11 Ethical & Sustainable Makeup Brands Creating Eco-Friendly Cosmetics

Axiology

Axiology’s Clean Makeup

Price Range: $–$$

Axiology is one of the best sustainable makeup brands, self-described as “100% evil free,” referring to their strict policy against the likes of palm oil and animal testing.

Many of their ingredients (e.g. castor oil, sunflower oil) are organic and all are 100% safe, non-toxic, and nano-particle free.

They recently did away with tubes of lipstick and now offer only cardboard push tubes of color creams or multi-use “lip-to-lid” Balmies.

These lipstick crayons contain no unnecessary packaging (just a little paper wrapping) and can be used for eyes and cheeks, too.

About Axiology

As an ethical cosmetics brand, Axiology has exceptional sustainability credentials.

Their cruelty-free makeup is certified by PETA and ingredients are sourced ethically.

For example, shea butter and moringa oils are fair trade, and their mica is sourced from a supplier that supports Made in a Free World.

Outer sustainable packaging comes from a woman-owned recycled-paper boutique in Indonesia.

In addition to not using palm oil, Axiology provides support to the Orangutan Foundation International, which rehabilitates endangered animals after being displaced by palm oil industry logging.

Antonym

Antonym’s Cosmetics

Price Range: $$

Unwilling to compromise performance by eliminating chemicals, Antonym proves gentle ingredients can achieve fierce looks.

Just ask some of the brand’s wearers: Elizabeth Bank, Robin Wright, Kate Mara, and Keira Knightley—to name a few.

Their Ecocert certified organic and natural eco-friendly makeup is for:

• Face (blush, liquid, and powder foundation): Their Skin Esteem foundations are made of 99% natural ingredients.
• Eyes (eyeshadow, eyebrow pencils, mascara, eye pencils)

Everything is Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free and vegan—including their makeup brushes and applicators.

Sensitive skin-friendly, you’ll never find parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic oils, artificial fragrances, GMOs, petrochemicals, fillers, mineral oils, and preservatives.

Mineral mica is used, but we are unsure of their sourcing policies.

About Antonym

Antonym is an ethical and sustainable makeup brand in the US—with a little French flair.

The founder, Valerie Giraud, was born in France where some of the beauty products are also manufactured (along with Italy and the Czech Republic).

These clean cosmetics contain roughly 99%+ natural ingredients (11%+ of which are certified organic) but they do use palm oil of which they don’t specify sourcing policies.

When it comes to packaging sustainability, Antonym only uses bamboo compacts or glass bottles and the outer packaging is either recycled materials or FSC-certified paper.

RMS Beauty

RMS Beauty’s Cosmetics

Price Range: $$

RMS Beauty is one of our favorite ethical makeup companies for a few reasons.

They’re 100% cruelty-free, palm oil-free, and utilize mostly organic, raw, and/or food-grade ingredients. These are largely plant-based, but a few are not vegan.

Joining the best pregnancy safe makeup brands, you’ll never see soy, silicone, GMOs, parabens, or nanoparticle minerals in their range of products for:

• Face (primer, foundation, concealer, bronzer, and more)
• Lips (lip paint, stick, tint, gloss, and pencils)
• Eyes (mascara, eye and brow pencils, eyeshadow)
• Skin (face oils and makeup remover)

About RMS Beauty

Founder and brand namesake Rose-Marie Swift worked in the beauty industry for decades and eventually decided something needed to change.

RMS Beauty was the result, bringing their ethical cosmetics brand philosophy to big-name beauty circles.

They’re also one of several sustainable makeup brands at Sephora that are denoted as Clean at Sephora.

They source organic ingredients from ethical channels–especially their mica in makeup—and house everything in recyclable or reusable packaging. Any cardboard is made using wind energy.

To aid victims of sex trafficking, they support Doors to Freedom, as well as environmental charities like Sea Shepherd.

Elate Cosmetics

Elate Cosmetics Makeup

Price Range: $–$$

A completely ethical makeup brand, Elate Beauty offers a large range of eco-friendly cosmetics “that don’t compromise the health of any person, animal or the planet”.

Their Leaping Bunny-certified, PETA-approved vegan, and gluten-free range includes:

• Eyes (pressed and loose powder, mascara, eyeliner, brow balm)
• Face makeup (foundation, powder, concealer, blush, highlighter, bronzer)
• Lips (lipstick, lip gloss)
• Palettes and kits

They’re also free of nano-sized Titanium Dioxide and, as an ethical mica makeup brand, sources their shimmer from suppliers who are members of the Responsible Mica Initiative.

About Elate Cosmetics

An eco-friendly makeup brand from Canada, Elate’s zero waste beauty products are housed in reusable, fair trade, FSC-certified bamboo.

These can then be easily refilled with new products that come in a seed paper pouch. Just wet the pouch and plant it in your garden to grow herbs and wildflowers.

They join the small club of fair trade makeup brands and prioritize fair trade sourcing over organic ingredients—which is why you’ll see about 10% of their ingredients aren’t organically certified.

The Green Business Association member and Certified B Corp also donates 1% of profits to social charities, 1% to environmental initiatives, plants a tree with every order, and offsets carbon emissions.

100% Pure

100% Pure’s Makeup

Price Range: $$

100% Pure makes vegan, cruelty-free, and natural makeup products as well as makeup brushes out of recycled PBT plastic bottles.

This environmentally friendly makeup brand’s Fruit Pigmented makeup line covers:

• Face (primer, foundation, concealer, blush, bronzer, highlighter)
• Eyes (organic eyeshadow, liner, mascara, brow products): Check out their Berry Naked palette for a mix of bold and skin-subtle colors to create the perfect look for any occasion.
• Lips (sticks, glosses, tints).
• Palettes
• Non-toxic nail polish

Because safe makeup brands shouldn’t use nano-particles or synthetic colors, 100% Pure doesn’t either, though some products contain sustainably sourced palm oil.

Most sustainable packaging (post-consumer recycled glass, plastic, tin, and paper) is recyclable either through their in-store recycling program or in curbside recycling bins.

If you participate in in-store recycling, you’ll receive a free trial-size product.

About 100% Pure

100% Pure prioritizes corporate responsibility, change, and transparency, using ingredients sourced using an Ethical Trade Initiative base code.

With even the most ethical makeup brands, mica sourcing can be a topic of contention, but 100% has nothing to hide:

“It’s produced in the most ethical and safe way possible. The mill, located in Andhra Pradesh, is a modern, high-tech facility that never utilizes child labor and holds product quality to exceptional standards.”

Most products are made in the USA and everything ships in recyclable materials with compostable cornstarch packing peanuts.

100% Pure’s head office is 100% solar-powered, and they’re working to become Climate Positive and use entirely plastic-free packaging.

Juice Beauty

Juice Beauty’s Affordable Makeup

Price Range: $$

Juice Beauty carries a comprehensive catalog of sustainable makeup made from plant-based ingredients, including:

• Eyes (organic eyeliner, mascara, wrinkle serums)
• Complexion (foundation, finishing powder, primers, blush)
• Skincare (sunscreen, moisturizer, toners, exfoliants, and oil-based makeup remover)
• Shampoo and conditioner

But one of our favorites is the Luminous Lip Crayon.

Available in seven different shades, the sustainable lip crayon uses certified organic ingredients like mango seed butter, turmeric root, and jojoba oil.

These ingredients nourish the lips, providing a beautiful, subtle shine, which we personally really appreciate since we’re not big fans of chunky, matte lipsticks.

This one glides on super smooth and colors the lips without caking them with color.

It’s 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and contains no harmful ingredients like parabens, petroleum, propylene, phthalates, sulfates, artificial dyes, or synthetic fragrances.

The sustainable lip crayon comes in FSC-certified paper packaging.

About Juice Beauty

Juice Beauty squeezes every ounce it can to positively impact the fashion industry.

Most of their plant-based ingredients come from nearby West Coast USDA Certified Organic farms or are grown on their sustainable farm.

All of the sustainable makeup is cruelty-free, vegan, Leaping Bunny Certified, and Environmental Working Group verified.

Juice Beauty also contributes to the EWG and Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP).

While most packaging is currently plastic, they’re working on switching to sustainable packaging, including glass containers, FSC paper, Bioresin samples, and travel tubes.

All Earth Mineral Cosmetics

All Earth Mineral Cosmetics’ Makeup

Price Range: $

Made of mineral and botanical ingredients, All Earth Mineral Cosmetics’ products are kind to sensitive skin and provide long-lasting coverage.

Everything from this ethical makeup and skincare brand is vegan and cruelty-free, including products for the:

• Face (foundation, concealer, finishing powder, blusher, bronzer, contour, illuminator, cream highlighter, cream brightening concealer, skincare)
• Lips (lip tint)
• Eyes (eye tint)

Cosmetic-grade and non-nanoparticle mica and natural preservatives are used, and you’ll never find binders, sulfates, alcohol, gluten, artificial fragrance, or parabens in the ingredients.

The products are housed in fully recyclable aluminum and glass containers, with refills available in paper tubes.

To accommodate refills, shoppers can add a “Pot for Life” which is made from recycled fishing nets salvaged in Cornwall.

About All Earth Mineral Cosmetics

Voted one of the best sustainable makeup brands the UK has to offer by National Health Beauty & Wellness, All Earth Mineral Cosmetics is a standout.

All of their mineral-based cosmetic and skincare products are handmade in Cornwall and Kent using ethical, sustainably sourced ingredients.

The minerals are sourced from countries and suppliers where child labor is prohibited.

Through their Eco Swap Service, an option is available at checkout to send back makeup containers and brushes to be responsibly recycled with Terracycle.

Orders are shipped in biodegradable and recycled bags and boxes.

Honeypie Minerals

Honeypie Minerals’ Makeup

Price Range: $

Thanks to their earth-inspired sustainable cosmetics, Honeypie Minerals is a go-to to glam up for the:

• Face (corrector, foundation, blusher, bronzer)
• Eyes (eyeshadow)
• Kits
• Brushes (made with synthetic bristles, recycled aluminum ferrules, and sustainable bamboo handles)

Everything is 100% natural, non-GMO, vegan-friendly, and cruelty-free.

There are no nano-particles, preservatives, mineral oil, parabens, fragrances, wax, palm oil, or alcohol in their ingredient lists.

They do include mica in some of their formulations, but it’s sourced from manufacturers that do not use child labor.

Initial orders come in recyclable/reusable plastic jars while sample sachets and Eco Refills come in plastic free, compostable sachets made of sustainable forestry certified pinewood cellulose paper.

Soon, the jars will be made from aluminum or post-consumer recycled materials.

About Honeypie Minerals

Honeypie Minerals is a female-founded and award-winning UK sustainable cosmetics brand, making everything in small batches in Essex using 100% renewable energy.

They know the exact source and origin of all ingredients and work hand-in-hand with suppliers to ensure they’re ethical and sustainable.

They have a zero-tolerance policy for child labor, slavery, and human trafficking.

Customers receive their first order in a free, GOTS-certified organic cotton drawstring makeup bag.

FSC-certified recyclable boxes, compostable pellets, and biodegradable paper tape are used for plastic-free shipping.

Their website is carbon-neutral and for every product purchased, one tree is planted through Tree Nation.

Vyana Beauty

Vyana Beauty’s Makeup

Price Range: $

Vyana Beauty‘s vegan eco-friendly makeup range includes:

• Face (mineral foundation powder, finishing powder, mineral-free foundation, organic primer, CC powder, concealer)
• Cheeks (blush)
• Eyes (eyeshadow)

When browsing, you may notice how simple the ingredient lists are, each being either plant-derived or mineral-derived (Mica and iron oxide).

The natural skin care ingredients are incorporated to provide additional rejuvenating properties (anti-aging, vitamin C boost, etc.).

Some products contain the common palm derivatives cetyl alcohol and stearic acid, but they’ve confirmed with us these ingredients are palm oil free.

About Vyana Beauty

Swedish Vyana Beauty is one of the best eco-friendly cosmetics brands, aiming to harness “all the richness the earth has to offer”.

Their mica has a sustainable mining certificate and is guaranteed child labor-free.

By opting to use recycled plastic tins, metal tins, or cardboard tubes, they have a smaller carbon footprint than if they used glass pots (as they used to) since glass is heavier to ship.

You can also order product refills that come in compostable cello bags. Liquid refills are possible by returning your clean container to the company for 25% off.

Orders are sent in kraft paper boxes filled with shredded paper and a brochure printed with compostable ink.

Zao Organic Makeup

Zao Organic Makeup

Price Range: $–$$

Zao organic sustainable makeup is entirely vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and mostly refillable, including:

• Face (foundation, BB cream, blush, concealer, bronzer)
• Eyes (eyeshadow, mascara, liner pencils)
• Lips (lipstick, liner pencils)

All are free from nanoparticles, petrochemical derivatives, fragrances, or synthetic preservatives.

Instead, they use micronized silver powder, which works as a skin-friendly preservative with antiseptic properties.

The makeup is housed in sustainably harvested refillable bamboo compacts or glass bottles with bamboo lids.

Refills come in recyclable, BPA-free plastic. They’re working on switching to cardboard, but in the meantime, you can recycle these containers (along with any other Zao packaging) in a Zao Eco-box located at retailers across Europe.

If you’ve just swapped a new canister into your Mineral Silk foundation, hang on to the old insert until you have a chance to recycle it.

About Zao Organic Makeup

When it comes to makeup brands that are sustainable, French luxury doesn’t often make the cut—but Zao Organic Makeup is the exception.

They work with 100% natural ingredients chosen to impart natural anti-aging skin care remedies and other healing benefits thanks to “increased biocompatibility with the skin”.

All of their PETA-approved cruelty-free products are certified organic by Ecocert and manufactured in the Czech Republic and Italy.

They partner with the Terre & Humanisme social project to promote sustainable food systems and food autonomy in Benin.

Eco Minerals

Eco Minerals’ Makeup

Price Range: $–$$

For natural, palm oil free, vegan, and cruelty-free makeup, Eco Minerals is one of Australia’s finest for your whole makeup routine:

• Eyes (eye color, mascara, brow powder, eyeliner, eye shadow)
• Face (BB cream, pressed mineral powder, foundation powder, liquid foundation, concealer, primer, bronzer, highlight, illuminator)
• Lips (lipsticks, lip balm)
• Makeup brushes

You won’t find fillers, dyes, colorings, coated mica, nanoparticles, or bismuth oxychloride in Eco Minerals’ clean sustainable makeup.

Instead, you’ll find pure, natural minerals: calming and sun-protective zinc oxide, pigment-providing iron oxide, protecting titanium dioxide, and shimmery mica.

For their wet makeup—like their super smooth Mineral Primer—these minerals are combined with 100% natural plant oils and botanicals.

Zero waste refills in kraft paper pouches are available for powder products. For the liquid bb cream, skincare, and primer, refills come in cartridges that use 40% less plastic.

About Eco Minerals

Byron Bay-based Eco Minerals believes minerals can be done right through purity and ethical sourcing.

That’s why their mica is not sourced from regions often linked with child labor (India, Asia, Africa) and the bamboo for their brush handles comes from sustainable sources.

Everything is certified by CCF and PETA to be vegan and cruelty-free.

They use minimal, recycled, or biodegradable packaging and hand-pack orders in their Byron Bay showroom.