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For a long time, the gold standard of the beauty box has been the brochures of Liaorenguo, the exquisite coffins and a large number of transparent packaging. Its belly is usually stuffed with a small (or very large) container, usually made of plastic.

For decades, the cosmetics industry has been notorious for generating waste, especially tons of plastic waste. Compounding this problem is that only 9% of the billions of tons of plastic produced globally are recycled. But now, consumers are demanding better alternatives, and some brands are stepping up to meet the challenge. They not only know what is in the bottle, but also the entire package pile.

In order to explore the world of zero waste, we consulted Kathryn Kellogg, the author of "101 Ways to Achieve Zero Waste" and the founder of "Zero Waste". "As we all know, beauty products are difficult to recycle," Kellogg said. She said, what you really should pay attention to is "you can upgrade recycled products (release your DIY skills by turning glass beauty jars into candles), replenishment plans, and products with extended producer responsibilities, such as brands and TerraCycle, etc. Recycling company or take back the packaging."

Earlier, we selected the best zero-waste cosmetics brands, plus some sub-optimal products, and the packaging is minimal and environmentally conscious. 

Kiss Packed Peanuts Goodbye! If the rubbish of the beauty industry bites you, then make sure River Organics is part of your lineup. Art historian Corinne Lefebvre and natural products chemist Fabien Scorza co-founded River Organics, a vegetable oil-based cosmetics company that minimizes waste (think paper and glass packaging).

It uses kraft paper-based packaging materials to pack good things, and then ships them in 100% recyclable padded mail envelopes made by Eco-Enclose. Its unbleached, compostable and biodegradable labels come from Pure Labels. Business cards are printed and cut on kraft paper at home. More importantly, the company puts 60% more blush in paper tubes than in hard plastic gadgets of similar size, thereby reducing waste. We are also happy that they match every dollar you donate to offset your carbon footprint.

The certified B Corp Elate Cosmetics, with its concept of reduction, reuse and recycling, is ready to build the perfect capsule collection. Less is more. Take an online master class (for a small fee) or take a quiz on their website and choose from beautiful color palettes, convenient jars and cute little boxes.

Refillable, cruelty-free cosmetics contain 75% organic ingredients. Its products are mainly packed in lovely compostable water treatment bamboo containers, recyclable aluminum pots and glass jars. Plant mothers are rejoicing, and it uses a paper letter that can be planted with wild flower seeds made of waste fiber to encapsulate and transport refills.

You can also buy visually imperfect palettes and pressed powders (though available) or they will be discarded. More importantly, the entire series can be composted or recycled. Although approximately 75% of its packaging is plastic and waste-free, the company has been working hard to get rid of trash.

This beloved Etsy store offers affordable, vegan, plant-based, plastic-free cosmetics. Metal cans and glass bottles with metal lids are its container choices. Using ingredients such as cocoa powder, organic matcha, coconut oil and rose powder, you may want to try the entire range, from blushes and bronzers to lipsticks and mascaras.

For refills, you can get a 10% discount. The powders are shipped in biodegradable bags, and you need to return clean containers to them in order to refill them with creams, balm, and lipstick.

Makeup artist Julie Wieczorek and natural skin care enthusiast Guy Hanson have teamed up to create a cosmetics company that uses pure minerals and plant ingredients in a mixture of recyclable, recyclable and compostable materials.

The core of this vegan and cruelty-free Cornish beauty brand is the low-carbon footprint, recyclable and recyclable ice hockey-shaped "pot of life". This strange sieve box was made locally from discarded fishing nets picked from the Cornish coast. Endlessly refill these durable jars by reordering collectibles, which are shipped to you in biodegradable, recyclable tubes.

The two previously sold products under the "Angel Face Mineral Cosmetics" brand, some of which were packaged in plastic. If you happen to have any of these old containers at home, you can send them for recycling through All Earth's Eco Swap service (using Terracycle) at the time of purchase.

Sleek, stylish and sustainable, Kjaer Weis' uncompromising standards, incredible aesthetics and clever refillable packaging redefine sustainable luxury cosmetics. Its replenishment system (a triad of simple pops, pulls and clicks) relies on an artistically carved shell made of smooth metal and lacquered paper, just begging you to replenish your inventory.

The carefully crafted outer packaging and shipping materials are recyclable and compostable, made of FSC certified materials, and have water-based ink lettering. We also prefer this brand because of its meticulous, cruel and gluten-free formula certified by COSMOS or CCPB organic.

Axiology's journey began in Ericka Rodriguez's kitchen in Brooklyn. Rodriguez trot all over the world, after more than 200 experiments, she finally perfected her minimal ingredient lipstick. Our favorite crayon-style balm contains no more than 10 sweet things, such as oils (such as avocado and grapefruit), butter (such as kokum and soybeans), and wax (including sunflower wax).

Instead of plastic tubes, the multi-purpose, silky crayons are wrapped in recycled paper, which can be peeled off and recycled or composted. The container is made of 100% recycled paper. With oversized packages, suits and single pieces, we can't think of anything more suitable than applying it on our cheeks, eyes and lips.

An accident scarred Larissa Warren’s skin and was very sensitive to traditional cosmetics, so she tried to make it herself. The result was Bee Your Organics, an Etsy store, and now a store in Spokane. Selected mineral and organic cheek blushes and stains, hand-made formula, gluten-free and residue-free, add a dreamy glow to your face.

We like the brightness of the organic blush made of mineral-free, mica and iron oxide, packed in a small jar. (You can choose a plastic version with a sieve, but it is not zero waste). They are made from delicious and clean ingredients such as organic hibiscus, beetroot, cocoa and kaolin, and are available in shades of gray rose and Georgian peach. We blush

Use River Organics' vegetable oil-based nourishing cosmetics (see River Organics) to enhance your natural beauty without adding trash, packaged in paper and glass to reduce trash. At the same time, Clean Faced Cosmetics (check it out on Etsy) is an affordable, vegan, cruelty and zero waste cosmetics brand.

Literally, let go of the garbage. Whether it is the rubbish that you will eventually smear on your face or the box that will eventually be thrown into the landfill, you can pick out the natural makeup that has the least impact on the earth from the debris. Here is how to screen inventory like a professional:

Is it made from recycled and recyclable paper or cardboard? Is it in a glass container that is easy to reuse or a metal can? Or use plastic packaging? Ask the right questions before you choose and understand what materials can be easily recycled in your area.

If you are an internet fanatic, it is best to check whether your online order is delivered in sustainable packaging, styrofoam piles, or styrofoam packaging. Check out EarthHero, Credo Beauty, Ecoroots and Package Free Shop for better options.

We like cute retro cans or crayon-style all-in-one colorants for lips, eyes and cheeks, paper tube lipsticks, and refillable mascaras. Basically, every product that has been cleverly redesigned can keep our beauty solutions clean and keep our planet green.

Buy products that enhance your natural beauty, are gentle on your skin, and are not added to beauty waste. Invest in high-quality, clean, non-toxic cosmetics, and use simple packaging that you like to use.   

An integral part of the zero-waste beauty program is to simplify your makeup practice. Zero waste advocate Kathryn Kellogg (Kathryn Kellogg) tells us how to create a capsule-style zero waste cosmetics series. "This is very similar to assembling a capsule wardrobe. Almost every day you reduce the product to something useful, loved and worn," she said.

Kellogg recommends the one-in-one-out rule. This will prevent you from buying multiples of the same product, and ultimately result in a large number of cosmetics that will never exceed the experimental stage and will not be idle until the expiration date. “By focusing on the works you really like and use often, you will be able to create a capsule cosmetics collection that saves money, waste and a lot of drawer space,” she concludes.

Treehugger hopes to help our readers make more friendly choices for your skin and the planet by filtering out messy brands, so you don't have to do this. We researched the ingredients and packaging materials, and consulted zero-waste experts about the precautions of no-waste cosmetics.

Author Neeti Mehra writes about responsible luxury and is committed to slow life. She practices a sustainable lifestyle and explores zero waste and refillable skin care, hair care and cosmetics.

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