17 Zero Waste Makeup Brands

If you’ve been a reader of Going Zero Waste for a while, you know much I love a good DIY! I used to make my own makeup all the time, like this lip to cheek, this eyeliner/mascara combo, and this powder foundation.

But, life gets busy and the reality is that you might not have time to DIY everything! As my workload has grown, my DIY time has unfortunately decreased significantly.

So, I went on a hunt for the best zero waste (or very low waste) makeup brands that are made with safe, earth-friendly, high-quality ingredients.

10 zero waste makeup brands from www.goingzerowaste.com #makeup #zerowaste #ecofriendly #ethical #sustainable #skincare

Most of these brands are more expensive than what you’d get at the drugstore (although there are a couple really budget-friendly ones!), but the fact is: you don’t want to be wearing that stuff anyway! Cheap, conventional makeup is known to be packed with potentially toxic synthetic substances that can mess with your hormones and have significant long-term negative health effects

Personally, I don’t want to mess with that—I’d rather spend a little more to invest in higher-quality products with natural ingredients and just buy less of it! 

I should give you a disclaimer that not all of these brands are perfectly zero waste. But I do know that the brands below are prioritizing minimalistic, recyclable, and compostable packaging wherever possible! I also can’t guarantee what sort of packaging is involved with online orders. I have always bought my makeup in-store at Credo Beauty so I don’t have to deal with extra packaging, but I know not everyone has access to a clean beauty store near them! If you’re worried, you could always reach out and ask before ordering—some of the brands below have noted that they will reduce the packaging even more upon request. 

A few other hot tips before we get to the list:

First, if you live in a humid environment and/or don’t go through makeup very quickly, I would recommend skipping the bamboo packaged products since they can get moldy! You do NOT want to be putting products with invisible mold spores onto your skin.

Second, if you’re finished with your old mascara wands, you can put them to good use by sending them to Wands for Wildlife!

Third, let’s talk quickly about makeup remover. Usually, a regular old cotton washcloth and some coconut oil or face cleanser will do just fine! If you’re looking for a little something extra, these hemp and organic cotton makeup removal pads with this makeup remover is also a good option. And if you’re someone who’s constantly smearing things that need to be fixed with Q-tips, try a NakedSwab!

Lastly, just a heads up: many of the links in this post are affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Also, all pricing is in USD.

[ RELATED: DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner and My Favorite Zero Waste Skincare Products. ]

  1. Antonym Cosmetics

All of Antonym’s makeup is certified by ECOCERT, which means the products and packaging are third-party verified to be up to certain environmental standards. Plus, everything is cruelty-free and the only non-vegan ingredient they use is beeswax (in the lipstick only). They leave out all of the nasty stuff like parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrances, etc.

Their bamboo compacts are really pretty, and their outer packaging is made from either recycled or FSC-certified paper. Watch out for the liquid foundation though—the bottle is plastic!

Products: Foundation, blush, and eye color
Price: $19 - $60

2. Aether Beauty

If you’re into crystals, astrology, and Greek mythology, you will love Aether. Yes: their eye shadows are literally infused with crystals. They use organic, fair-trade, vegan, and non-GMO ingredients wherever possible and ban over 1500 ingredients from their formulas.

Their eyeshadow palette is completely paper and the packaging is almost entirely recyclable.

Products: Eyeshadow
Price: $58

3. RMS

RMS is a pretty popular one that you’re more likely to find at in-store retailers. One of the first companies to prioritize clean ingredients in 2009, it’s been recognized by a lot of conventional outlets like Allure, InStyle, Vogue, and more.

RMS uses organic and toxic-free ingredients. Their cream products come in recycled glass pots and their boxes are made from 80% post-consumer recycled fiber and manufactured using 100% wind power. Everything is non-GMO, soy-free, gluten-free (except for the volumizing mascara!), and cruelty-free.

I’m intrigued to try their line of “Un” cover-ups and powders. The idea is that it actually works with your skin to create an even and finished look without the cakiness that often comes with regular concealers and foundations.

Products: Pretty much everything
Price: $20 - $52

4. Kjaer Weis

Kjaer Weis is one of my favorites: I get a lot of Instagram DMs from people asking me about my eye makeup. It is ALL Kjaer Weis!

Kjaer Weis was actually started by a conventional makeup artist who worked for big fashion magazines like Vogue, Marie Claire, and Elle. She found that so many of the women she worked with were irritated by synthetic makeup products, which led her to eventually start a luxury brand that’s also organic and eco-conscious.

Their compacts and containers are made of a metal that unfortunately is not recyclable, but they are refillable (including the lipstick and mascara). Their products are made in Italy and all of their ingredients are either Certified Natural or Certified Organic by Italy’s certifying body, the Controllo e Certificazione Prodotti Biologici.

Kjaer Weis is not vegan because they do use beeswax in a lot of their products.

Products: Lip color, eye color, foundation, highlighters, mascara
Price: $25 - $75 

5. Axiology

Axiology’s lipsticks are made (mostly) from a list of ten natural ingredients, including a blend of organic oils, elderberry extract, and candelilla wax. They do carry neutrals, but this is definitely your brand if you’re looking for beautiful, bold colors.

Their lipstick tubes are made from recyclable aluminum. Their packaging is made from recycled trash by a women-run cooperative in Bali, Indonesia and is both recyclable and compostable. The tubes for their lip crayons are not recyclable though, so maybe go with the lipstick instead! 

Everything is certified vegan and cruelty-free and is completely free of palm oil, gluten, soy, and synthetic fragrances.

Products: Lip color
Price: $30

6. Elate Cosmetics

Elate is a pretty popular brand among the zero waste and eco-conscious community, and for good reason. They carry a wide range of products, offer refills, have great transparency, and their products tend to be a bit more affordable compared to some other brands.

The company ethos stands on 5 Conscious Beauty Principles: impact, ethics, community, future, and mission. They report that their operations are currently around 75% waste-free and are actively working to increase that number. They do use some recyclable plastic, but try to stick to more sustainable and easily recyclable materials like aluminum, glass, bamboo, and seed paper!

Elate also embraces the idea of creating a capsule beauty bag. Inspired by capsule wardrobes, the idea is that you don’t have to have a vanity filled with hundreds of makeup products, but instead, less is more. Their quick, 3-question quiz will give you recommendations for which products to include in your capsule.

Everything is 100% vegan and cruelty-free as well as gluten-free. Plus, they give back a portion of their profits to social and environmental non-profit organizations.

Products: Pretty much everything
Price: $4 - $42

7. ILIA

ILIA does use plastic for many of their products, but I’m including them on this list because of their take-back program. The brand is committed to reducing their impact by recycling the hard-to-recycle. Customers can mail in up to five empty beauty products per month (even if they’re from another brand!) and they will recycle them through TerraCycle. This is a great option if you’re still in the process of transitioning to a zero waste lifestyle and have a lot of more conventional products sitting around!

They use clean ingredients as much as possible and all of their products are free from things like sulfates, parabens, gluten, and talc. Everything is cruelty-free, but some of their products are not vegan.

Products: Pretty much everything
Price: $26 - $54

 
10 zero waste makeup brands from www.goingzerowaste.com
 

8. Bésame

Bésame has a glamorous 1900’s feel because it was actually started by a cosmetics historian! It’s so authentic—they actually gather vintage makeup from estate sales, auctions, and antique stores to recreate the colors and textures to exactly match the originals (but using more modern, safe ingredients).

I haven’t actually used their cake mascara and it looks like it might require a small learning curve, but I’ve heard really good things! It comes in a small tin can which you can get refilled.

Everything is 100% cruelty free and does not contain gluten, parabens, or mineral oils. It’s mostly vegan, with the exception of a few products that contain beeswax. Bésame is woman-owned and operated, and everything is made locally in California.

Products: Lip color, eye color, mascara, and face powders
Price: $20 - $30

9. Sappho New Paradigm

Sappho New Paradigm started with a focus on luxury, vegan and organic cosmetics that are free of known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. Everything is produced and formulated with ECOCERT certified ingredients in a zero carbon footprint facility in Canada.

Sappho does use plastic in some of their products, but they do have replaceable powders for their foundations, blushes, and eyeshadows. They also report that they’re in the process of developing new packaging that includes more eco-friendly materials like glass.

Products: Pretty much everything
Price: $20 - $54

10. Eco Minerals

Eco Minerals is another great option for refillable powders. Unlike the refills from the other brands though, these are loose powder instead of matte.

Everything is vegan, cruelty-free, and free from fillers, parabens, chemical preservatives, and palm oil.

Products: Mineral foundation and blush
Price: $31 - $41

11. Tata Harper

I LOVE Tata Harper—I actually wore their Lip and Cheek on my wedding day! They mostly carry skincare, but they do have a few cosmetic products as well.

Everything is formulated, manufactured, and packaged by hand on their farm in Vermont. The majority of their packaging is glass, which means it’s easily recyclable or reusable. The plastic resin that is used for their bottles is made from renewable sugar cane rather than petroleum. Their outer packaging is made from cardboard and paper that’s either SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) certified and/or made from post-consumer recycled waste and soy-based inks. Their ingredients are and are certified ECOCERT, vegan, and cruelty-free.

Products: Lip and cheek color
Price: $32 - $42

12. Keeping It Natural

This is a great option if you’re looking for something more affordable. Available on Etsy, everything is made by hand in Ohio and ships plastic-free.

Keeping It Natural’s ingredient list is super short and everything is cruelty-free, fragrance-free, vegan and gluten-free.

Products: Mascara, lip color, and cheek color
Price: $12 - $19

13. Clean Faced Cosmetics

Another great Etsy shop to try out, Clean Faced Cosmetics are made by hand in Michigan. The shop owner appears to be very accessible—she’s willing to make a custom shade for you or omit ingredients you may be sensitive to. You can order refills and even send back your containers to be reused.

Everything is vegan and mostly organic!

Products: Pretty much everything
Price: $10 - $48

14. Alima Pure

Alima Pure is not completely plastic-free, but they do offer refillable compacts built to hold magnetic pans that can easily be swapped out. Their products are also free of all of the bad stuff like parabens, petroleum, and talc. 

Alima Pure is a B Corp as well as a member of 1% For the Planet. Plus, for the last 10 years, the brand has been offsetting 100% of their carbon emissions through Carbonfund.org and manufacturing their products using energy-efficient processes including wind-powered electricity.

Products: Pretty much everything
Price: $14 - $46

15. Fat and the Moon

Fat and the Moon has gained somewhat of a cult following over the years, and I can see why. Created by an herbalist, these products are made using age-old ingredients and recipes that have been passed down from various healing traditions for a really long time.

All of Fat and the Moon’s products come in reusable, recyclable containers and they do their best to reduce packaging everywhere possible. All of the ingredients are non-toxic and cruelty-free, but they do use beeswax in many of their products.

Products: Lip, eye, and cheek color
Price: $18 - $24

16. Zao

Zao’s packaging, as well as some of their ingredients, are made from controlled harvested bamboo. They have a refill system as well.

Their products are ECOCERT certified and they source their ingredients from organic farms. Everything is toxic-free, cruelty-free, gluten-free and vegan. Plus, at their factory in France, employ individuals with disabilities.

Products: Pretty much everything
Price: $15 - $44

17. Josie Maran

Last and certainly not least, Josie Maran! I would honestly classify them more as a skincare brand than a makeup brand, but they carry my favorite lipstick so they deserve inclusion.

Give it Pink Sand is the perfect neutral shade that has just enough color to not make my lips look like they blend into my face, and Love It is my go-to berry shade!

When I say these are my favorite lipsticks, I mean it. I wear them daily!

Josie Maran's main ingredient is argan oil. Their hero product is 100% pure Argan Oil, and all of their oil comes from a UNESCO-protected region to help prevent deforestation and over-harvesting.

A single argan tree can live for more than 600 years and produce fruit throughout its entire lifecycle!

Most of their products are sold in glass bottles and jars which are perfect for upcycling. But they take full responsibility over all of their packaging because Josie Maran is partnered with TerraCycle to take back all of those empties.

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Those are my top 10 zero waste makeup brands! To learn more about the products I use every day check out my Low Waste Makeup Capsule Collection. 

Which ones would you add to the list?

If you liked this blog post check out:

My Top 5 Zero Waste Shower Essentials

This post was sponsored by Plaine Products. I received these items to try for free. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post may also contain affiliate linking. Please see my full disclosure for more information.
My top five zero waste shower essentials from www.goingzerowaste.com

Going zero waste has definitely altered my shower routine from the products I use to how frequently I actually shower.

Americans shower WAY too much. Most Americans shower 1-2 times a day, but I know people who shower 3. It’s all just a little excessive. It wastes water but most importantly it’s flat out bad for your skin.

The body keeps itself moisturized with a layer of dead skin held together by lipids (fatty compounds). It protects the healthy layers underneath, and the more you shower the more you scrub that layer away.  

My top five zero waste shower essentials from www.goingzerowaste.com

Your body can’t keep up. In fact, it can lead to an overproduction of oil. (Further reading) It makes sense right? The more you strip your body of its natural oils, the more it will over produce to compensate.

Many commercial shampoos and soaps work similarly. They make you dependent on their products because they strip all of your natural oils away. This causes your body to overproduce, requiring you to buy more and more of their products.

I stopped using conventional shampoos when I started going zero waste two years ago. I have tried many different hair care methods. I think hair is one of the most challenging aspects of zero waste living since everyone’s body chemistry is so different.

My top five zero waste shower essentials from www.goingzerowaste.com
Hair care is one of the biggest laments I hear from readers, and it has inspired me to try and find the best zero waste hair solutions for everyone.  Plaine Products has been kind enough to send me liquid shampoo, conditioner, and body wash to review.

If you're one of the readers who have complained about not liking shampoo bars, this is the product for you. They have landed the #1 spot on my zero waste shower essential list. 

my top 5 zero waste shower essentials:

1. plaine products:

This is one of the most well thought out product designs I've ever seen. I don't know about you, but I’m nervous about keeping glass in my shower. These products are packaged in aluminum. 

Aluminum is a self-sustaining metal. It's 100% recyclable just like glass, but it has a better carbon footprint for shipping because it's lighter than glass. Plus, it won’t shatter if it's dropped whether that be in shipping or in the shower.

They offer a refill service. When you run out of your products and order a refill you just switch the pump over to the new bottle and send the old bottles back. They'll sanitize the bottles, refill them, and send the to their new home.

If you’ve lamented over the shampoo bar – you need to check out their liquid shampoo and conditioner.
Plaine products have the ease of commercial products without the guilt and yucky additives - no SLS, vegan, and biodegradable. I used to use Aussie and this competes. My hair is light, healthy, and has lots of volume. You can check out their list of ingredients here
My top five zero waste shower essentials from www.goingzerowaste.com

I honestly cannot rave about them enough. I trusted them 100% with my hair for the wedding. Probably the most photographed day I will ever experience. With all natural soaps, I find them to be a little bit thinner so I have to use a little more product than I normally would. But, I'm washing my hair way less (on average every 3-4 days), so I'm still saving SO much product in the long run.

2. scrub brush:

In my old shower, I used to have one of those plastic netted loofahs. I always thought they worked well, but they have a pretty fast expiration date.

Loofahs of any sort can trap dead skin cells which can be a breeding ground for bacteria. It's recommended to throw out your loofah every 2-3 months. I can honestly say, I never did that. In fact, I'm a little shocked that it's recommended to replace them that often. 

Once my loofah came to the end of its life, I didn't replace it. I read somewhere that between the hot water, the soap, and an agitator, like a loofah, you can over exfoliate. Back to breaking down that layer of dead skin cells too much. 

My top five zero waste shower essentials from www.goingzerowaste.com

I tried going without and using just my hands to lather, but it wasn't working out very well for me. The water here is hard and it's messed with my skin texture. I started breaking out on my back which I've never done before. 

I decided to get a bamboo scrub brush* to see if the extra exfoliation would do the trick and it has! 

I honestly cannot imagine my shower without a good scrub brush. 

RELATED: Benefits of Aromatic Showers with Eucalyptus

3. safety razor: 

Safety razors* might seem like one of the scariest zero waste swaps. It can be intimidating holding something that could easily slice your skin. I don't consider myself to be overly clumsy, but I have never cut myself while shaving. 

Full disclosure, I have dropped the razor and taken some skin off. But, I have never cut myself shaving! It really is almost the exact same as using a disposable razor. 

I have a full post on how to use a safety razor here. What that post doesn't cover is how to recycle the blades. 

My top five zero waste shower essentials from www.goingzerowaste.com

You CANNOT put razor blades in the regular recycling bin. You have to take the blades to a special recycling facility where a machine sorts metal and it's not done by human hands. 

If you're in Northern California, I got to the Concord Recycling Center. You'll want to get a steel can that has broth only. Cut a slot in the top of the can and pour the soup out. Rinse with water and tap dry. 

Obviously, there's no way of completely guaranteeing it to be dry, but that's alright. Drop you used blades into the slot. Once it's full put a piece of tape over the slot and take it to your nearest metal recycling facility. 

4. water pik:

I just wrote a whole post about my oral hygiene routine here. I love this water pik* because I can use it in the shower! This is so convenient. I don't have to worry about getting water everywhere, which I most definitely do when I'm using it by the sink. 

My top five zero waste shower essentials from www.goingzerowaste.com

I am lazy - a lazy, lazy woman. Water piking in the shower is probably the only way I would do it. 

5. a bucket: 

This is a great way to catch excess water in your shower! You can use it to water your plants or flush your toilet.

Another great thing about the rockin' ingredient list on Plaine Products is that it's biodegradable.
My top five zero waste shower essentials from www.goingzerowaste.com

It's completely safe to use the gray water to water your plants and take it outside. Filling up a bucket is also a good visual tool. 

If you're someone who tends to spend too long in the shower, gauging the fullness of the bucket is a wonderful indicator that the clock is ticking. Just be careful not to trip on the bucket if it's under your feet. I wouldn't know anything about that... 


I truly couldn't imagine a shower with these five items. Everything is streamlined, simple, and effective. 

If baths are more your thing make sure to check out my recipe for bath salts. What are some of the items you couldn't imagine showering without? 

Zero Waste Flossing

Let's talk about flossing. Flossing is important. Gum health is important. Taking care of your teeth and your health is super important! 

Zero waste flossing and a look into my zero waste oral care routine from www.goingzerowaste.com

Regular floss is typically plastic. Beyond just being plastic, it's toxic. It's coated with PFC's which is a chemical that's found in teflon.

The PFC's are added to make the floss glide better.  PFC has been linked to thyroid disease, dementia, cancer, fertility issues, and birth defects. You can read more about the study here and here

When you floss, your gums might bleed. As you can imagine, the PFC's have pretty much immediate access to your blood stream. So, let's look at some better options. 

First of all, a slew of studies have come out that flossing isn't really necessary. You can read more about that here and here. I think flossing is important, but I don't think it's the MOST important. 

I think it's most important to have a consistent routine down. Here's a glance into my oral care routine. Healthy teeth are a vital part of well-being. 

tooth powder: 

Zero waste flossing and a look into my zero waste oral care routine from www.goingzerowaste.com

I personally, brush twice a day with this toothpowder. I worked on that recipe with a dentist to make sure that I wasn't going to harm my teeth. I don't know about you, but the last thing I want is to ruin my enamel. 

water pik: 

Then I water pik every other day. I LOVE my water pik. I have a cordless one which makes it a breeze to use in the shower. My dentist personally recommends water piking over flossing.

A water pik is an electronic water flosser. It uses a powerful jet stream, much like you receive at the dentist. The one I have, has a setting that alternates between air and water. It's considered 3 times as effective as standard dental floss.

As a bonus, if you have any dental hardware, water piking is amazing! I have a bar on my bottom teeth from when I had my braces removed, and haven't been able to successfully clean it until the water pik came along. 

Zero waste flossing and a look into my zero waste oral care routine from www.goingzerowaste.com

floss:

Once or twice a week I use dental floss; because, I personally, don't think you can be too careful. Thankfully there are a lot of options for plastic and PFC free floss. 

Eco dent makes a vegan brand, but the floss does come in a small plastic pack which is a bummer. Radius offers a silk version, but it has the same plastic pack. 

I've heard some people use strings from an old piece of silk to floss. That sounds like a great plastic-free method, but it seems like a little too much work for me. Flossing is already a chore... (another reason why I like water piking... it's almost, dare I say it, kind of fun!) 

But, this completely plastic-free floss takes the cake. The refills come in cellulose which is compostable. No more plastic packaging. Just the way I like it! Plus the floss container is actually pretty. 

mouthwash:

Last but not least, I use this mouthwash regularly. In fact, this study found that mouthwash delivers better results than conventional flossing. Albeit, I'm still a firm believer in using a little bit of everything for the most sucessful results. 

Zero waste flossing and a look into my zero waste oral care routine from www.goingzerowaste.com

This mouthwash is super soothing and is amazing at freshening your breath. You should just read the study about how AMAZING aloe vera is for your gums. 

I think aloe vera can cure pretty much anything. It's definitely one of natures miracles. 


What does your zero waste/plastic free oral care routine look like? 

This post may contain affiliate linking you can read more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support.