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Buying gifts for people is always tricky, and it becomes even more so when sustainability is a deciding factor. I see so many products that I think are perfect for friends/family, but I’m often put off by the amount of packaging they’re wrapped in or the ingredients they contain.
Over the past year, I’ve made it my mission to shop more sustainably and pay more attention to the products that I use. Beforehand I wouldn’t even check what was in them – I can’t even imagine doing that now!
I’ve found so many eco-friendly brands which I’ve tried and loved, so I thought I would share them here! Hopefully this selection will help make your gift search a little easier.
Scroll down to find some of my top sustainable gift ideas for conscious beauty lovers!
1. Milly & Sissy Shower Creme Trio Starter Pack £20
I go through shower gel so quickly and it always pains me when I have to throw another plastic bottle away. That’s why the Milly & Sissy powder shower cremes are such a good idea.
The gift pack comes with compostable sachets in three different fragrances: cherry blossom, passion fruit and shea tree. Simply pour one of these sachets into the bottle provided and add 400ml of water to form the final product.
By letting the consumer add their own water, the brand’s transport carbon footprint is reduced by 94%. You’ll be surprised to find out that water makes up 70% of the bathroom products we use, so it definitely makes more sense to combine the individual elements at home where we have this resource (literally) on tap.
The bottle itself is made from recycled plastic (they now do a refillable aluminium bottle!), and all other packaging can be composted or recycled too. This is the very definition of zero waste!
2. Ben & Anna Soda Deodorant Sticks £7.45
Deodorant might not be the first thing you think of when you’re buying birthday or Christmas presents for your family/friends. But I actually think it’s a great little stocking filler.
This deodorant stick from Ben & Anna is amazing for a number of reasons. Not only is the packaging sooo pretty, it’s also made out of FSC-certified paper so we know it’s sourced sustainably. All B&A products are made from natural, vegan ingredients, none of which have been tested on animals.
On top of this, Ben & Anna support ocean cleaning initiatives, like Project Wings, which help to keep our seas plastic free.
It is a little pricy, but these deodorants do last a really long time. Aaaand it’s worth it to do our bit for the planet.
3. Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops £19.95
You might already be able to tell that I love this product. See HERE for a full review of these IOP self tanning drops, it’s worth the read, I promise!
There are very few UK-based brands that offer sustainable self tanners. And, though Isle of Paradise isn’t 100% eco-friendly, they are trying their absolute best to make their products (and their packaging) cleaner and less harmful for the environment.
Their waters, drops and mousses are all vegan and cruelty-free. Plus, by introducing eco-refills, they have cut down their plastic usage by 81%.
4. ‘Minimal: How To Simplify Your Life And Live Sustainably’ by Madeleine Olivia £12.99
Minimal is a must-read for newbies who are just getting into sustainable living. In this little book, Madeleine offers some really clever tips on how we can reduce our waste/consumption, and how we can change our habits to protect the Earth.
What’s great is that there are whole sections dedicated to ‘wardrobe and fashion’ and ‘health and beauty’ so the advice here is really specific and helpful. We are even given recipes to show us how to make our own natural beauty products without compromising the quality of our skin or hair.
Madeleine shows us that we can still enjoy a bit of pampering, but that there are more eco-friendly ways to do this.
5. Jungle Culture Eco Friendly Safety Razor £17.99
Disposable cartridge razors are, unfortunately, terrible for the environment. While they may be super easy to dispose of, replacing them on a regular basis contributes massively to the beauty industry’s plastic waste problem.
This is why many people are now opting to use safety razors. Of course, they’re not a new idea. But they have had a recent surge in popularity.
I love these Jungle Culture ones because they are zero waste … and because I’m a sucker for pastels.
When the blade starts to dull, all you have to do is carefully take it out, give it a wipe and recycle it as you would any other metal item. Jungle Culture has a more comprehensive guide on how to safely recycle your razor blades which you can find here.
6. Skin & Tonic Happy Skin Kit £40.00
This is the perfect gift set for skincare enthusiasts. The products themselves are amazing; they smell so good and are incredibly gentle on the face. I love them!
Now, here comes the good bit …
The brand website assures customers that all ingredients are organically grown and harvested (without the use of pesticides). It also states that all products are free from preservatives, drying alcohols, synthetic fragrances and palm oil.
The packaging, even down to the EcoFlo peanuts used for shipping, is all recyclable. Another win in my book!
Are there any sustainable gift ideas you recommend? Let me know in the comments!
And, if you’re interested in finding more eco-friendly skincare products, check out this list of my favourite sustainable swaps.
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