10 Non-Toxic & Cruelty-Free Makeup Brands UK

Odylique was borne out of sensitive skin issues like eczema, dermatitis and allergy-prone skin. So if you’re searching for the purest natural products with zero synthetic fillers, then look no further! Odylique was one of the first companies to create fair trade products with organic certification from the Soil Association (an organisation with incredibly rigorous standards!). Whilst all of their PETA-approved makeup involves no animal testing, a few of their products do contain honey and beeswax. They state that they only source these ingredients from trusted suppliers that never practice unethical or cruel methods of farming – so it’s your call whether you want to filter these out or not.

Packaging: Locally made, recyclable and non-toxic packaging is part of Odylique’s ethos. No matter the material chosen – glass, plastic or sugar cane – they have one rule: it must always be 100% recyclable. Read more about their carefully considered thought processes here.

One of the UK’s original ethical beauty pioneers, PHB Ethical Beauty is a family-run business based in Brighton that has been making natural, sustainable, and award-winning products since 2012 (yep, way before sustainability became trendy!). They are also 100% vegan and palm oil-free. All of their ingredients are natural and most are certified organic (see each product for a transparent breakdown), so you can say goodbye to questionable, toxic ingredients. Plus, an incredible 20% of their profits are donated to charitable causes. Find out more in my PHB Ethical Beauty review.

Packaging: Not only is PHB’s packaging completely gorgeous, but it’s also thoughtfully designed to be sustainable and minimise unnecessary waste. In 2021, they introduced a large selection of zero-waste and reduced-plastic makeup products. They also avoid sending excess leaflets and keep packaging to a minimum when shipping orders.

Facetheory appeared on the beauty scene in 2015 with a vision to create performance-driven products that were also kind, vegan and affordable. They are B-Corp certified, PETA and Leaping Bunny approved, free of chemical nasties like parabens and silicons, made in the UK and RSPO certified. Facetheory has now excitingly launched a range of makeup, with some lovely animal-friendly options for flawless skin. Oh, and if you choose the wrong shade, Facetheory will kindly send you a free replacement that’s one shade lighter or darker!

Packaging: Facetheory are in the process of completely phasing out single-use plastic, with 95% of their product range now available in amber glass jars with aluminium caps or 100% recyclable aluminium tubes. Plus, all packaging used to ship your order from their Sheffield HQ is minimal and biodegradable.

The Body Shop originated in Brighton in 1976. Its approach to beauty has always been radical and rooted in activism, with feminist and human rights at the forefront of its ethos. Ethically sourced and natural ingredients equal products that are made to make women feel good in their own skin. From the very beginning, profits have never overtaken principles. They are cruelty-free, work with farmers and suppliers directly, and have helped communities to thrive through their Community Fair Trade programme. Just remember to filter by ‘Vegan Makeup’.

Packaging: The Body Shop aims to minimise virgin plastic production with the mantra ‘Refill, Reuse, Repeat’. They have refillable lipsticks and have removed the plastic pump from their foundation bottles to make them completely recyclable (they come with a nifty spatula, instead!). By 2030, they pledge to reach full circularity with 100% of packaging being reusable, recyclable, or compostable, and 50% of all plastic being from recycled sources.

The founders of Zao were particularly inspired by travels in Asia and observations in nature. The name itself comes is inspired by Eastern philosophy by amalgamating the words ‘Zen’ and ‘Tao’. An invitation to meditation, peace of mind, and the search for harmony and authenticity. If slow fashion is a thing, then Zao embodies the concept of ‘slow cosmetics’. With all-natural origin ingredients from organic farming practices (plus EcoCert organic certification), you can rest assured that Zao is free from petrochemical derivatives or synthetic preservatives. They are also 100% vegan.

Packaging: Firstly, can we all just stop to appreciate that Zao’s packaging is not only refillable – it’s gorgeous. You’ll honestly want to keep hold of it for a lifetime! The decision to use eco-design bamboo packaging is what really gives Zao their unique point of difference. They have also worked hard to make the vast majority of their products refillable.

With celebrity endorsements from the likes of Emma Watson, this is a brand that people only have good things to say about! Launched in 2009, RMS is on a mission to clean up the beauty industry and set a higher standard. Their products are formulated using only raw, food-grade, organic, wildcrafted, and natural materials (i.e. free from parabens, gluten, GMOs, sulfates, phthalates, talc, and other nasties). They also transparently disclose every hand-picked ingredient they use, including fragrances – which are never synthetic. RMS are cruelty-free, but some of their products aren’t strictly vegan.

Packaging: Primers are the first refillable product from RMS, and they plan to add more refillable products to their makeup selection. Their preferred packaging material is glass, which can be endlessly repurposed. All new launches from 2022 prioritise new sustainable packaging initiatives – using alternatives to plastic or at least 50% PCR plastic.

This is minimal mineral makeup at its finest. I love the ethos of bareMinerals, which is all about enhancing the appearance of your skin rather than caking it in a mask of makeup. Whilst a lot of products will clog your pores and actually make skin issues worse (think acne, rosacea, psoriasis and eczema), these mineral products are clean, pure, and naturally protective. So pure, in fact, that bareMinerals claim you could sleep in them (not advisable with white pillows, mind you!). Their Original Loose Mineral Foundation is made up of just 5 natural mineral ingredients, so if you find that your skin gets irritated by traditional formulas, I’d recommend giving it a try!

Packaging: bareMinerals have reduced their use of virgin plastic and raw materials in their packaging, with new bottles and jars made with PCR materials. In 2021, they also took steps to minimise the amount of shipping materials used per product, with the introduction of smaller boxes and more thoughtful packaging. They aim to drastically reduce greenhouse emissions related to shipping by 2026.

Spearheading the luxury organic makeup movement, makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis was tired of having to sacrifice the health of her skin by using synthetic, irritating products. She also found that ‘natural’ products didn’t live up to the standard of professional makeup. Kjaer Weis grew out of this gap in the market. Now, admittedly, this is a brand which is at the pricier end of the makeup spectrum. However, a minimal makeup routine means that you can spend on fewer, higher-quality products. So, why not treat yourself?

Packaging: If you’re looking for plastic-free makeup, Kjaer Weis offers stunning refillable metal compacts. Impressively, even their mascaras are refillable. Whilst the initial outlay may be costly, bear in mind that the refill prices are less expensive in the long run.

Australian-owned but easily available to purchase in the UK (yay!), Inika Organic prides itself on consciously creating organic and natural products that are completely free from nasty chemicals and synthetic fragrances. They have won many awards for excellence and innovation in the beauty industry, including the Organic Beauty Awards’ Best Skincare Brand 2020. Plus, they are even used on global fashion runways – proof that vegan, toxin-free products can perform at the highest level, without ever compromising on quality or performance.

Packaging: Leading the way in sustainable beauty, Inika Organic claim to be the first certified plastic-neutral global makeup brand. 90% of their packaging is made from sustainable and reusable materials, and they have minimised their virgin plastic use by 84% (from 8.1 to 1.3 tonnes). They also work with charities to collect and repurpose plastic into fence posts, which helps to rebuild communities affected by flood, fire, and drought.

With humble beginnings in founder Laura Nicholson’s kitchen, Scottish-born Love the Planet has grown into an award-winning mineral makeup brand with a cult following. The planet-friendly collection is made in the UK and includes a range of beautiful zero-waste makeup products that are free from parabens, palm oil, and never tested on animals (all products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free). The whole range is also really affordable, but if you’re unsure of your shade, samples are available for a small fee.

Packaging: Committed to building a more sustainable future by reducing waste that goes into landfill, Love the Planet have put plenty of TLC into their packaging efforts. They use refillable tins, as well as offering zero-waste compostable refill pouches for all of their products, which can be easily decanted into an existing container.