of inclusivity, their foundation comes in 16 different shades.
Kjaer Weis
Kjaer Weis, available in the UK via Content Beauty, sells cruelty-free and certified organic natural makeup in beautiful refillable metal compacts. Even the lipsticks and mascaras are refillable. What’s more, their foundation caters to 8 different skin tones.
Kjaer Weis is admittedly at the pricier end of the plastic-free makeup spectrum. However, its products do get rave reviews from all around the internet. And they are truly beautiful items that you will want to cherish forever. The initial price shock is overcome when you realise that once you’ve bought a cream blush in its beautiful compact, for example, the refills are £17 cheaper.
I truly love this refill makeup concept. One day, when I’m a rich fancy lady, this is what I’m going to splurge on!
Zao
Zao – available at Ethical Superstore – sells a wide range of plastic-free and certified cruelty-free makeup and beauty products in refillable bamboo boxes. What’s more, all products are 100% natural, vegan, and certified organic by Ecocert. Plus, its foundation is available in seven inclusive shades.
A couple of points to note. Currently, Zao says all products can be refilled, with the exception of mascara and lipgloss. Zao also states that some of the refills are housed in recyclable plastic. As such, you may want to check this before purchasing.
Fat & The Moon
image via The Future Kept
Fat & The Moon is a US brand sold in the UK via Peace With The Wild and The Future Kept. From highlighters to lip and cheek stains, to lipsticks, there is a small but perfectly formed selection of zero-waste makeup. These are all completely plastic-free – coming packaged in metal tins and cardboard.
As well as being free of plastic, its makeup is made from 100% natural ingredients. Fat And The Moon works with abundant, organically cultivated and ethically harvested plants to create its products, all of which are completely non-toxic. No synthetic chemicals are used in any of its formulations. What’s more, the brand is also cruelty-free and avoids palm oil.
Vegans note that Fat & The Moon products contain beeswax so are not vegan-friendly.
Clean-Faced Cosmetics
Clean Faced Cosmetics is a US-based zero-waste and plastic-free makeup range, selling products such as mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, eyeshadow, and more. As well as being mostly organic, its products are all vegan and cruelty-free. Its products are also made in small batches by hand – helping to reduce waste.
In terms of inclusivity, their foundation caters to light, medium, and dark skin tones.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for elsewhere and don’t mind paying for the shipping, then this shop may be the one to visit.
Your Plastic-Free Makeup Recommendations?
Have you tried any of these brands? What did you think? Or do you have any other plastic-free or zero-waste makeup recommendations? I would love to hear!
Since writing this post, I’ve also found a heap of eco-friendly lip balms that are plastic-free.
And if you liked this post, I have some more you might like. Firstly, if you looking for a zero-waste, plastic-free makeup removal option then do try this handy reusable cotton wool pad tutorial! Whilst we are talking about makeup removal, do also check out my plastic-free makeup remover tips.
I also have some other useful posts, including a natural makeup brush cleaner recipe. And finally, this post on the ingredients to avoid in your makeup is an eye-opener.
Found this post useful? Please consider buying me a virtual coffee to help support the site’s running costs.
Hi, I am looking for something that is a vegan + cruelty-free + organic + zero waste make up! Can anyone recommend a brand / a shop that fulfils all these criteria? Thanks!
Clean Faced Cosmetics is probably the only one that ticks all the boxes, but it ships from America. There are vegan + cruelty free + zero waste brands in the UK if you can be flexible on the organic side. If not the other option would be to DIY. There are books abound on this – I haven’t tried it myself though!
This is exactly what I was looking for Wendy! Thank you! I was just looking for moisturiser but have now found some beautiful make-up options too!
There is a broken link on the Luna Beauty – looks like they’ve moved away from Etsy and created their own website.
Thanks for the info!
For UK options, Aveda is reasonably good – they sell refillable aluminium compacts that you can then buy eyeshadows, blushers, presses powders and foundations for. The refills come in a small plastic sleeve but it’s a vast improvement on the more standard options.
That’s great Naomi – thanks for the tip! I always think of Aveda for hair, but never for cosmetics for some reason!
Lush is great when it comes to plastic-free solutions however they do use some nasty chemicals in some of their products so not all so green :(
Great blog by the way! :)
Thank you for the tips. Plastic-free and non-toxic make-up isn’t an easy landscape to navigate!
This article is really helpful thank you! Do you know if any of these companies are free of palm oil? Thank you
Not too sure Catherine – you’d need to contact the particular brands/shops you were interested in. I will do a guide to palm oil free makeup soon!
Thanks so much for this Wendy – this is such useful information! Off to check out the links!
hi, i’ve started using elate cosmetics. i live in scotland & have to get it shipped from canada (so quite pricey when you add in the import tax) but they are really good. they do refills & bamboo packaging & the foundation is really good for my sensitive skin.
https://www.elatecosmetics.ca
I have skin that seems to be a bit of everything-dry, yet oily and also spotty at times! RMS beauty ‘un-coverup’ is so good! They’ve upped the price recently but it lasts ages and I find goes beyond the use of a concealer (very little need for foundation). It’s simple to use, looks natural an d doesn’t make my skin at all dry or flaky. Keen to try some of their other products, as I’ve heard good things!
Thank you!