Our Pick for Best Ethical Beauty Brands
By Adrienne Lee - With a global pandemic in the air, there isn’t a more perfect time to focus on health. When people think about staying healthy, many things come to mind- exercising, eating rights, staying hydrated, etc. The beauty products we use should also be on that list.
Makeup is an everyday essential
Makeup is an amazing way to accentuate our features, it’s also a form of creative expression. While these products give many benefits to consumers, they might lead to the detriment of others. When shopping for makeup, the criteria which we use to distinguish which brands to buy should run deeper than simply looking at brands that are the most popular. We, as the consumers, need to consider what ingredients are in the products, where they’re sourced from, and what these products are tested on before they are finalized to be given to the market.
A good product should be as good as food
Unfortunately, some beauty products cause more harm than good. For instance, there may be an eye shadow palette that is highly popular because of its pigmented shimmery colors. But what most people are unaware of is that the shimmer is formulated from a mineral called mica. In India, there is a high concentration of mica in underground mines. These mines are mined by children.
Not only is child labor illegal, but it is also extremely harmful and inhumane, spending hours in mines being exposed to harmful chemicals. This is just one example of the many issues that are being the closed doors of the makeup industry.
Be beautiful and mindful
Over time, more and more of these problems have been unraveled and some makeup brands have transitioned into becoming sustainable and ethical. This can mean that these brands are ethically sourcing their ingredients, giving proceeds to charity, managing their resources and waste, or all of the above. Additionally, being a sustainable and ethical beauty brand entails that their products are either cruelty-free, vegan, organic/natural or all of the above.
With no doubt, it is hard to give up some of your favorite beauty products but taking it step by step will make it easier. Making a conscious effort to learn about sustainable and ethical brands and giving their products a try is the first step! Small improvements lead to bigger ones and with the growing support of sustainable and ethical brands, change is appearing. It’s time to take your first step!
Here are a few well-known ethical beauty brands to help you get started!
Lush (Handmade and Ethical)
Glossier (Cruelty-Free)
Milk Makeup (Vegan and Cruelty-Free)
Tarte Cosmetics (Gluten-Free and Cruelty-Free)
Stila (Cruelty-Free)