Keep these conscious makeup and self care options in mind next time you make a purchase.

By Jennalynn Fung

In 2020, we’re all trying to make decisions with the planet’s health in mind, which is why SUSTAIN has compiled a list of refillable and sustainable makeup options for you to use everyday (especially after we’re out of quarantine)! Our criteria for adding certain brands to the list means they fulfill at least three out of these five requirements: vegan, cruelty free, non-toxic, ethically sourced, and minimal packaging. Additionally, most of these products are based in the US and carried by many stores including Credo Clean Beauty, which has two locations (one in Brooklyn and one in lower Manhattan). 

Axiology

Axiology is known for their wide range of Lipsticks and now, Lip-to-Lid balmies. The range of colors and styles they offer and their dedication to being 100% zero waste makeup is phenomenal. Their lipsticks and lip crayons are made of Vitamin E oil from sunflowers, making their products completely gluten free. Axiology also claims they have no palm oil, soy, or synthetic fragrances in their products. They are certified vegan and cruelty free by PETA and are packaged in completely recyclable boxes. Their lipstick tubes are made of aluminum and can also be recycled. 

I recently purchased their lip-to-lid blamies in the shade: rosé. Their crayon balms are meant to be used on the eyes, cheeks and lips and work to nourish and heal your skin. You can blend them in with your fingers instead of brushes, which is what makes this product so awesome! It’s light and doesn’t require much prep.

Kjaer Weis

Kjaer Weis was started by Danish-born Kirsten Kjaer Weis who now lives in NYC. Her inspiration for the makeup was creating something minimal like Scandinavia, but fierce like the city. Weis also had the intention of creating a brand that was sustainable on the inside and out; all the ingredients that go into Kjaer Weis are Certified Natural or Certified Organic and have been made in Italy. Each product is free of parabens, silicones, petrochemical emulsifiers and synthetic fragrances. You can find out more about the ingredients that they use on their site.

When it comes to refillable products, they send out packs of the product that you can place into the original metal container. They also have a “Red Edition” of products, where the makeup is packaged in paper based, 100% compostable, recyclable and refillable containers. It is red, textured paper that can easily be discarded if the product becomes damaged. They offer a range of products, including (but not limited to) foundation, eyeshadow, lipsticks and mascara. You can find more diagrams showing how to refill your makeup along with more information detailing their mission here

Alima Pure Cosmetics

Alima Pure was started in 2004 by Kate O’Brien and since the beginning, her company has valued sustainability. For twelve years they have been carbon neutral by offsetting their carbon emissions through the Carbon Fund. The brand is also a part of the Green Source Renewable Power Program, the 1% for the Planet organization, and is a certified B corporation that has a commitment to people, profit and the planet.

Beauty and lifestyle content creator Alisha, owns one of Alima Pure’s lipsticks, a few eyeshadows and a highlighter. Alisha commended the cream highlighter for its natural glow and being super easy to blend. She also stated, “their lipstick formula is wonderful! Actually one of my favorites. It’s super creamy with more of a satin finish. Great color pay off. The eyeshadows are beautiful, they have a nice amount of pigmentation to them. They do fade on me a little bit, but when I first apply them they look stunning on the eyes.”

Alima Pure offers a range of refillable products, such as pressed foundation, cream concealer, pressed eyeshadow and cream highlighter. They have always been minimal waste in packaging their products, using magnetic pans for the makeup. These pans can be swapped out for a new one when the product is used. A list of the ingredients that Alima Pure uses is posted to their webiste; they claim to be free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, dimethicone, petroleum, talc, nanoparticles, etc. They are also vegan and cruelty-free.

Eco Minerals

Based in Byron Bay of Australia, Eco Minerals was founded by two friends, Lulu Starman and Amber Handley in 2007. They don’t use fillers, parabens, chemical preservatives, or palm oil. You can view the full list of ingredients here. Their “ECO Refill” is done by providing quality containers in the first purchase and then sending the refills in simple, but sturdy sachets (which are then packaged and sent out in biodegradable or reused shipping materials). They offer refills of their mineral foundation, bronzer, and blush, as well as other custom mixes.

UNPASTE

UNPASTE is refillable toothpaste that comes in the form of a chewable tablet instead of actual paste in a tube. Customers love UNPASTE because of the high gloss and polishing actions that safely remove stains from teeth due to tea, coffee, etc.. It is made without any animal ingredients and has never been tested on animals, making it vegan and cruelty-free. It is BDIH certified, all natural, and has a full list of other certifications when you scroll to the bottom of their site.

I reached out to one customer of UNPASTE, Celeste Harper who expressed her admiration for the product, “The feel of the tabs is something to get used to, but it's not a big thing. There's a few things I love about using these tabs. They make brushing my teeth more intentional. I don't rush and actually take the full recommended time to brush. I'm able to feel each tooth to make sure I reach each one. My teeth feel so clean after.” Harper also likes that the tabs won't clog up your sink with globs of toothpaste, which is beneficial for your plumbing and the environment!

Clean Faced Cosmetics

Based in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, Clean Faced Cosmetics states that they are mostly organic, completely vegan and haven’t tested any of their products on animals. Their products however, are processed in a facility that also processes coconut, nuts and gluten. Available for purchase on Etsy, they will refill your empty container if you send it back. Details about the process of refills for each product can be found in their individual listings.

They have a ton of makeup items, ranging from natural mascara to completely vegan, zero waste eyeshadow and blush, as well as vegan color correctors and primers! One of their most unique products is a vegan highlighter. What customers love most about Clean Faced Cosmetics is that all the products have beautiful color and are of great quality. Paula, on April 30th of 2020, left a review on Clean Faced Cosmetics’ page, saying that they were pleased that the “profits go to a real person, not a bunch of billionaires.” It’s important to support smaller businesses as we would local ones!

Honorable Mentions

Fat and the Moon: Fat and the Moon uses abundant, ethically harvested and organic plants to create their non-toxic creams and formulas. Located in the USA, they’re best known for creams and vibrant eyeshadows. They use glass jars or metal, recyclable containers and minimal packaging . Their best selling products are their All Cream and Aloe Lotion. Along with numerous, organic body care products, they also make lip paint, highlighter and cheek stain.

RMS Beauty: Rose-Marie created this brand as an initiative for healthier lifestyles after becoming severely ill. She realized that there was a common denominator between her own health issues and makeup during that time: toxic chemicals and heavy metals. In 2008, Rose-Marie created the first “luminizer” and also put into production “un” cover-ups, balms, eye polishes, and “lip2cheeks.” She finally launched the line in January of 2010 in The Netherlands in the Skins store, and continued to unveil it around Europe and America that year. To find out more about the ingredients in RMS Beauty, and where you can purchase RMS products, visit their website.

Ecco Bella: Crafted as an act of protest against animal cruelty, Ecco Bella tries to speak on behalf of the heath of animals and the environment. All of their products are sourced sustainably from the United States, with their cosmetic pencils being made in Mexico. Their products are free of water, alcohol, talc, FD & C dyes, gluten, and other animal products (including dairy products like lactose or casein). Most of their products are also paraben free and completely safe for customers with celiac sprue. Ecco Bella is also known for their unique options in eyeshadow where you can create your own, individualized palette. You choose the colors you want from a wide range of options.

BUXOM Cosmetics: They have a refillable eyeshadow palette where you can choose each individual shade, offering colors like Shimmering Amethyst, Iridescent Mint, Glimmering Cayenne, Chai Luster, and over 40 more. Out of 41 online reviews, the average rating is a 4.7, with many people raving about how fun it was to create their own palettes. They offer different empty, customizable palettes as well as refillable, already prepared ones. Instead of buying completely new palettes, you can choose specific shades to refill your old BUXOM palette with.

Many countries in Europe have already banned the use of animal products such as hair and fur. The global vegan and eco-friendly cosmetics market alone is set to reach $20.8 billion USD by 2025, according to a report done by Grand View Research, Inc., before the WHO declared an international pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis at hand could actually convince people to value nature and the word of scientists more, leading to a heavier emphasis on living a sustainable life. As concerns regarding consumer health and safety rise, it’s safe to assume that products that are refillable and produced ethically and responsibly will become even more mainstream and dominate the beauty industry.