Sustainability – ethical elephant

10 Sustainable & Zero Waste Mascara (Vegan & Cruelty-Free!) | 2023 Update!

Vy — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Looking to reduce single-use plastic packaging in your cruelty-free & vegan makeup routine?

I’m sharing some low and zero-waste mascara from brands that don’t test on animals in this post. Also, none of these eco-friendly mascaras contain any animal-derived ingredients, including beeswax.

I managed to find 10 low to zero-waste vegan mascara that comes in either compostable or reusable/refillable packaging. From eco-friendly paper packaging, and glass vials to metal tins and refillable systems.

Zero-Waste Packaging Mascara

River Organics

River Organics is an independent beauty company located in Wilmington, NC. They offer a zero-waste vegan mascara that comes in eco-friendly paper packaging with a biodegradable sugar cane label. You also have the option to get it with or without the brush to reduce waste further.

Lush Naked Mascara

This innovative zero-plastic packaging vegan mascara designed by Lush includes three wands to choose from for different effects, all made from non-plastic, bio-based, and non-toxic polypropylene. From a thick wand to add thickness and volume, a one-sided comb for added definition, to a wand with a circular end that separates lashes.

To use, hold your chosen naked mascara with clean, dry fingers. Lightly wet the tip of the brush and place it into the mascara shape using very minimal water. Rub the brush around the inside of the product in circular motions, making sure there is enough product coating the brush. Brush through lashes, just as you would with any other mascara.

Bésame Cosmetics

Bésame’s best-selling Black Cake Mascara is now vegan! Inspired by a product from the 1920s, this water-activated mascara is made from natural wax and is made especially for sensitive eyes. It comes in a low-waste, recyclable tin that can be reused with Bésame’s refills. Note that the small brush does come wrapped in plastic.

Birch Babe

Made in Canada with sustainably sourced ingredients, Birch Babe’s all-natural, plastic-free mascara cake comes in a tin with a reusable mascara wand. Crafted with all-natural, toxin-free, and organic ingredients to help strengthen and lengthen lashes while it goes on creamy and lasts without smudging. Available in Black and Brown.

Zerra & Co.

Handmade in Baltimore, Zerra & Co offers a plastic-free and zero-waste vegan mascara (in Black or Dark Brown) housed in a glass vial. They also claim that while many mascara manufacturers include a plastic insert to remove the excess mascara, Zerra & Co. has chosen to go without it to save the waste.

Refillable Mascara (Vegan)

Izzy – Refillable Mascara

Izzy offers a refillable mascara system where their tubes are made from medical-grade stainless steel and are designed to be cleaned and refilled over 10,000 times. Izzy mascara comes with no outer packaging and is shipped in reusable mailers manufactured from upcycled materials. The tubes contain zero plastic components, while the plastic wipers and brushes are reground and recycled at their facility.

MOB Beauty

MOB’s refillable volumizing vegan mascara is made with 100% post-consumer recycled PP and is designed using 70% less packaging material than the industry standard mascara. The refill snaps into MOB’s endlessly refillable Mascara Capsule that’s made with 50% post-consumer recycled PET.

The vegan, clean mascara formula is a creamy blend of sunflower and berry wax, olive oil, and jojoba to condition the lashes and provide a creamy, easy-to-build mascara without clumping, tackiness, or flaking.

Elate Cosmetics

Sustainable cosmetics brand Elate Cosmetics has vegan mascara in Black and Brown. Elate’s refillable Essential Mascara was created for even the most sensitive eyes; this water- and sweat-resistant formula helps your mascara stay put, even when you’re on the go. Made with organic white tea, it’s packed with antioxidants for healthier, stronger lashes.

Packaged in a recyclable etched glass vial and water-treated bamboo lid to further reduce the amount of plastic in our packaging. The frosted glass is sand blasted to ensure easy recycling at the end of life. Housed in a biodegradable paper tube to keep your mascara safe.

Zao Organic Makeup

Zao has two vegan mascara formulated with natural and organic ingredients; both versions of Zao’s mascara are refillable. Available in black and brown. The outer tube packaging is made of sustainable bamboo, and the inner plastic tube is made from recyclable PET plastic.

Sappho

Sappho’s maximum intensity refillable vegan mascara’s packaging and formula took over two years to come to life and was tested inside and out for PFAs (<10ppm). Sappho’s natural mascara creates intensely black, luscious, long lashes that don’t smudge and includes a wand to separate each lash; this mascara can build from natural to dramatic.

Tip: Keep your old mascara wands and donate them to local wildlife rehabilitation facilities that use them for grooming, cleaning, and treating wild animals. Check out Wands for Wildlife.

Some Great Options But Not Vegan

While researching for zero-waste mascara, I found some more options that come in either compostable or recyclable packaging, but unfortunately, they were not vegan. I thought I mentioned them in this post as I get asked about them, and I wanted to provide you with some vegan alternatives.

Kjaer Weis has two mascara: lengthening mascara and volumizing mascara. Both of them come in refillable packaging, but they also both contain organic beeswax and are therefore not vegan. If you want a refillable vegan mascara in a tube, check out Izzy.

Erin’s Faces Matcha Mascara – is housed in a glass vial for easy recycling, but it contains beeswax and is therefore not vegan. If you prefer a vegan glass packaging mascara tube, check out Pacifica Beauty.

I hope you found this eco-product guide to sustainable packaging and zero-waste mascara helpful on your journey to creating positive change. Some more sustainable beauty guides you might also like:

The post 10 Sustainable & Zero Waste Mascara (Vegan & Cruelty-Free!) | 2023 Update! appeared first on ethical elephant.

14 Vegan & Zero-Waste Sunscreen for Face & Body in 2023

Vy — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000

In our quest to protect ourselves from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays, we often overlook the impact our sunscreen choices can have on the environment.

Enter zero-waste sunscreen – a revolutionary solution that allows us to stay sun-safe while minimizing harm to our planet.

What is Zero-Waste Sunscreen?

Zero-waste sunscreen is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional sunscreens.

It is designed to minimize waste throughout its lifecycle, from production to disposal. Unlike conventional sunscreens that come in plastic containers, zero-waste sunscreens often come in recyclable or compostable packaging.

They are also made from natural and organic ingredients, free from harmful chemicals, and are safe for both our skin and the environment.

Zero-waste sunscreen aims to provide effective sun protection while leaving behind zero or minimal impact on the planet.

Zero-Waste Sunscreen Products

In this post, I share 14 great options for sunscreens that come in plastic-free packaging and are cruelty-free and 100% vegan!

Meaning all of these brands have confirmed they don’t test on animals. And all the sunscreen products are classified as vegan and don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients (including beeswax that’s commonly found in other sustainable sunscreens).

Whether you prefer sunscreen in a cream or stick formula or want tinted sunscreen, here are our top finds!

Zero-Waste Sunscreen in a Tube (Vegan)

Seed Phytonutrients Daily Protective Moisturizer SPF 30

Seed Phytonutrients’ mineral-only sunscreen is formulated with coconut alkanes, green tea, plus actives zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to provide broad-spectrum UV protection while thoroughly moisturizing skin.

Price: $29 for 50mL
Packaging: Recyclable Aluminum Tube

Reef-Safe, Paraben-Free, *Cruelty-Free, Vegan Formula

*Note: Seed Phytonutrients is cruelty-free, but Seed Phytonutrients is owned by L’Oreal, a parent company that is NOT cruelty-free.

Found My Skin Tinted SPF 50+ Face/Body cream

Formulated and created in Australia, Found My Skin offers a zero-waste tinted sunscreen for the face and body. It’s a mineral-based sunscreen and contains Sodium Benzoate and Terminalia Ferdinandiana (Kakadu Plum) oil infused, the world’s richest source of vitamin C.

Price: AUD$47 for 100g
Packaging: Recyclable Aluminum Tube