Zero Waste Facial Oils and Serums (the best brands)
Green People scent-free face and neck serum is made from natural ingredients, and sold in easy-to-recycle packaging, formulated by experts in natural beauty.
Avoid beauty products with essential oils if pregnant/nursing. Many skincare items contain cocoa butter and/or zinc oxide (also found in sunscreens, cosmetics and deodorants). So if you live with pets, wash your skin before letting pets kiss you, or avoid items containing them.
Most kerbsides recycle plastic packaging. You can also recycle (including pipettes and hard-to-recycle items) at any Boots store (look for the recycling box).
What is a beauty serum?
It’s basically a blend of oils and other ingredients to deliver potent active ingredients into the skin, although know that nothing really can penetrate the dermis, only just under the epidermis, so don’t fall for ‘wonder serums or creams’.
Most skin moisturisers sit on the surface to lock in moistures. But serums usually have smaller molecules so can address specific skin concerns like lines, dehydration or pigmentation (age spots).
They tend to have a higher ratio of active ingredients compared to skin creams, and many are high in antioxidants like vitamin C to protect from pollution and UV rays. Some contain hyaluronic acid to provide intense hydration (look for vegan brands, as some hyaluronic acid is from the combs of roosters).
A few anti-ageing ones contain retinol or alternatives. These are designed to increase cell turnover to help booster your own collage and reduce fine lines. But they can make skin more sensitive, so keep out of sunlight after use, or avoid for very sensitive skin.
Likewise those with salicylic or glycolic acids, used to exfoliate pores, and often used to help people with acne or congested skin. Serums with niacinamide (B3) are used to balance oil production (and calm redness).
How to use beauty serums
Serums are applied to the face, neck and décolletage after cleansing the skin, but before you apply skin cream. You only need a few drops to pat onto the skin. Recommended by dermatologists, choose one with natural ingredients. They don’t have to be silly expensive, it matters more what they are made with.
Oy beauty serum for teenage/oily skin
The clear skin purifying serum is ideal for oily skin. Ideal to keep spots and blemishes at bay, it’s rich in organic actives and anti-inflammatories and deep-cleansing yucca to purify pores. And willow bark for the benefits of an alternative to salicylic acid, to avoid irritation. Alcohol free.
Age-defying line eraser serum
Green People’s line eraser serum is made with sea holly stem cell extract, to boost hydration by as much as 95%, while baobab firms and baicalin works to restore skin to ten years before! This can firm skin within 15 minutes, and sinks into the skin, free from irritating alcohol.
It can also visibly rejuvenate lines around the lips and eyes, use for four weeks to notice smoother skin.
Retinol booster serum
The retinol booster serum is 100% natural, a vegan vitamin A that is fast-acting to accelerate cell turnover, increase skin elasticity, reduce appearance of fine lines, and protect against free radical damage.
Hydration comes from hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and five organic plant oils, with the calming aroma of lavender, camphor wood, ylang ylang and palmarosa.
Vitamin C serum
Vitamin C serum is clinically proven to be kind to sensitive skin, and tested to 96 hours. Suitable for sensitive skin, it’s ideal to brighten dull and uneven skin, for a healthy glow. This serum is not suitable for pregnancy.
Powered by skin-plumping hyaluronic acid, apply before your facial moisturiser, using 1 to 2 pumps on your face, neck and décolletage. Packed with bakuchi oil for antioxidant support, it’s scented with oils of mandarin, rose geranium and neroli oils.
Green People Organic Facial Oils
The collagen boost facial oil contains 11 super-seed oils to deeply nourish and visibly firm skin, to leave it smooth, boosted and radiant. It contains upcycled organic French white lupin seed (active in peptides and antioxidants) to stimulate type 1 collagen and increase skin firmness by 92% in 42 days.
It also contains oils of apricot kernel, blackcurrant, rosehip, baobab, pomegranate and evening primrose to support cell renewal, skin elasticity and smooth fine lines. Scented with ylang ylang, cedar wood and palmarosa.
Did you know that lupins are toxic to pets? Read more on pet-friendly gardens.
Green People skin booster drops are free from alcohol, and ideal to help prevent and treat blemishes. Formulated for skin over 30, they are also good for congested skin and perimenopausal spots.
Made with ginger leaf cell extract to reduce sebum by up to 19% in 28 days, 63% of people report clearer skin after just two weeks. Scented with lavender and citrus oils (don’t use near pets, as citrus oils are unsafe if they kiss your skin).
Sknfed Organic AHA Beauty Serum
Sknfed Organic AHA Renewal Serum can hydrate skin using natural fruit acids. Ideal to help reduce lines and brighten the complexion.
Neal’s Yard Wild Rose Beauty Serum
This wild rose beauty serum is formulated with wild rosehip seed oil, hyaluronic acids and essential oils of rose and geranium.
