The Best Plastic-Free Beauty Swaps: Sustainable Makeup and Self-Care
Eco-friendly beauty isn’t hard to find, but scouting out good products that work well can be a challenge. Here are some amazing beauty brands that are not only plastic-free but are also high-quality.
This post contains affiliate links.
Why to Switch to Plastic-Free Beauty
Sustainability is becoming a lifestyle rather than just a trend, and I’m here for it. 🙌 Over the past few years we’ve seen little shifts happening in every industry, and it’s nice to see the beauty industry catching on. With increasing awareness about the environmental impact of our daily choices, switching to low-waste makeup and beauty products is not just beneficial, but necessary.
Next to the kitchen, the bathroom is where people tend to create the most waste. The majority of skin, hair, and makeup products come in some of the smallest containers, most of which are plastic. Serums and lotion bottles also often come with glass droppers and pumps that are hard to recycle. There are recycling programs that do exist for these types of things like Terracycle, but a more accessible solution is needed. The beauty industry creates so much waste as it is, so it’s important to cut back on overconsumption of products we don’t really need, and to also look at the packaging these products are coming in.
Is It a Better Product If It’s Plastic-Free?
Just because a product is plastic-free does not automatically mean the product is “better” than another. It just means little to no plastic is involved. There are lots of zero-waste products on the market, and not all of them are created equal. This blog post is meant to show off the plastic-free beauty products and brands I’ve tried that actually work, are not greenwashing, and also don’t contain toxic ingredients.
When there’s an option, I do try my best to go for products that have plastic-free packaging, but there are products that I use that are not plastic-free but have other sustainable qualities. You can find all the other brands I recommend in other posts on the blog or on my links page here. For the sake of Plastic Free July, we’re sticking to the theme here!
What About Recycled Plastic?
You may have seen many eco and even bigger conventional brands using “recycled plastic” in their product or packaging. This stuff doesn’t break down, and we can only recycle so many things through our normal curbside recycling. Even with that, only a small amount of our recyclables get properly recycled anyways.
The idea of reusing the plastics we have already created is amazing! However, depending on production, it can be more costly and energy-intensive to use recycled plastics, making it not as enticing for brands to want to use it over virgin plastic. Because of this, I do believe that simply eliminating plastic altogether is the way to go.
Sustainable Beauty 🤝 Non-Toxic Beauty
In general, plastic is harmful to our health. Scientists are finding tiny plastic particles called microplastics in our human tissues, and we are just beginning to uncover the health effects. In today’s world, beauty is not just about looking good; it’s about feeling good and making choices that positively impact your health and the environment. The rise of non-toxic makeup and beauty products is a testament to this shift in consciousness.
Conventional beauty products often contain a laundry list of harmful chemicals, including parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances. I was once a victim of Bath and Body Works and Victoria’s Secret body sprays. 🙋♀️ But not anymore! These ingredients can penetrate your skin and enter your bloodstream, potentially contributing to various health issues such as hormonal imbalances, allergic reactions, and even long-term health problems like cancer. Non-toxic beauty products generally prioritize safe, natural, and organic ingredients that nourish your skin without compromising your health.
You might find that options that are “green” are also more on the “clean” side when it comes to ingredients. These things don’t go hand-in-hand 100% of the time, so I recommend still doing your research when deciding if a product is right for you. All of the plastic-free products in this post are also non-toxic, meaning these brands use natural or organic ingredients, are free or fragrances, and/or use natural dyes and colorants.
Reading Labels and Greenwashing
When you’re making the switch to better personal care products, you want to be aware of greenwashing. Essentially, greenwashing is a marketing tactic that companies use to make their products look greener and cleaner than they really are. The terms “plastic-free” or “compostable” are not regulated, so it’s easy for brands to be dishonest in their marketing. Just because it says it’s plastic-free doesn’t mean it really is. To become an expert on how to spot greenwashing, check out this blog post!
By opting for low waste beauty products, you are supporting brands that prioritize ethical practices and sustainability. Many of these companies are committed to cruelty-free testing, fair trade practices, and giving back to communities. Your purchasing power can drive positive change in the industry, encouraging more brands to adopt eco-friendly practices and ethical standards. That’s also why it’s important to really look into a brand and what they’re claiming before buying. We want to support brands that are truly making a difference, and not just using the trend of sustainability and good ethics as a way to make sales.
Without further ado, let’s get into the best beauty and personal care products that are plastic-free!
Disclaimer: I do work with quite a few of these brands through affiliate links. Even if I didn’t have a link for these brands, I’d still be talking about them anyway. I only work with companies I use and support myself, and I enjoy being able to give you guys a discount to try things out!
The Best Plastic-Free Beauty Swaps
Axiology
plastic-free makeup sticks
These makeup sticks are so nice for adding a pop of color! The balmies, which are basically little crayons for your face, can be used as a blush, lipstick, or eyeshadow. They also came out with multi-sticks in tons of different shades that can be used as a highlight or contour.
Axiology’s product formulas are super creamy and blendable, making it perfect for anywhere on your face. They use simple, non-toxic ingredients, and all of their products are fragrance free. And of course, their packaging is in a cardboard tube, making it totally plastic-free and compostable at the end of it’s life.
My favorite products are the balmies in the shades strawberry and champagne, and the color cream multi-sticks in the shades elusive and fundamental. They also now feature other fabulous eco-friendly brands on their website, so it serves as a marketplace for a few things other than just makeup. You can use code SUSTAINABLEKAY on their site for a discount!
Plaine Products
refillable hair care and skin care
Most zero-waste options for hair care on the market are in bar form, which is a great option but not always for everyone. Plaine Products is one of the few liquid options I’ve seen on the market. When you need a refill, all you do is order new bottles. You can request a label to be sent to you with your order to send the bottles back to them, and you continue to reuse the pumps over and over.
I like that the bottles and caps are made of aluminum, which is a lightweight material that’s easy to recycle. Since the bottles do require plastic pumps, technically it’s not totally “plastic-free”, but you do keep reusing the pump, and they even tell you to send unwanted or broken pumps back to them to be recycled properly. They really do try to keep it as closed-loop as possible!
Their formulas are amazing and the scents they have make you feel like you’re in a spa. My favorite scent is the Rosemary Mint Vanilla! Such a classic. I do have a discount code for them as well! You can use KAY20 on their site.
For more hair care products I love, check out this blog post!
Low Waste Hair Care: How to Find Products That Work For You
ATHR Beauty
zero-waste eyeshadow palettes and makeup
I’m not a huge full face of makeup everyday kind of gal, but when I go to an event or a wedding, it’s nice to have some fun beauty things to play with to spice up a look. ATHR has some products that help me do just that! There eyeshadow palettes are some of the first ever made that do not contain any plastic. The palette itself is paper cardboard and the recycled aluminum shadow pans can be taken out and recycled again.
In 2023 I was soooo sad to see this brand close it’s doors, but a magical thing happened and it came back just last month! It’s a tough world for sustainable and eco brands sometimes. Most consumers want to pay for something cheap and convenient over high-quality and ethically made. It’s discouraging seeing some brands eventually close their doors due to production costs and competition. But it’s amazing to see them come back in full force, and I’m so happy this brand made a comeback.
ATHR is doing so many great things. Not only is their palette packaging plastic-free, but they also use FSC certified paper and water based soy inks. The products they do make that come in plastic are made with 100% recycled plastic (so they aren’t totally plastic-free, but they’re working on it!). Their formulas are all non-toxic, and they focus on sourcing ingredients that are fair trade and even upcycled. They’ve really set an example in the beauty industry when it comes to producing amazing products in a sustainable way.
Leaf Shave
plastic-free razors and shaving products
If you’re in the market for a new razor, you need to check out Leaf! Their razors are unlike any other on the market, with a pivoting head design that glides with your body to make for a comfortable and incredibly close shave, without the plastic. Modern razors are extremely wasteful. It’s impossible to recycle the blade cartridges. Most of them also contain moisture strips in them that can irritate your skin. Buying the cartridges can also get very expensive!
It’s better to invest in a high-quality razor that doesn’t come with the waste and extra expense. That’s where Leaf comes in. Their razors are entirely made of stainless steel. The replacement blades are also made of steel, making them easy to recycle. Since they don’t contain that moisture strip that cartridges do, they don’t get gross and sticky, and are sensitive skin friendly.
I personally use and love the OG Leaf razor (the one with three blades). This razor will give you the closest shave of your life. I’ve had mine for six years now and it still works great. They’re built to last a lifetime. On occasion, I also use their dermaplaner. I know dermaplaning has gotten really popular in the beauty/skin care world over the past few years. It basically removes any hair and dead skin cells on your face and neck for a smoothing exfoliation.
You can use code KAY10 on their site for a discount.
Activist
refillable skin care
On top of their clean ingredients, Activist is one of the few skin care brands out there that has a refill system. You purchase the product in glass once, and from there you can order refill pouches. Although this technically isn’t classified as “100% plastic-free”, the amount of plastic involved with using the pouches is still significantly less. About 75% less than recycled plastic, to be exact.
I know people always ask “Well why can’t they use a refill pouch that’s compostable?!”, and the best answer I have for you is that it doesn’t exist. It’s tough to make something that breaks down, that isn’t permeable, but still holds a liquidy product, that also doesn’t leech toxins into the product itself. The food industry struggles with this issue as well when considering compostable packaging. Unless you take the liquid out of the product, it doesn’t work out. Maybe in the future we will have truly compostable and non-toxic refill pouches, but what we have now is at least a start. Check out this reel where I show you how to refill your skin care!
Fun fact: Activist was one of the first brands to reach out to me to collaborate with me on Instagram (: Their skin care products are very gentle and hydrating, making them suitable for most skin types. My favorites are the active hydration serum and the sea to skin cleansing gel. They also offer refill subscriptions that allow you to save a little money, but you can also use my code SUSTAINABLEKAY to do that as well (;
Elate Cosmetics
refillable makeup
I’ve used Elate since undergrad, and I’m so glad they’ve stuck around and stayed consistent with the products they offer. This brand is one of the few makeup brands that has implemented a solid refill system. They sell their powder products in metal tins that come in plantable seed paper, and you can purchase a bamboo palette to display them in. It’s so stylish but also very practical with being able to put multiple products into one palette. It also allows you to customize your own makeup palette rather than buying shades you don’t need in a palette that’s prebuilt for you! When you run out of a product, you can recycle the empty tin and replace it with a new refill.
Elate doesn’t just consider their packaging when it comes to sustainability. Over 75% of their ingredients are organic, and they also focus on incorporating fair trade ingredients whenever possible. They’re a Certified B Corp and all of their products are vegan and cruelty free.
I currently use their brow pomade and some of their shimmery eyeshadows, which also double as highlighters. ✨ On occasion when I’m feeling fancy, I like to use their good gloss in the shade please.
HiBar
hair bars, skin care bars, and deodorant
I’ve been using HiBar hair bars for years. They’ve really expanded their line over the past couple of years to offer a wide range of options for every hair type. They use clean ingredients and their bars come packaged in a paper/cardboard box. Their moisturizing conditioner bar (the blue one) is the one that I personally use. I really enjoy their formula and how it feels when I’m using it and how my hair feels when I rinse it out. These bars also last forever. Even with my hair length their moisturizing conditioner bar lasts me like a year, so its a good bang for your buck too!
A few people have asked me what deodorant I’m using nowadays. I’ve tried SO MANY non-toxic, natural, and eco-friendly deodorants. Just when I was about to give up, I tried one from HiBar, and I’m so glad I did. Their deodorant has worked for me for the last year, which is the longest stretch of time I’ve gotten one to continue to work for me! *Knocks on wood*. With most of the ones I’ve tested, they work for a week and then my body starts to smell…funky. As if it’s rejecting the deodorant lol. For whatever reason, HiBar’s is doing the job. I love that it comes in a cardboard tube and has clean ingredients. The scent I use is bergamot and cedar. (:
I have not yet tried their skin care bars, but I’ve heard good things! It’s still a plastic-free option they offer that’s worth a mention, and similar to their other products I did notice they have options for most skin types.
Dew Mighty
solid face serums
This brand has grown so much since I tried them out! Dew Mighty makes face serum bars that are out of this world. The formulation for a skin care bar is tricky because you’re working with the absence of water. Naturally it’s a concentrated product, but you need to still make it gentle enough for the face. Dew Mighty nailed that. They now offer three different serum bars depending on skin type and benefits.
This brand isn’t just about serums anymore. They’ve expanded their plastic-free options to include a new exfoliating treatment and powder cleanser. All of their products are totally waterless, making their carbon footprint much smaller compared to if water was included. Water is typically the first ingredient in any beauty product, so when you take that out, you get a concentrated product that’s much lighter to transport.
These serum bars come in a metal case, making it perfect for travel. Their OG bloom serum bar is my fave and leaves my skin feeling so hydrated and glowy.
Summer Solace
tallow-based skin care
With a focus on regenerative agriculture, Summer Solace is delivering fresh, holistic skin care products that are made with well-sourced ingredients. They focus on sourcing their tallow from local regenerative ranches where the cattle are grass-fed. Regenerative farming is a practice that focuses on not just creating a product but improving the biodiversity of the farmland.
I also consider their tallow-based products sustainable due to longer shelf life they have. Tallow is a more shelf-stable ingredient than most seed oils that you might find in skin care, which cause them to go rancid quickly. Tallow can be stored for months and even years without any extra preservatives added to it. Their products come in glass and the lids are metal, making them recyclable and easily reusable. For skin care that comes in glass, I try to save the jars to repurpose for spices and condiments.
I use the unscented tallow balm on my face every night after I moisturize to really lock everything in. It’s like a nutrient-dense little snack for your skin. It takes me about a year to get through a whole jar myself, so it’s pretty cost effective too. This brand has tons of other great products to offer like candles and soap.
You can use code SUSTAINABLEKAY for a discount (:
To Wrap Things Up
Switching to non-toxic makeup and beauty products is a powerful way to protect your health, support ethical brands, and contribute to a more sustainable world. It’s a commitment to self-care and mindfulness that extends beyond beauty, promoting overall well-being and a positive impact on the environment. Luckily, there are tons of options on the market, and it only keeps growing.
Now this doesn’t mean you need to go throwing out all of your current beauty products. Whether you’re looking to switch to something new or want to redo your whole routine, you want to do one thing at a time. P.S. I might be coming out with some resources pretty soon here to help you transition to eco-conscious products, so stay tuned. (;
What plastic-free beauty brands do you love? Let me know in the comments! For more product reviews, feel free to check out my Instagram, or book a 1-on-1 consultation with me for some personalized recommendations!
