• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
    • About Mindful Momma
    • Contact
    • Work with Me
    • My Book
    • Privacy Policy
  • Get Started
    • Start Here
    • Mindful Momma Mailing List
    • FREE Greenwashing Guidebook
    • Eco-Conscious Home Detox Online Course
    • Resource Library
  • Healthy Food
    • Info
    • Recipes
    • Health Remedies
  • Non Toxic Beauty
    • Info + Products
    • DIY Beauty
  • Natural Living
    • Info
    • Non-Toxic Product Guides
    • Brand Reviews
    • Reusable Products
    • Cleaning Products
    • DIY Cleaning
    • Fashion
    • Crafts
  • Shop
    • Marketplace
    • Product Guides
    • Eco-Friendly Brands Guide
    • My Top Product Picks
  • FREE Resources

Mindful Momma

Simple Inspired Natural Living


14 Clean + Sustainable Makeup Brands to Try Now

Tweet
Share
Pin1.5K

Find the top sustainable makeup brands that sell clean beauty products and also prioritize plastic-free and zero waste packaging. 


Sustainable Makeup Brands

Take a look in your makeup drawer and tell me what you see. A lot of plastic tubes, compacts and containers? Yep, that’s about right. 

Most makeup – both conventional and clean makeup brands – comes packaged in plastic. Plastic is cheap and it’s easy – but it’s bad for the planet and we should be looking for ways to use less plastic any time we can.

If you are looking to make the switch to clean beauty products, be sure to seek out sustainable makeup brands that offer plastic-free or zero waste packaging as well. Fortunately there are quite a few of them! 

Sustainable Makeup Brands – Packaging

So what makes makes makeup packaging sustainable? Let’s answer a few questions:

Does recyclable packaging count? It’s easy to get lulled into thinking that if we recycle plastic, we’ve solved the problem. The truth is that 91% of plastic is not recycled at all. Plus, most plastic makeup tubes and compacts are not recyclable anyway. If all a company is doing is bragging that you can recycle their plastic containers, then no – that’s not sustainable. But if they are using sustainable materials that are also recyclable at the end of their useful life, then yes – that is great. 

Does sustainable packaging have to be plastic-free? It’s pretty hard to create makeup packaging that is 100% plastic free – although some brands manage to pull it off! (Aether Beauty is a great example)

Can makeup packaging be zero waste? Zero waste is a great inspirational goal, but most brands aren’t there. (see some of the Etsy shops I mention below for as close to zero waste makeup as you’ll get!)

How about refillable packaging? I’m a huge fan of refillable makeup packaging! It’s not very common but a couple brands are doing it (see Elate and Kjaer Weis below)

Sustainable makeup packaging comes in lots of forms. Let’s take a look at some of them:

  • Glass: used for bottles, containers and tubes (likely recyclable)
  • Metal: used for lids and tubes (might be recyclable)
  • Bamboo: used for makeup compacts and lipstick tubes (compostable)
  • Paperboard tubes: used for lipsticks and cheek colors (biodegradable/compostable)
  • Post consumer recycled paper: used for boxes (recyclable)
  • FSC-certified paper: used for boxes (recyclable)
  • Recycled plastic: used for bottles, compacts, tubes and other parts (bottles may be recyclable but most other items are not)


Top 14 Sustainable Makeup Brands

I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article including Amazon Affiliates. Full Disclosure

Next time you are shopping for makeup, consider these clean beauty brands that prioritize sustainable packaging too. 

Elate Cosmetics and other sustainable makeup brands

Elate Cosmetics

About the brand: Elate Cosmetics and founder Melodie Reynolds are on a mission to create sustainable, low-waste beauty products without compromise, for everyone. The company has a goal of becoming the first zero waste cosmetic company, and they are well on their way! Their Capsule Beauty concept encourages minimal purchases of products that work best for you.  

Sustainable packaging: Products are packaged in sustainable bamboo, glass and aluminum, with a minimum of recycled plastic. Bamboo palette containers are refillable. 

Product ingredients: Ingredients are natural (about 75% organic) and 100% vegan. 

Best products:

  • Bamboo Capsule Palette:  A refillable container for eye shadow, blush and powders with magnets to hold colors in place
  • Universal Cream: Moisturizing cream for cheeks and lips. Comes packaged in a refillable bamboo compact (I use the color Love)
  • Sheer Lipsticks: Lightly pigmented lipsticks that adapts to your own lip color – packaged in a bamboo tube

BUY Elate Cosmetics direct or at EarthHero

Aether Beauty and other sustainable makeup brands

Aether Beauty

About the brand: Aether Beauty was born with a goal to create clean, cruelty-free makeup products in sustainable packaging. The line is minimal because founder Tiila will only introduce a new product if it meets her clean beauty and sustainability requirements. 

Sustainable packaging: Aether Beauty created the first zero waste eye shadow palettes in the beauty industry. The palettes are made with 100% FSC-certified paper and recycled aluminum and contain no mirrors or magnets, so they are recyclable. 

Product ingredients: Ingredients are organic, fair-trade, and non-GMO wherever possible and over 1500 ingredients are banned. Products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free always. Eye shadows are infused with crystals to illuminate the skin and bring light to your spirit.

Best products:

  • Crystal Gemstone Eye Shadow Palettes are stunning and come in a few color combinations
  • Crystal Charged Cheek Palettes
  • Diamond Highlighter 

BUY Aether Beauty Get 10% off with code MINDFULMOMMA

RMS Beauty and other susta

RMS Beauty

About the brand: After many years in the makeup industry, founder Rose-Marie started RMS Beauty in order to help women use non-toxic and sustainable makeup products as part of a healthy lifestyle. Known best for their creamy, coconut oil based makeup in glass packaging. 

Sustainable packaging: Cream products are housed in recycled glass pots with metal tops. Boxes are made from 80% post-consumer recycled fiber and manufactured using 100% wind power. All packaging is minimal, recyclable or reusable. (Note: some products are 

Product ingredients: RMS Beauty products are formulated with raw, food grade and organic ingredients in their natural state. Minimal heat is used in the manufacturing process in order to keep all nutrients and healing properties alive. All ingredients are GMO-free. Note: the line is cruelty free, but not vegan (beeswax is part of many of the cream formulas). Cream products are rated 1 by EWG.

Best products: 

  • Living Luminizer – creamy highlighter (one of my fav makeup products ever!)
  • “Un” Cover-Up – concealer that doubles as a light foundation
  • Lip2Cheek – multitasking lip & cheek color
  • Eye Polish – creamy eye shadow in metallic hues

BUY RMS Beauty

Antonym and other sustainable makeup brands

Antonym

About the brand: Miami makeup artist Valerie Giraud sought to create the best organic makeup and makeup brushes that were cruelty free but high performance too. She calls it “gentle face fashion”, a philosophy of kind ingredients with strong performance. Known for their baked products – an innovative baking process that transforms the blush crème into a finely textured powder.

Sustainable packaging: Makeup compacts are made of sustainable bamboo. Paper packaging is either recycled or FSC certified paper.

Product ingredients: Ingredients are certified natural & organic by ECOCERT. Ingredient transparency includes showing percentage of natural and organic ingredients on the product label. All products are cruelty free and everything except the lipsticks are vegan.

Best products: 

  • Baked Blush (I use the Peach color) 
  • Quattro Eyeshadow Palettes
  • Vegan makeup brushes in many sizes

BUY Antonym


RELATED: Zero Waste Swaps for the Bathroom


Clean Faced Cosmetics and other sustainable makeup brands

Clean Faced Cosmetics

About the brand: Etsy shop with rave reviews specializing in zero waste makeup. Containers can be sent back for refills. 

Sustainable packaging: Products are packaged in metal tins and glass jars. 

Product ingredients: Ingredients are all natural and products are made in a home kitchen, not a lab. Mostly organic. Completely vegan.

Best products: 

  • Vegan Zero Waste Mascara – comes with a sustainable bamboo applicator
  • Zero Waste Makeup Palette (see photo above) – you choose 4 products
  • Vegan Lipstick – in a metal tin 

BUY Clean Faced Cosmetics

Kjaer Weis and other sustainable makeup brands

Kjaer Weis

About the brand: Danish born makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis had a vision to create luxury beauty products that were organic and sustainable too. After She worked with a designer to create a practical but stylish refill system. 

Sustainable packaging: All makeup products are refillable – even the lipsticks and mascara! Face products (blush, foundation, eye shadow) have a choice of compact – either the original metal or the new red paper packaging – both refillable of course! 

Product ingredients: Ingredients are certified natural or organic by the CCPB (Controllo e Certificazione Prodotti Biologici), a prominent European certification body.  Note: Kjaer Weis products contain beeswax, so are not vegan. 

Best products: 

  • Cream Blush
  • Cream Foundation
  • Flush & Glow Duo

BUY Kjaer Weis

Axiology and other sustainable makeup brands

Axiology

About the brand: When founder Ericka Rodriguez could not find a vegan lipstick that performed, she invented her own vegan lipstick formula. 

Sustainable packaging: Balmies are 100% zero waste, lipstick tubes are recycled plastic. Product boxes made from recycled trash. 

Product ingredients: The 10 ingredient formula is all natural, palm oil free and certified vegan and cruelty free by PeTA. 

Best products: 

  • Lip-to-Lid Balmies are 100% zero waste – wrapped in recyclable paper and packaged in a box made from recycled trash by a women’s cooperative in Bali.
  • Lipsticks come in some really unique colors

BUY Axiology Get 10% off with code EVILFREE

Beautycounter and other sustainable makeup brands

Beautycounter

About the brand: Beautycounter is dedicated to clean beauty, ingredient transparency and sustainability in every way possible.

Sustainable packaging: Many products are packaged in glass and paperboard. Sustainable packaging initiatives include using less plastic and reducing unnecessary boxes, caps and spatulas. Consumer friendly How2Recycle recycling labels are on every product.

Product ingredients: Beautycounter’s Blueprint for clean includes unparalleled safety screening (they screen every batch of raw materials for color cosmetics for heavy metals!) and ingredient transparency.

Best products: 

  • Twin Skin Featherweight Foundation in a glass bottle
  • Satin Powder Blush in a paperboard tray
  • Velvet Eyeshadow Palette in a paperboard tray
  • Give ‘Em Lip Color Intense Lipstick – tube is made with FSC-certified paper

Read my full Beautycounter review and find out why I love this brand so much!

BUY Beautycounter

Nudi Goods and other sustainable makeup brands

Nudi Goods

About the brand: Etsy shop that specializes in plastic-free, minimal ingredient cosmetics and body care products. 

Sustainable packaging: All packaging is plastic-free – including 100% biodegradable paper or reusable tin containers.

Product ingredients: A minimal number of all natural ingredients are used.

Best products: 

  • Raven Mascara – Natural formula made with beeswax, coconut oil, bentonite clay, activated charcoal and shea butter. Available in either a tin or a biodegradable paper container, with a reusable spoolie applicator if needed
  • Nudi Goods Starter Pack: includes Raven Mascara, Lion Brow Taming Wax, Coral Rust Lip Balm and Redwood Rain Dry Oil Moisturizer

BUY Nudi Goods


RELATED: Non-Toxic Lipsticks


Erin's Faces and other sustainable makeup brands

Erin’s Faces

About the brand: Makeup artist, Audra McDonald started making clean beauty products in her kitchen for all shapes, sizes and shades. She eventually moved to a commercial space as the business grew, and she continued to innovate clean and sustainable products. 

Sustainable packaging: Not everything at this company is in sustainable packaging, but this is the only company I’ve seen that uses glass tubes for mascara and concealer. 

Product ingredients: Many organic ingredients are used and paraben preservatives are avoided

Best products: 

  • Matcha Mascara – in a recyclable glass tube
  • Concealer – in a recyclable glass tube

BUY Erin’s Faces

Tata Harper and other sustainable makeup brands

Tata Harper

About the brand: Based on a farm in Vermont, Tata Harper specializes in botanical skincare and cosmetics. 

Sustainable packaging: Glass containers with metal lids, sustainable packaging made with 100% post-consumer materials and soy based inks.

Product ingredients: Tata Harper sources high-quality, natural ingredients from their own farm and around the world.

Best products: 

  • Anti-Aging Blush – made with moisturizing ingredients and packaged in a green glass pot

BUY Tata Harper

NotMakeup and other sustainable makeup brands

Not Makeup

About the brand: Etsy shop selling handmade natural products for color and glow. 

Sustainable packaging: Everything comes in a biodegradable paperboard container.

Product ingredients: All natural ingredients with colors from roots and seeds.

Best products: 

  • TINT – for cheeks, lips or whatever
  • Gift set with adorable handmade makeup bag

BUY Not Makeup

Keeping It Natural and other sustainable makeup brands

Keeping it Natural

About the brand: Etsy shop selling natural, mineral-based cosmetics

Sustainable packaging: Products sold in biodegradable paperboard tubes or reusable metal tins.

Product ingredients: Vegan formulations made with natural ingredients.

Best products: 

  • Mineral Lip Color (many colors available)
  • Mineral Cake Mascara

BUY Keeping it Natural 

Dab Herb and other sustainable makeup brands

Dab Herb

About the brand: Etsy shop selling hand crafted makeup using certified organic healing plants as pigments and coloring and packaged in glass, metal or paper containers. Most products are refillable as well. 

Sustainable packaging: Everything is packaged in glass, metal or paperboard containers. 

Product ingredients: Most ingredients are certified organic and many are wildcrafted herbal ingredients. 

Best products: 

  • Organic Cheek Pinch Balm
  • Organic Face Luminizer
  • Organic Color Correctors 

BUY Dab Herb

P.S. Don’t forget your zero waste makeup rounds for removing and applying makeup! 

Where to Find Sustainable Makeup Brands

If you are looking for stores that carry clean + sustainable beauty brands, here are some of my favorite resources:

  • The Detox Market
  • Credo Beauty
  • Pharmaca
  • Aillea
  • Follain
  • Etsy
  • Roven (part of Grove Collaborative)
  • EarthHero
  • Thrive Market
  • My Amazon store
  • Whole Foods 

 

 

 

Related

  • Why You Need to Switch to Safer Nail Polish + the Best BrandsWhy You Need to Switch to Safer Nail Polish + the Best Brands
  • Beautycounter Review  – The Products, The Mission & How to Get the Best DealsBeautycounter Review – The Products, The Mission & How to Get the Best Deals
  • How to Find the Natural Deodorant That Works Best For YouHow to Find the Natural Deodorant That Works Best For You
  • EWG Verified Products For a Non-Toxic Personal Care & Beauty RoutineEWG Verified Products For a Non-Toxic Personal Care & Beauty Routine
Tweet
Share
Pin1.5K

Filed Under: Featured, Non Toxic Beauty, Non-Toxic Makeup, Non-Toxic Personal Care, Non-Toxic Products, Shopping, Zero Waste Tagged With: clean beauty, Etsy, makeup, zero waste makeup

About Micaela

Micaela Preston is natural living educator and safe and sustainable product activist. She has spoken at conferences and events, has lobbied for safer chemical laws, and has consulted with many brands and businesses. Her book, Practically Green: Your Guide to Eco Friendly Decision Making was published in 2009.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Linda says

    July 15, 2020 at 7:19 pm

    All I want to do is thank you from the bottom of my heart for your website and all your expertise when it comes to healthy products for inside our body and on the outside of our bodies. I’ve followed you for years and your amazing and God Bless You and all your hard work for all who want a healthy life. Just an awesome beautiful lady. ❤️❤️❤️

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      July 17, 2020 at 9:42 am

      Thank you so much for your sweet comment Linda – you made my day!

      Reply
  2. Rebekah Kingma says

    January 14, 2021 at 7:04 pm

    I enjoyed this article very much. Have you heard of Crunchi brand? I’m curious what your thoughts are about them.

    Reply
    • Micaela says

      January 17, 2021 at 10:17 am

      I’m not familiar with Crunchi. I’ll keep my eyes out for it!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hi there – I’m Micaela!

Micaela Preston I can help you create a healthy, non-toxic, natural lifestyle without a ton of stress!
Read More…

Connect With Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Don’t Miss These Popular Posts:

Health & Wellness Apps
Natural & Organic Bedding
Basic Homemade Granola Recipe
Healthy Home Detox Checklist

Footer

Work With Me

Click here for more information about working with me.

Categories

Archives

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

© 2021 · Mindful Momma · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.