Natural and organic UK cosmetics: the best sustainable beauty brands

Researching and trying-out countless organic UK cosmetics and ethical beauty products to find ones that actually work and are genuinely ethical is a long process (trust us, we’ve been through it)…

There are a lot of beauty brands claiming to be natural out there. Shockingly, when it comes to marketing in the beauty industry, there is no regulation of the words “organic” or “natural”.

This means brands can use the word organic, even if organic products make up just 1% of their product. They can also claim to be natural if just one ingredient comes from a plant, despite the bulk of the product being made up of petrochemicals.

As we wrote in our article on greenwashing in beauty for the Organic Trade Board, the only way to really tell if a brand is genuine, without visiting them yourself, is to look for certification from a respected third-party certifier that insists on audits.

We understand that’s still a lot to ask of individuals. After all, isn’t self-care meant to be relaxing? Well, that’s why we’ve done the hard work for you. We’ve put together a list of our favourite tried and true natural and/or organic cosmetics brands available in the UK. 

These brands all demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and transparency.

Each brand has completed a comprehensive questionnaire detailing their ethical standards, from their use of sustainable ingredients to the pay of workers in their supply chains.

This means you can shop with these brands happily, rest assured that the cosmetics you buy are better for you, the planet and people.

The Live Frankly seal of approval:

These are really good brands, doing good things. To be included in this list, each brand has been given the Live Frankly seal of approval. We are not a certification, but we talk with every brand and ask them to complete a comprehensive questionnaire about their ethical standards before we feature them. No brand is perfect – we’re all operating in an imperfect world – but only purpose-driven brands that are working to change things for the better are allowed on Live Frankly.

We ask that workers’ rights and pay are ensured across the supply chain, that brands use sustainable materials, and want to know about their governance structures. This means you can be confident these brands are some of the most ethical and sustainable around. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

The best sustainable beauty brands at a glance:

MAKE-UP:

• 100% natural mineral makeup: Bomonde
• Plant-based, cruelty-free makeup: benecos

SKINCARE:

• Natural skincare designed to protect your skin’s natural barrier: Neve’s Bees
• Gentle skincare to support the well-ageing process: Anara Skincare
• Cold-pressed skin nourishment: The Glowcery
• Water-free skincare for sensitive skin: Lyonsleaf
• Gentle skincare for sensitive skin: lavera

SUNCARE:

• All-natural sunscreen: Shade Sunscreen
• Organic mineral sunscreen: Organii

BODYCARE:

• Online and in-store wellness marketplace: Valley Mist
• Silky hand cream made with essential oils and beeswax: Sarafumi
• Natural deodorant: Ben & Anna
• Intimate natural bodycare: Fair Squared
• Organic period products: Organyc

MAKE-UP BAG:

• Organic cotton make-up bag: Jenerous

Best sustainable makeup brands

Bomonde | 100% natural mineral makeup 

Bomonde offers authentic, no-nonsense, 100% natural mineral makeup that empowers individuals to feel confident in their skin.

Founded by Essjay, a semi-permanent makeup artist with over 20 years in the beauty industry, Bomonde was created with a deep understanding of clients’ desires for natural, effective, and sustainable beauty solutions. Their extensive range of products, from vibrant shades to soft, natural blushes, offers something for everyone, even those who enjoy a bolder makeup look.

On their website, you’ll find everything from beautifully crafted natural brushes to vegan mineral lip glosses that not only provide long-lasting color but also help combat dryness, leaving lips nourished and smooth. Committed to sustainability, Bomonde ensures that every choice you make, from the products you wear to their packaging, contributes to a greater good.

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benecos | plant-based, cruelty-free makeup

Looking for natural plant-based and organic makeup that doesn’t cost the earth? Well, look no further than benecos.

benecos offers a modern range of organic, plant-based and cruelty-free makeup at an affordable price. They pack them full of natural ingredients and, wherever possible, organically farmed raw materials that care for your skin. Plus, they steer clear of mineral oils, paraffins and silicones.

benecos hold certifications from BDIH COSMOS Organic and PETA cruelty-free. The Natural Care range is The Vegan Society certified.

We’re huge fans of their innovative It-Pieces eyeshadow palettes. Their eye-shadows not only come in an array of beautiful colours to play with. Excitingly, they are also mix and match, which means you can personally curate your perfect palette. And that’s not even the best part… The shadows are also refillable! 

When you’ve run out of your favourite shade, there’s no having to waste money, or packaging, on replacing the entire palette. You can simply replace the individual colour. Or, switch things up and swap it out for an entirely new shade. The options and potential make-up looks are endless…

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Best sustainable skincare brands

Neve’s Bees | Natural Skincare designed to protect your skin’s natural barrier

Neve’s Bees creates 100% natural skincare powered by the magic of natural ingredients including local wildcrafted beeswax – from lip balms, cuticle butter, hand salves & natural deodorant to face moisturisers, cleansers & serum. Based in Oxfordshire, their mission is simple: to put a smile on your face while protecting the planet.

It all began when founder Julie found herself searching for skincare without emulsifiers, preservatives, stabilisers or other processing additives, for her daughter, Neve. Failing to find anything in either mainstream shops or online, and with a background in chemistry and a passion for nature, Julie turned to the beeswax from her family’s beehives—and Neve’s Bees was born.

Her belief? If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin.

Every product is made in small batches with sustainability in mind, using only pure, natural ingredients like beeswax, organic plant oils, natural minerals and essential oils. Nothing synthetic. Nothing hidden. Their bold, cheerful packaging is plastic-free and fully recyclable, and 10% of profits go to wildlife and nature charities.

Today, Neve’s Bees is proud to be Soil Association COSMOS Certified Natural and Organic and is in the process of becoming a B Corp–certified business, blending natural skincare with a serious commitment to people and planet.

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Anara Skincare | Gentle skincare to support the well-ageing process

Anara Skincare is designed to simplify skincare. Crafted to be gentle enough for the delicate eye area, face, and neck, while creating a sensory experience and supporting the well-ageing process.

Their ingredients are 99 to 100% plant-based and exclude harsh chemicals, alcohol, and artificial fragrances. 

While they’ve chosen not to pursue an official organic certification their products contain 57–92.5% organic ingredients, all carefully selected.

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The Glowcery | Cold-pressed skin nourishment

Think of The Glowcery as your grocery list for your skin’s nourishment: Clean Greens Superfood Serum, Tomato Tonic for the face, Sweet Orange balm for the lips. The Glowcery is all about high-performance, plant-based skincare that works across all skin types and tones.

The skincare is cold-pressed, raw and nutrient-rich.

The products are handmade by founder Roshanne Dorsett, a qualified natural skincare formulator, in an artisan lab based in Bedfordshire. Around 80% of The Glowcery’s ingredients are sustainably sourced from UK-based suppliers who make it their business to support ethical suppliers. Their shea and mango butters are sourced from women co-operatives in Ghana.

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lavera | gentle skincare for sensitive skin

It’s no coincidence the name lavera is derived from the Latin for ‘truth’. lavera’s vision is about making truly good natural skincare for everybody.

Alongside their holy grail lip balm (which is where it all started), they have a brilliant selection of 100% natural body lotions and moisturising creams for sensitive skin. They source natural and (where possible) certified organic raw plant ingredients that are inherently gentle and nourishing for the skin. 

For more than three decades, lavera has prided itself on making the products themselves in Germany. Their range of more than 250 products – from skincare to haircare, cosmetics to oral care – are certified and audited by Natrue, Ecocert, COSMOS Organic, PETA cruelty-free, The Vegan Society, RSPO.

None of the products are tested on animals, nor do they contain parabens, SLS, phthalates, parraffinium, or petrochemicals. 

lavera packaging is recyclable, and they have a refill option to help reduce waste. Brilliantly, they are a climate-neutral company. 

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Best UK sustainable suncare brands

Shade Sunscreen | all-natural sunscreen

If you’re looking for genuinely natural sunscreen then Shade is one for you. Their multi-award winning mineral-based, broad spectrum all-natural sunscreen is made in the UK with just four natural ingredients — nothing else. Free from the harmful chemicals, Shade is designed to protect both your health and the environment.

Tania Wedin, the founder of Shade, initially created this simple yet effective cream for her daughter’s school days in the sun. It was so popular with friends and family she launched it to the market – and has never looked back.

Shade is SPF25, reflecting 96% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. Plus, it keeps your skin moisturised. Brilliantly, even past its expiry date, Shade remains effective as a moisturiser for itchy skin, insect bites or stings and works as a lip salve in winter or after sun in summer.

Shade’s product is free from nanoparticles, never tested on animals, and is marine and reef friendly.

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Organii | organic mineral sunscreen

Organii is the ultimate family-friendly skincare brand which offers great value, certified organic and natural products. Formulated for your skin’s health, they contain only natural, vegan and cruelty-free raw ingredients sourced as sustainably as possible. The best part? Their products, from body care to baby care, actually work.

For us, the star of the show has to be their suncare range. Their sunscreen, which is available in SPF15, SPF20, SPF30, SPF50, is certified organic and 100% mineral-based. It helps to protects against UVA and UVB rays. It is also water-resistant. Brilliantly, it is free from chemicals that can harm marine life. For example, it is free from synthetic UV filters, silicone, paraffin, mineral oils, parabens and colourants. As an added bonus, it also contains natural plant oils which help to nourish and hydrate the skin. 

Organii are certified by Soil Association, The Vegan Society, PETA cruelty-free and Natural Cosmetics Standard (NCS).

Roughly 95% of Organii’s packaging is recyclable (except the pumps in their liquid soaps and sprays). They are working to make this 100% in 2022.

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Best UK sustainable bodycare brands

Valley Mist | Online and in-store wellness marketplace

Valley Mist is a natural skincare and wellness brand devoted to harmonising personal well-being with planetary health. Their online store offers everything from protective lip balms in compostable cardboard tubes to upcycled candles made from waste oils, butters, and waxes.

In addition to their own products, Valley Mist also stocks health and beauty items from trusted brands, making it a one-stop shop for eco-conscious consumers.

Valley Mist offers a refill scheme at their Leyland flagship store, where customers can top up household essentials and return glass bottles for reuse.

With a strong ethos of treading lightly on the planet, Valley Mist creates high-quality, natural products while supporting local artisans and minimising waste.

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Sarafumi | Silky hand cream made with essential oils and beeswax

Founder Sarah Kelly’s journey began with a love of beekeeping. After discovering the potential of her bees’ wax, she began crafting candles and creams. She started with fragrance oils but quickly shifted to using only natural, earth-derived scents. This inspired her to study perfumery and create her own unique blends using ingredients found in nature.

Her best selling hand cream reflects this ethos, made with natural ingredients that nourish the skin without synthetic additives.

Sarafumi also gives back, supporting local charities like Guernsey Mind and Pink Ladies Breast Cancer Support, and taking part in community fundraisers.

With sustainability at its heart, Sarafumi is Leaping Bunny Certified and proudly bears the Butterfly Mark for its commitment to transparency and responsible business.

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Ben & Anna | natural deodorants

Hurrah! We’ve found a natural and sustainable deodorant that actually works. 

Well, a couple actually. When it comes to “natural” deodorants, we’ve tried them all… But we have to say, Ben & Anna’s are right there at the top of ur faves.

Ben & Anna deodorants, as well as their other toiletry products, are certified by Natrue, registered by The Vegan Society and cruelty-free.

The deodorant is based on bicarbonate of soda, shea butter (organic) and coconut oil. All ingredients are responsibility-sourced, as demanded by their certifications. Their deodorants don’t contain aluminium, Parabens, or Phthalates and their products are also microplastic-free.

So, now they’ve gained our trust on the big issue, we’re making our way through trialling their natural soaps, shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste options, too. So far, so good!

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Fair Squared | intimate natural bodycare

If you’re after natural and ethical intimate body care, FAIR SQUARED is your ultimate go-to shop. 

Relying on the power of nature, FAIR SQUARED products are made with 100% natural and sustainably sourced ingredients from trusted, long-lasting trading partners. Their whole collection of products, from hair soaps to body lotion, is made completely vegan, cruelty-free, plastic-free and certified Fairtrade. 

It’s not just about what they are though, but about what they are not. All products are free from genetically modified substances, micro-plastics, palm oil, mineral oils, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances and artificial preservatives.

Alongside Fairtrade, FAIR SQUARED are certified by Natrue and registered by The Vegan Society, Fair Rubber, FSC, and ClimatePartner. These certifying bodies audit their work processes and supply chains regularly.

We especially love their ‘intimate’ care product range. It includes menstrual cups (tried and approved by the Live Frankly team) and 100% vegan condoms (along with massage oil and a shea massage candle, if you’re looking for a little romance).

Their shea deodorant is also brilliant, especially if you find that others can clog your pores.

FAIR SQUARED transports all products by sea and road. Their packaging is recyclable. They are now aiming to become 100% plastic-free and a zero-waste brand. 

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Organyc | organic period products

Organyc is a family-run business that has been pioneering organic period products for 15 years.

For those who prefer the comfort of using period pads or tampons, Organyc specialise in disposable period products that are gentle on your skin and the planet.

Did you know that standard menstrual pads can be made of up to 90% plastic? Or that they can contain traces of chemicals like pesticides and chlorine? We were shocked, too.

Organyc’s products say goodbye to nasty toxins and synthetics and say hello to sustainably sourced, 100% certified organic cotton – ‘no perfume, dyes and other junk’.

Organyc pads and tampons are soft on the skin, hypoallergenic, breathable, and absorbent by nature, and are clinically proven to reduce intimate skin irritations. 

They use recycled and recyclable cardboard for their products’ outer packaging. They wrap the individual products themselves in a biofilm derived from non-GMO cornstarch, which is biodegradable.

Organyc are certified by Soil Association, ICEA, Vegan OK, Ecocert, GOTS and Seal of Cotton.

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Best UK sustainable make-up bags

Jenerous | Organic cotton make-up bag

Jenerous is a fair trade apparel brand that combines artisan block printing with contemporary style to create beautiful handmade accessories.

Their make-up bags and wash bags are thoughtfully designed featuring internal pockets and drawstring or zip closure and are machine washable.

They are made with organic cotton by artisans in India, in a factory that pays fair wages and has safe working conditions.

Every purchase provides a week’s tailoring training in India.

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