Most sustainable skincare products of 2021

Wellbeing is about lots of different things and increasingly we’re aware that our health and happiness is inextricably linked to the wellbeing of the world around us. Sustainability is something that more and more businesses are making a priority and that we value as consumers as well.

What we put on our skin is an important part of our health. So, the ingredients, their provenance and the impact that the packaging and processes have on the environment should be important to us. Here are some of the most sustainable skincare products currently on the market and why we like them.

For sustainable shampoo

The brand: Ethique

The product: Shampoo bar

What makes it sustainable: All the products from this brand are compostable, free of plastic, palm oil and non-sustainable paper stock. Products come in bar form, delivered in compostable boxes to dispense with unnecessary bottles, but also saving about 1l of water each versus bottled products. They’re easy, everyday, and while the shampoo bar is not the cheapest product on the market, it lasts much longer than a bottle of shampoo!

For sustainable make-up

The brand: Zao

The product: Mineral silk powder foundation

What makes it sustainable: Certified organic, vegan, cruelty free and doesn’t contain synthetic chemicals, Zao minimises plastic waste by bamboo and refillable options wherever possible. They also use natural active ingredients, such as vegetable oils, waxes, plant extracts (bamboo, shea butter, apricot, corn, etc). Bamboo is their hero ingredient in various forms - not only in packaging but in the actual products, it’s got lots of positive skincare benefits, but from a sustainability perspective it’s also quick to grow and replace.

For body scrubs

The brand: Herbivore Botanicals

The product: Coco Rose coconut oil body polish

What makes it sustainable: This vegan, organic skin care brand from Seattle makes a point of having products are all natural and ingredients that have a conscious thought behind choosing them. They don’t use any synthetic ingredients at all and their packaging is glass which is comparatively easy to reuse or recycle.

For facial oils

The brand: Pai Skincare

The product: Rosehip Oil

What makes it sustainable: This organic skincare line has long been a spa favourite. Pai is independently certified by COSMOS (Soil Association), Cruelty Free International and The Vegan Society. Their Soil Association COSMOS Natural certificate certifies that their products are 98% natural and they don’t use GM plants or endangered species.

For overall wellbeing

The brand: VOYA

The product: Seaweed baths

What makes it sustainable: This brand is known for harvesting seaweed from the Irish coast in Strandhill, Co. Sligo. It is a practice that has lasted more than 100 years. Products take all the benefits of the wild Atlantic coast, and distilling them in nourishing skincare products, VOYA is as green and organic as it gets. Certified by the organic standards of both the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association and the Organic Soil Association, they are committed to preserving the seabeds using sustainable harvesting practices, products contain as much certified organic ingredients as possible (a minimum of 70%) and they are packaged using recycled, recyclable or biodegradable materials.