Zero Waste Vegan Skin Creams (the best brands)

The beauty industry is renowned for trying to sell people everything under the sun, causing mass confusion and over-spending. So what are beauty moisturisers exactly? Do we need them or not? And if so, which are the best natural brands?

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).

Green people organic skin creams

Scent-free 24 Hour Cream has over 1000 5-star reviews, ideal for sensitive skin. Dermatologically tested (with a 96-hour patch test) to be suitable for all skin types.

This bestseller is rich in the botanical Baicalin, an ingredient to boost skin firmness and elasticity. It also contains skin-boosting prebiotics and moisture-binding cacay oil (from an evergreen plant) and evening primrose, to support new healthy skin cells.

Vit-min Fix Moisturiser is for dry and normal skin, lightly fragrance with rose geranium and frankincense essential oils.

Brightening Moisturiser is designed to smooth fine lines using buds from the beech tree, to strengthen skin epidermal structure and boost hydration by 30%. One trial showed a 10% reduction in lines over four weeks.

A great natural moisturiser for people with skin pigmentation, pineapple enzymes gently ease excess pigment as skin-lightening cucumber works with mulberry park extract and hibiscus flower extract, to promote an even skin tone. Scented with palmarosa, mandarin and rose geranium. Ideal for mature skin (avoid this cream for pregnancy/nursing, due to hibiscus and essential oils).

Hydra Glow Night Cream is an organic overnight cream for dry skin, with 35 beauty-enhancing actives, collagen-stimulating plant-based marine actives and 97% of users saying it improved skin hydration.

Designed to lock in moisture while you sleep, 100% of the tester panel says this left their skin feel smooth. Enhanced with the aroma of citrus oils (avoid use if you sleep with pets as citrus oils are unsafe near animal friends, in case they give you a kiss during the night!)

Fruitful Nights Night Cream gently exfoliates skin while you sleep, with pineapple fruit enzymes. And is scented with the blissful aroma of red raspberry, apricot, apple and pear.

Organic clear skin moisturiser (for oily skin)

Green People Clear Skin Moisturiser contains natural plant ingredients to control breakouts, without blocking pores. No skin-drying alcohol or harsh retinols. Instead, it uses:

• Black willow bark extract (gentle salicylic acid)
• Rosehip oil (reduces chances of scarring)
• Green tea (antioxidants to protect skin)
• Ylang ylang, mandarin & sweet orange oils (for scent)

Both my teenagers use this moisturiser. It is great for their skin. They both get spots. One had dry patches, which this has resolved.

With the first use, my skin instantly cleared up.

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 facial moisturisers

Sknfed Organic AHA Facial Moisturiser is a deeply hydrating cream with vitamin E, antioxidants (pomegranates, roseship and gutu kola) and the soothing benefits of aloe vera). These natural ingredients work to leave skin soft with a youthful radiance, and pampered with the soothing essence of roses, for a glowing complexion.

Just smooth over your face and neck in gentle upward movements.

If you prefer or have to use scent-free, this is the other option.

This produce has been a godsend for my extremely bad eczema. It is so gentle and no irritation. It has been the only face I have been able to use.

SBTRCT (zero waste solid vegan skincare)

SBTRCT is an excellent skincare brand, founded by the former execute at male skincare brand Bulldog. He has turned facial skincare on its head, offering a small line of vegan natural skin items (cleansers, exfoliators and face creams, with vitamin C booster).

All are sold in zero waste bamboo packaging, you just buy refills thereafter, which also saves you money. Note the squalane is plant-based (not from sharks, like some brands).

Upcircle Beauty (skincare with upcycled ingredients)

Upcircle Beauty is an award-winning brand of skin and hair care, all made with natural vegan ingredients, and sold in zero waste packaging (glass jars, metal lids and cardboard boxes). These products are unique in that each one makes use of antioxidant-rich ingredients, that would otherwise be discarded by industry.

Upcircle Face Moisturiser is made with the finely ground powder of discarded argan shells, a natural by-product of the argan oil industry, which is rich in antioxidant vitamin E. It also contains nourishing aloe vera, revitalising blood orange and skin-soothing cocoa powder.

Designed to leave skin balanced, bright, and deeply moisturised, apply to clean dry skin, and massage in until absorbed. Suitable for all skin types.

Upcircle Night Cream is designed to leave the skin balanced and deeply moisturised, made with upcycled blueberries (from the juicing industry) – natural antioxidants that are high in pro-retinol.

They are combined with replenishing niacinamide, hydrating hyaluronic acid and nourishing rosehip oil, to help promote overnight skin regeneration, and even out skin tone.

Coraline Skincare

Coraline Skincare’s Everlasting Facial Balm is rich in nutritious ingredients. To use, just apply in the evening to clean dry skin.

Contains immortelle facial oil, so check for allergies, some people may be sensitive.