Zero Waste Makeup: The Ultimate Guide to Looking Fabulous and Living Sustainably

This post is all about zero waste makeup and the best options for people who love makeup but want to minimize their waste to help the planet.

Let’s be honest, if you’re someone who loves makeup, the idea of giving up your favourite products for a zero waste makeup option sounds like torture. It’s taken you so long to find that perfect concealer, mascara and foundation – how am I ever going to find something that compares?

About a year ago, I felt the same way. I wanted to decrease the amount of waste I was producing but didn’t know if any of the clean beauty, zero waste makeup products would compare to my current collection. The good news is I’ve finally found a few brands that have amazing, clean, low waste products that actually work! And I discovered a sustainable way to keep some of my favourite products in my collection. From zero waste foundation, to mascara, to lipstick, this guide has got you covered! 

A few things to note:

(1) Please don’t buy anything new unless you need it. The first step to sustainable living is using what you already have, and then purchasing new products as you need them. 

(2) I understand many of these products are more expensive than a drugstore option, so definitely pick and choose what you want to purchase. I’d say most prices are on-par with something you might purchase from Sephora. Any small change you can make in your routine to reduce additional waste helps!

(3) These companies do have significantly smaller colour ranges compared to larger traditional makeup brands. Again, pick and choose what works best for you – any step towards sustainable living is always a step in the right direction! 

Okay, let’s get into it! This is the ultimate guide to zero waste makeup.

The Zero Waste Makeup Set-Up:

• With traditional beauty products you would have an “external” package for everything; bronzer, eyeshadow palette, concealer, powder etc. The amount of waste we produce from using these products and throwing them out for the duration of our lives is unimaginable. I’ll quickly share my set-up for zero waste beauty as I feel it’s the most important part before we get into the products. Please note that there is no “right” way to do this, I found that this has worked best for me and so I’m sharing my process with you.
  • Magnetic Palettes
    • If you already own one – great! You are going to start using it for more than just eyeshadow. The goal is to have one, maybe two magnetic palettes that you would use, hopefully forever. If you do not have one you can invest in one when you need to do so (after you’ve run out of your current products).
  • Pans
    • Pans are made of a material call tinplate which is magnetic and can be completely recycled (this is not true of many products, particularly plastic which can only be recycled a certain amount of times until it is unusable and has to go to the landfill).
    • To make a zero waste makeup collection, purchase everything that you can in pans and store them in your reusable magnetic palette. Think of the waste this will reduce when you do not have plastic packaging surrounding your blush, concealer, eyeshadow, highlight, powder foundation, brow balm and more. Once you have finished a pan, simply clean it thoroughly and place it in the appropriate recycling bin.
    • This is the secret to still using some of the products you love; if you can’t give up your Colorpop or MAC Cosmetics eyeshadows, purchase them in pans instead of a plastic palette. This will significantly reduce your waste and is a more affordable option than buying a whole palette.
  • Other Products
    • I’m sure you are aware that you can’t purchase everything in a pan. What do we do about liquid foundation, mascara, eyeliner, lip gloss, loose powder and more? Choose packaging with as low of an impact as possible from conscious brands that are trying to make a difference. Purchasing products in glass is more sustainable versus plastic. Glass can be reused infinitely without compromising the integrity of the material, making it superior to plastic in terms of recycling.
    • Additionally, many companies are now offering a closed-loop system. This means they take back their packaging when you’re done using it, sanitize it and reuse it again.
  • Create a Capsule
    • Similar to a wardrobe capsule, create a makeup capsule. Only purchase products you need and use regularly. I think we all have that one eye shadow palette we purchased and barely use. Find a way to use what you already have before purchasing more.
  • Progress Over Perfection
    • This process is not perfect but it makes a significant impact on the amount of waste you produce. Think about everyone around the world making these changes, it would be an enormous reduction in waste and so this is a great place to start!

Primer

• Elate Cosmetics Prep Primer: This is the beginning of you hearing me talk A LOT about this brand. Although on the pricey end this primer is worth it as it contains hyaluronic acid which is so hydrating yet very light on the skin. A little bit goes a long way so you won’t need to use much of this which makes it last longer and makes the price a bit more reasonable.
  • How is it zero waste?
    • All Elate Cosmetics products are packaged sustainably with a conscious effort to reduce as much waste as possible. Many items in their collection have compostable packaging made from sustainably sourced bamboo to minimize the amount of packaging that goes into our recycling system. They promote a capsule beauty routine to minimize the number of products you need to purchase.
    • Under each product on their website, they outline proper disposal methods. Please follow these methods to reduce your impact as much as possible.

• Cocoon Apothecary Reflector: This is a 30 SPF mineral sunscreen that doubles as a light moisturizer and the perfect primer. It won’t clog your pores, protects from UVA/UVB and is reef/water safe! The only downside is that it does leave a bit of a white tint on the skin as its a pure mineral sunscreen but foundation applies smoothly over top and solves this problem. Just to note if you do want to wear it alone, I’d recommend mixing in a light foundation to offset the colour.
  • How is it zero waste?
    • Cocoon Apothecary has a closed-loop system. They accept bottle returns for all products, sanitize them and reuse them. A refund may be applicable on returned bottles. Please check here for more information.

Foundation

• Elate Cosmetics Refresh Foundation: The refresh foundation is super hydrating as it contains hyaluronic acid and overall, it’s packed with ingredients that are great for your skin. This product has minimal coverage so I recommend using it more as a “tinted moisturizer” on your no-makeup/natural makeup days.
• Elate Cosmetics Pressed Foundation: I love Elate’s powders, they do such a great job at evening out skin tone and have a natural finish. This powder is very mattifying and perfect for travel. The downside is the shade range, there are definitely improvements to be made in that area.
  • Storage tip:
    • I recommend purchasing a large magnetic palette where you can store pan eyeshadows, blushes, highlights and powder foundations. It’s easier and more affordable than purchasing a refillable bamboo compact for each product!

Concealer

• Elate Cosmetics Creme Revealer: I thought nothing would compare to my Tarte Shape Tape, and I have to say this one cuts it pretty close. It never creases under my eyes and is so brightening. It’s also filled with amazing ingredients like evening primrose which is anti-inflammatory. I often use just this concealer and the loose powder on my no-makeup, makeup days!
  • Note:
    • There are a lot of pan concealer options out there so I’m just sharing my favourite. You’ll notice Elate Cosmetics is coming up often in this guide because I love everything they do as a brand and its affordable for me to purchase their products as they’re a Canadian company so I don’t have to ship overseas. My recommendation would be to look for a pan concealer that works for you. I know MAC Cosmetics sell pan concealers too.

Loose Powder

• Elate Cosmetics Unify Glow: One of my favourites from Elate. No, it IS my favourite. For someone with acne scars this mineral powder is amazing because it has such great coverage, yet it feels so light on the skin.
  • How is it zero waste?
    • Product comes in reusable jar and they offer a refill tube you can add to your jar when you’re finished.

Eye Shadow 

• There are so many options for eye shadow as many brands sell eye shadows in a pan that you can add to your magnetic palette – an easy zero waste makeup option! I’ll link some brands here that I use often.
  • Elate Cosmetics Pressed Eye Colour
  • MAC Eye Shadow (Pro Palette Refill Pan)
  • Colourpop Pressed Powder Shadow

Eye Liner 

• Elate Cosmetics Liquid EyeLine: Personally I don’t use eyeliner, but my friend loves this one and uses it daily. It’s really great for sensitive eyes as its made with all clean ingredients. It’s also water-resistant!
  • How is it zero waste?
    • Packaged in compostable bamboo with a thin plastic tube on the inside holding the product. This packaging eliminates the excess plastic seen in traditional eyeliner packages. To dispose you can crush the bamboo and place it in the compost bin. This product still produces some plastic waste but you can wash the plastic thoroughly and add to your household recycling – a great zero waste makeup option!
• Black or Brown Eyeshadow:
  • This is what I use for eyeshadow when I have an evening event. In my opinion, it’s much easier to apply and lasts much longer. Apply with a small angle brush. You can use the shade of your choice.

Mascara 

• Elate Cosmetics Essential Mascara: This is definitely an essential! The description says this is the only mascara you’ll ever need and they’re right. This is my favourite zero waste makeup swap! It goes all day long, no smudging or running. It’s water and sweat resistant. I’ve swam in it many times as well and no raccoon eyes at all. It makes my lashes look full and lengthened, I honestly have no complaints about this mascara at all. For one of the items in my beauty routine that I am pretty particular about, this blew my mind. I was so happy to finally find a mascara with minimal waste and that actually works well!
  • How is it zero waste?
    • Packaged in compostable bamboo with a small plastic interior holding the product. To dispose of properly, crush the bamboo casing and put it in the compost. Wash out the plastic tube and put it in your household recycling. Send the mascara wands to a project wild wands or humane society in your area. These projects upcycle mascara wands for use on animals. Although not completely zero waste this is a great way to significantly reduce your waste from plastic mascara tubes.

Brows 

• Elate Cosmetics Brow Balm: Another amazing pan of product! It adds the perfect amount of colour and definition to your brows. It has a waxy texture keeping your brows in place all day long!
• Soap Brows:
  • This is a beauty trend I am loving. Read a full article on soap brows here. This is an easy way to get fluffy brows simply with a bar of soap. My recommendation would be to use an eyeshadow of choice to fill in your brows and then use this technique to create fluffy brows.

Bronzer and Blush

• This is another category with so many options to choose from as anything in a pan is producing much less waste than a plastic compact. I’ll list some options below of where to find pan bronzer and blush:
  • Elate Cosmetics Pressed Cheek Colour
  • Colourpop Pressed Powder Blush
  • Colourpop Pressed Powder Bronzer
  • MAC Cosmetics Powder Blush (Pro Palette Refill Pan)

Highlight 

• This is yet another category with so many options for pressed pan colours or cremes. I recommend exploring your options by looking through some of the brands I’ve linked above as they have great pan refill options!

Lipstick & Lip Balm

• Elate Cosmetics Better Balm: These are the BEST lip conditioners. I always put on Clarity before bed and wake up with the softest lips. These are also great for daily wear with a little tint to add to your look. I also have the lip crayon and it’s perfect for a night out on the town. These lippies are packed with all plant-based ingredients, good for you and the environment!
• Meow Meow Tweet Vegan Lip Balm: This is such a great lip balm that resembles a traditional one! It comes in a biodegradable tube and contains so many amazing ingredients such as organic plant oils, butters and is essential oil-free which is great for those with sensitivities. Don’t let the photos fool you, this tube is actually really large so it will last you a long time!

Makeup Brushes 

• EcoTools: This is an amazing female owned and operated company that produces vegan make-up brushes made with recycled aluminum, bamboo and their packaging is made of cotton and bamboo paper. I own their eyeshadow set and the brushes do work extremely well. I think their packaging could be a bit more sustainable as they contain plastic components. They are definitely a great option to get a quality brush and support a company that prioritizes sustainability.
• Elate Cosmetics: Elate seriously has everything you need and as a Canadian company this is brand I chose to support. I already had a large collection of make-up brushes but when I needed a new powder foundation brush, I bought their Bamboo Multi-Use Brush. All of their brushes are made with sustainably sourced bamboo and Taklon, a high quality synthetic material which is naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic. I have to say the multi-use brush is my absolute favourite out of all of my brushes. The bristles are so soft, they never shed and are so easy to wash! Can’t wait to get some more Elate brushes when I need a new one!

This post was all about the ultimate guide to creating a zero waste makeup collection.