Even though #PlasticFreeJuly is over, being a little more eco doesn’t have to stop on July 31st 🌍💁♀️
This past month made me appreciate the sustainable swaps I’ve already made and inspired me to take a deeper look into the brands I’ve been using. Turns out, a lot of them have been doing good things for the planet without me even fully realizing it. I originally chose them because they’re vegan and cruelty-free, and the sustainability factor was just a really nice bonus.
Saie is the newest in the lineup (can’t wait to try more from them 👀), but the rest have been part of my routine for a while now.
Sustainability doesn’t have to mean a total overhaul—sometimes the beauty products we already love are doing more than we think 💚
1. Youth To The People 100% Vegan
Superfood-Powered Skincare • Made in California
Youth To The People is a skincare brand that merges superfood-powered ingredients with high-performance skincare. They were one of the first Sephora skincare brands I truly fell in love with and it was when they only had a small handful of products at the time. They stand out for their commitment to eco-friendly packaging, using glass containers for most products and they use recyclable materials wherever possible. I love to reuse these as collection jars, mini plant pots, and I’ve reused any extra cleanser bottles for hand soap. Beyond packaging, Youth To The People is committed to ethical sourcing, vegan and cruelty-free formulas, and environmental activism. They’re part of 1% for the Planet, support climate and social justice nonprofits through their Good To The People Fund, and enforce strict supplier ethics to ensure fair labor and sustainable ingredient sourcing. Every formula I’ve tried thus far is *chefs kiss*. You’ll see my favorites will be listed below.
It should be noted that YTTP were bought by a non-cruelty free parent company, L’Oréal in 2021.. but I will always support any cruelty-free brand even when the parent company is a not. Maybe lengthier post on this later on ? Other cruelty-free brands they own are: Urban Decay, NYX Cosmetics, Biolage, Garnier, Pureology and Medik8(as of 2025).
Certifications: Vegan (V), Cruelty-Free (CF), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Packaging
Price Range: $16 – $70
My favorites:
Triple Peptide Cactus Oasis Serum – $57: A multi-vitamin, hydration amplifying serum that supports the skin barrier and delivers that all over dewy glow. Formulated with triple peptides, hyaluronic acid, and cactus extract, it deeply hydrates and visibly plumps. My skin drank this up immediately and I love the texture. It’s also a great serum to start with and layer others on stop. Can even be used with retinol.
Peptides + C Energy Eye Concentrate with Vitamin C & Caffeine – $48
This lightweight jelly like serum eye concentrate is powered by a potent blend of peptides, vitamin C, and caffeine to visibly brighten, depuff, and smooth the under eye area. Optical diffusers like the sustainable mica in this formula provide an instant blurring effect, with a radiant sheen all while antioxidant-rich ingredients support firmer, more radiant skin over time. This one didn’t last long… I was obsessed and used it every morning.
Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser – $36
A gentle yet effective cleanser packed with kale, spinach, and green tea. Green tea is my favorite skincare ingredient and I especially love it in my cleansers. This was one of the first products I had ever tried from YTTP. It has changed over the years but I’ve always enjoyed using this in my AM & PM skin routines.
Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil – $49
This nourishing face oil is my go-to for locking in moisture and getting that dewy, lit-from-within glow. It’s packed with antioxidant-rich superberries like maqui, acai, and goji to keep your skin happy and hydrated. I love using it as the last step in my nighttime routine or all over my chest for a daytime glow. And the scent is my favorite. I’m inhaling it now as I’m writing this.
Superfood Skin Drip Barrier Serum – $39
Was not expecting to love this one as much as I do—it’s like a daily multivitamin for your skin plus gives a beautiful dewy glow. It’s packed with barrier loving ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, and panthenol, it helps strengthen, hydrate, and soothe all at once. It’s super creamy yet lightweight, sinks right in and a little goes a long way.
2. Axiology 100% Vegan
Zero-Waste Beauty • Made in the USA
A women-owned, zero-waste beauty brand that’s totally crushing it with handmade cosmetics made right here in the USA. What makes them super unique ? Well they’re 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and completely plastic-free.. packing every product in recyclable or compostable materials, so you can feel amazing about what’s going on your skin and the planet. They’re known for their multi-use Balmies which are creamy, buttery, and give the perfect pop of color from cheeks to eyes & lips. If you want to glow up while cutting down on plastic waste, Axiology is seriously the way to go.
Price Range: $14 – $118
Certifications: Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free Certified (CF), PETA-Certified Vegan (V), Plastic-Free Packaging, Ethically Sourced Mica
My faves:
Foundation Mushroom Foundation – $42(or $33.60 with code ALICIA)
Fungdation is the first mushroom-powered stick foundation—hydrating, creamy, and skin-like with light to medium coverage. She’s small but cute, and a little goes a long way—I use just 4 swipes for light coverage. Shade 3 melts into my light neutral skin, no powder needed. Easily becoming my most reached for this summer.
Balmie Trio – $46(or $36.60 with code ALICIA)
I would say get the single, but the trio is better if you want highlight, and two blushes or whatever combo. Each individual Balmie contains the same amount of product as a lipstick. Each set contains three multi-use Balmie crayons for eyes, lips & cheeks, handmade with 9 natural ingredients. They have a small wrapper on them that you peel as you use !
Balmie Super Fan Pack – $118 (or $94.40 with code ALICIA)
Or, if you just want them all, grab the big ol pack of 14 shades.
Tinted Dew Multi-Stick – $38(or $22.40 with code ALICIA)
A glossy shine with a hint of color multi-use dewy finish stick for lips, cheeks, and eyes, made with 10 nourishing oils and butters. Comes in push up compostable paper tube packaging. Strength, a cherry red, is my favorite shade.
3. Activist Skincare 100% Vegan
Refillable Skincare • Made in California
A woman-founded skincare line based in California that’s all about low-waste, refillable beauty. Activist formulates everything in-house in small batches, using active ingredients and botanical extracts that actually do something. What makes them stand out? Their entire line is refillable.. with glass bottles and lightweight pouches you can stock up on without tossing more plastic. They’re also climate conscious and donate a portion of proceeds to environmental orgs.
Price Range: $12 – $64
Certifications: Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free Certified (CF), PETA-Certified Vegan (V), Low-Waste Packaging, Carbon Neutral Shipping
My faves:
Deep Moisture Cleansing Balm – $42 (or $33.60 with code ALICIA)
Love the texture of this.. rich, cushiony, and it melts off makeup and SPF. It’s packed with nourishing ingredients like grapeseed oil, quillaja & saponaria extracts, and glycerin that leave my skin feeling soft and calm instead of stripped. For heavier makeup and waterproof mascara, you may need to double cleanse.
Healing Water Toning Mist – $32 (or $25.60 with code ALICIA)
Okay, it kinda smells like potatoes to me (in a weirdly good way ?) but I like it lol. This is a calming and hydrating mist with licorice root, lavender, and cucumber, plus panthenol and glycerin to help support your skin barrier and moisture levels.
Active Hydration Vitamin C+ Antioxidant Serum – $64 (or $51.20 with code ALICIA)
A gentle, stable form of vitamin C (magnesium ascorbyl phosphate) paired with peptides, hyaluronic acid, and amino acids. It gives my skin an antioxidant boost without any irritation and layers really well under everything else.
Precious Oils Active Infusion – $54 (or $43.20 with code ALICIA)
This lovely oil is a blend of 10 plant oils, including grapeseed, avocado, macadamia, and seabuckthorn oil, with coenzyme Q10for extra antioxidant power. Leaves my skin glowy and super nourished without feeling heavy. Love the subtle scent and it absorbs pretty quickly.
Not sure what to try first ? Try the Mini Kit 🙂 Comes with a $25 gift card as well.
4. MOB Beauty 100% Vegan
Refillable Makeup • Made in San Francisco
MOB Beauty is a innovative vegan makeup brand based in San Francisco, California, where they operate their own lab and develop formulas in-house. Some products are manufactured in Canada, but no matter where they’re made, MOB keeps sustainability front and center with refillable packaging crafted from recycled and compostable materials. They’re on a mission to cut beauty waste and even co-founded a major recycling program called Pact Collective. Plus, they work closely with creators to develop shades and products that celebrate real diversity and authentic voices.
Price Range: $10 – $64
Certifications: Cruelty-Free Certified (CF), PETA-Certified Vegan (V), Refillable Packaging, FSC-Certified Materials, Ethically Sourced Mica
My picks:
Cream Clay Blush – $28
A cushion-cloud texture with a soft-focus matte finish, made with kaolin clay and sunflower seed oil for breathable, pigmented color. They work great with fingers or dense brush. My current most reached for shade from them is M73.
Cake Liner – $20
Water-activated, inky jet black matte powder liner that’s smudge-proof, talc-free, formulated with biodegradable corn starch polymers for ultra long wear. It fits right into any custom MOB palette. Their five shades and of course, I love the M41 black.
Eyeshadow Singles – $18
Pigmented, talc-free, refillable eyeshadow from cream to powder matte options. I’ve tried both and really enjoy both. They are both super pigmented with one swipe & easy to blend with no fall out due their high performance formula containing special amino acid coated pigments for a non-drying finish ! So many shades to pick from.. Check out the Southern Goth Palette that comes with four shades for $64 created by creator & acquaintance Jessica Haze @jessicahazemua ❤️
5. Saie Beauty
Vegan-Friendly Options • Conscious & Sustainable
Saie Beauty is a woman-owned, 100% cruelty-free brand with a strong focus on ingredients and sustainability. While not all products are vegan, many are, and they use eco-friendly packaging like recycled paper and glass. Saie has teamed up with rePurpose Global to help eliminate 5 million pounds of plastic waste by 2027, plus they’re working toward carbon net-zero by 2039.. talk about commitment !
Price Range: $16 – $32
Certifications: Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free Certified (CF), Certified Plastic Negative, 1% For The Planet, Vegan Options (V)
My favorite vegan picks:
Glowy Super Gel Highlighter – $29
A lightweight gel highlighter packed with plant-derived glycerin, olive squalane, and antioxidant-rich rosehip seed oil. It melts into skin for a natural, lit-from-within glow—no glitter here. I love using the darker shades as a bronzer and the lighter ones to brighten up my face.
Dew Blush – $26
A creamy liquid blush that’s buildable and blends like a dream. It’s loaded with elderberry extract, licorice root, and glycerin to brighten, protect, and hydrate. Plus, the cute little vial is made from 40% post-consumer recycled plastic.
Glossybounce Lip Gloss Oil – $22
High-shine and non-sticky, this lip gloss oil nourishes with hyaluronic acid, shea butter, coconut, and jojoba oils. Comes in nine gorgeous shades, some with a subtle shimmer.
This set I found on their site contains all three I just spoke about above.
talk soon 🙂
-Alicia !
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