Blog Post

Best Zero Waste Makeup Brands in the UK for Sustainable Beauty

Our mission at Zero Wasted is to help you make more informed decisions when trying to buy more consciously - we do all the research so you don't have to. We sometimes use affiliate links on our site. We only recommend products we love, that we think you will too.

Zero Wasted • August 25, 2024

ADVERTISEMENT

For more sustainable and eco-friendly cosmetics we need less waste and more ethics. Here's what we went looking out for in our list:

A line drawing of a lipstick , powder, and brush.

Refillable Makeup

We're looking for zero waste (or lot less waste) in makeup, so we like brands that have given thought to making their products refillable or opting for fully recyclable or compostable packaging. The extra bonus here is you're also not paying over and over again for expensive packaging.

A rabbit is inside of a heart icon.

Vegan & Cruelty Free Makeup

We only rate makeup brands that are certified cruelty free, meaning their products aren't tested on animals. and they have a clear cruelty free policy. A couple of brands aren't certified vegan as they use beeswax.

A plant is growing out of the ground next to a test tube.

Clean Makeup Ingredients

We have only chosen brands that use clean, natural or organic ingredients that are ethically sourced. Absolutely zero parabens, formaldehyde (or releasers) or nanoparticles are in any of the products listed

Quick note about minerals and organic ingredients

When it comes to mineral makeup, you'll often find they aren't organic, but thats a good sign. Quality pure minerals are essentially ground up rocks and because they are not grown, like fruit and vegetables, they can not be certified organic. For a product to be certified as organic, they need to contain 70% of an ingredient like rice powder or corn-starch. This would diminish the value of the minerals and the make-up would not feel light, give great coverage and would be irritating to the skin. When it comes to mineral powders in particular – certified organic is not best.


Mica is also a common mineral ingredient in cosmetics as it offers beautiful luminous qualities, but there are some well known ethical issues surrounding the sourcing of this material as around 25% of the mica mining industry comes from illegal unethical mining operations in India. We've made sure to pay attention to brands that use mica and have only listed companies that use ethically sourced mica that is of the purest cosmetic grade.


Titanium Dioxide is also another naturally occurring mineral that has been used in cosmetics for decades (from toothpaste to face creams). There is controversy surrounding titanium dioxide in the form of nanoparticles because it can be considered an endocrine disruptor and potential carcinogen.  Nanoparticles can be absorbed through human cells, however, if titanium dioxide is in the form of microparticles it is then 1000 times larger and so unable to pass through the skin barrier and cells as they are too large. We've checked in with all our featured makeup brands to ensure they only use titanium dioxide in the form of microparticles so they do not present any health risk.

A woman is applying makeup in front of a mirror.

The Best Zero Waste Makeup Brands in the UK

 We've ranked the top eco-friendly cosmetics brands based on packaging, environmental impact, ingredients and price point.

Honeypie Minerals Makeup
three tubes of Facetheory blusher are sitting next to each other on a white surface .
A wooden tray filled with various types of cosmetics and eucalyptus leaves.

List of Services

A close up of a woman 's face with a box of Kjaer Weis makeup in the background.

List of Services

A wall with a bunch of makeup products on it and the words zero waste makeup written on it.
A group of makeup products are sitting on a table in front of a body of water.
A bunch of lipsticks are sitting on top of each other on a table.
axiology vegan zero waste eye lip and cheek balmies
odylique organic makeup natural ingredients
Benecos my beauty 4 pieces eyeshadow palette

The Ultimate Makeup Bag

The best eco makeup that is budget friendly with amazing reviews

List of Services

Zero Waste Cleansing & Makeup Removal

Remove your makeup with a 100% plastic free skincare routine:

So that's our ultimate list of the best zero waste makeup brands and best buys. If there's a great brand or product we haven't featured please let us know by dropping us a message.

💄

A man and a woman are sitting at a table in a bedroom.

ADVERTISEMENTS

Newsletter Signup

Sustainable Shopping Guides, Offers + Reviews.

Delivered to your inbox.

THE LATEST

Sustainable Shopping Guides

female carrying folded laundry
By Zero Wasted February 1, 2025
Find the best eco-friendly laundry detergent in the UK – from plastic free laundry sheets and soap nuts to refillable and non-bio detergent.
a man and a woman holding hands in front of a rock wall wearing chunky knitted jumpers
By Zero Wasted October 8, 2024
Discover the top sustainable knitwear brands in the UK for eco-friendly, ethical choices from luxurious British wool jumpers to organic cotton cardigans.
cup of tea and green tea leaves
By Zero Wasted August 22, 2024
Which tea bags do not contain plastic? We look at why there is plastic in tea bags and the best plastic free tea bags to buy in the UK.
woman stood on the beach under a rainbow
By Zero Wasted January 1, 2024
Brighten someone's day with the gift of self-care. We've found the best gifts for wellness and wellbeing in the UK to support relaxation and mindfulness.
Show More
Share by: