22/9/2024
Eco-friendly beauty brands
There are lots of eco-friendly beauty products available, and in our articles and reviews we regularly feature brands that produce natural, sustainable or plastic-free products.
Here is a round-up of some of our favourite eco-friendly brands. These are all products that we buy regularly – some we use every day, while others are occasional treats bought for ourselves or as gifts for others.
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Faith in Nature
We were first attracted to Faith in Nature years ago when we started reducing our household's single-use plastic. The company's five-litre bottles of shampoo and body wash use much less plastic than the equivalent product in smaller bottles (one five-litre bottle equals 12.5 standard-sized bottles) – and, once empty, they can be returned to be reused. A new range of 500ml aluminium bottles is being introduced by the company – these are sturdy and attractive and ideal for refilling. Faith in Nature's Rosemary shampoo* remains a family favourite, and we also love the plastic-free soap bars* – they're affordable, retain their shape, and come in a range of lovely fragrances. Faith in Nature is a B Corp company, which means it meets high standards of social and environmental performance, alongside an ethos of transparency and accountability. The company's factory and warehouse are powered by 100% renewable and community-owned solar energy – and every order plants a tree!
Ethosa
Ethosa shower gel is an innovative alternative to single-use plastic bottles. The gel is provided in powder form, which is packaged in recyclable paper. When added to warm water in the aluminium dispenser, the powder transforms into a luxurious, creamy shower gel. It's easy to set up and the shower gel smells amazing. We've bought both fragrances: opulent cedarwood, peppermint and pink hibiscus, and uplifting eucalyptus and citrus. There are three different formulations available, to cater for all skin types, including sensitive skin – all are made with 100% natural ingredients. A little goes a long way, so the shower gel lasts for ages – making this good value for such a high-quality product.
Zaytoun soap bars
Made with olive oil and other natural ingredients, Zaytoun soap bars are lovely to use – the creamy, cleansing lather is gentle and keeps skin moisturised. The soap bars are hand-crafted using traditional methods by a family business in Nablus, Palestine. They're free from SLS, parabens, and palm oil and come in plastic-free recyclable cardboard packaging. There are several scents to choose from – our favourite is rose*, which smells like summer. Zaytoun is a social enterprise that supports marginalised farming communities in Palestine through fair trade – with 100% of profits reinvested into delivering this mission. The enterprise's products are all made with ethically sourced and sustainably grown ingredients.
Conscious Skincare
Conscious Skincare use recyclable, eco-friendly packaging for its products, including glass or aluminium bottles and jars for liquids and creams. We particularly like Conscious Skincare's Organic Face Washes. Rejuvenate is designed for mature skins – made with rose geranium and comfrey oils, the scent is uplifting and soothing. There's also a gentle facewash for sensitive skins. The facewashes don't strip skin of its natural oils, so they cleanse gently without drying. The Conscious Skincare range is handmade in Wales using natural, organic ingredients, with no parabens, SLS or other synthetic materials.
Reefyll handwash
We really like Reefyll handwash, and have been using it for about a year now. The system works with plastic-free, paper-wrapped tablets that you dissolve in water. The paper wrapper can then be recycled. The sturdy bottle included in the starter pack is made with recycled plastic, and comes with a special dispenser that turns the liquid into a creamy, cleansing foam. Reefyll is available in two scents, Tropical Coconut and Juicy Orange – both smell fantastic, are made with natural ingredients, and are gentle on skin. The soap is lovely to use and is particularly appealing for kids – it's also mess free, so may be more suitable for some people than bars of soap. We buy 10 refill tablets at a time, which works out at a similar price per bottle to standard, branded handwash. Because the tablets are small and lightweight, they take up little storage space – and use less carbon emissions to ship than heavy, bulky bottles of liquid.
Weleda
Weleda is another brand we've been buying for years – and several of the company's products are indispensable for our family. We use award-winning Skin Food to tackle dry skin and eczema flare-ups – it's particularly useful in winter to soothe cracked skin on hard-working hands. Weleda natural deodorants are fantastic – free from aluminium and other nasty additives, but still highly effective. We also use Weleda moisturisers – our favourite is Iris, which has a light texture and beautiful, soothing scent – and shower creams. Weleda makes its natural products with plants that are grown organically, using biodynamic principles. You can book a tour to visit the company's UK headquarters in Derbyshire, where a 13-acre garden showcases these techniques – it's a beautiful mosaic of nature-rich habitats that supports a wealth of wildlife.
Arran Sense of Scotland
ARRAN Sense of Scotland draws inspiration from the natural landscapes of the beautiful island of Arran. The company's range of luxury bath and shower gels is named after places on the island, from the white sands of Kildonan Bay in the south to the loch-side castle of Lochranza in the north. The bath and shower gels smell wonderful. Bottles are made from 100% recycled material from diverted ocean plastic, and much of the range is available in large two-litre refill bottles – these are estimated to reduce plastic consumption by up to 76%. Arran is one of our favourite places for a holiday, and we always try to visit the Arran Sense of Scotland headquarters in Brodick to stock up on gifts and treats. Sales of the Arran Naturals range generate a donation to the Arran Trust, which runs conservation projects on the island.
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