The beauty industry is slowly waking up to its environmental impact. A pot doesn’t need to be housed in Baboushka-esque boxes and polythene chips to succeed at its primary task. Yes, looking good is important (we all like gratuitous ‘grams of impeccable shelfies) but, it’s thankfully no longer ‘normal’ to shop at the planet’s expense.
More and more of us are challenging the way our creams and serums are contained — with customers questioning how things are packaged and asking for other, sustainable options. With this burgeoning sense of responsibility, and an audience who’re championing change, an ethical stance is the future of beauty. So, if your bestie’s forever reminding you how to recycle (“THOSE WIPES AREN’T DEGRADABLE!”), or rightfully tutting about the ridiculous volume of packaging used FOR NO REASON then, shop from our edit of eco-chic presents and thrill your most ethical friends.
From low-waste hair care to refillable make up, our Cult Conscious offering has what you're looking for... just make sure you add a Recycle Me Bag to your order.
REFILLABLE
Dispelling the myth that ‘eco’ = ‘slightly unsightly’, beautiful brand La Bouche Rouge is spearheading refillable make up. Supporting artisanal practices and rescuing offcuts of leather from the luxury tanning industry to make the handstitched cases for their lipsticks, these pieces are meant to be cherished and refilled again... and again. Contemporary heirlooms, nothing says “I love you” like a lipstick made to last, and with various colours and textures to choose from, it’s easy to switch matte for satin whenever the (French) fancy takes you.
FSC-CERTIFIED
With an FSC Proof Point, Youth to the People use only sustainable forest materials and ethical forestry practices to help secure the future of the planet’s precious ‘lungs’. Committed to safeguarding trees by working with Forest Stewardship Council-certified suppliers, the brand’s bestselling skin care (the Superfood Cleanser’s iconic) allows you to treat someone special while doing your bit for our valuable greenery. A sweet Secret Santa, Exfoliation Station pairs the Yerba Mate Facial with a mini Power Toner to revitalise and brighten, while Daily Skin Health pairs *the* cleanser with the Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream to cherish and replenish.
B CORPORATION
Cute stocking thrillers, you can’t go wrong with one of Davines’ exquisitely wrapped shampoo bars — the most earth-friendly way to keep hair fresh (and cherished) with next-to-no waste (their elegant outfits are 100% recyclable). With four iterations to choose from — ‘Love’ (for coarse or porous hair), ‘Volu’ (for quiet hair that needs some va-va-volume), ‘Dede’ (for hair that needs everyday washing) and ‘Momo’ (for dry, damaged hair types) — these bars don’t only mean great things for strands, but they’re doing their bit for the planet as well. What’s more, Davines is B Corp-certified, meaning the brand has unimpeachable practices — from supporting growers to cultivating a conscientious working culture for its employees — the B Corporation certification assesses a company’s social and environmental performance... an assessment that Davines’ has passed with flying colours.
Another B Corp company is Sunday Riley — an accolade that sits alongside its cruelty-free and female-founded credentials. A bestselling brand since they launched the phenomenal Good Genes, the limited edition Morning Buzz Set (worth £128) is jam-packed with skin-brightening, free radical-fighting heroes to tackle fatigue and promote luminosity, while the Day and Night Bright Set unites the brand’s iconic oils — C.E.O. Glow and Luna — to unify skin tone and soften fine lines.
FEMALE-LED
Female-founded and female-led brands are a great way to show your support for the sisterhood, and 19/99 is a make up range taking up space in the beautysphere. With their inclusive approach to colour cosmetics, the brand believes that everyone — from 19 to 99 — can (and should!) express themselves through make up and that no shades are ‘off limits’ (quite rightly). Perfectly portable, the Mini Precision Pencil Trio unites three ultra-versatile pencils in a super-cute pouch, to enhance eyes, lips and complexion.
VEGAN
As well as being female-led, Herlum has Vegan, Cruelty-free and FSC Proof Points, making it a brilliant ethical all-rounder. A Great British range, the brand’s Comfortable Silence Candle combines the soothing scent of sandalwood with the kick of black pepper, to create a warm, cocooning ambience, while the beautiful Copa Dew Oil stars Brazilian copaiba oil, renowned for its powerful healing, skin-strengthening properties, alongside cold-pressed rosehip and buriti oils to scavenge harmful radicals and boost skin’s elasticity.
DONATES TO CHARITY
And if you’re looking for a gift that keeps on giving, look no further than our brands with a ‘Donates to Charity’ Proof Point. Ceremonia, for example, supports 1% for the Planet — a global movement inspiring business and individuals to support environmental solutions through an annual membership (as well as their everyday actions and business practices). The brand is also Climate Neutral Certified, which means they’re going above and beyond to do good for the planet, as well as your hair. The beautiful, colourful Pouch de Mercado is handmade in Bógota using up-cycled materials used to transport goods to and from the local farmers’ market – meaning you can trust its durability. Available in two cute colourways, it’s generously sized to safely transport your beauty essentials to the gym, the office or a minibreak...
Larry King Hair Care is a proud supporter of One Tree Planted, meaning the brand donates a percentage of sales from their new shampoo and conditioner range to the tree-planting charity. Housed in refillable glass bottles (the aluminium refills can be purchased and are readily recyclable), nobody could fail to be delighted by a bottle of the shine-enhancing and detangling Liquid Hairbrush — a heavenly scented conditioner that aids separation and leaves your locks gorgeously glossy.
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