Detox your beauty routine: Top tips for going green with your cosmetics

Vegan make-up artist to the stars Sophie Cox shares her insider tips for going green with your make-up and skincare.

It can be a daunting task when you first start making the conscious eff ort to switch your beauty products to cruelty free and vegan; with so many brands out there to choose from where do you begin? Let’s start with the high street! Superdrug are doing amazing things in beauty – especially skincare – and all of their own brand items are certified with the Leaping Bunny logo, from shampoo and conditioner to shower gel and even toothpaste.

Two products that really stand out are the Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser (a cheaper version of Liz Earle’s cult product) and the Vitamin C Invigorating Skin Booster. Both are under £8, really eff ective and the greatest thing is they are usually on off er.

Make-up brands Collection, Barry M and Gosh also clearly label which of their products are suitable for vegans. Another great place to find skincare and make-up on the high street is Marks & Spencer. Their beauty hall carries higher end brands that can be harder to find in big department stores. If you’re an online shopper, the M&S website has a whole page dedicated to vegan beauty to make life that bit easier. My top picks are currently Skyn Iceland Arctic Facial Oil (£30) for those dry, stressed out skin days and Korres Bergamot Pear Shower Gel (£8) for its incredible scent.

Luxe it up

If you’re wanting to splurge your hardearned cash on beautiful, luxurious make-up then there are many cruelty free options available but not all are 100% vegan because of ingredients such as beeswax, carmine (a deep red colour taken from crushed insect shells) and lanolin, which is a by-product of wool.

Charlotte Tilbury has a section on her website that lists everything that is vegan, which I must say is most of the line but it’s always good to check before purchasing. I love her Flawless Filter foundation (£30).

One luxury brand that is proudly cruelty-free and has pledged to be fully vegan by 2020 is Hourglass. They are most famous for their Ambient Lighting Powders, which are a favourite amongst make-up artists, but now carry everything from lipsticks, brow products, and more recently the newly-launched Vanish Seamless Liquid Foundation (£51).

You can find Hourglass at Spacenk, John Lewis and Selfridges or online at Cult Beauty. If you’re a fan of cute packaging, BYBI is also 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free and their products have been flying off the shelves since their launch by beauty bloggers Elsie and Dominika in 2017.

Go natural

For botanical ingredients, I would highly suggest giving Weleda a try – they carry everything from cleansers to deodorant, hair care and even nappy cream. All their ingredients are grown using green energy and are never tested on animals throughout the whole process. Again, like many companies not everything is fully vegan but all the information is clearly displayed on their website and their customer service is their website and their customer service is brilliant if you need any questions answered.

My top skincare pick would be the Evening Primrose Age Revitalising Concentrate (£38.95) for instant hydration and a really great base for make-up if your skin needs a little boost.

For hair, I love the Nourishing Hair Oil (£12.95), which is ideal for weighing down curly or thick hair. Umberto Giannini is also a brand to look out for – it’s Peta certified and they have a massive range of styling and cleansing products, with prices ranging from £6-£10. The Shower in a Bottle is fantastic for inbetween washes and adding volume.

The right tools

Make-up brushes have come a long way in the last few years in terms of pricing and accessibility. Previously, good quality brushes were exclusive to professional brands or high-end names that you would only see in department stores. The option for synthetic bristles was very limited but luckily technology has advanced and there are so many beautiful, affordable, cruelty-free brushes available now.

Real Techniques are 100% vegan and have a huge range that is constantly expanding. Their sponges are great quality and can be used wet or dry. Prices vary from £4 to £22. Eco tools are another great option; they are Peta Certified, tree-free, animal hair free and made from recycled materials. The brushes are gorgeously soft and look and feel expensive when they are actually extremely affordable. The main thing to remember when switching to a more ethical beauty routine is that you’re heading in the right direction – you can’t always afford to do it overnight. Small steps are sometimes what it takes to successfully change your lifestyle.

Be more eco

Five ways to make your beauty more planet-friendly

1. Swap wipes and cotton wool for muslin cloths. Buy them at Liz Earle or try the Wipeout! cloth, £15 at magnitone.co.uk.
2. Recycle your empty containers with one of the schemes available at terracycle.co.uk.
3. Switch to a shampoo bar – you’ll be surprised how good they are! Lush (uk.lush.com) do a range of bars for different hair types.
4. Switch to paper cotton buds like the ones at Waitrose (£1).
5. Look for brands who use bamboo packaging, such as Neek and Kao.

The future’s organic

Your skin is the body’s largest organ and a percentage of the products you put on your skin will enter your bloodstream. Organic products offer higher quality ingredients, up to 60% more antioxidants and no nasty chemicals.

If you love ethical vegan fashion and cruelty-free beauty then make sure you head to London’s biggest celebration of vegan fashion and beauty – Bare Fashion. Click HERE to get your tickets to Bare Fashion.

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Sophie Cox

A vegan for several years, Sophie is a professional make-up artist working with many famous names in fashion, music and the performing arts. She has a particular passion for ethical, cruelty-free skincare and knows where to find it. Find out more at sophiecoxmakeup.22slides.com