Disclaimer: AD/PR Products β These products have been gifted to me but all opinions are my own. Read my disclaimer here.
In today’s post, I am going to be sharing my favourite plastic-free beauty brands to check out. Over the past few years, I have been slowly switching to plastic-free alternatives. Reducing our plastic beauty consumption is important because these are products we use most days if not every day!
Zao Make-Up

I first discovered Zao Make-Up through my sister when she bought me their refillable mascara for Christmas in 2019. Since then, I have bought refills for mascara, and eyeshadow powder and my sister has bought me the blush too. Zao is my go-to make up brand, and I’ve seen it in refill shops.
Who are Zao?
Zao Make-up are the first refillable, organic make up brand and were co-found in 2012. Their products are 100% natural and certified organic by Ecocert, vegan and cruelty-free. Bamboo is distinct and a prominent aspect of the Zao branding. It has a fast growth rate which means that it can be used and replenished quickly, making it a sustainable material. It also requires little water to grow which makes it very environmentally-friendly.
They chose to use refillable packaging to produce less waste, less plastic and less energy. It also means that the refill is cheaper because you do not pay for the packaging.
βThe beauty of bamboo outside, the benefits of bamboo inside.β
Zao Make-up



Eyebrow powder
I use the eyebrow powder everyday and I love it so much. I’m using it in the shade ‘260 Blonde’ which is a light brown colour. This shade, along with ‘261 Ash Blonde’ are part of the discontinued line. It is currently 50% off at a reduced price of Β£8.50. I bought it in March, and it is still on their website! However, as it is discontinued it means that there aren’t any refills so next time you will have to buy the new style.
The new style of eyebrow powder is a rectangle refill which can be inserted into a duo eyeshadow palette. The rectangle eyebrow powder is Β£5.95 and the empty duo palette is Β£9.95. You can leave the other part empty, or you could buy an eyeshadow refill. There are 57 different colours to choose from, and cost Β£4.46 each. I think this is a pretty good deal, so when I run out, I will do this!
Eyeshadow and eyebrow powders last me ages, so it is good to invest in something organic and cruelty-free.
Mascara
As I said before, my sister gave me the mascara to me for Christmas in 2019. As it is refillable, I am using the same outer casing and I’m on my third refill! Zao sell a few different types of mascara; the one I use is ‘Volume & Sheating Mascara’ in shade ‘085 Ebony’. This is the black mascara, but you can also get brown. The bamboo casing and mascara refill cost Β£20.75, with the refill being Β£13.50. The refill comes with a new wand for hygiene purposes.
Blush
My sister gave me the compact blush powder for my birthday last year in the shade ‘327 Coral Pink’. I have quite pale skin, and this works well with my complexion to give a subtle blush. I’ve received a few compliments when I have worn it previously, so it helps me feel a bit more confident! It costs Β£21.50, and the refill is Β£10.75. The size of the blush is much bigger than the eyebrow powder, which is probably why it costs more! I only use a little bit each time, so this investment too. There are 7 colours to choose from, varying in tones.
Love The Planet

Love The Planet is an award-winning brand that sells plastic free make up products. All of their products are cruelty free, vegan and free from palm oil and parabens. I have only bought one product from them which was the vegan mineral eyeshadow in the shade ‘Petal’. I decided to go with a different shade than I normally go with, but now I wish I had gone with my normal colour to get more use. Either way, I really like this powder eyeshadow, it is exactly like a powder block that you might get in a palette. This cost Β£10 which is a bit steep, but I think I managed to get a discount.
Continue reading: Plastic-free beauty brands to check out
Earthy Nail Polish

I was introduced to Earthy Nail Polish a couple of years ago and since then it is the only nail brand I use. I have spoken about Earthy before on my blog and Instagram. Earthy sell vegan and cruelty-free nail polishes which are free from 21 harmful chemicals. Instead of having plastic lids, they use bamboo caps and once used, you can return the whole product to be cleaned and reused. There are 45 shades available, so plenty to choose from!
They have recently brought out their autumn/winter collection of nail polishes. Wonderfall has four new shades including Celestial Blue, Forever Green, Cocoa and Bordeux. These shades reflect the colours of the colder months, away from the brighter colours of the summer months. The collection costs Β£24.95, or you can buy them individually for Β£7.99.


I have been using the Celestial Blue and Forever Green, and I am loving the darker tones. I think that the green suits me better though, so I will probably use that one more! Aside from this collection, I have been using the Green SOS which has vitamin C and B5 in to nourish and protect your nails. The Green SOS can be used as a top coat or a base coat.
The Body Shop


The Body Shop need no introduction, they are a very well known brand! I have been purchasing from The Body Shop for ages, but the Camomile cleansing butter has got to be my favourite product. I had seen the product a lot on TikTok and didn’t think it would be as good as everyone had been saying. So, I bought a travel sized one first and I absolutely loved it! Now I use the bigger size, which is Β£12 while using the travel one (Β£6) when I’m on away.
The Camomile cleansing butter will get off all your make up and cleanse your skin at the same time. I use it as my oil cleanser, and then use my water-based cleanser afterwards. It has become part of my evening routine, and really helps me wind down at night. It makes me skin feel so silky smooth!
I also enjoy using The Body Shop’s refillable scheme. There is the option of having shower gel, hair care or hand wash, I am currently using rose shower gel. I haven’t got a refill yet, but I imagine it will be simple! Shower gels and hand wash are Β£5 per bottle, with hair care being Β£6. If you are buying it for the first time, it will be an additional Β£2 for the aluminium bottle.
What are some of your favourite plastic-free beauty brands?
Caroline β‘
Zao sounds like a great organic beauty brand. I love that their products are refillable too! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Definitely x
What an amazing collection. Something I will definitely recommend to my sisters!
Thank you John
Thanks for this! I’m trying to come up with some Christmas ideas for my wife and the Zao stuff sounds great!
Thanks Graham!
I don’t wear a lot of make up but a refillable mascara sounds like a great idea! I’ll have to check them out when I next need to replace mine <3
Definitely, hope you enjoy x
This is a really helpful post in choosing brands with less plastic waste. Thank you for sharing these suggestions.
Lauren – bournemouthgirl
Thank you Lauren x
Oh I need to check these brands out! Thanks so much for sharing them!
I hope you enjoy!