6 of the best sustainable beauty buys

The name is a bit of a giveaway: One Ocean Beauty is all about creating hard-working products while contributing to the preservation of our marine environment. Formulas are free of harmful ingredients, packaging is 100% recyclable and, with each purchase, a direct donation goes to Oceana, an organization dedicated to restoring the oceans. The products themselves are pretty special too, formulated with blue biotechnology (technology based on marine biology) and using responsibly sourced ingredients such as kelp and algae from across the globe.

We’ve all wised up to the damage that single-use plastics can do to our environment, which is why Kjaer Weis’ clever, refillable makeup packaging is so appealing. The neat metal containers are built to last, with everything from eyeshadow to lipstick available in refillable form to reduce unnecessary waste. And, let’s face it, the products look all the more chic for it.

First of all, Costa Brazil’s products smell and look amazing, as well as working wonders on dry skin. On top of this, the brand wild-harvests its hero ingredients – Brazil nut, tucuma and murumuru oil – from the Amazon rainforest, where it works with local cooperatives and scientists to ensure responsible sourcing and sustainable methods. Bottles are made of glass and the stylish monochrome boxes are made from recycled paperboard, so waste is kept to an absolute minimum.

Tata Harper isn’t one to do things by halves. Not content with simply using all-natural ingredients in her skincare range, she and her brand actually grow them on an idyllic farm in Vermont. Free from GMOs, toxins, synthetic chemicals and artificial colors and fragrances, the products are then packaged in 100% post-consumer materials for a truly sustainable approach to beauty, from farm to face.

Chantecaille isn’t just about great makeup and skincare; respecting nature has always been a part of the brand’s philosophy, and it regularly supports conservation projects and charities through its campaigns. This year, it has teamed up with The Perfect World Foundation to plant trees in a bid to counteract global warming, and also supports Space for Giants, which protects elephants. Look out for the little elephant etched onto the Lip Veil packaging, and know your favorite lipstick is making a difference.

Most people get through a lot of shampoo and conditioner in their lifetime, so it’s important to think about its impact on the environment. Rahua uses only regenerative rainforest-grown ingredients, working with the indigenous people of the Amazon to hand-process the products and create a local economy that benefits everyone. The Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner contains mango and passionfruit to help keep hair silky soft.