Makeup plays a pretty big part in my daily routine, which is why I’ve decided to ditch the commercial brands in favour of more zero-waste and ethical alternatives.
Here at Trash Backwards, we’re all about sustainable living, and this also includes makeup! Most commercial brands are filled with a bunch of toxins and chemicals that we don’t want sitting on our face. Not to mention that many beauty products are tested on animals – which is a big no-no for us.
Therefore, today we’ve compiled a list of zero-waste makeup brands that embody the values we believe in and want to share with you. Plus, the makeup line is pretty awesome!
So, let’s get started!
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#1 Clean-Faced Cosmetics
After checking out the Clean-Faced Cosmetics store, I was definitely on board with what they’re providing. Laura assures customers that all of her products are zero-waste, plastic-free, entirely plant-based, cruelty-free, and not tested on animals!
The makeup line is pretty great too, especially their shimmery eyeshadows like the Beetroot Bush and Eyeshadow one. The product comes packed in a cute aluminum tin that you can reuse again, or you can even send it back to get refilled – eliminating almost all of the waste.
The Clean-Faced makeup range is also pretty affordable, and there are a variety of beauty products available such as organic mascaras, serums, lipsticks, and palettes. On top of that, everything is handcrafted and designed right from the owner’s home in Michigan.
#2 Dab Herb Makeup
Dab Herb Makeup offers beautifully aesthetic and sustainable makeup products ranging from eco-friendly makeup sets or non-toxic and nourishing face masks.
All of Dab Herb’s Makeup line is sustainable, ethical, cruelty-free, and palm oil-free. The business started very small and has grown to be a pretty notable ethical makeup company with a strong social media presence. Additionally, customers rave about the effectiveness and quality of Dab Herb’s makeup line.
You can find a large variety of products on their page, including Rose Cheek paint – which looks amazing, and plenty of eye makeup like mascara bars, eyeshadow palettes, eyebrow grower bars, and much more. I especially like their Organic Face Luminizer for that extra glow!
All of the products are packed in either tin or glass containers, and certain products can be sent back for refills.
#3 BeeYou Organics
BeeYou Organics has a huge variety of eco-friendly and zero-waste products available, including some amazing pamper kits!
Additionally, you can find candles, body oils, and similar products to help you create a luxurious environment while you enjoy a spa day.
BeeYou Organics owner Larissa assures that her products are 100% cruelty-free, plastic-free, and organic. The company focuses only on natural ingredients to create a nurturing skincare line, including sun protection creams – without the unnecessary additives.
Some of the most popular makeup products include the Mineral Foundation line and Organic BB cream with SPF protection. Plus, you can also find organic eyeliner, natural blush shades, lip balms, mineral eyeshadow, and much more in the online store.
All of the makeup arrives in either cardboard, tin, or glass containers, and their packages are shipped in recyclable materials as well.
#4 River Organics
The River Organics natural beauty brand offers a large variety of vegan cream blush sticks, organic lip balms, and body oils.
All of their products are made out of nourishing ingredients that feel amazing on your skin. The company is mostly run by husband and wife Corinne and Fabian who lovingly handcrafted every product in their store. They’re mostly inspired by the Middle-east oil-based beauty products and inject some of that into their own makeup line – providing us with very nourishing and high-quality skincare.
Many of their oils are made out of ingredients like cocoa butter, coconut oil, and mango butter. In their store, you can find eyebrow gels, lip balms, blush, highlighters, and more. I especially like their set of 2 Vegan Blush Sticks that are packed in eco-friendly paper tubes.
#5 Nudi Goods
The Nudi Goods brand might not have an extensive makeup line – but their products are high quality at an affordable price.
The makeup brand was founded in 2017 by Jaime Boddorff who is involved with the wildlife hospital and ocean conservation organisation. She’s a strong advocate for using eco-friendly and zero-waste materials in order to craft high-quality beauty products that are good for our skin and our environment.
Nudi Goods brand tries to reuse everything when packaging their products and they aim to source their materials from plastic-free companies.
Their makeup line includes body shimmers, brow wax, lip balms, and mascara bars. I especially like their Nudi Goods Starter Pack which comes with a little bit of everything to give you a taste of sustainable makeup.
#6 Plant Makeup
Plant Makeup offers a beautiful makeup line featuring gorgeous colour tones and cute designs. Their products scream – fun! And they’re highly rated by other customers.
Their products are mainly botanical and made out of organic and wholesome ingredients that only do good things for your skin. None of their products contain toxins or unnecessary chemicals, plus everything is cruelty-free and not tested on animals.
All of the makeup is packaged in zero-waste materials like recyclable cardboard tubes or reusable glass pots.
In their store, you can find natural face mists, fragrances, makeup palettes, lip glosses, and more in their store. Some of their most featured items include their Rose Lip Tint and Face Oil.
#7 Dirty Hippie Cosmetics
A famous Australian sustainable makeup brand, Dirty Hippie cosmetics have a huge makeup and body care line of products that are super sustainable and effective.
Dirty Hippie might be one of the top sustainable makeup brands out there. All of their products are either purchased through fair trade channels or locally sourced. Plus, their packaging is almost always recycled and plastic-free; they even use natural vegetable ink – avoiding chemicals altogether!
Since it’s a pretty big brand, you can find a ton of amazing products in their store. Some of these include lips balms, lengthening mineral mascara, cacao foundation powder, bath products, and much more! My personal favorite is the Organic Vegan Face Primer which is super gentle and lightweight on your skin.
#8 Vyana Plant Beauty
The Vyana Plant Beauty makeup line prides itself on being zero-waste and organic. Plus, their product range is so aesthetic and beautiful to look at!
The company has been running since 2013 in Sweden and its primary goal is to harness ”all the richness the earth has to offer”.
All of their products are thoughtfully packaged in recycled materials like metal tins or cardboard tubes, and they even include a refill program for their powdered products with an extra 25% discount, too!
Their website features a ton of variety in makeup, with products like lipsticks, foundations, zero-waste makeup sponges, and a lot more. Their Vegan CC Powder is very popular as it effectively covers up red or inflamed skin and other skin issues. Additionally, all ingredients are natural such as Kaolinite White Clay, Rosemary Oil, and Organic Tritium Aestivum wheatgrass.
#9 Sea Witch Botanicals
The Sea Witch Botanicals organic product line features beautiful designs that remind me of the ocean and wild nature.
The brand’s goal is to keep the world’s water healthy and inspire everyone to go zero-waste and use ethically produced products. This is why their line expands to home cleaning products, too, such as zero-waste dish soap—check out our top sustainable dish soap brands!
Sea Witch Botanicals aim to only create sustainable, cruelty-free, and non-GMO products such as their lip balms, facial bars, toners, household cleaning products, and more. If you want to get a taste of their skincare line but don’t know where to start, take a look at their Premium Facial Collection.
What did you think of our top zero-waste makeup brands? Did we miss out on any? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and thanks for reading!
For more sustainable beauty alternatives, why not check out our 9 best zero-waste lip balms and the best zero-waste blush to suit every skin tone?
Anna Miller is a content manager at TrashBackwards. She’s passionate about living a zero-waste lifestyle. Anna has been writing about eco-friendly tips for years now, and she’s got some great ideas on how you can go plastic-free! She loves sharing her knowledge about eco-lifestyle with others. Her articles are always witty and insightful! Shoot her a message if you’ve got any questions about how you can start going green.
