According to the United Nations, we're currently set to have more plastic in our oceans than fish by the year 2025. And the beauty industry is one of the biggest contributors.
READ: 23 best refillable beauty products to buy in 2022 - because it's cool to shop smart
Everything from non-recyclable plastic packaging to cellophane wrapping, foundation pumps, mascara wands, toothbrushes and more is part of the 120 billion units of plastic waste caused by our beauty products every year - that's enough plastic in our ocean to be seen from space.
Being more environmentally conscious has never been higher on our agendas. Even making a handful of sustainable swaps to refillable products, natural and organic beauty brands and zero-waste cosmetics will help to reduce your impact on the earth.
MORE: 7 simple sustainable swaps to make for an eco-friendly home
RELATED: 7 ways to make your wardrobe more sustainable
Looking to give your beauty cabinet an eco-friendly overhaul, but don't know where to start? You've come to the right place. Scroll on for our must-have list of Amazon beauty buys sustainable shoppers swear by - but don't forget to use up your current products first!
Best eco-friendly beauty products
Face Halo
Face Halo "Pro", £11.40, Amazon
SHOP NOW
The holy grail of makeup removers, the Face Halo is a total gamechanger when it comes to limiting your carbon footprint. The plush microfibers gently lift makeup from deep within your pores so everything from foundation and blush to eyeshadow and mascara is removed with nothing but water - goodbye micellar water and single-use cotton pads! Each pad can be reused and washed up to 200 times, saving you money and limiting your need to use throwaway makeup remover pads.
Top review: "I was very sceptical of this product, but when I used it for the first time, I was amazed! No more cleansing cream or cotton wool. This magic little product removes my makeup with just water alone. Wow! I will never use a cleanser again."
Biodegradable Dermaplaning Razors
Biodegradable Razors, £7.16, Amazon
SHOP NOW
These eco-friendly dermaplaning razors naturally decompose over time due to being made from biodegradable wheat straw, and they also come in zero-waste plastic-free packaging. Win, win! Rember that if you're into dermaplaning at home (exfoliating and removing hair with a gentle blade) you should always do so with caution.
Top review: "I love these razors! Really appreciate the eco-friendly approach. I just did my eyebrows and lips and my skin feels great after. The razor is sharp enough to pick the smallest hair without causing injury. Very well-made product."
Faith in Nature Shampoo Bar
Faith in Nature Shampoo Bar, £4.35, Amazon
SHOP NOW
As the name suggests, Faith in Nature's shampoo bar offers a more sustainable, eco-friendly alternative for reducing waste when washing your hair. Not only is the packaging 100% recyclable, but the bar boasts a 99% natural ingredient list and all-natural fragrance - and users claim one bar lasts much longer than a normal shampoo bottle, too.
Top review: "Just used it on my hair today, and I’m seriously impressed! I was sceptical that a shampoo bar could get my hair as clean as regular liquid shampoo, but I’m following the curly girl method and wanted a shampoo that had no sulphites, silicones or other nasties. Some people can go without shampoo, but my hair needs it. This shampoo bar seems about as close as I could get to being harmless to my hair. I have no reason to go back to using other shampoos, and feel so much better in the knowledge that I’m decreasing my plastic consumption, even if only by a little."
Salt of the Earth Natural Deodorant
Salt of the Earth Deodorant Crystal, £5.09, Amazon
SHOP NOW
This all-natural deodorant crystal creates an invisible antibacterial layer on the skin’s surface that inhibits the growth of bacteria, preventing body odour. The result is effective, long-lasting protection that allows your skin to breathe. It's super efficient when applied to wet skin, lasting for several months and skipping the need for aerosols or plastic-wrapped deodorant balms.
Top review: "I love this deodorant. When used properly, it keeps me totally odour free all day no matter what I am doing or how hot the weather is. So much healthier and more comfortable than the roll on deodorant that I used to use."
Waken Toothpaste
Waken Toothpaste, £2.66, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Waken's dental toothpaste provides all the benefits of your usual toothpaste, but with SLS-free ingredients and natural botanical extracts that don't cost the earth. Better yet, this sustainable toothpaste packaging includes a tube made from recycled aluminium that can be recycled endlessly when you’re done with it.
Top review: "Such a win for the planet and we love this product! Been buying this toothpaste for a year now and couldn’t go back to the plastic alts."
UpCircle Facial Oil
UpCircle Organic Facial Oil, £15, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Finding sustainable beauty products with natural ingredients that *actually* work can be a minefield - but not for UpCircle. This game-changing brand harbour the benefits of coffee grounds and antioxidant-rich fruit stones to make skin-loving products. Yes, really! With 20% off when you return your pots to be refilled, their gorgeous scented beauty products make sense for your skin, your wallet and, of course, the planet.
This Coffee facial oil is packed with antioxidants to fight free radicals, helps delay the signs of ageing. Also balances skin tone and reduces scarring and pigmentation.
Top review: "This serum is fabulous. A small amount goes a long way, so will last a long time, and when on the skin absorbs well, just give it a minute or so. It doesn’t leave a greasy surface of feel on the skin and leaves a lovely dewy sheen, I use it with the moisturiser, and even using both products it’s not heavy on the skin and doesn’t clog pores."
Alter/Native Conditioner Bar
Alter/Native Conditioner Bar, £6.50, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Alter/Native Coconut and argon hair conditioner bar is a richly moisturising and deeply nourishing soap for healthy, shiny hair. Cruelty-free and zero-waste, this conditioner bar is made with essential oils of coconut and argon with ylang ylang to keep your hair smooth and shiny.
Top review: "Absolutely love this. I've been using bar conditioner for years now and this has completely blown all others out of the water. It lathers up so so well (better than any I have tried before), smells amazing and leaves my hair so soft and shiny."
Bamboo Reusable Pads
Bamboo Reusable Cotton Pads, £8.50, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Conventional cotton pads are a disaster for the environment. Cotton requires a massive amount of fertilisers, pesticides and water use before it lands in our beauty cabinets. If you need to apply products like toner or AHA's with a facial pad, reduce your daily waste by switching to reusables.
Top review: "Want to try little things to save the environment? This is one of those little things! I was somewhat sceptical. When I got these I was SO happy that they lived up to their promise. In fact, I only use 10 and am saving the others for when these wear out, which won't be anytime soon."
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Bar
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar, £10.79, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Cult brand CeraVe was hailed as skincare royalty after going viral on TikTok last year for its highly effective, dermatologically endorsed ingredients and impressive results. Behold, the same CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, minus the plastic packaging. The reviews speak for themselves, really.
Top review: "I was using the pump hydrating cleanser but felt like it didn’t last very long as I wanted something for all over (face, body and hair). This is perfect and hasn’t caused any irritation. It’s not drying at all and cleans perfectly. Get the oil off your skin a lot better than the pump cleanser which is a tad bit too mild when doing oil cleanse etc. Would recommend."
Biodegradable Cotton Buds
Eco Health Bamboo Cotton Buds, £5.69, Amazon
SHOP NOW
Cotton buds are not the most glamorous of beauty tools, but they're certainly essential. Does it feel weird to think the plastic utensils you've been using to even out your eyeliner and clean up your eyeshadow fall-out are somewhere on the earth today? Plastic can take thousands of years to break down, so there's a high chance every single non-biodegradable cotton bud you've used in your lifetime is chilling in a landfill somewhere. Yikes.
We love these organic, eco-friendly and biodegradable cotton buds from Eco Health - and so do beauty shoppers. After you've finished using them, simply recycle them or put them in your compost bin.
Top review: "I'm impressed with the quality of these and the eco-friendly nature of the entire product and packaging. The cotton buds are organic and packaged in cardboard. While a lot of supermarket brands now use paper sticks for their cotton buds, they quite often use plastic lids on their packaging, so this complete card tub is a great improvement."
The Body Shop Cleansing Balm
Camomile Cleansing Butter, £12.90, Amazon
SHOP NOW
This cult cleansing balm from planet-loving brand The Body Shop earned its cult status on TikTok last year for its makeup melting qualities and plastic-free packaging. Using a cleansing balm with a facial flannel is a luxurious way to remove every last trace of makeup while purifying, cleansing and refreshing your skin.
Top review: "It ticks all the boxes for me: cruelty free, does not irritate my skin and it shifts make-up like a dream. I massage a small dollop into my face and wipe it off with a warm, damp flannel. Job done."
HELLO!'s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. To find out more visit our FAQ page.
