With Earth Day right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start making more green-positive purchases. Although Earth Day is only once a year (April 22), the planet needs our attention all year long. The Beauty Book team is here to show you how you can support the environment by having a clean and sustainable beauty routine.
These days we are all so quick to jump into diets and care about what we put inside our bodies, but what about what we put on our bodies? As we know, your skin is the largest organ, hence why we need to watch what products we use as they all get absorbed.
To help you get going in the right direction, we’ve gathered a few local to New Zealand beauty brands that’ll allow you to protect the planet and get your glow at the same time.
Emma Lewisham
Coming in hot at the top of our list is Emma Lewisham, a skincare line loved by many of us. And for good reason as Emma Lewisham sets a high standard for clean beauty proving it is possible to produce natural, science-backed skincare while keeping it sustainable. With 100% of the packaging to be refillable, recyclable, or compostable. Also, The Emma Lewisham Beauty Circle has a incentive-based recycling programme with TerraCycle – send four used products back and receive a $15 voucher in return.
In-keeping with Emma Lewisham’s ethos of 100% natural yet scientifically-backed skincare, the new Illuminating Day Crème is formulated with brightening properties to hydrate and plump skin leaving you to look lifted and dewy. A gorgeous blend of Vitamin C, Ceramides, and Hyaluronic Acid.
Lemon & Beaker
A perfect combo of New Zealand grown ingredients and science to enrich the skin with loving nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants. Lemon & Beaker is all about using real ingredients from plants, fruits, and botanicals which gives its products a natural colour, aroma, and texture. All the packing is in no doubt recyclable, cruelty-free, and vegan.
Last year, the Dual-Blend Repairing Serum with Rose Essential Oil won ‘best serum’ at the Best of Natural Awards New Zealand 2020, because of its clean and effective ingredients that soothe and restores the skin.
Organic Riot
Next, we have an all-natural, sustainable, and safe line of products that is not only a skincare brand but an honest movement. With ingredients sourced locally and globally from rainforests in South America to farms located next to the Himalayas, every product is formulated with nature’s best elements and combined with the power of science. If you’re not sold yet, Organic Riot is backed by some of the safest food-grade and eco-certified natural preservatives.
Introducing the Fine Lines and Wrinkle Repair Crème – enriched with hyaluronic acid, rosehip, and vitamins C. The Smog Block penetrates deep into the layers of the skin, boosting collagen production and reducing the appearance of fine lines.
Ethique
This local brand is especially known for its ability to effectively clean hair with a bar, helping people say goodbye to plastic bottles while simultaneously not compromising on cleanliness. With absolutely zero waste, Ethique specialises in making beauty products in bar form. Choose from a selection of facial cleansers, scrubs, and natural deodorants. This certified cruelty-free and vegan brand is also palm oil, plastic-free, and uses biodegradable packaging for everything.
In need of some volume in your hair? Check out Sweet & Spicy – Ethique’s volumising shampoo bar brings life and volume to your hair. Sweet & Spicy moisturises hair with coconut and sweet orange oil while the Epsom salt gives your locks a natural bounce.
Okana
Created to embrace the ‘less is more’ philosophy by using only a few but effective ingredients to restore the skin. This minimalist skincare range uses only naturally occurring preservatives and is vegan, alcohol, and fragrance-free. Every product uses the highest concentration of ingredients – active juices, natural oils, and vegetable purees. If a skincare product is going to stay on your skin all day, it only makes sense to use clean and natural ingredients.
Cleanse with Okana’s Natural apple juice foaming cleanser – made with only seven ingredients, uses amino acids from apple juice to balance the skin’s natural PH levels while removing makeup and impurities.
We believe that when it comes to the ingredients you use on your skin, you really shouldn’t be taking any risks. After trialling out hundreds of different skincare products, all I know now is that what I’ve used in the past was never a temporary fix. It’s about finding the right products that help your skin and health in the long run. So remember you don’t have to sacrifice your internal health for external beauty – you can achieve both safely and effectively while helping the environment. Happy Earth month everyone!
Words: Mera Tabarruk