In a world where every choice counts, opting for sustainable beauty brands isn’t just about skincare or makeup – It’s a pledge to Mother Nature. And as we celebrate Earth Day on 22 April, this is a good time to remind ourselves of this.
Source: Freepik
So, as Earth Day (22 April) approaches, let’s celebrate by embracing beauty that’s as kind to the Earth as it is to us.
We’ve done the legwork and found a list of beauty brands we think you’d love to have on your vanity, both international and locals.
These brands prioritise eco-friendly practices, from sourcing ingredients ethically to minimising waste. By supporting them, we’re not only enhancing our own well-being but also safeguarding the planet for generations to come.
Local Sustainable Beauty Brands
B&B Labs
Inspired by Malaysia’s rich biodiversity, B&B Labs is a sustainable beauty brand that taps into the potency of traditional Asian plants, fruits, and herbs to create skincare products that cater to every skin type.
With a “less, but better” mindset, they provide you with multiple benefits through fewer products while minimising waste. Plus, every formulation has to undergo rigorous testing by skin experts, ensuring it is effective and safe for you and the environment.
This Earth Day, they’re giving their CustoMask, a facial mask a makeover featuring an eco-conscious packaging that empowers those who prioritise self-care and environmental sustainability with green choices.
Made with 100% natural plant fibres, the hypoallergenic and skin-hugging sheet masks exemplify a commitment to sustainability. The mask boasts not only biodegradability but also full compostability, making them an environmentally sound choice.
From the boxes to the sachets and even the plastic films, all packaging materials are recyclable, while the sheet masks are biodegradable!
The CustoMask retails for RM23 on B&B Labs.
Lips Carpenter
Lips Carpenter, established in 2018, is dedicated to providing you with nourishing, eco-friendly lip care products. They strive to integrate sustainable practices and thoughtful packaging into their products, ensuring that you receive items made with wholesome natural ingredients.
Their most popular item is the moisturising and tinted lip balm, which comes in a degradable paper tube. Simply apply it by gently pushing the tube with your finger.
The Tinted Lip Balm retails for RM28 on Lips Carpenter.
LAVE Republic
LAVE Republic was established by a group of four friends who are passionate about science and sustainability. Their goal was to simplify the process of making environmentally friendly decisions for individuals with hectic schedules.
Among their popular products, their Luxuriant Shampoo Bar is great to help those dealing with dry flakes. It contains olive oil, shea butter which helps to replenish the moisture, while blends of cedarwood, peppermint, and geranium oils soothe and calm the scalp.
And guess what? Their packaging is eco-friendly too! So, when you’re using their products, you’re not just taking care of your hair, but also looking out for the environment. Double win!
The Luxuriant Shampoo Bar retails for RM15 on LAVE Republic.
HYGR
HYGR, a homegrown Malaysian label, is all about embracing nature’s true essence. Their commitment to using only the finest, 100% natural ingredients sets them apart. Crafted by hand and free from alcohol and parabens, their products are thoughtfully packaged in recyclable paper tubes.
When it comes to daily essentials, HYGR offers two standout favourites. The first is their Smell Be Gone Deodorant, a must-have for staying fresh throughout the day.
And their Natural Tinted Balm is also a favourite among many, perfect for adding a touch of colour while keeping your lips nourished.
The Smell Be Gone Natural Deodorant retails for RM39.90 and the Natural Tinted Lip Balm retails for RM29.90 on HYGR.
Kinder Soaps
For the past 13 years, their handcrafted soap bars have been comforting the skin of many individuals. The journey started when Michelle Ho embarked on creating a natural soap specifically for her daughter with eczema, and it turned out to be a success!
You can be sure that everything contained in their products are all geared towards cleansing, and nourishing your skin. You’ll also be helping them to contribute to Reef Check Malaysia’s coral reef rehabilitation programmes too!
Every single soap bar they produce is meticulously handcrafted in small quantities and does not contain palm oil. The Goat’s Milk and Patchouli soap was one of the products that Michelle made for her daughter who developed eczema just after she was born. There were no more angry red patches behind her knees and on her neck anymore.
Additionally, you have the option to buy them with or without packaging.
The Goat’s Milk and Patchouli soap retails for RM25 on Kinder Soaps.
The Body Shop
As soon as you step into The Body Shop, you’re enveloped in delightful fragrances that linger in the air. This company doesn’t just offer great-smelling products, but they’re also committed to being vegan and cruelty-free.
Plus, they’ve earned a special certification for their social and environmental efforts. They have programmes and partners that help us shape and drive that change such as:
- Refill. Reuse. Repeat
- Community Fair Trade
- Return. Recycle. Repeat.
Their EDP Full Flowers collections are truly remarkable, drawing inspiration from the intricate and vibrant scent of entire flowers. The Full Ylang Ylang Eau de Parfum is an enticing blend of spicy, white floral notes, part of their latest Full Flowers collection.
Carefully crafted, this unisex fragrance is rich with scents of soft petals, verdant leaves, woody stems, succulent fruits, and sweet resin, offering fragrances that encourage you to embrace every aspect of your individuality and emotions.
The Full Ylang Ylang Eau de Parfum retails for RM269 on The Body Shop.
International Sustainable Beauty Brands
Tata Harper
Tata Harper Skincare is renowned for its innovative approach to natural skincare. By combining top-quality natural ingredients with advanced scientific techniques, each product is designed to deliver exceptional results.
The brand offers a wide range of luxurious and effective products that are completely non-toxic and cruelty-free. Treat yourself to popular items such as the Regenerating Cleanser, a daily cleansing and exfoliating treatment that buffs and polishes your skin for that naturally radiant and healthy looking skin.
The Regenerating Cleanser retails for RM505 on Tata Harper.
Mario Badescu Skin Care
Those with active acne will know that Mario Badescu Drying Lotion heals and dries a zit with just one drop.
Apart from this, the brand also offers a wide range of products suitable for various skin concerns, from acne-prone skin to fine lines and wrinkles. Established in 1967 by blending advanced technology with thorough research, Mario Badescu Skin Care delivers top-notch skincare solutions.
Its collection of gentle, botanical-based products ensures effective results without any hassle.
The brand’s Coconut Body Soap is adored by countless. This shower gel creates a luxurious foam that deeply cleanses and revitalises the skin, thanks to Jojoba Seed Oil and Rice Bran Extract. Plus, it leaves behind a subtle, tropical coconut fragrance.
The Mario Badescu Drying Lotion retails for RM98 and Coconut Body Soap for RM49 on Sephora.
Tatcha
Tatcha is famous for its nourishing ingredients, blending Japanese artistry, wellness principles, and the laid-back atmosphere of California.
After a serendipitous meeting with a contemporary geisha in Kyoto, founder Victoria Tsai delved into traditional Japanese beauty practices before establishing the brand. She stumbled upon a straightforward yet effective skincare routine centred around natural elements such as green tea, rice, and algae extracts.
This discovery became the cornerstone of Tatcha, which still merges the finest ingredients from nature with scientific advancements to provide products that leave your skin feeling as silky and smooth as the most exquisite Japanese silk.
Light as air and hydrating, the Silk Sunscreen is a mineral SPF that doesn’t feel heavy like traditional sunscreens. It effortlessly blends into all skin tones, leaving a silky radiance while providing sun protection. Packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, it not only protects your skin from the sun but also evens out your skin tone and boosts radiance.
The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50 retails for RM360 on Sephora.
Olaplex
This brand completely changed the game in the hair care industry with their special formulas that rebuild and strengthen hair.
What makes Olaplex products even more amazing is their commitment to being free from harmful ingredients like phthalates, toluene, sulphates, and peroxides. They’re also free of gluten, soy, and dairy, ensuring a safe and inclusive experience for all. And to top it off, Olaplex is proudly cruelty-free, never testing on animals or collaborating with those who do.
Their No.7 Bonding Oil is a super light styling oil that does wonders for your hair. It boosts shine, makes your hair softer, and enhances the vibrancy of your colour. Plus, it helps keep those annoying flyaways and frizz under control. And the best part? It protects your hair from heat damage too.
The No.7 Bonding Oil retails for RM150 on Sephora.
Glow Recipe
Glow Recipe has been recognised for its commitment to sustainability. They’re constantly striving to reduce their environmental impact. They focus on using ingredients that are sourced responsibly, packaging that’s eco-friendly, and shipping practices that are sustainable. They’re basically doing everything they can to be kinder to the planet.
Check out Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops™ Serum. A multi-use serum that’s effective in brightening and hydrating your skin with a warm hue. The sheer, buildable tinted serum, in shade Sun Glow, flatters a wide range of tones, giving all a natural glow that looks healthy, not streaky or patchy.
Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops™ Serum retails for RM173 on Sephora.
Kiehl’s
Journey towards the future is brighter with Kiehl’s. They’re committed to producing less waste and caring for the environment. From formulas to packaging, they’re always striving to improve our lives and the environment.
Through their Recycle & Be Rewarded program, they offer customers a meaningful way to participate by bringing their empty packaging back to Kiehl’s. And since 2009, they’ve reclaimed over 13 million empties.
Kiehl’s bestseller has always been the Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution and that too for a good reason. It aims to boost your skin’s clarity that works as a dark spot corrector for a more even skin tone.
The Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution retails for RM378 on Kiehl’s.
Drunk Elephant
Another sustainable beauty brand that’s all about being kind to both your skin and the planet is Drunk Elephant. They’re part of the movement toward cruelty-free and eco-friendly products, which isn’t just a fad.
Drunk Elephant is famous for using clean ingredients and making products that really work for your skin by steering clear of “the suspicious 6” ingredients that they believe are the root of most skin issues which are:
- Essential oils
- Chemical sunscreens
- Drying alcohols
- Fragrances and dyes
- Silicones
- Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
If you’re looking for a product from Drunk Elephant that strengthens your skin’s barrier while also giving it a nice glow, we’d recommend you try their B-Goldi™ Bright Drops. It’s an illuminating, barrier-strengthening serum with 5% niacinamide that adds an easy golden finish without being sparkly or glittery.
The B-Goldi™ Bright Drops retails for RM160 on Sephora.
