Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Subscribe
Save Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 35 One-Pan Meals Just Right for Dinner Tonight

      One pan, pot, skillet, or Instant Pot is all you need to for these no-fuss family dinners, including salmon, pasta, pot roast, chili, and so much more. Read More Next
    • The Best 2021 Bedroom Paint Colors

      Explore the best 2021 bedroom paint colors, according to paint experts. Read More Next
    • The Ultimate Guide to Household Cleaning: What You Should Be Cleaning When

      Our printable checklists will tell you what you should be doing every day, week, month, season—or every once in a while—to keep your home in ship-shape year round. Read More Next
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD

    Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners

    When you need a comforting meal but don't have a lot of time, whip up one of these fast pasta recipes. All can be made in 45 minutes or less.
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS

    19 St. Patrick's Day Crafts and Decorations

    Looking for a golden idea? You're in luck. Kick off your St. Patrick's Day celebrations with our shamrock garlands, rainbow balloons, leprechaun traps, and more.
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING

    The Best Front Porch Decorating Ideas for Every Month of the Year

    Get inspired to make your porch your new favorite living space with these ideas designed to add a refined look to any outdoor space.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME

    How to Disinfect Your Kitchen and Your Food During the Coronavirus Outbreak, According to Experts

    Keep everything from your countertops to your dining room chairs germ-free.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING

    How to Keep Your Houseplants Happy in the Winter

    Help them thrive even when the temperature drops.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Wash Your Hands Properly, According to a Doctor

    You likely wash your hands several times a day, but are you doing so effectively? Learn how to minimize the spread of germs with an extra few seconds of scrubbing.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS

    How to Plan a Beautiful, Meaningful Micro Wedding So That You Can Celebrate Your Postponed Nuptials Right Now

    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY

    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    Learn how to knit your own mittens, hats, scarves, and more. We'll take you through the step-by-step instructions and teach you how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Six Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health While You Work from Home

    Start by carving out a designated work area in your space.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE

    How to Start a Virtual Book Club

    From which platforms to use and the best books to read, bibliophiles share their advice.
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Beauty
  3. Zero-Waste Beauty Products That Will Help Make Your Routine a Little Greener

Zero-Waste Beauty Products That Will Help Make Your Routine a Little Greener

By Alexandra Lim-Chua Wee
October 17, 2019
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Getty Images
These zero-waste products help you look your best while minimizing your impact on the planet.
Start Slideshow

1 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Getty Images

From swearing off chemicals and exclusively sourcing local, organic ingredients to opting for compostable packaging (or no packaging at all!), there's a new wave of eco-friendly makeup and skincare brands taking over the green beauty industry. And these makers aren't just greenwashing their products with buzzwords like "all-natural" on their bottles and calling it a day. They're making it their mission to ensure you feed your skin the purest ingredients nature has to offer while manufacturing more mindfully to keep their environmental footprint as small as possible.

But what exactly is a "zero-waste" product? As a whole, the term zero-waste means striving to create just that: no waste. In terms of product design, this can mean everything from completely recyclable or reusable packaging to production powered by renewable resources, all of which result in nothing going to waste or landfills. Zero-waste production may also mean working to source only local ingredients as this reduces energy spent on transportation and keeps chemicals out of the environment, respectively.

For brands like New York City-based LOLI, zero-waste means choosing responsibly-sourced, food-grade ingredients for its serums, masks, and toners instead of conventional synthetics and chemicals (which can be harsh on the skin and on the environment). For the makers of Canadian beauty brand, Elate, "zero-waste" is also about conscious packaging. By opting for reusable bamboo compacts and offering blush and foundation refills in easily recyclable aluminum tins, they can avoid single-use plastic, a material that has become an increasingly dangerous threat to our health and the health of our planet. As for body care line by Humankind, their shampoo bars (which work just like soap bars that you lather in your hair) skip plastic packaging altogether and their deodorant comes in refillable containers.

Want to see who else is shaking up the sustainable beauty game? Read ahead to discover our favorites, and learn about the simple changes you can make to make the world a greener place.

1 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

by Humankind

Credit: Courtesy of by Humankind

There's a reason Martha loves this newcomer to the clean-and-green beauty game. Entirely vegan, sulfate-free, and completely naked (no bottles to recycle here!), by Humankind's shampoo bars are the perfect eco-friendly swap to make to any shower routine. Each bar is made with nourishing and organic oil extracts, plus they last just as long as bottled shampoo. Snag one in peppermint, lemongrass, or citrus lavender, and subscribe to get a refill bar shipped to you every four or six weeks.

by Humankind Shampoo Bars, $12.95, byhumankind.com.

  • What's a "No Shampoo" Routine? Everything You Need to Know About the Latest Hair Trend

2 of 14

3 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Tata Harper

Credit: Courtesy of Tata Harper

Handcrafted and packed on a 1,200-acre organic farm in Vermont, each Tata Harper product is made with love—and never artificial fragrances, colors, fillers, or toxins. And like nearly all Tata Harper goodies, this spa-quality scrub comes packaged in glass so it's easily recyclable or ready to be reused.

Tata Harper Smoothing Body Scrub, $79, net-a-porte.com.

3 of 14

Advertisement

4 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Youth to the People

Credit: Courtesy of Youth to the People

Send your skin to heaven with this ultra-light, vitamin-packed moisturizer that will keep you happy and hydrated all day long. Made in California, this rejuvenating cream also features antioxidants from cold-pressed kale, spinach, and alfalfa extracts, and comes in completely recyclable packaging.

Youth to the People "Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream," $48, sephora.com.

4 of 14

5 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Shea Brand

Credit: Courtesy of Shea Brand

With this CBD-infused balm, you can soothe, moisturize, and protect your lips all at once thanks to its all-natural ingredient list which features organic shea butter, beeswax, Vitamin E extract, and CBD isolate from Colorado-grown hemp. Plus, the balm comes in a completely recyclable, plastic-free tube. The New York-based beauty brand also offers an array of other (non-CBD) products—all made with clean beauty and a cleaner environment in mind.

Shea Brand CBD Restorative Lip Balm, $9, sheabrand.com

  • Everything You Need to Know About CBD

5 of 14

6 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Tenoverten

Credit: Courtesy of tenoverten

On a mission to make your manis and pedis kinder on Mother Nature, this New York-based nail care company has formulated a gorgeous line of nourishing, cruelty-free, and toxin-free polishes (they also sell polish remover, cuticle oils, and top coats). When you're done with your polish (from any brand), bring it in to your local Tenoverten salon, and they will help you get rid of it responsibly. The brand partnered with Chemwise to recycle both leftover nail polish and the packaging's glass, plastic caps, and brushes.

Tenoverten Nail Color, $12 each, target.com.

6 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Crude

Credit: Courtesy of Crude

When it comes to giving your skin some TLC, less is (seriously) more with Crude's two-ingredient face mask. Its organic French clay helps exfoliate, absorb excess oils, and restore your natural glow, while antioxidant-rich green tea reduces UV damage. Free from parabens, sulfates, synthetics, and any artificial colors or fragrances, this mask is especially ideal for anyone with sensitive skin. Best of all, Crude's glass product jars are the perfect size for reusing (turn them into travel-sized containers or repurpose in a craft project).

Crude "Detox Skin-Balancing Miracle Mask," $20, livecrude.com.

7 of 14

8 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

LOLI

Credit: Courtesy of Loli

With a multi-purpose beauty essential like this one—it tames frizz, soothes chapped lips and inflammation, and brightens skin—you can soon bid farewell to your bathroom shelf overflowing with bottles and tubes of products. Made from all-natural organic ingredients including plum kernel oil, hibiscus, and passion fruit, this little-goes-a-long-way oil is also vegan, cruelty-free, and comes in recyclable and compostable packaging.

Loli x Natch Beaut "Pank Plum Elixir," $52, lolibeauty.com.

  • Living Sustainably Has Never Looked More Stylish

8 of 14

9 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Elate

Credit: Courtesy of Elate

Adding a pretty pop of color to finish off your look doesn't have to be complicated—or harsh on the planet. Thanks to Elate's multi-purpose cream, you can instantly brighten up your lips and cheeks or even add a little contouring to your face. And when it's time to restock, the eco-friendly Canadian brand makes it easy: Keep your beautiful bamboo compact and simply order refills which get shipped in seed paper packaging that you can plant. Empty containers can be recycled with the rest of your household aluminum items.

Elate Universal Crème, from $22, elatebeauty.com.

9 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Seed Phytonutrients

Credit: Courtesy of Seed Phytonutrients

To keep both your tresses and our oceans cleaner, this American-made, locally-sourced beauty brand is powering its hair care products with all-natural ingredients, including organic sunflower seed oil to hydrate and turmeric to nourish your scalp. As for the bottle, the paper exterior is completely compostable, and the recyclable inner plastic liner is 95 percent thinner than conventional shampoo bottles. It's also designed to help you get every last drop of product out so nothing is wasted. Bonus: The pumps can be recycled for free with Seed's TerraCycle mail-back program.

Seed Phytonutrients Daily Hair Cleanser, $24, sephora.com.

10 of 14

11 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

cocokind

Credit: Courtesy of Cocokind

This organic brow balm is made from just five ingredients. Tinted with a pinch of cacao powder, the balm also keeps hair nourished thanks to jojoba and coconut oil. You can even massage a little onto your eyelashes before bed. The best part? With every cocokind purchase, you're supporting the company's larger initiative to provide grants to other female-run businesses with a focus on sustainability and wellness. And if you need ideas on reusing your empty jars, check out the cocokind blog for inspiration.

cocokind "Full Brow Balm," $14, cocokind.com.

11 of 14

12 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

RMS Beauty

Credit: Courtesy of RMS Beauty

As a veteran of the green beauty movement, RMS has been putting healthy skin and a chemical-free planet first since before it was cool. Their latest launch, a cream foundation (available in 18 gorgeous shades) promises coverage, hydration, and that perfectly dewy look minus pesky additives. As for the packaging, the small glass pots and recyclable lids are perfect for reuse. Our favorite way to put them to good use? Turn each one into a container for your own lip balm.

RMS Beauty "Un" Cover-Up Cream Foundation, $52, dermstore.com.

12 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Kjaer Weis

Credit: Courtesy of Kjaer Weis

There's nothing like a good lip color to perk up your look, and now you don't need to toss out those old lipstick cases every time you want to refresh your stash. Thanks to this luxe-organic brand, you can (finally!) purchase just one lipstick compact, beautifully built and designed to last, and order lipstick refills when you run out.

Kjaer Weis Lipstick, $56, net-a-porter.com.

13 of 14

14 of 14

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Ethique

Credit: Courtesy of Ethique

Keeping more than 4.3 million plastic bottles out of landfills since its debut in 2012, this New Zealand skincare brand is revolutionizing the meaning of a "clean" hair care routine with a simple product: bars. Not only are these bars concentrated formulas, nixing all that added water in most conventional shampoos, but they're also easier to pack plastic-free. Made with 100 percent all-natural plant-based ingredients, each Ethique shampoo and conditioner bar is also certified Fair Trade and Palm-Oil free.

Ethique Shampoo and Conditioner Bars, from $13, amazon.com.

14 of 14

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Alexandra Lim-Chua Wee

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 14
2 of 14 by Humankind
3 of 14 Tata Harper
4 of 14 Youth to the People
5 of 14 Shea Brand
6 of 14 Tenoverten
7 of 14 Crude
8 of 14 LOLI
9 of 14 Elate
10 of 14 Seed Phytonutrients
11 of 14 cocokind
12 of 14 RMS Beauty
13 of 14 Kjaer Weis
14 of 14 Ethique

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Login

Martha Stewart

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Customer Service
  • Media Kit
  • Sitemap
  • Martha's Blog
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing
  • FAQ
  • Corporate
  • International

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Martha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

View image

Zero-Waste Beauty Products That Will Help Make Your Routine a Little Greener
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.