Menu
This year has been hard on us and the planet. While we were battling a deadly virus, our planet is battling climate change due to the amount of waste and garbage generated by plastic usage. We have been quite literally been dumping toxic waste and as a result our oceans, rivers and other water-bodies are getting clogged. Since the plastic isn’t biodegradable or recycled, it stays there for years to come, thereby causing more environmental damage.
The Zero Waste movement has gained momentum around the world and for all the right reasons. It hasn’t been stressed enough about the overuse of single-use plastics and how we need to ditch it to save the planet.
It is also important to address that a lot of plastic waste is produced by the beauty industry. Every year we dump countless plastic tubes, bottles, containers most of which go unrecycled, in the garbage. Through using more sustainable, biodegradable packaging solutions, all of this waste produced could be removed. While we understand that beauty and skincare industry is huge, baby steps towards making a better planet is all that we need.
We have curated a list of 15 eco-friendly skincare brands that have taken sustainability quite seriously.
1)Pahadi Local
The brand promises to bring you skincare products right from the Himalayas and their non-formulated pure products are carefully sourced, extracted, and delivered in a way that keeps the carbon footprint to a minimum. Pahadi Local’s best sellers their hot favourite, Gutti Ka Tel (Apricot Kernel Oil) which can be used as a massage oil, makeup remover and even to soothe aches and joint pain. Their other products include Lake sediment scrub, Mineral Rich Himalayan Clay, Akhrol ki Tel (Walnut Oil) and more. They also have pahadi honey, a selection of teas and even shawls made from Pashmina, basically a huge haven for all things Pahadi.
Through Pahadi Preserve, they urge their customers to return five empty bottles/jars at a time so they can recycle them. They are using plastic and acrylic containers. They arrange for the empty jars/bottles picked up from their doorstep and as a token of appreciation, a 50ml Gutti Ka Tel is gifted to the customer on their next Pahadi Local purchase.
2) Neemli Naturals
Neemli Naturals is a brand that was born in a Bandra-backyard. All their products are handcrafted using a holistic approach, combining age-old, traditional methods with modern technique and ingenuity. None of the products have any artificial fragrance and are made using 100% natural essential oils. They use plant-based food-grade cold-pressed oils, steam distilled therapeutic-grade essential oils in their products, which are also Vegan and not tested on animals. Their packaging is recyclable and reusable, which will make you buy their products again and again.
3) Nuskay
Derived from the Urdu word ‘nuskha’, which means ancient remedies and rituals passed down over generations, Nuskay offers a luxurious line of beauty products that are made from herbal, bio-inspired and sustainably sourced ingredients. They also make products in small batches, thereby avoiding mass-scale production wastage. Their best-selling products include, the Golden Dew Concentrate, a luxurious 24k gold serum that offers hydration and re-energizes the skin; the Starlight Glow Restorer for youthful, supple skin; and the Activated Charcoal Scrub to draw out impurities.
4)L’Occitane
L’Occitane, the luxury skincare brand ensure that their products are made with sustainable resources. They have also introduced special refill packs that save you money and cut down on plastic waste. This year, the French beauty and well-being brand has also announced a major initiative in its commitment to the environment by signing a multi-year supply agreement with Loop Industries to replace all its plastic packaging with a 100 percent sustainable PET alternative. By doing so the label will increase its current recycled plastic content from 30 percent to 100 percent by 2025. They also accept empty bottles and jars of any brands as long as they are neat and clean.
5)Aveda
Aveda is committed to using organic ingredients and the true principles of Ayurveda. Their products are completely vegan, cruelty free, not tested on animals and the packaging is all recycled. Their haircare products are also SLS, Paraben, Mineral Oil and Petroleum free. Their aim is to have all vegan products in their shelves by 2021.
6) Bare Necessities
Bare Necessities as a brand are the most committed to environment friendly and zero wastage lifestyles. They use reusable glass jars, cloth scraps sourced from the local tailor and paper scraps from the printer. In other words, they only use post-consumer packing materials to ship their products. They have a wide range of skin and hair care products which are not only good for your skin and hair, but also for the environments. They also conduct workshops on going zero wastage and sustainability.
7) Burst Of Happiness
Burst of Happyness has taken a completely natural and organic approach to making their products. They use essential oils to make their products and their scrubs, lip balms and body butters are sans any artificial colours or fragrances. Their packaging too is very eco-friendly and recyclable. They even make completely natural and organic deos in bergamot, cedarwood, lavender and grapefruit fragrances.
8) Enn’s Closet
Enn’s Closet has products that are safe, non-toxic, and highly effective. Their products have no unnecessary chemicals, fillers, parabens, or additives.The companyy is completely against animal testing as well. Even though some of their products are a little on the expensive side, you can trust them for being absolutely safe on your skin and environment. They even have lipsticks that are organic and cruelty free.
9) Plum
Plum has become a household brand name now! We have come to love their face scrubs, masks, moisturizers…aaah to name a few.Their products are full of goodness and completely SLS, Paraben and Sulphate free. Their products are not tested on animals and recently they started an initiative of their customers returning their empties to them. They connect you to a verified recycler and reward you with Rs 50 in shopping credits on their website. Now isn’t that a good reason to buy more of Plum products?
10) Omorfee
Omorfee as a brand takes their mission to be sustainable very seriously. Their products have no glycols, chemical preservatives, GMOs, alcohol, silicon, mineral oils, paraffin, SLS, PEG, paraben, colour, and fragrance! With every purchase you make they plant a sapling grown in an organic environment. On their website, you even have a choice to plant a sapling of your choice.
11) Raw Beauty Wellness
Raw Beauty Wellness cares for your skin and the farmers. Most of their ingredients are sourced locally from farmers. They use only organic and/or wild-harvested ingredients to create quality products alongside supporting the livelihood of farmers. They are committed to reducing waste and avoid plastic packaging as much as possible. One the upside about their products, is that their products are unisex.
12) Earth Rhythm
The makers at Earth Rhythm, believe in safe and eco-friendly skincare. All their ingredients are personally handpicked to retain their natural potency. They are also certified by Ecocert to offer Certified Organic, Non-Toxic and Sustainable products devoid of any adulterated elements. That’s why all their products are zero-waste, non-toxic and plastic-free. Psst! A lil birdie tells us that their bathing and shampoo bars sell like hotcakes and go off the shelf the moment they are in stock.
13) Vilvah
Vilvah is a brand based on the philosophy of what you see is what you get. Their products come in steel bottles and they don’t hide the ingredients. They mention all the ingrediants mentioned in each products. All the products are made in small batches and not mass produced, so that they can control the quality of the product. They even use goatmilk in some of their products. All their produce is biodegradable, including the paper they use.
14) Treewear
Treewear assures you that the product you buy from them is made with natural materials, has been responsibly made with the utmost care to ensure zero-waste material is produced. They also ensure that proceeds from your product will contribute towards a new tree at one of their afforestation/reforestation projects within India. Their all-natural deodarant sticks are to die for and make you feel like taking a walk in the forest! They also produce non-alchoholic sanitizers that are a need of the hour. Their products have no sulfates, no artificial fragrances, no alcohol, no aluminium and no preservatives.
15) Juicy Chemistry
Juicy Chemistry is another brand that has become a household favourite. We love their facial oils, don’t we? Well, their motto is if it is good enough to eat, it is good on your body. Their products are organically sourced and are made from naturally sourced ingredients. Their products are sans any harmful chemicals like parabens, phthalates, sulphates and they do not cause harm to waterways or marine life. Their facial oils are a must-add to your daily skincare routine.
