Following the environmental crisis, many are taking active steps in reducing their carbon footprint and implementing sustainable consumer practices to create a positive, long-lasting impact on the planet.
As a result, the sustainable skincare industry has been growing steadily. According to a report, it is estimated that the global natural and organic beauty market will reach a value of approximately USD $22 billion by 2024. Numerous skincare brands are making efforts to reduce their environmental impact through reforesting initiatives, conscious packaging production, and local and organic ingredient harvesting.
Here are six of the best clean, sustainable skincare brands to achieve healthy, glowing skin and feel good in the process!
Youth to The People
Also known as “Superfood for the Skin,” the vegan skincare brand focuses on greens-based formulas and commonly uses ingredients such as kale and spinach in their products. The brand claims to source its ingredients from local suppliers in California when possible. Additionally, the brand is cruelty-free and biodegradable. Youth to the People also pledges their commitment to sustainability through their packaging production – the brand claims to use post-consumer materials when possible and recyclable paper. Youth to the People also opts for glass containers instead of plastics and has recently partnered with Heinz, a German glass manufacturing company committed to sustainable business practices.
Caudalie
Based in Bordeaux, France, Caudalie is a natural, clean skincare brand that focuses on key ingredients such as vine extracts and grape-seed polyphenols in all of its skincare products. Since 2012, Caudalie has been a 1% for the Planet member. 1% for the Planet is an international organization whose members pledge a commitment to contribute at least 1 percent of their annual sales to environmental and sustainable causes. Their 1% for the Planet commitment involves reforestation and tree protection, in efforts to offset the company’s carbon emissions. The company also states that they use FSC, or Forest Stewardship Council, certified paper and wood for their packaging.
Farmacy
Founded in 2014, Farmacy is a cruelty-free skincare brand that emphasizes a farm-to-face philosophy and works with small, organic farms in California, Pennsylvania, New York, and Brazil. One of their key sustainability initiatives is fighting food insecurity. The company supports Feeding America, a non-profit organization that hones a network of over 200 food banks, and Second Harvest in Canada, Canada’s largest food rescue organization that tackles environmental protection and hunger relief. Farmacy also states having a network of farms; the brand nurses over 20,000 bees and uses the honey by-product to create a buckwheat honey blend used in one of their skincare collections. The brand also includes vegan products and claims to use recyclable packaging.
ILIA
Ilia is a cruelty-free, clean makeup brand that focuses on “skincare-powered” makeup through natural ingredients such as aloe, mastic, and plant-based squalene. The brand emphasizes recyclable packaging and states using recycled aluminum, glass components, and “responsibly sourced paper.” The company has partnered with Pact Collective, a non-profit collective consisting of beauty supply packagers and beauty stakeholders committed to tackling the beauty industry’s packaging issue, and encourages U.S consumers to mail up to five beauty products per month so that Pact can responsibly dispose of them.
Biossance
Launched in 2016, Biossance is a vegan skincare line that uses a plant-based, sugar-cane-derived version of squalene as a key ingredient in all of its products. Their products are made from recyclable materials; the brand states using renewable sugarcane paper for their outer cartons. As part of reducing their carbon emissions, Biossance offers carbon-neutral shipping and has partnered with CarbonFund.org, a brand whose mission includes offsetting carbon impact through cost-effective energy efficiency. Additionally, the brand also states that its products are EWG verified and cruelty-free certified by PETA and Leaping Bunny.
REN Skincare
REN Skincare is a vegan, cruelty-free skincare line that focuses on sustainable production and packaging processes. The line has made a Zero Waste Pledge alongside competitors such as Caudalie, Youth to the People, and Herbivore and states a commitment to producing only “planet-friendly” packaging by 2025. This includes packaging that contains recycled materials, is designed to be recycled, or that can be reused. Furthermore, the brand states re-using ocean plastics, glass jars, and post-consumer recycled plastic to reduce their environmental footprint.
There are so many sustainable skincare companies that are actively trying to create a positive impact on the planet and give back to our communities. A little research goes a long way, and some brands might just be a newfound staple in your bathroom!
Published by HOLR Magazine.