Top brands flying the flag for ethical, sustainable skincare in the UK

And while the recent spate of beauty brands proclaiming their skincare products are ethical and organic at first seems positive, there are concerns that ‘green-washing’ - appearing eco-minded, without much actual operational change - means that progress is not as great as we’d hope within the industry. While in the food industry, the term organic has a clear definition, it’s a little murkier when it comes to beauty But it would be a mistake to hold out for perfect at the cost of doing anything. Better to do something now than nothing, and the following brands are all doing things for the betterment of the planet (whether or not they could be doing more) Organic means products which are grown without the use of chemical fertilisers, GM ingredients and additives such as preservatives and colourings. However, while many skincare brands now eschew chemical additives, many use water as a core ingredient. Water is not farmed, so it can’t be claimed as 100% organic, meaning there are tricky hoops to jump through to get that all-important organic accolade. But don’t despair! There are still many amazing skincare brands that are prioritising organic, natural ingredients, alongside considering how to be more sustainable. And there are some brands who have managed to get the Soil Association or COSMOS certification, which lets you know they are fully organic. The below are our top picks of brands we feel are flying the flag in creating cleaner, natural, more sustainable skincare with no compromises on leaving your skin feeling and looking fantastic. Ere Perez Ere Perez could be the poster-child for organic beauty, with their minimalist packaging, sleek, luxurious aesthetic, and non-GMO formulations. An Australian ‘clean’ make-up brand with Mexican roots, think treaty and decadent, not hair-shirt and worthy. That said, their eco-credentials are above reproach: no GMO-sourced ingredients, no animal cruelty, vegan, carbon neutral, sustainable palm oil, and fairly paid labour. To the products then: densely pigmented, soft on the skin, and in an inclusive colour range. Their Avocado Waterproof Mascara is a cult product for good cause, and their highlighter imparts sophisticated shimmer, not childish spangle. Shop the full range here Neal’s Yard Neal’s Yard have been doing organic long before it became a trendy buzzword; they’ve been organically certified by the Soil Association for nearly thirty years. Their mission is to always use the highest possible percentage of organic ingredients in their products, letting the power of nature do its thing. Neal’s Yard use some of nature’s most effective ingredients from across the world, hailing from Mexico to Oman, and all are ethically sourced too. Shop the full Neal’s Yard range Five Dot Botanics is the result of founder Zaffrin O’Sullivan’s frustration at not being able to find skincare which wasn’t chocked full of mystery ingredients, which have little impact on the effectiveness of the product, but can be irritating to skin. Thus, she created Five Dot Botanics, a skincare brand where each product is made up of solely five ingredients, all of which are plant-based and happen to be incredible at transforming your skin! Their manifesto states that they prioritise organic ingredients where possible and use fully recyclable and biodegradable materials in their packaging. Shop the full Five Dot Botanics range Whether it’s those pesky aerosols or the plethora of plastic packaging, deodorants are often number one on hit lists for those wanting to make their skincare regime more sustainable. Enter AKT, a premium natural deodorant brand who take a strong stance when it comes to their environmental impact, shown by their 100% plastic-free packaging. Tested on hard-working West End performers, these naturals deodorants are super effective in absorbing sweat before you even know you’ve broken one. AKT’s expert complex is derived from natural plant and mineral powders, so no harsh chemicals to upset your delicate underarms. Shop the full AKT range here Pai’s mission is to become the leading brand in organic skincare, and with all their products gaining COSMOS Organic certification, they are well on their way. Pai was founded in 2007, when founder Sarah Brown wanted to create a range that suited her sensitive skin. Pai recently rebranded, and as a result, updated their packaging to be much more sustainably focused, with 50% of their product packaging consisting of glass over plastic, and their outer packaging being 100% recyclable. Shop the full Pai range here With their Return-Refill-Repeat initiative Beauty Kitchen is one of the most sustainable skincare brands on the market. This programme allows for you to send back product bottles once finished with, which then are washed and refilled for future batches; even better than recycling. They also have a range of plastic-free kits to help minimise the amount of plastic in your bathroom. The vast majority of their products are plant based (with a few containing sustainably sourced beeswax), but all of them smell sensational. Shop the full range here

Best skincare brands UK 2022: ethical, organic skincare from great brands, including Neal’s Yard, Pai, Akt

What are organic skincare products?