Environmentally friendly beauty has become an ever-increasing ethos in the industry. In fact, sustainability has been lauded as one of the biggest beauty forecasts of the year. With World Environment Day around the corner on Sunday 5 June, 2022, we thought we would salute the beauty brands doing their part for the environment. 

Environmentally Friendly Facial Wipes – Conserving Beauty

Welcome to the new generation of facial wipes. These little wipes are created using a world first, proprietary waterless fabric technology called InstaMelt™. Not only do they dissolve your make-up in seconds, but the the fabric instantly dissolves in water. It won’t block drains or sewerage networks, nor will it harm marine ecosystems. If you choose to bin it, rest easy knowing that the wipe will also biodegrades in 14 days.

The wipe itself contains eight ingredients to help fight inflammation, redness, breakouts and support an even skin tone. Each one is packed with antioxidants to counter environmental aggressors. Its also infused with bakuchiol, reishi mushroom extract, algae oil, squalane and myriad other skin-boosting ingredients. They’re a little greasy on the skin. So, I always follow up with a second cleanse using a lightly foaming cleanser that I wipe away with a warm, damp, clean face cloth. Remove contact lenses if you’re going to be using them around the eyes.

Conserving Beauty InstaMelt Facial Wipes
Conserving Beauty InstaMelt Facial Wipes

Environmentally friendly beauty head-to-toe from Heartwood

Aussie beauty brand Heartwood uses sustainably sourced Indian sandalwood as the hero ingredient of its collection. This includes face, fragrance and body collections. The sandalwood is grown in the pristine wilderness of WA’s remote Kimberley region. If that doesn’t give you some peace of mind, then the knock on effect from its use will. Indian Sandalwood is scientifically proven to naturally enhance serotonin in the brain, smooth skin surface texture and defend against ageing factors. I’m especially mad for Royal Body and Hair Oil. It doubles as a fragrance and skin-smoother and is formulated using a modified blend of complex botanicals, resins, and nut oils.

Heartwood Royal Oil
Heartwood Royal Oil

Ere Perez 

The team at Ere Perez has vowed to be 90 percent plastic-free by the year 2023. The brand has also introduced new refillable products that you can insert into your existing product to spare landfill. They’re cost-effective and beautiful to use. Check out the Tapioca Blush and Bronzer Rice Powder Refills. The brand’s two new Pigment Pencils lip and cheek crayons also hark to environmentally friendly beauty practices. Coco Crayon, formulated with rich coconut oil, and the Acai Lip Pencil are completely plastic free, fully sustainable and high performance. They both boast long-wearing colour and deliver lip-softening hydration.

Eve Perez Cheek Colour Refill
Eve Perez Cheek Colour Refill

Essano

Essano has launched a brand new range of body lotion packaged in a 100 percent recyclable pump. There’s no metal spring, which means you can safely toss it in the recycling tub. Choose from Intensive Restore, Radiant Cocoa Glow or Daily Hydration.

Essano Body Lotion
Essano Body Lotion

Zero Co

This Byron Bay team of legends create single-use-plastic-free body products that are grey water safe and vegan, made from plant extracts. They deliver products in a carbon negative way, with refill pouches that you empty into your ‘Forever Bottles’. The pouches are made from ocean, beach and landfill waste collected from clean ups, which they fund around Australia. Once the pouches are empty, simply send them back in the supplied reply-paid satchel. They then clean, refill and reuse them – over and over. A zero-waste, closed loop system, environmentally friendly beauty option to better the planet.

I can promise you that you will love, love, love the shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and body lotion.

Aside from being heaven to use, they are really generously sized, so you won’t need to top up too frequently.

ZeroCo New Starter Box
ZeroCo New Starter Box

My Soda Australia

Truly amazing shampoo and conditioner formula aside, this brand is really doing its bit in the environmentally friendly beauty space. It is all about cruelty free, plant-based haircare and a better-for-environment promise. Clever refill packs are designed to reduce plastic waste by 80 percent. The refillable bottles are crafted from recycled plastic and all bottles and refill pouches are fully recyclable. The range is manufactured in Melbourne with the help of solar power and the company is dedicated to reducing the impact on our precious environment.

My Soda Smooth Shampoo
My Soda Smooth Shampoo

Slowe

This is an empowering digital destination for sustainable, ethical beauty and fashion. My choice? Lesse Bioactive Face Masque, which targets many skin issues. It soothes and hydrates dry skin, clarifies and brightens dull complexions and decongests skin that is experience bumps and blemishes.

Slowe Beauty: Lesse Bioactive Face Mask
Slowe Beauty: Lesse Bioactive Face Mask

The Kind Sunscreen

Born from a need to slather her son in sunscreen when travelling, founder Emma Corrie set about creating a sunscreen that was travel sized, effective and easy to apply and absorb. The Kind Sunscreen ticks all those boxes. It’s beautiful to use, doesn’t leave a white residue and offers broad spectrum protection.

The Kind Sunscreen
The Kind Sunscreen

BY THE BE

These stunning oils are hand crafted in small batches in Canberra, ACT, Australia. They are plant-powered and totally vegan. The first time you massage the oil into your hands and cuticles, you’ll be hooked. Not just by the instant softness you’ll feel, but also by the stunning aromatherapy-powered scents. My ultimate fave is Obscure, which is a grounding, calming blend of pure rose extracts.

BY THE BE, Obscure Oil
BY THE BE, Obscure Oil

ROEMY

A modern fragrance house, Roemy is a collection of clean, cruelty-free and environmentally conscious fragrances. Start your journey with the Discovery Set, which houses 5 mini samples of each scent. From there, you can choose the one that suits you best (though I must say, I’m hooked on Forest, an uplifting blend of Bergamot, Cardamom, Fig, Leather, Violet, Australian Sandalwood, Cedar. You may love them all and find it hard to choose (I did). in which case, simply re-order the Discovery Set. Too easy!

ROEMY Edition 1 Discovery Set
ROEMY Edition 1 Discovery Set
Shonagh Walker is one of Australia's most prolific and respected lifestyle writers, covering everything from health and beauty to travel and entertainment. In her 30+ year career she has interviewed some of the world's most famous faces, covered stories from the lighthearted to the very serious, all with the aim of somehow helping her readers feel better about themselves, or arming them with information to enjoy life to the fullest. Shonagh is the recipient of several prestigious awards for her work. On the rare day she is not at her computer, she can be found walking her dogs or trying to improve her gardening skills.