To the disappointment of many Biore beauty product lovers, Biore is not a cruelty-free brand. Biore sells its products in mainland China, and they have mandatory animal testing laws, so even if this brand doesn’t directly test on animals, they have given permission for the testing to be done in other markets.
Biore, owned by Japan-based parent company Kao, is known for its pore strips, daily face washes, and charcoal cleansers. They’ve been an incredibly popular brand over the years, and their products are sold worldwide, so many people were upset to learn about their loose animal testing policies.
In addition to agreeing to animal testing where it is required, some of their products also contain animal or by-product ingredients, so vegan shoppers aren’t any luckier in this case. If you’re one of the people that was upset by this news, don’t worry: there are plenty of alternatives.
Before we talk about the alternatives, we want to clear one thing up many people think that beauty and cosmetics products are just tested on mice or lab rats. This may help them justify their decisions, but it’s simply not true. When products are tested on animals, there are few regulations on the type of animal. Traditional products may be tested on mice and rabbits, but they’re tested on cats and dogs, too.
A good way to think about it is if the product has chemicals and dyes in it that you wouldn’t want touching your pet, why should it be tested on other animals? Not to get too dark on you, but lab animals, regardless of what kind they are, are often kept in tiny cages before, during, and after testing, and many of them end up blinded, maimed or even killed. So, next time you hear someone say “they’re just lab rats,” you can set the record straight.
Now, the alternatives will differ by company depending on which products you’re looking for, so we’ll break it down into their two most popular categories: strips and cleansers. If you’re looking for pore strips to replace your Biore ones, the best cruelty-free alternative we’ve found is the one put out by Formula 10.0.6.
The product is called “Pores Be Pure Skin-Clarifying Mud Mask”. They work exactly the same way as the Biore ones, so you won’t have a new process to get used to. But why would you forget what you were going there for? Because Formula 10.0.6 offers tons of other great products, too!
They offer a pretty wide range of moisturizers, skin treatments, cleansers, masks, and scrubs, so you might be able to replace some of your other traditional products while you’re there, too. This brand isn’t one of the big ones yet, but they’ve been gaining popularity over the years because they’re cruelty-free and they offer so many different products to choose from. Most of their products are also vegan.
If you’re looking for an alternative to their deep-cleaning face washes or charcoal cleansers, it’s hard to beat Burt’s Bees. Their soapbark and chamomile deep cleansing cream may be made with very different ingredients from what you’d find in Biore, but at least we can pronounce these ones! The natural ingredients in the cleanser are great for cleaning (soapbark), replenishing (chamomile and coconut oil), and refreshing (menthol).
When it comes to cruelty-free and vegan shopping, there are plenty of other options to test out. If you have products at home that know you love, look for the Leaping Bunny seal, the PETA certification, or cruelty-free claims on the packaging. But don’t stop there: if you don’t see any certifications and only see uncertified claims, do a quick Google search to confirm.
You can also search PETA.org and the Leaping Bunny’s website to confirm that they haven’t been recently added. Many companies have been making false claims about being cruelty-free recently in an attempt to stay relevant and keep their profits up as more and more people choose cruelty-free alternatives, so you can’t be too careful.
Here are some other really popular cruelty-free beauty and cosmetics brands that are waiting for you to come try them out:
These are just a few of the forward-thinking companies that have made the move to cruelty-free policies, and more are getting added to the list each day. The best way to keep on top of changes that are occurring in this area is to perform regular searches, look for updates, follow PETA or the Leaping Bunny, and read our posts on cruelty-free company statuses!
Few things are better than knowing you’re supporting an important cause, helping to keep voiceless animals safe, and driving change with likeminded people. But in case you need more, cruelty-free products are usually made with better ingredients, too.
These better ingredients might include things like organic herbal blends, chamomile, coconut milk, kale and other plant extracts, essential oils, and vitamins. With fewer synthetic dyes, sulfates, preservatives, and parabens and more natural ingredients like the ones listed above (and many others), cruelty-free products are usually much better for your skin.
What does that mean for you? Likely, a few things:
Fewer breakouts
Less of a chance of an allergic reaction
Decrease in other skin irritations like rashes, inflammation, dry flakes, and breakouts
And let’s be real here, all of us could benefit from fewer skin irritations! When you’re done marveling at your glowing skin from using these products, you’ll notice that they’re also helping you make more mindful beauty and cosmetic product choices.
Cruelty-free is tested in more ethical ways, it’s better for you, doesn’t break the bank, and gives you the chance to take a stand for something you care about. There are plenty of brands out there that know these things and choose not to test on animals because of it.
Yes, NYX is cruelty-free. This popular makeup brand has confirmed that they follow cruelty-free policies for their products. They opt out of testing their preferred ingredients or finished makeup products on animals, and they don’t let any third-parties do it for them either. They’re also not sold in places like China where they require animal testing by law. NYX is certified by PETA, so we know that they took the extra steps to provide proof and documentation of their cruelty-free testing processes.
NYX is a popular choice for makeup products like lip glosses, liners, highlighters, pigments, eyeshadow palettes, eyeliners, and liquid lipsticks. Like several other cruelty-free companies, NYX is owned by a parent company that isn’t cruelty-free: L’Oréal. But this doesn’t have any impact on the smaller brand’s policies (at least when it comes to testing).
So, where can you find NYX if you haven’t tried them out yet? The expansive and versatile makeup lines offered by NYX are available in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Europe. Like most brands these days, you can order everything they have to offer online and have it shipped right to your door.
Here are some of the most popular makeup products put out by NYX:
The Ultimate Edit petite shadow palette, Ultimate Shadow palette, makeup setting, and finish sprays are other favorites. Whether you’re buying for yourself or as a gift for a fellow cruelty-free shopper, they’ve got plenty of options to choose from and their website is very easy to navigate.
As if that’s not enough, they’ve also got a handy section on their website that separates vegan formulated products from the others, for those who are looking to take their cruelty-free purchases an ethical step further. These particular makeup products don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients or byproducts. Each option on their website is one you can feel good about.
By now, you should have a pretty solid idea of whether or not NYX has the makeup products that you’re looking for. If they’ve fallen flat in your cruelty-free product search, or you simply want other options to work your way through, too, we’ve got it covered.
Here is a short list of some other popular cruelty-free companies:
And what’s even better than seeing this incredible list of passionate cruelty-free companies? The fact that this list is growing all the time! Beauty, makeup, and skincare brands are making the change to cruelty-free policies as they see a growing demand for these alternative products. More and more people are choosing cruelty-free and vegan products, so naturally, companies are making the shift to keep up with the demand. Companies with old, outdated policies that allow testing on animals will soon find that they’re obsolete.
Both PETA and the Leaping Bunny work to certify companies as cruelty-free, and you can easily search their websites for these companies if you find that you’re unsure of something already in your lineup. If you don’t see the cute bunny stamp or the PETA seal of approval on the packaging of the products you have at home, don’t toss them just yet – there’s one more step you can take. Take a moment to google search the company for more information on their policies. Not every company that follows cruelty-free policies takes the time or has had long enough yet to get certified.
Although it’s not 100% necessary to be certified, it does help us know that they’re telling the truth and that we can be confident in our choices. And equipped with this information and a drive to make cruelty-free purchases and support a good cause, you can make more mindful choices, too. You’ll be thrilled when you look to your beauty product and makeup lineup and know that they’re full of happy, healthy, cruelty-free products.
While we’re on the topic of being healthy, it’s important to know that cruelty-free products aren’t just healthier for the animals, they’re usually healthier for us, too. Many people don’t realize this before they make the switch. Companies that are about animals typically care more about their shoppers. They use healthier ingredients than their traditional counterparts. With fewer additives, chemicals, or synthetics, these products will do your body good. This means fewer allergic reactions, rashes, acne breakouts, or other irritations.
In case you might be wondering, what ingredients do cruelty-free companies use instead? The answer varies, but it might be coconut milk instead of a strongly scented chemical, organic shea butter instead of an impossible-to-pronounce synthetic, or a variety of other positive swaps. When you start shopping for cruelty-free products to replace or supplement the stuff you have at home, check the labels (or the list of ingredients in the corresponding online descriptions). You’ll be surprised to find how much more recognizable and familiar these ingredients are to you.
Cruelty-free products are better for the animals that have escaped the labs, your body and skin, and your peace of mind. Often, they’re better for the environment, and may even be better for your budget, too. Plus, they’re easy to find, they make great gifts, and many cruelty-free companies offer excellent incentives and discounts for new and return customers. With only NYX and the list or other cruelty-free companies above, you can replace all of the traditional products in your beauty product, skincare, haircare, makeup, and nail polish collections – and you’ll be so glad that you did!
Smashbox is cruelty-free. This mid-range makeup brand doesn’t test ingredients or products on animals. Neither do their suppliers or other third parties. Smashbox isn’t sold in countries where animal testing is legally required. They are currently PETA certified and sold in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Smashbox is a cruelty-free company you can feel proud supporting!
Some people are concerned when they see that a cruelty-free company is owned by a company that isn’t cruelty-free. This is actually more common than it sounds. Urban Decay is a great example. They’re cruelty-free, but they’re owned by L’Oréal, who is not cruelty-free. Smashbox is cruelty-free, but they’re owned by Estee Lauder and Estee Lauder is not cruelty-free.
So, what does this mean for you? Well, nothing really. Like L’Oréal, Estee Lauder just doesn’t force the other companies they own to follow their same policies. This may mean that keeping their cruelty-free status was a condition in the buyout agreement. It may mean that they’re working toward all of their companies being cruelty-free and they just haven’t made it yet. There are a few reasons a cruelty-free company may be owned by one with less ethical policies. But in any case, a truly cruelty-free company shouldn’t be punished for the choices that were made by a parent company.
As for us cruelty-free shoppers, it just means that Smashbox has the funding and notoriety to continue selling quality cruelty-free makeup products. And in order to be certified by PETA, a company needs to provide extensive documentation and proof of their cruelty-free policies. PETA, Leaping Bunny, and other certifications aren’t entirely necessary, but they do make us feel better. It’s nice to have reliable evidence that the products we’re purchasing are really cruelty-free instead of having to guess or go off of their word. That’s not to say that we don’t believe companies that say they’re cruelty-free but haven’t gone through the certification process. Just that sometimes we like to have a little more information.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the most popularSmashbox products:
Smashbox was rated #1 in the U.S. for cruelty-free face primers. So, if you’re looking for a good cruelty-free face primer to add to your beauty routine, your search is over! They’ve got a handy primer finder on the website to help you pick out your perfect shades. And there’s a foundation finder, too. Plus, you can earn points with every order (they call it Smash Cash) to earn perks.
As if that’s not enough, when you join, you’ll get 15% off your first purchase, a $5 credit after you earn 50 points, free shipping, and two free samples. These are some great incentives to test them out! They have a wide range of makeup, primer, BB cream, face, lip products, and more. Their highlighter duos and perfecting powders are popular cruelty-free options, too.
But if you’re looking for alternatives or other beauty products, there’s a growing list of amazing cruelty-free companies to try out. They range from super affordable (like ELF) to mid-range (like Kat Von D) to more high-end (like Urban Decay). There’s something for every budget and beauty lineup. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Best of all, this list is growing every day. These companies are part of the movement to normalize cruelty-free policies and others are joining them every day. When you see the PETA certification or the adorable Leaping Bunny stamp on a beauty product bottle in your home, you know that you’re contributing to something important. The companies listed above easily have all of your makeup, skin, beauty, and hair care needs covered. Many of them sell nail polish and gift sets, too. And some even offer vegan options if you’re ready to take it a step further.
If we continue to choose cruelty-free products over traditional alternatives, this list will never stop growing. Big and small companies with outdated animal testing policies will see that we don’t need them anymore. They’ll see that it’s time to change or become obsolete. This is a major win for the animals that don’t have the voice to defend themselves. It’s a win for the shoppers that enjoy making a difference and having a clear conscience. But what most people don’t realize is that it’s a win for your skin, too.
You may be surprised to find that cruelty-free products are almost always made with better ingredients than traditional ones. They tend to have fewer chemical, synthetic, or additive products mixed in. Instead, cruelty-free companies go for things like coconut milk that are healthier and more effective. And healthier ingredients mean happier skin. This might be what you need to put an end to those pesky breakouts, rashes, and allergic reactions, too.
As you start shopping for your cruelty-free products, take some time to read the labels or the online product descriptions. You’ll find the information you need to choose the best products to create a new lineup. But you’ll also notice ingredients that are much easier to pronounce. You’ll notice healthy ingredients that you recognize. Ones that don’t sound made up or cover half the bottle. And over time, you’ll notice that you don’t even miss the products you used to use.
You can find everything you need at one of these amazing cruelty-free companies. And you can find gifts to convert your friends and family members, too!
Yes, Urban Decay is cruelty-free. They don’t test their ingredients or completed products on animals. And they don’t let their suppliers or other companies do it either. Urban Decay’s beauty product and nail polish lines aren’t sold anywhere that requires animal testing by law (think mainland China). They are, however, owned by a company that is not cruelty-free.
So, what does this mean? This situation can get a bit confusing. We know that L’Oréal owns Urban Decay. And that L’Oréal is not cruelty-free, but Urban Decay is… It may sound strange, but it’s not all that uncommon. This particular company just doesn’t force all of its brands to follow the same policies. Sometimes, across the board, the brands are allowed to make their own decisions regarding their animal testing policies.
Here’s why: bigger brands buy smaller ones (or even similarly sized or larger ones) every day. A cruelty-free company might agree to being acquired by a larger company if they’re allowed to maintain their cruelty-free status. There are other reasons a cruelty-free brand might be owned by a company that allows animal testing, too. This is just one of the more common ones. Either way, there’s really nothing to worry about with the non-cruelty-free parent. Urban Decay was simply acquired by a larger company that could help them grow.
For us, this just means that Urban Decay can keep doing what they do, get their products out there, and remain an easily accessible cruelty-free option. Urban Decay is PETA certified, so we know that they’ve provided the proof and documentation they needed to confirm that their testing policies are truly cruelty-free. As such, this is a brand you can feel good about.
Even better: supporting Urban Decay instead of brands like L’Oréal shows non-cruelty-free companies where the consumers’ priorities are. Soon, they’ll be forced to choose between updating their hurtful policies or becoming obsolete. Luckily, Urban Decay’s mid-range makeup and nail polish lines are easy to find. They’re available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe.
As if that’s not enough, they’ve got a long list of other fantastic products, too. Urban Decay has all of your cruelty-free makeup, brush, and beauty product needs covered. You should expect to pay a bit more than you would for a traditional beauty product or a budget cruelty-free beauty product. If you’re not sure if the higher quality is worth the extra price, order some samples or a product or two to try out before you replace everything in your makeup bag. But if you already know that you’re looking for something more affordable or you just want to have some alternatives to choose from, here are some other great cruelty-free companies to try out:
These fantastic companies are normalizing cruelty-free policies. They’re offering high-quality products with cute Leaping Bunny and strong PETA certifications on their bottles. You can find all of the skincare, beauty products, nail polish, and hair care that you need in the links above. Many of them offer vegan options, too. Not only are these products cruelty-free, but they’re also free of animal byproducts like beeswax and lanolin.
The best part: this list keeps never stops growing. These companies and conscious consumers are encouraging other companies to join the cruelty-free movement and it’s easy to see that it’s working. But it’s not just a win for animals and the cruelty-free shoppers, it’s a win for your skin, too. These cruelty-free options are often made with healthier ingredients than regular beauty and cosmetic products.
You’ll have to check the labels or online product information to see which ones are the best for what you’re looking for (dry skin or oily skin, straight hair or wavy hair, etc.). And while you’re there, you’ll notice that these products contain fewer chemicals and impossible to pronounce synthetics and additives. Instead, you’ll see much more natural ingredients like shea butter and coconut milk.
No wonder so many people are making the switch! Healthier skin is happier skin. Your happy, healthy, cruelty-free new purchases will be less likely to cause you to break out with acne or a rash, have an allergic reaction, or experience inflammation. And last but not least, most cruelty-free beauty products are just as affordable as their traditional alternatives. Urban Decay happens to be a bit pricier, but some people are happy to pay the extra for the quality they’re getting. And others find that they can get everything they’re looking for from more budget-friendly cruelty-free lineups like the ones they offer at ELF and Physician’s Formula. So, they’re better for the animals, better for your skin, better for the planet, and you can still buy them on a budget.
While the popular cosmetics company Laura Mercier may land in a bit of a grey area, they are technically considered to be cruelty-free.
Laura Mercier is owned by a parent company (Shiseido) whose testing policy is not cruelty-free. This fact alone is not enough for them to lose their cruelty-free status. Big corporations like Shiseido allow the other brands in their portfolio to operated based on their own preferred animal testing policies.
This means that even if a parent brand doesn’t follow cruelty-free procedures, it doesn’t necessarily mean the same for the company under consideration. Along with Laura Mercier, Shiseido is the parent company of two other cruelty-free brands: Bare Minerals and Buxom.
Laura Mercier itself does not allow animal testing, doesn’t allow third parties to test on animals and doesn’t sell its products in areas like mainland China where animal testing is required by law. They’ve done their due diligence and earned their cruelty-free status, despite it being a long and difficult road.
For a while, they were following cruelty-free policies at home in the United States, but they were allowing their products to be sold in places where animal testing was required by law. Then, they changed this policy so that they could be considered completely cruelty-free. But since being acquired by their parent company, many people have shown concern that they’d adopt their non-cruelty-free practices and start selling in mainland China.
These concerns have not yet come to life, although it does seem like a possibility considering how rocky their cruelty-free status has been throughout the years. Laura Mercier, along with a few other companies, certainly seems to fall into an ethical grey area. While I believe that they’re cruelty-free for the time being, it’s best to keep an eye on the situation.
There has been a lot of confusion surrounding Laura Mercier’s cruelty-free status, and their answers to questions and policy changes can be interpreted as them switching back and forth or sitting on the fence. I have no indication that they’re not cruelty-free, for now, but their approaches to the situation have been a bit of a cause for concern.
On top of being difficult to assess, Laura Mercier is not certified by the Leaping Bunny or PETA. While this doesn’t automatically mean that they’re not cruelty-free, it doesn’t help their case. Corporations this large that are truly cruelty-free should apply for cruelty-free certification. Otherwise, they’re leaving things wide open for interpretation, keeping the doors open to allow policy changes, and confusing their loyal and potential customers.
My recommendation: proceed with caution. If Laura Mercier is your favorite brand and you’re not open to trying out alternatives, or you really want to try them out, there’s nothing directly damaging or convincing enough to prevent you from shopping for their products for the time being.
But if you’re not a fan of ethical grey areas, confusing responses or policies, or being uncertain, you may want to steer clear until they can show us more solid evidence or certifications that tell us that they are truly cruelty-free.
In the meantime, here is a list of some of the most popular cruelty-free brands to check out:
These brands are all certified cruelty-free, so there’s no confusion or wondering involved when you shop their products. In addition to being better for all of the animals (it’s not just lab rats, it’s cats and dogs too) that can’t speak for themselves, there are a few other notable benefits of shopping cruelty-free:
A clear conscience
Budget-friendly options (cruelty-free products aren’t nearly as expensive as most people think they are, and if you’re on a particularly tight budget at the moment, start by trying ELF or Physician’s Formula cosmetics)
Better ingredients (fewer dyes and chemicals means fewer breakouts, blemishes, irritations, and allergic reactions)
More mindful beauty practices allow us to condense and cut the clutter out of our beauty routines
It’s really just not necessary to test on animals (and this was true in the past, too, but with where we are today, it’s truer than ever before)
Think about it: that’s a pretty well-rounded list of benefits. Products that aren’t used to torture innocent animals are better for your skin, are just as affordable as their harsher alternatives, and help you organize your space? It seems like a no-brainer!
Companies that care about animal cruelty are the same ones that are more likely to truly care about their customers, too. You can be a part of the movement that lets big beauty and cosmetics companies know that we’re here, we’re watching and listening, and we’re not going anywhere. You can be a part of a massive, beautiful change in the world.
What could possibly be better than that? I am so happy that you’re taking this journey with me, and I can’t wait to hear about what you find.
The answer is yes, Living Proofis cruelty-free! They are verified by PETA, they don’t test on animals or let other companies test their ingredients or completed products on animals, and they don’t sell their products in places where animal testing is required by law.
Best of all, they’re just one on a list of hundreds of companies that have switched already or are currently changing their policies so that they can be truly cruelty-free moving forward. The list is growing every day, thanks to conscious businesses, market researchers, and the thoughtful consumers that are choosing cruelty-free products over all of their other options.
Think about it: if consumers aren’t buying traditional products, the companies that focus on cruelty-free policies and healthier ingredients can thrive. They now have a major advantage over the other companies that are stuck in their old ways. It’s no wonder so many of these big beauty and cosmetics companies are making the change.
Living Proofhas gotten pretty famous for its versatile and cruelty-free hair care line. From shampoo to styling, they make hair care products that you can feel good about.
On top of being cruelty-free, Living Proof products are carefully made with healthier ingredients than traditional ones, too. Their hair care products are free of parabens, phthalates, and silicones. They’re also safe for colored hair and chemically-treated hair. On top of their popular product list is their dry shampoo.
Everyone with hair knows how much of a hassle it can be washing it when you don’t really have to and we could all use a little dry shampoo for those early Monday morning meetings or that impromptu Saturday afternoon trip to the farmer’s market. Whatever the occasion, cruelty-free shoppers seem to really enjoy this product. It is made to eliminate oil, sweat, and odor and can be used every night before bed.
Living Proof covers pretty much all of your shampoo, dry shampoo, conditioner, hair treatment and styler, hairspray, and heat protectant needs. For more cruelty-free and zero-waste haircare brands check out this article. But what about the rest of your beauty and cosmetics needs?
Don’t worry, we’ve got suggestions for those, too.
If you’re looking for other hair care products, or other beauty products altogether, here are some of the most popular cruelty-free brands with links to their websites to visit:
Companies that follow cruelty-free policies are typically the same ones that will go out of their way to put better ingredients into the products in the first place. They want to save the animals, but they also want to give their loyal customers and buyers the best products that they can, which is a fantastic added bonus for us!
Existing cruelty-free shoppers and shoppers that are trying them out for the first time are both often surprised in the difference in quality between traditional products and cruelty-free alternatives. Even when they cost a bit more, the difference in testing policies and quality of ingredients makes them well worth it. But thankfully, cruelty-free products are often much more affordable than people think they are, too.
Instead of relying heavily on chemicals, dyes, and synthetics, cruelty-free companies go more for the plant-based alternatives and other healthy ingredients that add minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants to their base. This often translates into fewer breakouts, rashes, and allergic reactions than you’d get with traditional products. Healthy ingredients are much more likely to give you healthy skin, healthy hair, and overall contribute to your health.
What does this mean for you? It means product choices that are better for your furry friends and your skin and body, first off! But it also means making a choice you can be proud of, buying a product at a similar price point that is significantly better, mindfully creating your beauty lineup without leaving room for clutter, and the chance to join an incredible movement. What have you got to lose?
Is Aveeno Cruelty Free? A question that you might ask yourself before buying their products.
The beauty brand Aveeno is owned by the multinational corporation Johnson & Johnson, which tests its products on animals. Because Aveeno follows the policies of its parent company, they are not cruelty-free. Aveeno also sells its products in mainland China, where animal testing is legally required.
Turns out that this beauty brand that focuses primarily on creating products that are good for the skin of their customers still chooses to test them on innocent animals. Interestingly enough, companies like this one that tests their ingredients and finished products on animals are typically less cautious about what goes into making their products, too.
That’s right, traditional beauty brands rely more heavily on synthetics, dyes, chemicals, and other additives than cruelty-free brands typically do. While traditional brands feel free to pour fillers into their products, cruelty-free brands take a closer look.
They’re not only trying to protect the animals, but they’re also trying to protect the people that care about them. Cruelty-free products often swap harsh ingredients for natural ones like plant-based substitutes full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that will truly nourish, repair, and protect your skin rather than sneakily making it worse over time.
When traditional products cause allergic reactions, rashes, breakouts, and dry, flaky skin, cruelty-free products can soothe your skin, all while giving you peace of mind knowing that you spoke up for the creatures that can’t speak for themselves. If they’re better for the animals and better for you, what more do you need to know?
In case you might be asking yourself right now, “but what about how much more expensive they are?” you’re in for a great surprise… Cruelty-free products are more budget-friendly than ever! They no longer consistently outrank traditional products in terms of costs. Cruelty-free brands like ELF (stands for “eyes, lips, face,” and they’ve got each one thoroughly covered!), Physician’s Formula, and many others are just as affordable.
In my own experience, I’ve noticed that they help me make more mindful shopping choices, too. Rather than needing one product for each problem or use and another one to correct or supplement that one, I only need a few versatile, well-rounded, healthy, and cruelty-free products taking up space in my bathroom. When you clear the clutter, you’re making choices you can be infinitely proud of.
Here are some other popular cruelty-free brands besides Burts`s Bee, ELF and Physician’s Formula for you to try out for yourself:
Many people use Aveeno skincare products like hand and body creams, which can be hard to find if you’re picky or you have sensitive skin or legitimate skin conditions. But don’t worry, we’ve got some alternatives ready for you to look into!
Lush’s dream cream is a vegan body lotion made from healthy ingredients like chamomile oil, organic cocoa butter, rose water, and oat milk. People with sensitive skin and conditions like eczema praise this lotion for working magic for them. Another option is this Burt`s Bees lotion:
As if that’s not enough, many of the cruelty-free companies on the list (and elsewhere) offer entire vegan collections, so you know you’re getting products made from the best ingredients available. This is a fantastic option to explore if you want to take your conscious shopping to the next level, but regular cruelty-free products make excellent choices, too.
If you already have a favorite beauty or cosmetics brand that you think might be cruelty-free but you’re not sure, just take a moment to look them up. You can find more information in quite a few different ways, but I recommend starting out with the following three:
Checking the Leaping Bunny’s catalog of cruelty-free companies
Searching the company on PETA.org
Google searching the company, like this: “is ___ cruelty-free?”
Remember, the words “not tested on animals” on the package aren’t enough to confirm a truly cruelty-free status. Some companies have made claims about being cruelty-free but allowed third parties to do the animal testing for them, or continued to sell the products in places like mainland China where animal testing is legally required. With a little bit of diligence, it’s easy to find the information you need.
Cruelty-free products are clearly the better choice for more reasons than we can count. Whether you’re trying them out for yourself or buying them as gifts, you can feel good about supporting a worthy cause and a healthy alternative. As consumers today, we often have way more power than we realize, and we can use choices like these ones to drive real change in the world.
Testing ingredients and finished products on animals isn’t necessary anymore, so there’s really no reason we should continue to allow big corporations to get away with it. The hundreds of companies that have already gone cruelty-free or are making the change now show us that there is a better way. A better way for our animals, our skin, our bank accounts, and our consciences.
What could be better than that?
With all of these benefits (and more), cruelty-free products truly just make more sense. Hopefully, you now have enough information to make the decision to switch. We’re happy that you’re here, joining thousands of individuals who have already decided that there’s no room in their lives for products that are tested on animals. We’re all in this together and we can’t wait to see how much more things progress over the next few years.
Zero Waste Deodorant? You might ask yourself where to look for it, but trust me, I know what an undertaking a sustainable lifestyle can be. Every detail of daily life gets dissected and analyzed, from the toothbrush you use in the morning, to the plastic bag you get no-questions-asked at the drugstore. Each mundane task you previously took for granted, has now transformed into a deeply existential question: “To create pollution or not to create pollution?”
When I started off in this pursuit myself, deodorant quickly became a concern. To start with, most deodorants I was familiar with can be classified as an antiperspirant, which I quickly discovered wreaks havoc on the natural detoxification process of our bodies. If you didn’t know, aluminum used as an antiperspirant works because it blocks up your pores from sweating. That may not sound so serious, but this very process has been linked to breast cancer. Once you get past the antiperspirant options, many natural deodorants still come packaged in disposable plastic packaging, and that’s equally bad for the environment.
That’s why I set off to find a list of zero waste deodorants, deodorants with no poisonous chemicals or animal testing in sight. I expected to find just a few worth mentioning, but the more I dug, the bigger this list got. These 25 plastic free deodorantsare a sliver of the many I tested, so I can promise these ones really get the job done.
If you’re hesitant about switching to a natural, zero waste deodorant, take this article as a push in the right direction. Now’s the time to go all the way, and choose one of these sustainable deodorants: Mother Earth will thank you.
Good-bye Plastic Packaging! Hello zero waste Deodorant.
Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve has developed an excellent deodorant stick, that I can’t get enough of. It comes packaged in a biodegradable cardboard tube, without a speck of plastic in sight. If you’ve never used a deodorant that comes in a paper tube like this, here are a couple tips for you:
First, all you have to do is push up on the bottom of the tube, no twisting necessary. Think of it like a Push-Pop for your armpits.
Secondly, this will go on much smoother if you first warm up the stick in your pit for a few seconds before applying – this will help the product soften a little from its naturally solid state.
I love the ingredients in Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve’s Deodorant Stick, starting with their use of baking soda and cornstarch, to first dissolve bad smells, and then sweat. Cornstarch absorbs oils without the pore-blocking nonsense you’ll see in a traditional antiperspirant, and has a more natural effect overall. Virgin Coconut Oil has antibiotic properties in addition to its lauded moisturizing effect.
This comes with no added scent, to compliment sensitive skin types. It does have a light scent of coconut, which I personally adore.
I know, first we have to address the adorably designed packaging – those little illustrations, the bold color! Ugh. If that’s not enough to turn you head, then you should know this deodorant also comes in a totally recyclable or compostable cardboard tube.
Meow Meow Tweet’s cruelty free deodorant is baking soda free as well, with respect to more sensitive armpits. This zero waste deodorant comes loaded with healing plant based ingredients like arrowroot powder, cocoa powder, and shea fruit butter. My favorite of thethree available scents is Rose Geranium – refreshing, zesty, and floral.
Meow Meow Tweet is an incredibly well formulated, beautifully packaged brand, that has the ethical standards to back it up. They produce small-batch skincare and bath and beauty products that are Leaping Bunny Certified. Their company is built on a mission to minimize the amount of plastic packaging used for any of their products. On top of all that, Meow Meow Tweet donates to over twenty different nonprofit organizations, such as The Navajo Water Project, RAICES Texas, Trans Lifeline, Earthjustice, and The Ocean Cleanup.
This particular Schmidt’s deodorant comes packaged in a reusable or easily recyclable glass container. I love products that come in these little glass jars since they’re so easy to repurpose once you clean them out.
Formulated without aluminum, parabens, phthalates, or artificial fragrance. I like how you can control the application more with a glass jar product like this, whether I use my fingers or an applicator of some kind. This combination of Bergamot and Lime is one of my favorite scents I’ve come across – the bergamot adds a kind of smoky herbal quality to the bright lime.
Schmidt’s is a household name, but you probably don’t know too much about their background. Schmidt’s was created in 2010 by Jaime Schmidt as a part of the Maker Movement, where she noticed a dearth in the marketplace. Just a few years later she broadened Schmidt’s horizons to include bath, oral, home, and child care products. Schmidt’s has rightfully earned its place as an industry giant among natural wellness and skin care.
Weleda’s beautiful deodorant comes packaged in a non-aerosol, glass spray bottle that is very easily recycled or reused. This is definitely one of the more unique packaging choices on this list (or anywhere else for that matter), and gives an elevated experience, much more similar to giving a spritz of perfume. Leave it to this European natural beauty brand to add a pinch of culture to something as basic as daily deodorant application. Weleda’s zero waste deodorant uses lemon peel oil and other essential oils, and no antiperspirants or aluminum-based salts.
Weleda is an excellent company to turn to if you’re looking for high quality skin and body care with a rigid ethical backbone. Here are some quick facts you should know about Weleda:
Absolutely cruelty free.
No parabens, phthalates, or any other nasty, poisonous chemicals.
All ingredients and packaging materials are sustainably sourced, “with respect for people and biodiversity.”
Weleda also has earned its Natural Skin Care certification from NATRUE.
Soul Sunday’s deodorant comes in a minimalistically eye-catching little glass jar. This deodorant is scented with a heavenly combination of French lavender and geranium. Lavender is a natural antifungal and antibiotic, making it the ideal essential oil to throw into deodorant. Lavender is also a natural anti-inflammatory, so your potentially raw armpits will thank you. Likewise, geranium essential oil is known to help with hormone balancing, that can encourage cell turnover. You’ll find this comes with coconut oil and shea butter which soothes as it moisturizes. Last but not least, arrowroot powder comes in to naturally soak up moisture.
Soul Sunday keeps a foot forward in luxury, with another foot in ethics. They are built on the principles of minimalism, especially the environmentally friendly ramifications – this isn’t just a pretty jar for your medicine cabinet after all.
Aquarian Bath makes one of the best natural deodorants, and conveniently enough, you can find it on Etsy. Their Deodorant Balm in particular is very popular, and it’s no surprise why.
This zero waste deodorant balm is formulated from baking soda, arrowroot powder, organic cocoa butter, vitamin E, and organic extra virgin olive oil. This formula is also completely vegan and cruelty free.
If you like to stay informed on environmental activism, you might recognize Aquarian Bath from Plastic Free by Beth Terry. That’s right: this deodorizing gem also comes zero waste, packaged in a reusable tin.
Aquarian Bath is smaller than some of the other companies on this list, but they’re no less accomplished or effective. For all things bath, beauty and hair, that are also handmade, vegan, and lacking synthetic, problematic ingredients – Aquarian Bath has your back.
For something a little more graphically bold and glamorous, take a look at Routine’s line of zero waste deodorants. All thirteen scents come formulated with coconut oil, cocoa butter, and marigold infused olive oil, for a gentle blend that moisturizes as it rids your pores of odor and germs.
My personal favorite of the thirteen botanical fragrance options is one named The Curator. This fragrance is composed of eucalyptus, patchouli, black spruce, and rosemary leaf extracts. Folks with easily irritated under-arms will appreciate this scent as well, since it doesn’t contain baking soda. Instead Routine makes use of dietary magnesium to soak up and stave off excessive sweat and bacteria.
As Routine cleverly puts it: “Always tested on friends, never animals.” What’s more is you won’t find any aluminum syntheses, parabens, triclosan, or any other intrusive chemicals in their entire product line. They’ve developed their brand with the intent to take care of Earth and the people who live here, and that’s exactly what they’ve done.
Baili Vegan’s Deodorant comes in a compostable cardboard tube, which in itself is made from post-consumer recycled paper – so from the moment of its creation, you know Natural Vegan is taking waste seriously. The formula of the deodorant itself was also developed to be completely biodegradable, so when you wash it off, it won’t bother our friends in the ocean.
In fact this formula is totally free from gluten, animal testing, baking soda, aluminum, palm oil, and anything else that hurts your bod’ or the Earth. The recipe for Natural Vegan’s zero waste deodorant includes coconut oil, arrowroot powder, tapioca starch, kaolin clay, grapeseed oil, and lavender essential oil for scent. Check out the link above for the full ingredient list, but I can tell you for a fact that you can count all the ingredients on your hands – rare for any product, natural or otherwise. Check out all the scents here.
Each product stands to make an impact on the world, after all. They strive to create 100% compostable packaging for everything they offer.
Okay, I see you readers who are looking for something not only natural and nice to the environment, but something that puts the luxe in luxury skin care. This one was made with you in mind. You can tell this is an Experience, with its light pink and gilt-edged packaging.
One of the things I like most about Aurelia’s Citrus Botanical Cream Deodorant is its cream to powder formula. Aurelia uses a specialized mixture of antimicrobial arrowroot powder and kaolin, which helps keep sweat and odor-producing bacteria at bay.
They use a base of moisturizing shea butter, with tea tree, eucalyptus, and peppermint for their antibacterial benefits. Lavender and bergamot essential oils create an added depth of fragrance, combining in a scent which is both floral and a little smokey. From the fragrance, formula, right down to the packing, you won’t regret shelling out some extra bucks for this high-end zero waste deodorant.
Aurelia has made a name for itself in the natural beauty market with its proprietary line of probiotic skincare, which works with your body to help balance skin concerns, and never against it. To clarify, they don’t believe in eliminating bacteria, and instead have scientifically developed methods of using good, healthy bacteria in conjunction. None of their products contain toxic synthetic irritants or chemicals of any kind. Aurelia Probiotic Skincare really isn’t just a pretty package – it’s the real deal.
I hope by now you’re getting used to the trend of incredibly cool packaging in this list, because Fat and the Moon is here to deliver cool packaging for their very cool product line — from eye paints and face oils, to tooth cleansing tabs and poison oak salve. Fat and the Moon’s Deodorant Cream uses coconut oil, baking soda and antimicrobial essential oils as its base, instead of harmful aluminum (Seriously, I think we’re at the point in this list where I don’t have to convince you we don’t need aluminum salts in our deodorant).
I love love love this scent, and is one of my favorites for that reason alone — aside from everything else I love about this formula and brand. It’s a warm spicy scent, with a mix of bergamot and black pepper, and a hint of clary sage – a little desert musk, in a scent that is distinctly unisex. If you like to wear perfume, as I do, this scent also won’t interfere, and was designed to have a subtle effect.
Fat and the Moon is a sustainable and cruelty free brand that I absolutely love for all things bath and beauty. Rachel Budde, Fat and the Moon’s founder, developed the brand after exploring her family’s heritage in Slovenian healing. This Eastern European tradition is based mainly in plant medicines, which you’ll see reflected in Fat and the Moon’s gentle, but powerfully effective products – medicinal and cosmetic alike.
PureChimp Natural Deodorant is a superb natural and very much zero waste deodorant option. PureChimp Zero Waste Deodorant comes packed with shea butter, coconut oil, and arrowroot powder, which makes a triple threat of moisture, antimicrobial power, and perspiration wicking. No aluminum, no parabens, no propellants, no alcohol – and 100% vegan!
The fresh lavender essential oil makes the ideal fragrance for any deodorant – it’s like a splash of cold water to your senses. Honestly, if you ask me, it’s almost better than a cup of coffee. Every time I catch a whiff throughout the day, it perks me right up.
PureChimp is a small company, but they’ve still produced a breadth of plant-based products, for hair, face, body, and wellness. This brand was built to honor the environment, and show appreciation for the medicinal gifts found in our backyard. This is definitely a brand anyone should give a try.
We’re all familiar with Ethique’s line of solid shampoos and conditioners (I’m partial to their Mintasy shampoo in particular), but did you know they also make solid products for your body? Ethique’s Eco Friendly Deodorant Bar comes with very little packaging. Like, literally just a paper carton, so hardly any packaging at all.
Can you tell I’m a little biased towards my woodsy fireside scents? Because Rustic must be sniffed to be believed how delicious this scent is. You’ll instantly be transported to a cozy bonfire beside a remote cabin. Smelling Ethique’s deodorant bar has to count as some kind of aromatherapy, right?
Some of you are probably giving me an odd look right about now, because how do you use a deodorant bar with no packaging – like, at all? But I promise, it’s just as simple as it looks: rub it under your arms just like you would with any other stick of deodorant. Except this one’s the epitome of a zero waste deodorant.
Ethique as a company has tied their mission to eliminating plastic waste, one solid soap or lotion at a time. This brand is plant based, cruelty free, sustainable, and affordable.
Primal Life Natural Deodorant is a simple but incredibly effective deodorant that comes packaged in a biodegradable, or recyclable cardboard tube. You can’t go wrong with the Black Lavender scent, since it’s both herbal and refreshing – so refreshing it leaves you feeling clean just from applying this alone. This is a solid option for anyone interested in trying out a deodorant in a cardboard tube, since it’s biodegradable, and a bit more familiar to more traditional deodorant.
Primal Life was established as a “one stop shop” for all things sustainable. They strive to make the zero waste lifestyle accessible to everyone, as much as possible. Anyone can agree, that these are admirable goals.
Booda Organics uses pure baking soda, shea butter, tapioca flour, virgin coconut oil, and cocoa butter for a nourishing zero waste deodorant that really gets the job done. I love the little glass jar Booda Organic’s Cream Deodorant comes packaged in, as it’s a piece of pie to repurpose. This stuff is everything you need out of deodorant, which includes a simple, natural formula, that really helps get rid of body odor.
All of Booda Organics products are formulated with the idea in mind that what we put on our skin will eventually end up in our bodies too. Booda Organics is a small, family owned and operated company, though they have the entire planet, people and all, in mind when creating these natural, gentle skincare products.
Dirty Hippie’s deodorants contain probiotics which helps tamp down unwanted, smelly bacteria, and boosts the healthy bacteria we all need for our bodies to do their thing.
You’ll also find their formula contains coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, beeswax, and tapioca flour — all totally organic.
This comes scented with lemon, patchouli, bergamot, and lavender essential oils, in a bright, herbal fragrance.
You can order any of Dirty Hippie’s deodorants in either a cardboard push-up tube, or a refillable (and reusable) glass jar. I personally like the cardboard tube, since it provides a more familiar experience to your standard deodorant. However, the formula in the glass jar is softer and more pliable with a spatula or fingers.
Helmed by the singular Dawn, Dirty Hippie was created in New Zealand, after she developed an interest in natural personal hygiene products while pregnant for the first time. So many personal hygiene products, deodorant especially, contain harmful chemicals, that can have serious repercussions on our reproductive organs and lymph nodes. Dirty Hippie presents an alternative, that keeps our bodies and the environment perfectly healthy.
Just as charcoal has a powerful effect in skincare and dental health, so too does it in deodorant. Pretty Frank uses a gentle, baking soda free formula, with a base of moisturizing shea butter, with a dose of activated charcoal to help finish off odor-causing bacteria. I love the scent of Pretty Frank’s Seaside – it’s a real splash to your senses, with juniper berry, lemon, palmarosa, and lavender essential oils.
Pretty Frank as a brand prides itself on its no B.S., no nonsense attitude towards natural wellness products. They don’t hide behind fussy aesthetics or jargon, and keep it short and sweet: they care about the environment and keeping ingredients gentle, clean, and effective. Period.
Not only is Ben & Anna’s Natural Soda Deodorant NATRUE certified, but the cardboard packing itself has earned an FSC certification as well. A purchase of this deodorant also supports non-profit group, One Earth – One Ocean.
This Natural Soda Deodorant goes on smooth and soft thanks to the shea butter base, and baking soda helps keep pits dry and clean. Ben & Anna doesn’t make use of any stabilizing chemicals, so you’ll want to be careful to keep this deodorant at room temperatures, to prevent sweating and melting. You can stick this bad boy in the refrigerator for a little bit, if it starts getting too soft in warmer weather.
Like most other zero waste deodorants that come packaged in a cardboard tube, you can apply by pushing up on the bottom of the tube. Their full line of scents are meant to be gender neutral – we recommend the Persion Lime fragrance, for something light and zesty to get your day started.
Based out of Germany, this vegan couple have a shared concern for the environment and conscious consumption. They formulated their deodorant with this in mind, aware of how few options there are in even the natural skin care market. They’ve certainly impressed me with this product, and you’ll be equally wowed when you give this Natural Soda deodorant a try.
Some of you may recognize this gem from it’s stint on Shark Tank, but it doesn’t need any kind of mainstream recognition to prove it’s worth every penny.
PiperWai, like many natural, zero waste deodorants, is formulated to work with your body and its natural process of detoxification, and not against it. That’s right: we’re treating our pits with the respect they deserve, and instead of blasting our lymph nodes with chemicals and metals. PiperWai’s deodorant contains a wonderful combination of shea butter, coconut oil, and vitamin E oil. For scent, PiperWai has devised a proprietary essential oil blend of citrus and mint based fragrances, a scent that isn’t too herbal but is subtle enough you won’t be in a walking cloud of citrus.
PiperWai focuses on one thing, and that’s making really effective, really natural deodorant. In 2014 Sarah Ribner and Jess Edelstein took on the challenge of purging synthetic products from their medicine cabinets, where they became inspired to make their own natural deodorant. Shortly thereafter they earned a spot on ABC’s Shark Tank, and the rest is history.
This is another deodorant where the only packaging is a slip of paper to protect it during shipping. Seeing this method of basically no packaging, it really makes you appreciate how unnecessary the whole idea of packaging really is.
Pack & Leaf also provides some really helpful information for the first time natural deodorant user in the product description. For instance, one of the things they clarify is the detoxification period when you first switch to a deodorant without antiperspirants; you’ll probably expect to have a stronger body odor and sweat more, but this is just the result of toxins leaving your previously blocked pores.
Pack & Leaf works to concoct bath and beauty products that are sustainable through and through; if this thoroughly zero waste deodorant doesn’t tip you off to their ethics, now you know. Furthermore, Simple Good donates 5% of all profit to the Sierra Club and environmental advocacy. So, in a way, when you buy this deodorant, you’re also making a contribution to support environmental protection and advocacy.
You’ll notice right off the bat that this comes packaged in style, with beautifully minimalist lettering and a simple, aesthetically pleasing black and cream label over an amber colored jar. Don’t you just love amber glass packaging? Nothing makes you feel more like you’re cultivating a mystical apothecary, and not just keeping your bathroom stocked with basics.
I can’t get over this fragrance either. A scent like this belongs in Sephora’s low-lit perfume section, among bottles of Jo Malone and Chanel: sandalwood, vetiver, and cardamom. This deodorant definitely goes beyond the typical scent profile offered for any natural or zero waste deodorant, and shows that just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it can’t have class and elegance.
Milk & Honey was developed in 2006 by Alissa Bayer, out of Austin. The idea was to replicate a premium spa experience at home, while also using the most sustainable ingredients and treating employees and community with respect. I can vouch for Milk & Honey, because this deodorant is exactly like taking a piece of spa with you wherever you go.
Lalin Et La Siren’s Manuka Probiotics Deodorant is another highly impressive, and ingeniously blended deodorant that moisturizes as it detoxifies. For those with gluten sensitivities, don’t worry – you can keep your pits smelling sweet with this zero waste deodorant, because even that controversial substance can’t be found here.
Lalin Et La Siren is a natural bath and beauty brand that was inspired by the brand-owners’ Afro-Caribbean roots, and a tradition of plant based healing practices. All of their containers are recyclable, reusable, or compostable. Like many other organic beauty brands, Lalin Et La Siren makes small batches, and many made to order items, which means products are more likely to be used up and not expire or go to waste. I love the story behind this small beauty and wellness company, and I couldn’t be happier with Lalin Et La Siren’s Manuka Probiotics Deodorant in particular.
Taylor Natural’s Elevated Pits! Stick Natural Deodorant claims to be the first natural and zero waste deodorant on the market, so really this doubles as a historical monument. This groundbreaking deodorant mixes herbs and plant by-products into a deliciously aromatic and gentle formula, that really takes care of odor.
The ingredients list includes raw shea butter, virgin macadamia nut oil, virgin coconut oil, and calendula oil, alongside a selection of essential oil-based fragrance options. I’m of course partial to their Feelin’ Woodsy scent, which evokes a walk in an evergreen forest, passing your hand along bushes of rosemary and lavender.
Also, side note, but did you know you could also use Taylor’s Natural deodorant on stinky feet as well? This is the only deodorant I’ve come across that can take care of not just your pits, but also your toes. That’s twice the bang for your buck.
Taylor’s Natural is an all over bath and beauty industry pillar. I recommend anyone interested in going zero waste but are concerned about what beauty products to turn to — take a look at their website. The link above to their deodorant alone provides some helpful information on switching to a natural deodorant, as well as the effects of plastic on our bodies and the environment.
This is one of the most unique approaches to zero waste deodorant I’ve come across, and it’s no gimmick: Myro is a refillable natural, earth-friendly deodorant based on a subscription service model. Buying this deodorant is a satisfyingly customizable experience, where you get to pick one of six bold colored cases, one of six scents, and finally the frequency at which you get your replacements delivered. You’re free to skip deliveries or change scents whenever you like, so there’s not too much rigidity around maintaining a subscription with Myro.
Myro was developed to address the trash that hygiene products produce, with a simple but brilliant solution. It works similar to makeup brands like Kjaer Weis, or vintage makeup brands, which used refillable packaging. Think of those fanciful compacts and lipstick bullets you’ve seen, because those were most definitely made to be refilled, just like Myro’s Refillable Deodorant.
I adored this deodorant by Apothecary Muse. I found myself particularly happy with the skin soothing effects of this deodorant, as it contains witch hazel. This ingredient really tamps down after-shave burns or itchiness that I often have to deal with. Apothecary Muse says “No more of that!” You’ll also notice that their zero waste deodorant’s scent lasts up to 12 hours, which is 4 hours longer than most others. For that, they are heroes.
I love the Trail Blazer scent, which combines sandalwood with lavender, in a true stroke of genius. This scent does everything I love in a deodorant — fresh, clean, and warm, but also still human and real. This isn’t shot through with alcohol or metals, or anything synthetic to amplify the fragrance. It’s nice and subtle, but still cancels out odor.
Apothecary Muse was created to take care of the planet, the people that live on it, and use their profit with integrity. They care deeply about the place their products have in the world, and take consideration in mapping out sustainable business, harvesting, and sourcing practices. This is an ideal business to support, since your money will do a lot more than line some anonymous executive’s pockets.
Where would we be today if Lush hadn’t established natural, eco-conscious beauty in the mainstream? I shudder to think of what the answer would be to such a hypothetical. Lush’s T’Eo Solid Deodorant proves what all the fuss is about, using a killer combo of powders and essential oils, to not only eliminate odor, but help absorb sweat as well.
T’Eo is fragranced with lemongrass oil, and makes use of tea tree oil’s antimicrobial properties, lemon oil’s cleansing properties, and fresh grape juice’s enzymatic cleansing effects.
Like their other bar deodorants, Aromaco and Sunflower, T’Eo comes with a piece of paper as packaging alone, so you can smell fresh with a clear conscience. T’Eo makes zero waste deodorants a clear “Yes.”
If you’re somehow not familiar with Lush, you should know this company is proof that companies don’t need to greenwash to be successful – that a company can thrive AND maintain 100% vegetarian ingredients, combat animal testing, and maintain sustainable harvesting and manufacturing practices. Since 2017 they have also kept in place a statement against modern slavery and human trafficking anywhere in their supply chain, as well — which isn’t something a lot of companies of their size can promise.
In conclusion, zero waste deodorant is a game changer.
Are we all on the same page? Because this is what I’m thinking: Plastic is old, dusty, and unnecessary — all that on top of being a fossil-fuel based waste generator. I’m gonna go there: plastic is even worse than your most problematic fave, plastic is down right ethically repellent. Yet it can be hard to avoid! Some of my favorite natural products still come packaged in plastic, including many deodorants. There’s only so many ways, if any, to up-cycle an empty, disposable deodorant container.
These 25 companies prove that even products that come packaged in plastic, don’t have to follow tradition. Zero waste deodorant seems like such a no-brainer to me now. In fact, I’ve started to look closer at all the other products I use to maintain my hygiene, and how the majority have some kind of wasteful packaging.
Why wouldn’t all products come with a reusable or biodegradable container? Aren’t you partially paying for the packaging when you buy a new product for yourself or your home? Why not let that packaging be something you can use again?
Do yourself and the planet a favor: give one of these deodorants a try.
Comment below and tell us which one you’ve got your eye on!
You’re probably used to washing your hair every day. But did you know you can go at leasttwo or three days between washes?
Depending on your hair texture, oil level, and whether or not your hair is treated/dyed, you can get away with washing your hair only a few times a week.
This is great in three ways:
You save water
You save on shampoo and conditioners
You nourish your hair with natural skin oils
Before we continue, I want to let you know that dry shampoo usually comes in spray or powder form, just in case no-wash days are new to you, too. Moreover, a natural dry shampoo typically uses skin-safe and non-harmful ingredients like vegan, plant-based powders. Lastly, brands that go beyond will use recyclable containers and/or eco-friendly packaging.
Keeping these factors in mind, I’ve done the work and researched the best natural dry shampoos on the market.
Let’s take a look at 15 of my favorite picks and see why you should give them a try.
Rahuawas founded by New York hair stylist Fabian Lliguin when an indigenous Amazon tribe bestowed him with rahua oil. This centuries-old secret to radiant, nourished hair is now produced sustainably by more than 500 families in the Amazon for the Rahua brand.
Rahua’s powder dry shampoo is completely vegan and is made of plant-based ingredients like cassava, cosmetic clay, and organic star anise. The cassava provides volume and texture while the clay traps dirt and excess oil. Lastly, the organic star anise leaves your hair smelling pleasantly herbal and keeps bacteria away. Lucky for you, this natural dry shampoo is compatible with all hair types.
As for packaging, their containers are made with recyclable #1 PET plastic. Wondering where all this plastic goes after use? You’ll be glad to know that these containers are repurposed for fabrics, public benches, and more.
The brand EcoRoots was founded by Antonia Pitica. She believes in handmade, toxic-free self-care products that benefit both clients and the planet. Their motto is all about healing and the connections between user and product, producer and resources, and user and self-empowerment.
This vegan powder shampoo features sweet-smelling cocoa powder for color. Furthermore, organic aloe leaf powder and green clay remove excess oil. Lastly, this zero waste dry shampoo has scalp soothing properties and is fragrance-free. This shampoo seems to work for all hair types.
One of the EcoRoots main principles is minimizing packaging and utilizing reusable or recyclable containers. They take extra care to make sure they don’t use any new plastics for their products. For their dry shampoo, EcoRoots uses recyclable glass jarsand metal tops. This natural dry shampoo is one of my favorite and I highly recommend it! Learn more about this best natural dry shampooin this article.
Founded by Linda “Lulu” Aldredge, this organic beauty product company promotes safe products with wholesome, natural ingredients. Lulu began crafting beauty products on her own and was in the search of simple beauty products with no harmful additives. When she realized she would need to fill this hole in the beauty industry, Lulu Organics was born.
Their shampoo powder is vegan and safe even for children. Natural ingredients include organic corn starch, clay, baking soda, organic horsetail powder, and various essential oils. Lavender’s calming scent is balanced by stimulating clary sage. Lastly, this powder gives your hair a little more volume as it traps excess oil. This powder is suitable for both light and dark hair.
Are you wondering if their packaging is as natural as their ingredients? Yes! This powder shampoo comes in a biodegradable corn starch-based tube.
With Handmade Heroesproducts, you never have to wonder whether or not your shampoo was tested on animals or if the ingredients are safe. This Singapore-based company headed by Lynsey Lim focuses on natural, preservative-free products. The result? Shampoos, lotions, and scrubs that are gentle on even the most sensitive skin. Their products contain zero parabens, alcohols, or animal products.
Handmade Heroes’ dry shampoo is a vegan powder featuring bamboo that deodorizes and peppermint that makes you feel clean. Another great thing about this shampoo is there are options for light or medium to dark hair. The basic ingredients are essentially the same: kaolin clay, rice powder, charcoal, cocoa powder, and essential oils. One key difference is that the darker shampoo contains peppermint oil and eucalyptus leaf oil.
This shampoo, like the rest of their neatly-packaged products, is available in a BPA-free bottle with a screw top. Unfortunately, I found no information on whether or not their outside packaging is recyclable, but feel free to read more about their products here.
Chagrin Valley Soap began when Ida Friedman Kasdan realized that many soap makers who claim they use natural ingredients actually still use synthetic fragrances and coloring. With a background in science and a love for learning, she started making all-natural soaps as a hobby in 2001. Today, the family-run company delivers all-natural products to over 80 countries.
All of thedry shampoos from Chagrin Valley Soap are vegan. Furthermore, you can choose from two different shampoos that are available for both light and dark hair: citrus mint or lavender rosemary. Each powder shampoo uses organic tapioca flour as the base and is then infused with organic essential oils for a natural scent. For darker hair, the cocoa powder helps the shampoo blend into your hair without leaving a white cast.
But that’s not all. If you have fur babies, I have good news: they have dry shampoo for dogs. I repeat they have dry shampoo for dogs! The shampoo contains organic arrowroot powder, plantain, and essential oils to help keep your dog clean between baths.
The powder comes in a recyclable cardboard tube and is shipped in USPS-approved, sustainably-sourced paper boxes.
Acure Organics is a company that brings you impressive products without all the bad stuff like sulfates or unnecessary minerals. This means each beauty product they sell contains only the highest quality ingredients chosen for specific, beneficial reasons.
For instance, their dry powder shampoo highlights the oil-absorbing qualities of corn starch and kaolin clay. Furthermore, rosemary oil encourages hair growth while peppermint makes your hair feel extra clean. Choose from a bottle for all hair types or one specifically for dark hair, which is blended with cocoa powder.
This natural dry shampoo is available in a recyclable bottle with a sifter cap for easy application. However, there is no explicit information about their outside packaging on their website.
Beauty industry expert Mary Futher createdKaia Naturals to provide clean, deluxe products that remove toxins from your body. They’re partners with Credo Beauty Stores, which means they meet the strict Credo Clean Standard. In a nutshell, this standard holds companies accountable to make sustainable, skin-safe products.
So what makes their overnight vegan powder shampoo so efficient? The superstar ingredients are activated charcoal and a blend of time-activated deodorizers that work as you get your beauty rest. When you wake up in the morning, your hair will feel fresh and smell like alluring Japanese Camellia. This aerosol powder spray is compatible with all hair types (including color-treated hair) and you can choose between a blonde orbrunettecolor.
Kaia naturals’ dry shampoo comes in an aerosol can and a plastic dispenser. These parts are usually recyclable, but it might depend on recycling rules in your city. The can also comes in a small recyclable box.
VERB is a collective of millennial women who make great quality products at fair prices. Their collection of hair products is inspired by the city of Austin–it’s simple, yet extremely functional. Similarly, their headquarters in New York emulates the idea behind Verb: dynamic and ground-breaking. And their products definitely reflect their no-frill attitude.
If you don’t believe me, check out their vegan powder shampoo. Essential ingredients include glycerine to prevent dryness, super fruit antioxidants to remove free-radicals, and tapioca starch to keep oil at bay. For maximum impact, this shampoo also adds much-needed volume to unwashed hair. The powder is suitable for all hair types and textures, including wavy and thick hair.
Powder shampoo can be tricky to apply, but with the ergonomic squeeze bottle, spreading it onto your roots has never been easier. All of their packaging is recyclable.
Living Proof is a team of biotech scientists and stylists who came together to change the beauty industry. They first focused on silicone-free products that were crafted carefully at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Today, Living Proof continues to give us award-winning quality products.
Take their Perfect hair Day™dry shampoo, for example. It uses odor-fighting powders like rice starch and naturally derived fragrances like grapefruit peel oil for scent. This vegan shampoo contains no parabens, silicones, or phthalates, making it safe for all hair types and color-treated hair.
As for their packaging, I discovered something neat! They’ve partnered with TerraCycle® to help clients recycle their empty hair product containers. This is so important, especially for aerosol cans that usually just get tossed in the trash can. To participate in the program, sign up through their website and there, you can print out shipping labels to send to TerraCycle®. You’ll get reward points that you can donate to a non-profit or school.
Briogeo, roughly, means vibrant Earth. Nancy Twine formed Briogeo in New York City when she saw that the supposedly natural hair products she was buying were actually not up to par. So Briogeo reflects New York’s lively spirit, the company’s artful packaging, and the natural ingredients used in their collections.
Their vegan powder shampoo utilizes Binchotan charcoal to remove buildup and keep your head clean. Clay and natural starches absorb oil so you can say goodbye to greasy hair. One unique ingredient I found is witch hazel. It’s commonly used to fight inflammation, but when used in dry shampoo, it restores your scalp’s natural oil levels. Finally, biotin keeps your hair strong and healthy. This shampoo is suitable for oily hair and safe for treated hair.
Aside from sulfate-free formulas, Briogeo uses sustainable packaging. Their bottles, like the dry shampoo container, are partly made of post consumer recycled plastic. These bottles are then recycled to make new Briogeo bottles so no new plastic is made in the process.
Tarte is composed of trailblazers who wanted to (and did!) change the beauty industry. They create eco-friendly personal care products that work. That’s why they use natural ingredients that perform just as well or better than their synthetic counterparts.
Of course, this applies to all their products, including their hair care line. You probably know tarte from their wildly popular makeup collections, but frankly, their hair products are just as good. Their vegan shampoo spray highlights natural rice bran wax and cellulose for their volumizing powers. This natural dry shampoo doesn’t use sulfates like many drugstore brands, which means it’s safe for your skin, and it doesn’t dry out your hair.
The container is recyclable, but make sure to double check with your city’s recycling regulations for specific rules around aerosol cans.
Sam Brocate founded Together Beauty using his background in aromatherapy to make all-natural beauty products. His collection is heavily influenced by the idea of “togetherness,” so expect well-balanced products that deliver a positive impact.
For the Va Va Voom dry shampoo and styling paste, Sam used zeolite powder to trap excess oil, bamboo powder to give your hair a little shine, and carnauba wax to style your hair. Other naturally derived ingredients used are castor seed oil and shea butter. This vegan shampoo does not use parabens, sulfates, or synthetic fragrances. If you’re looking for a 2-in-1 styling paste and dry shampoo, this is your best bet. Lucky for you, it’s compatible with all hair types.
Unfortunately, I could not find information about their packaging, no matter how hard I searched. The shampoo itself comes in a shallow, plastic jar.
Klorane is a French company that delivers plant-based products globally. This company has been around for more than 50 years, which proves just how much they’ve succeeded in bringing natural beauty products to countless customers. Klorane was founded by Pierre Fabre, a pharmacist who wanted to share plants’ healing powers.
Instead of harsh dry shampoos, considerKlorane’s vegan powder shampoo. Organic oat milk soothes your scalp while corn and rice starch gently cleanse your hair. Additionally, silica and microspheres absorb dirt, excess oil, and odors. These plant-based ingredients not only clean your hair, but give it a lift and texture. This shampoo works with any hair type and chemically-treated hair.
The fine powder comes out in an aerosol spray can with a plastic lid for protection. All of their packaging is recycled and recyclable.
Jen Atkin created OUAI to make luxury hair products more affordable. Along with easy DIY hair tutorials and beauty box subscriptions, OUAI is helping women everywhere achieve Instagram-worthy hair goals. One of Jen’s goals is to guide women in perfecting runway-quality looks for all women.
OUAI’s dry shampoo features two key ingredients: diatomaceous Earth, and panthenol. Diatomaceous Earth is a rock that’s ground into a fine powder and used for a variety of household purposes. It’s used as toothpaste, natural supplement, and even as potting soil. In shampoo, it keeps unwanted moisture away to give your hair a clean, matte effect. That’s why this vegan shampoo is a favorite among oily hair types: it makes your hair look freshly washed without leaving product residue.
All the products from OUAI are packaged in minimalist containers and packaging, but alas, I could not find information on their recycling regulations.
Last, but not the least, let’s talk about R+Co. Howard McLaren teamed up with hairdressers, salon stylists, and advisors to elevate hair products on an aesthetic and physical level. Streamlined containers, visually-appealing photograph labels, and high-quality ingredients make R+Co an admirable company.
All of their products are vegan, sulfate-free, and color-safe. This goes for their Death Valley dry shampoo, which comes in an aerosol spray form. Nourishing ingredients like vitamin E and pro-vitamin B5 make your hair stronger while giving it texture. Moreover, Brazilian rice protein keeps your hair from drying out while silica gets rid of excess oil. And it smells as good as it works! Bergamot, wild fig, cyclamen, lotus flower, cedarwood, and tonka beans make your hair smell like a lush garden–what a perk!
Again, because this shampoo is packaged in an aerosol can, recycling rules may differ depending on your area. Fortunately, in most American states, you can recycle these cans in your regular recycling bin.
Now that we’ve covered the top 15 best dry shampoos, I just have one favor to ask: Let me know which brand worked best for you and why.
Leave a comment here! I look forward to hearing from you and your clean, healthy hair.
Sustainable underwear is a great introduction to ethical clothing.
Looking to walk away from fast fashion for good and don’t know where to start?
Yes, we have zeroed in on sustainable shirts, denims, and even sustainable winter wear, but what about our undergarments?
Here’s the deal: if you look at your underwear tag and it says it’s made of a synthetic blend, chances are it didn’t come from sustainable sources.
Most ethical underwear companies create products made of a single fabric, and these are made from renewable sources like hemp, bamboo, or organic cotton. But you’ll be surprised to know about other eco-friendly alternatives like recycled nylon and recycled silk, for example.
Want to know more about what makes an underwear brand sustainable?
That’s where this list comes in.
I’ve reviewed 21 sustainable underwear brands to help you choose the right fit–in more ways than one! What I mean is, I’ve summarized each company’s mission and what makes them sustainable. This includes their packaging, materials, and of course, affordability.
Note that the prices given below are subject to change especially if the original product was converted to U.S. dollars.
In Hindi, hara means green. And this brand certainly lives up to its name. Hara’s mission is to educate the world about what needs improvement in the fashion world like chemical dumping and excessive plastic use. Founder Allie Cameron spent time in India and Indonesia communicating with farmers about sustainability and trying to find answers to fashion’s greatest problems.
Allie Cameron’s dedication to sustainability formed at a young age when she discovered the joy of second-hand clothing. This concern for the negative effects of fast fashion became Hara’s guiding principle.
As for ethical practices, all their workers are part of the Australian Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Associated Industries Award 2010. This ensures fair wage and safe working conditions. Furthermore, Hara does not support child or forced labor.
Transparency is important within Hara. Since Hara sources and produces all their products in Australia, they can trace each product from all points of the process. Moreover, this lets them effectively cut down on fossil fuel use. At their work centers, they have implemented recycling systems.
Materials: All of Hara’s undergarments are made of bamboo fabric. This fabric comes from bamboo fiber which is derived from bamboo pulp. To get this fiber, the pulp is soaked in non-toxic chemicals which are also commonly used in organic cotton-, soap-, and food production. Their bamboo is sourced from suppliers with organic and OEKO-TEX 100 certifications. The latter certifies that they don’t use any harmful chemicals in their production process. Thus, the bamboo fabric is soft, hypo-allergenic, and odor-resistant. Additionally, Hara uses natural plant dye that they produced. These dyes include turmeric, indigo, and madder root.
Packaging: Hara states that their products are naturally packaged, but I could not find other specific information on their website.
Price: Prices range from about $28 to $33 for both bottoms and bras.
Sourced, designed, and produced locally in California, PansyCo rightly belongs on our sustainable underwear brands list. Laura Schoorl and Rachel Corry founded Pansy in 2013 after recognizing that there were no ethical underwear brands that were also comfortable and beautiful.
Currently, their studio is located in Oakland, California. However, they ship to international stores in various countries including Japan, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, and the United Kingdom. So if you’d rather try one out in person, chances are there’s a physical store you can visit near you.
They offer a wide selection of undergarments: high rise bottoms, low rise bottoms, full bras, sports bras, and cross strap bras. Additionally, they offer shirts, shorts, pants, robes, leggings, and socks. All of their styles are minimal and natural, reflecting Pansy’s call for simple, yet beautifully-designed ethical underwear.
Bonus: they also sell coloring books featuring Pansy-inspired art from the community.
Materials: All of their garments are made of organic cotton from Texas, processed in North Carolina, and dyed in Novato, California. Their rubber and cotton elastics are sourced from South Carolina. Their undergarments are dyed with fiber-reactive dyes to ensure long-lasting, no-bleed colors. Choose from natural, almond, mauve, black, sunflower, rust, avocado, red, and azul.
Packaging: Their invoices are printed on recycled stock paper. And their products? They’re shipped in an organic cotton jersey bag fashioned from production scraps. The best part? You can reuse the bag for carrying small items like coins or buttons.
Organic Basics is a sustainable underwear brand based in Copenhagen, Denmark. However, they work with trusted factories that do not support child or forced labor. These factories go beyond and provide childcare and free meals for their workers in addition to a fair wage and safe working conditions.
This company is also defined by ground-breaking sustainable fabrics. Now get this: most companies use organic cotton and hemp, but Organic Basics? They use recycled nylon, recycled wool, TENCEL, and SilverTech fabrics. These fabrics are carefully chosen and made to last. This means less water used, less energy expended, and less carbon emitted.
In a nutshell, Organic Basics is an exemplary ethical underwear brand. They’re a certified B corporation, meaning they meet rigorous environmental and social impact standards. In 2019, they offset more than 1800 tons of carbon through their partnership with CHOOSE and a wind farm in Turkey.
Lastly, their office in Copenhagen is moving towards zero waste. They’ve begun serving vegetarian and vegan meals, cutting out plastic, and offsetting their carbon footprint.
Materials: Organic Basics uses recycled nylon, wool, and cashmere, and their trademarked TENCEL Lyocell, SilverTech, and Invisible. It seems that Organic Basis is always working towards the highest standard of sustainability. If you want to see it for yourself, read their impact report here. If you’re wondering what TENCEL is, it’s a soft fabric sourced from tree pulp. It’s breathable,hypoallergenic, and most importantly, low-impact. On the other hand, SilverTech is made of recycled nylon. This makes for an antimicrobial, odor-resistance, and extremely durable underwear.
Packaging: Organic Basics’ new packaging is made of reusable, recycled paper. Furthermore, their cardboard shipping box is made with FSC-certified paper.
Price: For women, their bottoms are available from about $40 USD to $50 USD for 2-packs. Their bras are $70 USD on average.
For men, their briefs run from about $45 USD to $65 USD. Their shirts range from $39 USD to $98 USD, which includes long-sleeve sporty undershirts.
PACT is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado that champions organic cotton. Why organic cotton? It uses about 95% less water than traditional cotton. Growing and processing organic cotton doesn’t require harmful chemicals, dyes, or pesticides.
I’ll spare you all the (impressive!) statistics, but consider this: about two pounds (one kilogram) of clothing made from organic cotton saves enough drinking water to last two and a half years compared to conventional cotton! I know this might seem insignificant, but it’s actually extremely important for countries that have little water sources and farm non-organic cotton.
Basically, organic cotton kills two birds with one eco-friendly stone.
When a product requires more elasticity, Pact uses elastane. This stretchy fiber also helps make underwear more lasting. What’s more, Pact is certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). This organization studies companies’ textile practices such as social and environmental impact.
PACT is also fair trade certified, which ensures that their workers thrive in safe conditions. Additionally, Pact ensures that workers can contribute back to their community through social development projects. Re: Pact does not condone child labor or sweatshops.
Besides the production process, they also offer a clothes donation program to encourage reduce and reuse habits. They collect pre-loved clothes from customers and donate to nonprofits. To make it even easier for customers, they provide prepaid shipping labels.
Materials: Pact uses organic cotton and elastane. Elastane is a synthetic fiber that helps extend underwear life. Equally important, they do not use dyes or pesticides in their organic cotton.
Packaging: Pact switched from single-use plastic packaging to biodegradable plastic. This is a tremendous discovery. A plastic-eating enzyme that eliminates wasteful packaging? Count us in!
Price: For women, the bottoms are $12 each. Their tops range from $20 USD to $30 USD.
For men, the briefs are $12 USD each.
For kids, they have bottoms for $6 each. For babies, the bodysuits are all $10 and below.
There are many sustainable underwear brands who may claim they are zero waste, but The Very Good Bra lives up to their promises. Founder Stephanie Devine wanted to create a zero waste bra that was available in a wide range of sizes. The company is based in Australia.
The Very Good Bra offers a completely biodegradable and compostable bra. They do not use polyesters, nylon, or other synthetic elastics in their product.
Get this: they left a bra in a worm farm and the little critters ate it up within 8 weeks. Why is this so important? Well, nylon, a common bra fabric, takes 30 to 40 years to break down. Compared to 8 weeks, that’s a lifetime!
Aside from materials, they work with responsible suppliers around the globe, including India, France, and Switzerland. Their manufacturing takes place in Hong Kong and China, where the owners fully recognize the important of zero waste products in today’s world.
To further reduce waste, The Very Good Bra operates in a unique way: three times a year, customers can pre-order to guarantee a size and color. This way, they don’t make excess clothing and tackle fast fashion straight from the source.
Materials: The Very Good Bra is made of Tencel, which is a natural-based fabric made from tree rubber. Their elastics are made with organic cotton, as well as their labels and threads. They also use vegetable-based inks.
Packaging: Products are sent covered in recyclable tissue and a compostable box. This box comes from Sendle, a carbon-neutral shipper based in Australia–the first of its kind.
Price: Their namesake TheVery Good Bra is about $55 and their briefs are around $25 each. They also offer cotton shorts and camisoles for a little more than $30 each.
Proclaim is an inclusive undergarment brand specializing in nude lingerie. They’re inclusive of all sizes, but also of all skin colors. The color “nude” often overlooks a whole rainbow of skin tones, and Proclaim successfully addresses this issue.
They first started out in San Francisco, but now they are based in Los Angeles, California. All their design, assembly, and production also take place here. Furthermore, their employees are paid hourly wages compared to unfair factories that pay per apparel made.
But you know what may be the coolest thing about this company? They use recycled PET bottles to makebras! See the details below.
Materials: Their lingerie line is made of TENCEL, which is a wood-based fabric. Making TENCEL is extremely resource conservative because the water and solvents used are recyclable. They also use recycled polyester made of plastic water bottles. And don’t worry–they only use BPA-free bottles certified safe by the Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). Basically, the bottles are broken down, reheated, then spun into yarn. If this sounds too good to be true, check out their collection for yourself; I promise you won’t be disappointed. However, it’s helpful to note that they also use Spandex in their products.
Packaging: They use poly mailers (a plastic), but they are reusable and recyclable. These mailers are also locally sourced in the USA and are made of recycled materials. Still not impressed? Get this: their label fasteners are made from natural hemp to replace plastic.
Price: Their women’s briefs are $28 each, available in three different nude shades and black. Their TENCEL bras are $59 each, available in three nude shades and black. Their recycled polyester bras are about $60 each, available in three nude shades.
Boody is an Australia-based brand that solely uses bamboo in their wide range of products. When creating Boody, the founders kept sustainability and comfort in mind.
They are certified by a remarkable list of eco-friendly organizations. For starters, they’re certified by Ecocert, which analyzes companies’ agricultural and facility processes. What’s next? They’re certified by OEKO-TEX, which ensures that each Boody product is safe for customers’ skins. This includes making sure they use no harmful dyes or metals in their products.
Since they use bamboo, Boody is also certified with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which indicates that they source bamboo from responsible suppliers that do not destroy habitats.
I was also very impressed by their International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification. Here’s a little background: ISO sets global industry standards for various sectors–anything from camping gear to bamboo underwear.
Now, Boody meets the ISO 14001 standard, which means Boody is dedicated to keeping negative environmental impacts low or nonexistent. The certification holds Boody accountable to improve the company’s positive environmental impacts, achieve environmental goals, and comply with environmental codes.
Materials: Boody uses organic, pesticide-free bamboo. Bamboo conserves water–it only needs rainwater to thrive. Bamboo also regenerates quickly, unlike other trees that take decades to grow. As for feel and functionality, it tops the charts. Bamboo is hypoallergenic, anti-fungal, and breathable. This keeps sweat and heat at bay. More importantly, their products offer protection from the sun.
Packaging: Their products are packaged in recycled paper and printed with vegetable inks.
Price: For the women’s line, their bottoms are about $13 to $15 each. Their bras range from a little over $15 to $40.
For the men’s collection, the bottoms are about $15 to $27 each.
Their baby onesies are about $35 each, available in three colors and two striped colors.
Everlane is known for their sustainable, chic outerwear, but guess what? They also have a line of eco-friendly underwear.
Their motto is designing clothes that last. They do so by partnering with trustworthy factories and sourcing sustainable, durable materials.
For instance, their Pima cotton from Peru is one of the best quality cottons in the world. The crop is picked by hand to ensure it isn’t damaged. This is helpful in two ways: the end product is more durable and softer.
One glaring fact you’ll realize on their website is that they care about their workers, so they carefully choose factories that treat their workers right. Furthermore, Everlane donates their yearly Black Friday sales profits to improve workers’ lives.
Everlane has also partnered with Oceana, a nonprofit that’s helping ban single-use plastic around the world. They do so by talking directly with politicians and voters. Everlane’s part is helping fund Oceana’s campaign to help them continue urgent work.
With all these social impact initiatives, it’s no wonder that Everlane is proudly advocating for what they call radical transparency, or being honest with consumers about where their products come from and how they’re made.
Materials: Everlane products are all high quality products. There’s no doubt about it. However, I could not find a single specific sheet containing a materials list. They do however, have a page where you can browse each factory they work with and what they produce. Note that their products still contain some synthetic materials. Additionally, they have a line of outerwear made of recycled water bottles.
Packaging: Everlane’s products are packaged in recyclable paper boxes.
Price: The women’s bottoms are priced $12 each while the bras are all about $25 each.
Reformation is going back to basics: simple shapes that highlight the feminine body. How are they making it sustainable? They’re choosing fabrics that have a combined positive social and environmental impact.
At Reformation, they’ve created their own grading system for fabrics which reviews eight important factors: water use, energy use, environmental pollution (if any), greenhouse gas emissions, human safety, availability, and affordability.
So here is the big idea: Reformation aims to use all or mostly natural fibers from plants regenerate quickly or from recycled fibers.
They’ve also launched zero waste programs in their factories through fabric recycling and refurbishing. How? By partnering with a local recycling center and coordinating with their suppliers.
In short, Reformation wants to reduce fast fashion waste before the products are even made. This mindset is more important than ever, especially when you consider that only 1% of polyester clothing (a common material) is recycled.
Materials: Reformation uses TENCEL which is fiber made from wood material. They also combine this fabric with recycled cotton waste to make REFIBRA. Moreover, Reformation uses viscose (rayon), linen, recycled cotton, organic cotton, Recover (recycled fabric), recycled nylon, recycled cashmere, alpaca wool, and deadstock fabrics. This last one caught my eye. So deadstock fabric is basically unused fabric from other brands or warehouses. Instead of throwing these into landfills, companies like Reformation are swooping in to transform them into sustainable clothing. Almost 5% of Reformation’s product list is made of vintage clothing. This saves almost 15,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year per person!
Packaging: Reformation’s bags are biodegradable and are made of recycled materials.
Price: The bottoms are about $15 to $35. Their bras range from about $32 to $85.
Warp and Weft is a family-owned business that started out with denim. They’ve achieved remarkable feats through their efficient production systems and machinery. For instance, they boast using less than 10 gallons of water per pair of jeans compared to 1,500 for a traditional pair.
And another important thing is they reuse this water after treating it. Instead of using bleach to wash their jeans, they use Dry Ozone technology to avoid water contamination.
Beyond that, they sponsored a clean water project in Malawi to provide safe water for more than 3,000 people. If you want to make a contribution, you can: they match donations you provide to charity:water.
What’s more, their products are truly affordable, which is sometimes untrue for many brands who claim to be sustainable. Because they can trace their products from raw materials to sale, they avoid middlemen markups.
What does this mean for consumers? This means high quality products at an affordable price, making eco-friendly clothing available to all.
Another defining feature for Warp and Weft is their inclusive clothing line. Founder Sarah Ahmed believes in inclusivity and as one of the few women in the denim industry, she knows just how important representation is.
Materials: Their women’s undergarments are made of tencel, spandex, and cotton. Warp and Weft also uses cotton, Lycra, and Tencel from the United States. Their dyes are sourced from Europe.
Packaging: Unfortunately, I could not find information on Warp and Weft’s packaging, but I will update this list if anything changes on their end.
Price: Their women’s bottoms are $12 each, available in four shades of nude, and in black and white. The men’s briefs are $25 each, available in two-tone white and red and black and white.
People Tree started back in 1991 when sustainable underwear brands weren’t even on the public agenda. Safia Minney founded People Tree based on respectable ethics, high environmental standards, and versatile designs and prints on top quality materials.
Their products are crafted using traditional expertise like hand weaving, hand knitting, embroidery, and block printing. It’s no surprise that they were the first fashion brand to receive the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) product label.
From the beginning until now, People Tree has always been devoted to providing fair wages, ensuring safe working conditions, and promoting positive environmental impacts.
What’s more, People Tree is helping connect traditional producers with modern technology. What’s the big idea? This helps their partners achieve control over their own products and processes while helping their business grow.
While technology helps scale production, traditional techniques like hand embroidery provides economic opportunity for countless families in various countries. Handwork also eliminates carbon dioxide emission from unnecessary machines.
Additionally, People Tree is certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Soil Association, Fairtrade International, WFTO, and the PETA-approved vegan certification. Together, the standards from these certifications hold People Tree accountable for their goals and effects whether positive or negative.
Materials: People Tree uses TENCEL Lyocell, responsibly-sourced wool, and organic cotton. Their clothes are dyed with low-impact, chemical-free dyes.
Packaging: Their reusable box is not only eco-friendly, it helps people in need. Customers can reuse their product box to donate gently used clothes or household items through the charity Give Back Box. Customers can send in anything from DVDS to jewelry to shirts.
Price: The women’s bottoms are $15 each. Their bras range from about $30 to $35. They also offer camisoles at $38 each.
Knickey pledges to use only organic cotton and a more eco-friendly production process. The result? Zero pesticides, less water use, no greenhouse gases released, and no chemical pollution.
What’s lesser known about the benefits of organic cotton is it reduces use of crude oil and fossil fuels. This directly affects how much carbon dioxide emissions go up into our atmosphere. Just think: about 340 million barrels of oil is used annually to make synthetic clothing. This is especially true for polyester and polyester-like fabrics.
Knickey also supports recycling by something surprising: upcycling older underwear into various purposes. Some great products are rug pads, rugs, and even insulation material. They’ve partnered with a New York non-profit to prevent recyclable clothing from ending up in landfills. As if doing a good deed isn’t enough, Knickey is also throwing in a free pair of underwear for each box you send in!
Note that their recycling program is only available in the United States.
Materials: Knickey uses strictly organic cotton only with non-GMO seeds, zero pesticides, and organic fertilizers. This makes for a soft, breathable fabric free from toxins.
Packaging: Their plastic-free packaging is made of (almost all) recycled materials. Knickey’s box materials are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, sourced from sustainably harvested trees. Their inks are safe and their adhesives are reusable.
Price: Their bottoms are $13 each, available in seven different colors and three styles.
Cuup is fully committed to making comfortable bras that fits all shapes and sizes. Two of the founders were baffled when they found out they had been wearing the wrong bra size their whole life. So Lauran Cohan and Abby Morgan wanted to make sure women had access to comfy bras available in various sizes.
Instead of following the bra industry’s template when it came to bras, Cuup called up women of all silhouettes and created a line of undergarments that would fit the wearer and not the other way around.
They offer cup sizes from A to H. They also provide a wide range of model photographs online to help consumers shop for the perfect fit.
Materials: Cuup’s classic sheer mesh bras are with nylon and spandex. Their microfiber bras are made with polyamide and elastane. Certain bras also contain thin underwires for more support. For optimal comfort, the cups are sewn, not made by molds. Their undies are made with cellulose fiber called Modal and elastane.
Packaging: Sadly, I could not find explicit information on CUUP’s packaging, but rest assured, I will update this list as needed.
Price: Their bottoms are $18 each, available in four styles and nude, black, and green. Their bras are $68 each, available in five different styles and various colors including nude, green, and black.
Brook There is a US-based brand that makes comfortable underwear that promotes personal confidence. Besides personal confidence, Brook There also inspires industry confidence through their low-impact distribution and production process.
Their fabrics come from South Carolina or California and brought to Pennsylvania for dying, and then to Massachusetts for assembly. Then it is shipped to customers. This short distance between production and distribution cuts down on transportation costs–both financially and environmentally.
And because their products don’t have to travel great distances, they don’t use plastic bags to protect items during transport or storage.
Aside from the products, Brook There chooses organic cotton to protect workers and the environment from harmful insecticides. Unfortunately, traditional cotton farming uses chemicals that puts workers at risk for cancers, skin diseases, and respiratory problems.
Insecticides also live on in water sources, in the ground, and in the air, polluting every part of our physical environment.
Materials: Brook There uses organic GOTS-certified cotton and genuine silk. Their elastic trims, laces, and silk are sourced from USA buyers who import internationally. They currently do not have bras with underwires, nor are they planning to make any. Note that their silk products are not vegan.
Fact: mainstream bra cups and pads are made with harmful chemicals that often stay on the finished product. This is why Brook There’s bras are padding and foam-free. Frankly, they have not found a sustainable source that lives up to the company’s standards.
Packaging: Brook There uses recycled poly bags and recycled tissue paper from a company called EcoEnclose. Moreover, larger orders come in a recyclable cardboard box.
Price: Brook There’s organic cotton undies are $22 to $64. Their cotton bras range from $48 to $88.
On the other hand, their silk bottoms are $36 to $64. Their silk bras are $56 to $88.
Naja is a sustainable underwear brand empowering women on both sides of the market. Their workforce is mostly made up of single mothers and head of households. Being a single mother is tough enough, and when employers don’t understand the unpredictable nature of parenthood, their lives are made harder.
Good news: at Naja, employees have a fair balance between work and childcare. Additionally, employees’ children are gifted school supplies like uniforms, books, and meals.
Other social impact programs include their Underwear for Hope program, which provides economic opportunity for Colombian women. A percentage of Naja’s profits also go to local charities that provide educational opportunities for these same workers.
In terms of positive environmental practices, Naja uses digital technologies to print their garments. This saves water waste on a huge scale.
Furthermore, Naja is gradually incorporating recycled plastic fabric into their clothing lines. Aside from materials, their craftsmanship is what makes Naja stand out. Handmade products make for high quality underwear you’re proud to own.
Materials: Their bras are made of various materials: organic cotton, elastane, nylon, Spandex, memory foam, recycled plastic, polyester. Their bottoms are made of similar material minus the memory foam cups. Their prints are made with digital machines to avoid water waste. Note that they have an eco-friendly section for both bottoms and bras.
Packaging: Unfortunately, I did not find any information about Naja’s packaging practices.
Price: Their bottoms are available from $20 to $30. Their bras are $36 to $65.
If you’re looking for an artist-lounging-lazily-on-a-day-bed-in-underwear aesthetic, Botanica Workshop is your answer. Their name refers to their eco-friendly approach and their craftsmanship, respectively.
They began in 2014 when the founders wanted to create designer-feeland luxury quality underwear.
They then partnered with local artists and craftspeople to create a variety of high quality garments. This group of creatives meets several times in Los Angeles, California. At the heart of Botanica Workshop is the importance of local sourcing and manufacturing. The company invests in local talent and businesses to foster a thriving community.
Sustainability is also a distinct lifestyle within the brand: most employees walk or take public transportation. At their studio, they practice composting, recycling, and utilizing second hand tools.
Materials: Botanica Workshop uses organic cotton, silk, and recycled nylon. Their organic cotton is GOTS certified and knit in the USA, though there are some instances where the cotton is not locally-sourced. Botanica Workshop’s recycled nylon is OEKO-TEX certified, making it skin-safe by strict European standards. Their clothing trims are made from both natural and synthetic materials. Lastly, their dyes are made from low-impact synthetic dyes. Note that their silk underwear is combined with Spandex for elasticity and a stronger product.
Packaging: For Botanica Workshop’s packaging, I could not find explicit information about their recyclability or biodegradability. As always, I will update this page if and when new information comes to light.
Price: Botanica Workshop’s organic cotton bottoms are $65 to $82 each. On the other hand, their stretch silk briefs are $92 to $120 each.
Their organic cotton bralettes are $78 apiece, available in fifteen different colors/patterns. Their silk bralettes are $138 to $202 each.
The Nude Label is based in Valencia, Spain where the city is nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and the wondrous mountains. This calm aesthetic and natural feel comes through in their products.
Furthermore, their family-run factory is located in the same city, so the founders have greater control over the production process. More importantly, they’re able to ensure firsthand that working conditions are up to code.
Instead of machine-produced products, The Nude Label utilizes skilled workers in every step of the undergarment’s construction. Each piece is assembled by a different person, which speaks to the product’s high quality.
Materials: The Nude Label’s undergarments are made with organic cotton and elastane sourced from Portugal. The supplier is GOTS-certified and meets the OEKO-TEX 100 Standard. Moreover, they’re part of the Better Cotton Initiative, which is an international nonprofit that champions cotton farmers and the environment. The Nude Label also uses recycled polyamide or recycled nylon. This fabric resists pilling, which makes it long lasting. And where does the material come from? The Nude Labels saves fishing nets, clothing scraps, leftover carpeting, and landfill plastic, among other sources. Recycled nylon also provides UV protection and dries easily.
Packaging: I was unable to find information on the Nude Label’s packaging, but we will keep an eye out for updates!
Price: The bottoms are about $15 to about $25. Their bras are a little more than $35to about $50. Each product is available in at least nine warm, gentle colors like pumpkin, rust, and soft lilac.
Azura Bay’s motto is cute, comfy, and conscious. But the company’s mission to empower women doesn’t stop at making comfortable, eco-conscious clothes. What’s different about Azura Bay is it’s a one-stop-shop for ethical lingerie brands.
Founder Ashley McIntosh wanted customers to easily find environmentally-friendly undergarments that were also stylish and high quality. She took the work out of sifting through countless brands and created Azura Bay.
These brands embody sustainability through ethical practices, Fair Trade materials, and environmentally-friendly processes. Brands include New-York based Only Hearts, Miami-headquartered Cosabella, Quebec-based Sokoloff, England-sourced Iris London, and Copenhagen-based Underprotection.
Materials: The materials vary by company, but these include: hemp, organic cotton, Spandex, cotton, polyamide, elastane, supima cotton, TENCEL lyocell, and recycled lace. Their dyes include vegan, vegetable dyes.
Packaging: Azura Boxes ships products in recycled boxes and recycled tissue paper made in the USA. They also use compostable mailers using Better Packaging Co, which is headquartered in New Zealand but have centers in the US.
Price: Their undies are about $25 to $60.
Their bras range from $30 to about $110 for a nursing bralette.
Wama proudly uses hemp for their products. Partnering with organic farms, Wama wants to make hemp a substantial contender in the sustainable underwear world.
They manufacture all their products in China-based textiles, where factories work with employees under safe working conditions and fair wages. Furthermore, they’re certified as a Green America Certified Business, which means they meet rigorous standards for social and environmental impacts.
All of their products are also PETA Approved Vegan, which means no animal products or byproducts are ever used in any of their collections.
So why hemp? For starters, to date, they have saved enough water to last more than 650,000 days. As a clothing material, hemp has various benefits. It is naturally anti-bacterial and thus resists odor. A great feature to have for undergarments, right?
Moreover, hemp is best washed with cold water and hung dry. So this saves energy from avoiding hot water and the dryer. It’s a win-win!
Materials: Wama uses hemp, which is soft, organic, and breathable. For dye, they use safe fabric-reactive dyes.
Packaging: Wama ships a majority of their orders with recycled poly mailers, which are designed to be reused or recycled. Their tissue paper is made from recycled materials and is biodegradable. Additionally, their promo materials like stickers come from recycled paper. For larger orders, Wama ships products using custom-made recycled boxes that are also biodegradable.
Price: For men, the briefs are $24. For women, the undies are $20 each, available in four styles: hipsters, bikinis, thongs, and boy shorts.
Patagonia is one of the more well-known brands on our list, but they’re usually known for outdoor or active gear. Did you know they also have a collection of eco-friendly underwear?
They have established environmental and social initiatives. For instance, more than 70% of their clothing line in 2020 is made from recycled materials like recycled cotton, recycled polyester, recycled nylon, hemp, and more. For new, raw materials, they use eco-friendly options like organic cotton and lyocell.
Since they’re such a big company, it’s no wonder they’re able to impact thousands of lives. Through their Fair Trade program, more than 65,000 workers have economic power.
Moreover, Patagonia is actually a founding member of the Fair Labor Association (FLA) which is based in Washington, D.C. This group does important work in the fashion industry: they hold companies accountable for their labor practices. An accreditation from FLA means workers receive fair wages and protected working conditions.
Materials: The bottoms are made of recycled nylon, spandex jersey, polyester, and spandex mesh. Their bras are made of a nylon and spandex blend, mesh, and polyester. Their undergarments are treated with HeiQ® Fresh for odor control.
Packaging: Patagonia uses a polybag for each product, but they are currently working on more eco-friendly solutions. They haven’t discovered an alternative to poly bags, but they are implementing practices like making the poly bag sizes smaller, cutting out paper mailers, and recycling collected poly bags.
Price: Patagonia’s bottoms are $18 to $24. Their bras are $45 to $65.
SheThinx is more than a sustainable underwear brand. They’re making period talk less taboo, so girls and women don’t miss out on life just because they are experiencing something natural.
This brand makes underwear that absorbs your period. Yes, it’s that simple. They make custom-made undies that keep period products out of landfills while keeping you safe and comfortable.
Of course, this depends on how heavy your flow is, so you might need some adjustment period. Needless to say, you might want to undergo this adjustment period at home until you know what works for you.
Besides great products, SheThinx provides help for disadvantaged communities. They’ve implemented a GiveRise program, which advocates for better puberty education and supports activism. This activism helps fight discrimination in the school and work place and helps provide menstrual products to students.
So for each purchase you make with SheThinx, you’re actually supporting millions of young students across the USA.
Materials: They use organic cotton, elastane, polyester, nylon, Spandex, and polyamide. Furthermore, they use OEKO-TEX certified fabric treatments to control odor and moisture.
Packaging: Their packaging is completely biodegradable.
Price: Their undies are about $25 to $45.
What is your favorite sustainable underwear brand?
