5 Sustainable Skincare Brands You Should Know About

Using sustainable skincare products is a fantastic way to care for both your skin and the planet. These five innovative brands use bio-based and easily biodegradable ingredients, reduce packaging waste through bulk sizes and plastic-free packaging, and offer their own take-back and recycling programs. Most of them provide a complete range of skincare products so you don’t have to toggle between different brands throughout your routine.

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OSEA Malibu

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OSEA Malibu offers a comprehensive range of skincare products, from cleansers and exfoliators to moisturizers and scrubs. Instead of using petrochemical-based ingredients like parabens and petrochemicals, OSEA Malibu uses bio-based and easily biodegradable alternatives. On every product page, you can in fact see the entire list of ingredients. All the products are vegan, cruelty-free (with PETA and Leaping Bunny certifications), and Ocean Responsible verified. The brand also runs a recycling program and a container takeback initiative at its Venice studio. It also offers bulk size options to reduce packaging waste.

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Meow Meow Tweet

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Meow Meow Tweet's skincare products, such as face cleanser, face toner, and skin cream, are vegan and come in refillable metal or glass jars. Most of the products are designed for multiple uses. For example, the face cleanser also works as a shaving cream, while the skin cream doubles up as a night cream, cleansing balm, and makeup remover. As part of its take-back program, customers can return empty bulk containers and pumps for reuse and recycling. To minimize environmental impact, the brand produces in small batches and tracks its waste weekly.

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Activist Skincare

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Instead of using petrochemical-derived ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, and microplastics, Activist Skincare uses bio-based, organic ingredients for its skincare products. For packaging, it uses minimal materials, offers refills in lightweight pouches, and keeps its shipping containers plastic-free. It also runs a take-back program with Terracycle, making it easy for customers to recycle those refill pouches that typically can't go in curbside bins.

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LUSH

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LUSH’s wide range of skincare products are mostly vegan or vegetarian. A lot of its products are available in bar format and package-free options. 90% of its packaging is recycled, and the brand is making an active effort to cut down on using new plastic. It also runs a smart 'Bring It Back' program where you can return empty containers to the store and get a discount on your next purchase. Apart from that, it is also innovating with waterless formats to have an even lower environmental impact.

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Earth Harbor Naturals

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Similar to other brands on this list, Earth Harbor Naturals also stays away from petrochemical-derived ingredients and instead uses bio-based and easily biodegradable alternatives. For packaging, it uses recyclable materials, plastic-free droppers, and aluminum tops. The brand is certified cruelty-free by both Leaping Bunny and PETA, and is part of 1% for the Planet. While it doesn't offer bulk sizes, it does have a convenient take-back program with Pact Collective for recycling empty containers.

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