A beginner's guide to shopping conscious beauty RN
It's easy to roll your eyes when it comes to 'clean beauty', isn't it? We've heard the term bounced around the beauty industry for years and, with no regulated definition, it's been snatched by marketing teams and pasted across every other bottle in your local beauty hall. 'Greenwashing' has become prevalent, making it confusing to find the beauty products that really commit to the principles that matter to you. I get it.
But if you want to use your purchasing power for good (I'm with you), don't worry, because all is not lost. Right now, and for our purposes, Cosmopolitan UK considers clean beauty to include brands and products that take the health and wellbeing of people and the planet into consideration, when they're being developed, manufactured and sold. But trying to narrow down 'clean beauty' into a digestible guide is, quite frankly, impossible. Head to any 'clean beauty' aisle, and you'll get a product packaged in a plastic bottle with a 100% cruelty-free formula, next to a sustainably packaged product with not-so sustainable ingredients. I told you, it's a minefield.
With that in mind, I think the easiest way to talk to you about clean beauty is to shine a light on the individual products that we love (and why).
Whether they're breaking new ground in the realms of sustainable packaging, or they have more eco-certificates than we can count, these are the responsible buys to consider the next time you run out of shampoo or need to invest in a new foundation. Now, I'm not saying that these products will solve the world's climate crisis or clean up our oceans once and for all, but if you need a new moisturiser, why not buy one that'll help work toward a positive change, right?
Best conscious beauty buys – Skincare
The moisturising cream
Pure enough to eat (although we'd advise against it), this green, natural, botanical moisturiser works to replenish a broken-down skin barrier, while offering all-day hydration and to soothe inflammation. The brand opts for rain-fed, wild-foraged ingredients in its formulations and uses plastic-free (glass) pots that can be reused or refilled, while packaging materials are natural, biodegradable and even plantable, thanks to the addition of wildflower seeds.
The hydrating serum
If your skin is Sahara-dry (I relate), this serum will sort you out. Loaded with squalane and ceramides to deeply nourish and fight flaky skin, a little goes a long way, so just a few drops will help target stubborn dryness. When it comes to sustainability creds, the brand has offset 110% of its carbon footprint, plus, it's B Corp-certified, vegan and cruelty-free.
The mineral SPF
Glowy, luminous, mineral sunscreen that's also non-greasy and fragrance-free? Yes, please. Pai also has an epic guide on its website that details exactly how to recycle every single part of your order, from the box to the spray tops - it is serious about fighting waste. And the fun doesn't stop there - it boasts a whole host of ethical and organic certifications from the likes of COSMOS, Soil Association, The Vegan Society and Cruelty Free International.
The skin smoother
Solid skincare is, quite frankly, genius. Less water, less waste — what's not to love? Everything about SBTRCT's offering is innovative, from the planet-friendly packaging (which is very minimal, just a carton and paper wrap, both of which are 100% compostable) to the gentle-yet-exfoliating formula. The little bar is made with white willow bark and upcycled rice powder, both of which are known for their exfoliating, cleansing and oil-absorbing properties. Win, win, win.
The glow-boosting oil
When it comes to creating planet-friendly products, UpCircle really does deserve a round of applause. This hydrating, firming serum gives a serious lifted, dewy glow to dry skin, thanks to the vitamin C, antioxidant-rich coffee and rosehip oils. Formulas are 100% natural and organic-, vegan, cruelty-free- and B Corp-certified. As if that wasn't enough, it also offers a refill scheme, where you can send back an empty product to have it refilled at a discounted price. Amazing.
The caring cleanser
Kind to the skin and kind to the planet, this uber-gentle, nourishing cleanser has been designed to dissolve impurities from reactive, sensitised skin, leaving the complexion clean and soft. Every step of Tata Harper's production process takes place on the brand's 1,200-acre organic farm in Vermont, including growing some of its ingredients. Plus, the majority of its packaging is made of glass, allowing it to be widely recycled or reused.
Best conscious beauty buys – Haircare
The everyday wash duo
It's hard not to be impressed by the sheer volume of eco-credentials Faith in Nature has amassed - it isn't playing around when it comes to sustainable beauty, from B Corp certification to The Vegan Society-approved and UK-made. The newest launch from the brand offers a plastic-free approach to your hair wash. Its shampoo and conditioner now come in large (500ml) infinitely recyclable aluminium bottles, with an aluminium screw cap or a recyclable pump that can be used again and again.
The anti-breakage scalp soother
There's a myth out there that sustainable beauty products don't offer as powerful results as their less-than-eco-friendly counterparts, but this scalp serum (with its ethically sourced ingredients) is definitive proof of the opposite. It is incredibly effective when it comes to remedying hair breakage, plus it soothes a sensitive scalp, tackles dandruff and removes product build-up. As a brand, it's B Corp-certified and opts for primarily glass packaging, which is infinitely recyclable.
The deep-repair treatment
If your hair has been ravaged by colour or heat and has entered 'straw-like' territory, this works wonders for getting shine and softness back. Certified organic by the Soil Association, cruelty-free and vegan, sustainability is built into the DNA of the brand, which celebrated its 16 year anniversary of becoming the UK's first carbon neutral high-street retailer.
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