The beauty market is flooded with brands and new launches. I like to try everything – it’s my job to test things and recommend to you what I love. Many people, however, are becoming increasingly aware of environmental issues and how the plastics and waste of the beauty industry can impact on the already perilous problem. Many brands are also trying to do good in society in addition to just running as a money-making business. I wanted to shout above the noise to share a few brands with you that aren’t hugely known, who are doing interesting things in the ethical and sustainable beauty spaces.weDo – an eco-ethical haircare & bodycare brand from Wella

weDo have signed a global partnership with charity Plastic Bank – to join forces in their bid to remove plastic from the environment. It’s an effort greater than the impact their own products make, which is helping to build a better world. Plastic Bank fights
against plastic in our oceans and works to alleviate extreme poverty by empowering communities to turn pollution into wealth. Collected plastic can be exchanged by local residents globally for rewards such as cash, school tuition, healthcare, or insurance.

weDo have also pledged that for every weDo product sold, 8 plastic bottles will be collected from the environment – an easy way to save the earth. That means we, as consumers, are directly contributing to this. In addition to these initiatives, weDo’s products are 100% recyclable and their packaging is made from 50%-94% recycled plastic. Its formulas are all 93%-99.7% natural origin and they are certified Vegan and cruelty-free. Solid soap bars and solid shampoo bars are the way forward if you want to limit the plastic going to landfill.

If you are taking your first dip into the weDo brand, I can recommend the weDo Light & Soft Hair Mask for Fine Hair* (£21.95 from Look Fantastic) and the weDo Shampoo Bar* (£14.95 from Look Fantastic).NudeSkin – the new Vegan, sustainable skincare brand from NudeStix

NudeStix has long been a favourite makeup brand of mine and now the company have launched their own skincare line. NudeSkin, like NudeStix is about enhancing the natural beauty of our skin. They are about skin shining through and real skin being celebrated. This alone is contributing to the mental health of young people growing up in a social media world.

Their products are made with Vegan-powered actives and eco-conscious packaging. They are made without sulfates, synthetic fragrance or parabens, if this is something that you factor in to your product choices, and they are cruelty-free too. Their simple, no-nonsense packaging consists of biodegradable cartons and recyclable tubes to help protect our planet.

I would recommend trying the NudeSkin 5% Citrus Fruit & Glycolic Glow Toner* (£24 from Beauty Bay) and the NudeSkin Lemon-Aid Detox & Glow Micro Peel* (£32 from Beauty Bay) – both very effective products to really improve the texture and radiance of your skin.Green People – the natural, organic and sustainable skincare brand

Green People are such a chic natural and organic skincare brand. It was originally created as a natural, non-irritating range for those with skin issues like eczema. Their products gentle on sensitive skin – they never use aggressive ingredients or synthetic chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, alcohol (ethanol) or synthetic fragrances or colourants. Plus, they are also cruelty-free. The products contain 99% active natural and organic ingredients to protect and care for the skin & they are housed in zero waste packaging.

The founders have even sat on the committee of the Soil Association, to help regulate the organic beauty industry. This is a brand that cares and they are even only stocked in retailers that they ethically agree with. The Green People One Balm* (£20 from Green People) is a real standout product. This multi-purpose balm to moisturise and soothe dry or irritated skin. You can put it anywhere – from your cuticles to your heels. It contains Myrrh (to soothe and assist in healing inflamed skin) as well as repairing Pomegranate and Rosehip. The packaging is completely biodegradable too.L’abu Skin – the indie, organic, small-batch British brand

This small brand can be very hit and miss, but they are just starting their journey and they are doing it with great intentions. They intend to give a portion of each product sold, to help children and families in need. Each year they intend to collect this money and award it to a venture that they feel is most fitting at that time.

All the products are British made with ingredients from approved UK suppliers, so they have a lower carbon footprint than other brands. They are cruelty-free, suitable for Vegans and contain no parabens, sulphates & silicones. As I said, the products are hit and miss – i’ve tried most of them and I reviewed one of the masks as a Face Mask Friday post. Their formulations aren’t quite spot on or as effective as they could be yet, but I do think this will improve with time and feedback.

The L’abu Skin Intense Face Serum* (£18 from L’abu) is really lovely kept in the fridge as a cool-down treat after a workout etc. The cucumber in it is really hydrating and cooling. It also has CoQ10 – a hydrating antioxidant that helps to firm the skin, boost collagen production and even skin tone. The website talks about the serum also having Vitamin A, but it’s housed in a transparent package that gives this unstable ingredient direct exposure constantly to light?!  This is one of the examples of how this brand’s messaging and intentions are often jarring and not always spot on. However, if you look at this purely as a deeply hydrating & cooling serum that also has some other lesser benefits and environmental protection, you’ll like it. I am keen to see how this brand develops and how they choose to make that impact on society.

*This post contains press samples, but all opinions are my own

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