There is strength in numbers, which is why two is better than one, three is better than two and so on. Consider the strength of hundreds and even thousands. Because that’s the number of stakeholders in the plastics packaging market from polymer producers to packaging converters to brands and retailers and more that are working to improve the sustainability of their plastics and packaging. Collectively, they — and we as responsible consumers – have a real impact on the environment. And that’s why in recognition of this landmark 50th year anniversary of Earth Day on April 22 we’re getting “social” in this report by relaying examples from Twitter that paint an encouraging picture not only of what’s happening, but what’s possible from large multinational brands to eco-minded individuals. It’s good news we can all use these days and especially this week knowing that Earth Day should be an everyday state of mind.   Foodservice containers made recyclable thanks to #chemicalrecycling.  

BIC, a world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers, has partnered with international recycling leader TerraCycle® to offer consumers a free and easy way to recycle their fully-used pens, mechanical pencils, markers and other stationery products and parts of packaging nationwide. As an added incentive, for every shipment of used stationery products collected and sent to TerraCycle through this program, collectors earn points that can be donated to a school or charitable organization of their choice. “As families spend more time writing, drawing and coloring together, we want to provide them with a responsible way to dispose of their products once they are used. Our collection program with TerraCycle gives consumers a simple way to recycle their writing instruments and art supplies to make a difference in the world,” said Mary Fox, North American General Manager for BIC. “Sustainability has always been at BIC’s core. We are thrilled to expand this program to the U.S. from Europe, where we have successfully recycled an astounding 46 million items.” Through the BIC® Stationery Recycling Program, consumers can now send in all brands of pens, markers, mechanical pencils, highlighters, glue sticks, watercolor dispensers and paint sets to be recycled for free. The program is also collecting the soft, flexible plastic packaging that some writing instruments are packaged in. Participation is easy: sign up on the TerraCycle program page https://www.terracycle.com/bic and mail in the used items using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the waste is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that is remolded to make new recycled products. The BIC® Stationery Recycling Program is open to any interested individual, school, office or community organization. “Through this free recycling program, BIC offers consumers the unique opportunity to learn about the value of recycling products they use every day while learning, playing or working that would otherwise end up in landfill,” said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle. “We are proud to partner with BIC to offer consumers an easy solution for these typically unrecyclable items.” This is the latest step BIC has taken on its journey to further enhance the sustainability of its long-lasting products, which are made with the least amount of material, and to minimize its impact on the environment, one of the goals in its 2025 “Writing the Future, Together” program. BIC and TerraCycle began partnering in 2011 to collect and recycle used stationery products in Europe. A similar program was launched in Australia and New Zealand last year. The two organizations have also partnered to promote the circular economy by offering BIC products through LOOP, an e-commerce circular economy platform created by TerraCycle aimed at eliminating waste and reducing dependence on packaging. For more information on TerraCycle’s recycling programs, visit www.terracycle.com.

COURTESY OF BRAND Whole Blends Gentle Shampoo Oat Delicacy Garnier walmart.com $8.20

WHY IT EARNED THE GH SEAL

  Our Beauty Lab chemists were so impressed with Garnier Whole Blends Oat Delicacy Shampoo. It delivers ultra-gentle, non-drying, shine-boosting results. And, when used with other products from the same line, left hair incredibly soft and moisturized.   1.      IMPRESSIVE POWER. Pair the mild shampoo with Oat Delicacy Conditioner and Detangling Milk (also GH Seal Stars!) for a regimen that will leave hair softer and stronger – without weighing it down. 2.    NONIRRITATING FORMULA. The shampoo, conditioner and detangler trio is great for adults and children struggling to find products for sensitive scalps. In consumer studies, testers of all ages found the routine gentle on their scalps and hair. 3.    DELICATE FRAGRANCE. In Lab evaluations, our beauty experts liked that its soft, sweet scent wasn't overpowering and helped create a soothing experience in the shower. Testers agreed too! 4.    SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING. You can feel good knowing that the bottle is made with 30% recycled material. Garnier also works with TerraCycle to keep hard-to-recycle beauty product packaging out of landfills.

Each Earth Day sets a new benchmark for what consumers expect from their trusted brands, muses TerraCycle and Loop CEO/founder Tom Szaky. And it can’t be growth at the expense of a planet running dry.   For better or worse, business is the most powerful force for change on Earth. Over the course of human civilization, business and industry have increasingly allowed us to become smarter, greener, healthier, and more connected to one another, functioning to provide products and services to fulfill public needs and desires, as well as drive innovation and global trends. Its virtues notwithstanding, business also drove the world to the consumption fever-pitch that misaligned our activities with nature so much that it provoked the late-century environmental movement, a pinnacle of which was the first Earth Day: April 22, 1970. Celebrating 50 years this week with the timely theme “24 Hours of Action” (updated from the more general “Climate Action” to feature fully digital programming in the advent of the coronavirus pandemic), the annual event’s impacts on the world are indelible, but not necessarily revolutionary. The birth of Earth Day was a direct response to a series of environmental disasters and mounting public concerns about single-use packaging, litter, and pollution. Individuals, schools, and communities mobilized around the lack of protections for consumers and the environment. It was a reaction to perceived inaction, and one intended to incite the public to change. Industry has long put pressure on governments to allow them the latitude to operate as they would like, stymying regulation and mandates for extended producer responsibility (EPR), the policy concept that extends a manufacturer’s responsibility for reducing impacts (such as pollution and waste) all the way to the hands of consumers. More than 110 EPR laws are currently in place for 13+ product categories in more than 30 US states. However, the United States as a country — the originators of the first Earth Day and its current base — is currently one of only three nations of the 35-member Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that does not have an EPR system specifically for existing packaging or one under development, despite packaging being a significant concern regarding waste. Some experts say voluntary industry-led programs rarely lead to the systemic changes needed to significantly impact the status quo, in addition to not providing the same sustainable funding sources as government mandates. However, industry, unlike governments, can steward reform and de-risk the political process of governments by acting in their own best interest. The events surrounding what Earth Day founder Denis Hayes called "the largest secular holiday in the world” can reveal the annual commemoration (since expanded to include Earth Month, hosted by a different organization entirely) as more of an exercise in public relations rather than a vehicle for policy change. Leading up to that first Earth Day, mass production, synthetic materials, and disposability took off in the 1950s, and the effects of overconsumption quickly surfaced within the decade while much of industry remained unregulated. The “business as usual” went on as long as it worked for the private interest, depending on sales to consumers and the ability of the environment to sustain its operations. But then, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring mainstreamed the hazards of the common pesticide DDT in 1962, which turned the public eye to agriculture. The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill (the largest oil spill in California waters to date) had enough of an economic impact on commercial and ocean-related industries that it is credited with galvanizing not only Earth Day, but the formation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency later that year. When consumers become aware that companies profit at the expense of the health and safety of their families, wildlife, and the natural world, they stop buying. So, any progress made by way of regulation and product redesign since the first Earth Day has largely been to the degree business is compelled to make a change. When that happens, the governments are that much more supported in public-serving legislation, but this process is slow and mired by bureaucracy, special interests, and inequities around the world. In the case of global movements for social, economic, and environmental revolution, the best interests of business often then lie in serving people, the planet, and ultimately, profits. We are upon one of the most important, monumental Earth Days of our recent history, and it occurs in the midst of what too many brands have referred to as “uncertain times,” a situation many would argue as a direct result of the very thing driving the environmental movement: the interference of human activities in nature’s balanced system. With confidence, I can say that every Earth Day from here till the centennial will set a new benchmark for what consumers expect from the brands they let into their lives, and how they depend on companies, rather than government mandates, to protect them. Rather than driving consumption and externalizing negatives to create growth at the expense of a planet running dry, companies have an opportunity to take action and show the world why their business is essential — now and on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shelton, Conn. and Trenton, N.J.,–BIC, a world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers, has partnered with international recycling leader TerraCycle® to offer consumers a free and easy way to recycle their fully-used pens, mechanical pencils, markers and other stationery products and parts of packaging nationwide. As an added incentive, for every shipment of used stationery products collected and sent to TerraCycle through this program, collectors earn points that can be donated to a school or charitable organization of their choice.   “As families spend more time writing, drawing and coloring together, we want to provide them with a responsible way to dispose of their products once they are used. Our collection program with TerraCycle gives consumers a simple way to recycle their writing instruments and art supplies to make a difference in the world,” said Mary Fox, North American General Manager for BIC. “Sustainability has always been at BIC’s core. We are thrilled to expand this program to the U.S. from Europe, where we have successfully recycled an astounding 46 million items.”   Through the BIC® Stationery Recycling Program, consumers can now send in all brands of pens, markers, mechanical pencils, highlighters, glue sticks, watercolor dispensers and paint sets to be recycled for free. The program is also collecting the soft, flexible plastic packaging that some writing instruments are packaged in. Participation is easy: sign up on the TerraCycle program page https://www.terracycle.com/bic and mail in the used items using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the waste is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that is remolded to make new recycled products. The BIC® Stationery Recycling Program is open to any interested individual, school, office or community organization.   “Through this free recycling program, BIC offers consumers the unique opportunity to learn about the value of recycling products they use every day while learning, playing or working that would otherwise end up in landfill,” said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle. “We are proud to partner with BIC to offer consumers an easy solution for these typically unrecyclable items.”   This is the latest step BIC has taken on its journey to further enhance the sustainability of its long-lasting products, which are made with the least amount of material, and to minimize its impact on the environment, one of the goals in its 2025 “Writing the Future, Together” program.   BIC and TerraCycle began partnering in 2011 to collect and recycle used stationery products in Europe. A similar program was launched in Australia and New Zealand last year.   The two organizations have also partnered to promote the circular economy by offering BIC products through LOOP, an e-commerce circular economy platform created by TerraCycle aimed at eliminating waste and reducing dependence on packaging.   For more information on TerraCycle’s recycling programs, visit www.terracycle.com.

Sustainability efforts for beauty companies may cost more in the short term, but often pay out over time. Beauty brands that want to be part of TerraCycle’s Loop program must develop durable packaging that can be reused at least 10 times. It costs more for businesses upfront, but has the potential to help brands reduce their packaging costs over the long term. It’s one example of the return on investment for sustainability — Ren, Pantene, Melanin Essentials, Love, Beauty and Planet, Soapply, Plaine and The Body Shop are among the brands working with and selling through the Loop operation. “Manufacturers are hitting parity on price and sustainability anywhere from two to three uses sometimes,” said Benjamin Weir, Loop’s director of business development and sales innovation. “We’re pushing the system to be as durable and as reusable as possible.” For Procter & Gamble, which has invested in Loop, the cost of making Loop-approved packaging is actually more expensive — but the business views it as an investment in learning. “While ROI is definitely something we are getting in certain pockets of our business, it is not the sole criteria for learning in this space, particularly with some of the pilots we are running,” said Anitra Marsh, associate director of global sustainability and brand communications at P&G Beauty. Marsh was referencing Loop, as well as Olay Whips refills, which launched in the fall. “We have to learn before we can bring things to scale.” Another P&G pilot launches Monday: The business is testing paper board tube packaging for deodorant, available exclusively at Walmart. “If you’re looking at return on investment, sustainability initiatives are the long game. There are no short wins with sustainability,” said Sarah Jindal, Mintel’s senior innovation and insights analyst for beauty and personal care. She called Loop’s efforts “a great example of that initial upfront investment that pays in bucketloads,” and said renewable energy is another key example. “At some point, once you’ve made that initial investment, you no longer have an electric bill that you’re paying to someone else,” she said. P&G, for example, has saved more than half-a-billion dollars after years of energy conservation programs across the company, said Kelly Vanasse, chief communications officer for P&G beauty and grooming. “That’s one example — the work we’re doing on zero waste to landfill, it’s the same thing.…The more we continue to realize those successes, it just creates a virtuous circle.” Jindal stressed that the timing of returns from sustainability initiatives can vary. “Returns will come in many different forms at many different levels at many different time points,” Jindal said. Unilever, for example, has started to see increasing sales momentum from “sustainable living brands.” Sustainable living brands grew 69 percent faster than the rest of the business in 2018, compared with 46 percent faster in 2017, the company said. Biossance, the skin-care line born out of biotech operation Amyris, has worked to build up its own virtuous circle — a sustainable supply chain in order to offer Amyris-produced squalane to the broader beauty market at “desirable price points,” said president Catherine Gore. “The promised land is really connecting sustainable ingredients, sustainable thinking, sustainable manufacturing and sustainable packaging with the cost effective-nature of that. We’ll really hit our sweet spot when all of the brands can afford to make these types of changes.” Biossance’s key sustainability initiatives revolve around sustainable sugarcane in Brazil. The company makes its own squalane with that sugarcane, versus harvesting from sharks. Sugarcane stalks are used for boxes, and gas off-put is used to power the plant. “All of that has been optimized so we can offer squalane by the ton to consumers and brands worldwide at a much more desirable price point than [killing sharks],” Gore said. “The whole idea is to keep the mission first, and in order for that to be accessible, it has to be at the right price point.” There’s also a softer side to the ROI equation. As sustainability permeates consumer consciousness, companies and brands that have taken steps in earth-friendly directions expect to see dividends coming in the form of consumer loyalty. “The concept of brand loyalty…has kind of flown out the window, but this view on sustainability — because it is becoming so important to the consumer, and it is so visible to the consumer — that becomes one of those really important parts of, ‘do I want to buy from this brand, or do I want to buy from that brand?” said Jindal. “That loyal relationship becomes really important in the fragmented world we’re living in where you’ve got new brands popping up almost every single day,” Jindal said. Right now, consumers are at the stage where they notice obvious things, Jindal said, like packaging. But as beauty companies delve deeper into sustainability and talk openly about their initiatives, consumer expectations are likely to evolve. “The more prevalent that information becomes, it becomes that much more important to a wider range of consumers,” Jindal said. “They’ll look at [company practices] and say, ‘you know what, I don’t agree with the practices of that company, so I won’t buy from them anymore.’ It’s as simple as that, to flip that switch, because there are so many brands out there they can choose from.” For Biossance, sustainability is a key part of customer retention. “There’s a large community that’s very close to our shark-saving initiative,” Gore said. The company estimates that by producing squalane, it saves two million sharks per year. That, combined with Environmental Working Group certification and other commitments, like zero waste by 2025, compostable boxes and going carbon neutral in 2020, keep customers coming back. “As we share those stories, it holistically brings a very dedicated community together that believes in the sustainability, wants to put their purchase power toward that, and trusts in the brand,” Gore said. P&G also sees customers caring more about sustainability. “When we have products consumers love, they’re like, ‘OK, I love your product — now help me love your product even more. What are you doing from a sustainability perspective?’ Everyone wants to do the right thing…today, doing the right thing is being more sustainable,” Vanasse said.

With Earth Day every day, our pals at L’Occitane are sharing some super-creative ways to upcycle your empty products, so you can have fun transforming your empties all while reducing waste in your home. Let’s get crafty! —Vita Daily   planting new terrariums. Turing your empty L’Occitane jars into plant pots is a simple and creative way to both add a touch of green into your home and repurpose those beautiful glass packaging—bonus points if you throw in some of your own compost!   flower power. Another way to bring a little bit of nature into your home is to repurpose an empty shower gel bottle into a stunning hanging vase for your most beautiful flowers. Simply tie some string around the bottle, place your favourite flowers inside and voilà! For some added fun, you can also change up the colour of the bottle with some paint.   spice it up! Upcycling your empty L’Occitane jars into cute kitchen storage is both easy and practical. Just clean out the empty jar, and use it to store anything from spices to nuts, small fruits and even leftover sauces.   wait it out. If you’ve tried out these ideas and still have empties that you don’t know what to do with, don’t worry! Just hold onto the packages until L'Occitane stores reopen again, bring in your empties and they will be recycled in partnership with TerraCycle. In exchange, you will receive 10 per cent off your next skin and body care indulgence purchase at L’Occitane.   loccitane.com

When I turn on my computer, I get the following message on the screen: “April is Earth Month. Celebrate by repurposing your old things to make something new.” Boy, that could not be more appropriate for this year. People all over Earth are practicing this directive in a multitude of ways; tangible and intangible. For example, we are learning how to make masks from old T-shirts and how to maintain relationships through various social media formats. This article usually focuses on litter reduction, but today will expand on this theme to include recycling and repurposing.   Indeed, April celebrates Earth Month, Earth Day and Arbor Day. Although activities are curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic; there are still opportunities available to practice good stewardship of our planet and its natural resources.   This is an opportune time for families to improve the environment and beautify their own yards. Whether it is a clean-up project or one of planting flowers, it is a great time to appreciate nature and to teach youngsters how to protect and care for the environment. Perhaps old patio furniture may be cleaned, repaired and repainted rather than going to a landfill. Perhaps extra bulbs, seeds, cuttings or flowerpots may be shared with family or friends (observing social distancing). Old newspapers can be repurposed for several things including cleaning windows with vinegar water, serve as paint drop cloths, smother weeds, use for packing material, kids’ crafts, shoe deodorizers and more.   Our more flexible schedules these days may allow for learning about various conservation programs and organizations. Readers may wish to explore the following websites for great information:   KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL (KAB) is a nonprofit organization to educate people to improve and beautify their environments. Impressive data can be found at kab.org.   THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP is an effort under KAB which has been held every spring for the last 22 years. This program prompts individuals to take greater responsibility for their local environments by participating in various grassroots community service projects. It usually runs from March 19 to June 20 but, has been postponed for 2020. More details can be found online.   EARTH DAY has been educating and advocating a worldwide environmental movement for 50 years. Its slogan is “Earth Day is Every Day and Any Where You Are.” On April 22 digital events are scheduled due to COVID-19. Visit earthday.org for information about its history and impact.   The first Arbor day is attributed to being held in Spain in 1594. In the U.S., it was celebrated in Nebraska on April 16, 1872 with an estimated 1 million trees planted across the state. This now global program has helped conservation with the planting of more than 350 million trees to clean the air, protect drinking water and improve beauty and health of environment. Arbor Day falls on April 24. To learn more about this worldwide effort and how you may be able to get free trees, just google Arbor Day.   The director and the board of KEEP AIKEN COUNTY BEAUTIFUL (KACB) continue to work behind the scenes to combat litter by researching and writing grants, as well as updating policies, programs and events. Check out the website at aikencountysc.gov/KACB.   TERRA CYCLE is a relatively new and very innovative organization addressing a broad approach to accomplish zero waste. TerraCycle was created and is based in New Jersey and promotes its aim to "recycle everything" through a variety of programs. For very creative and positive ideas, visit terracycle.com.   As always, the following numbers are given to help people report litter and litterbugs. Although traveling is discouraged at this time, you are encouraged to save these numbers in your phone or cut them out and keep in a handy place for quick reference. In the City of Aiken, call 803-642-7620. In the County call 803-502-9000 ext. 3794. The Palmetto Pride Litter Hotline is 877-754-8837. Calls to these numbers are anonymous, but a request will be made for some details. Please make the calls only when safe to do so.

Every April 22 marks Earth Day, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year! We can act at different levels to protect and preserve our planet, starting with choosing fair trade products and brands, reducing our waste and recycling. Discover now 3 easy steps to create your eco-responsible beauty routine: are you ready to start?  

1. Choose Functionalab, Canadian cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics

Natural ingredients Products based on active ingredients from nature for exceptional skin health.   Precise dosage Products formulated according to rigorous clinical research to ensure optimal effectiveness.   Support for ecological organizations Join the movement! Dermapure donates $ 1 - for each online order of Functionalab products from April 22 to 24, 2020 - to support Earth Day Network, the world's largest environmental movement recruiter.  

2. Simplify the beauty routine

All in 1 Let yourself be charmed by the application of products targeting several objectives, such as Gel or Functionalab cleansing and toning milk . Active ingredients that cleanse, remove make-up and balance the skin's pH in a single product!   Tailor-made Selecting products that meet the specific needs of your skin will avoid the famous trial-and-error - the primary cause of wasted beauty products - in addition to ensuring optimal efficiency. You can also take advantage of a free consultation with one of our skin experts to find out which products are made for you!  

3. Recycle skin care products

  An essential habit Have you finished your jar of cream or serum? Remember to clean and recycle your containers! If knowing how to recycle the different materials is a real headache for you, discover the solution near you by consulting the TerraCycle ^® program .   ›Ready for an eco-responsible beauty routine? Do you want to be accompanied on your health and beauty journey? Contact one of our experienced consultants now! Make an appointment for your free consultation or call 1 877 781-1811   ›Be part of the Dermapure community Subscribe to our newsletter , do not miss any news or promotion and take advantage of $ 25 off the clinic treatment or the Functionalab product of your choice *!   * Offer valid on Functionalab products for all orders of $ 150 or more before taxes, and on treatments not provided by doctors.  

The influence of organic makeup has had a huge ripple effect on the beauty world. Over the past few years, we've seen a stream of new brands come out with labels like "clean beauty," "natural," and "sustainable"—a sign of how far the clean movement has grown, considering these same products were once considered "crunchy" or relegated to a dusty bottom shelf. It's partly because we're becoming more discerning and better informed about beauty. But it's also because of a handful of pioneering brands that have shown the rest of the industry exactly how it's done.   While FDA regulations around terms like "organic" and "natural" remain frustratingly vague, most experts agree that "organic" typically means ingredients in a product are USDA-certified food grade. "Natural" on the other hand typically refers to ingredients that aren't synthetic. These blanket terms don't necessarily mean a product is better for you, which is why the industry is moving toward adopting "clean beauty" as a catchall for products that are free of any potentially harmful ingredients.   Thankfully, more brands have taken it upon themselves to give us the information we need to determine what's going into their products. We now know what to look out for (controversial ingredients like parabens, phthalates, and PEGs) as well as what to look for (namely, sustainable packaging and cruelty-free certifications). And just like in the non-natural-beauty world, some brands just do it better than others. Below, we're shouting out the 13 best clean and organic makeup brands that don't compromise their quality payoff for a natural ingredients list. Natural and organic: Yes   Cruelty-free: Yes   Safety: Non-GMO, non-nano, hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic, and free of parabens, sulfates, phalatates, silicone, talc, petrolatum, and polyethylene/PEGs   Sustainability: Packaging features recycled glass pots and boxes made from 80% postconsumer recycled fiber   Known for: Dewy, second-skin makeup   We'd recognize RMS's signature makeup anywhere. From the minimal packaging to the telltale dewy finish its products impart, the brand has definitely made its mark on organic beauty. Each ingredient is carefully selected to have a stable shelf life and work in tandem with your skin—driven by the brand's mission to create a clean line that rivals your favorite luxury products. Makeup artists and models alike often cite RMS's cream products as favorites and for good reason. For the best introduction to the brand, dip a finger into its iconic Living Luminizer. We also love the creamy "Un" Cover-Up concealer, which never cakes up or clogs pores. Natural and organic: Yes   Cruelty-free: Yes   Safety: Free of parabens, silicones, petrochemical emulsifiers, and synthetic fragrances   Sustainability: Refillable packaging and recyclable refill cartons   Known for: Luxury makeup that looks like jewelry   Kjaer Weis definitely wins when it comes to making clean beauty look ultra luxurious. Its shiny chrome cases look like something out of a jewelry box and also work with its refill system. The brand fills each case with the prettiest cream and powder products, all developed by its makeup artist founder. Like many of our other favorite clean-makeup brands, most of the launches combine color with skin-boosting ingredients. We're particularly fond of the Cream Blush, which blends right into your skin and gives your face a sun-warmed glow. The lipsticks, which pack plenty of pigment, are also a hit.

3. Ilia

Natural and organic: Clean; natural ingredients with some safe synthetics to increase performance   Cruelty-free: Yes   Safety: Non-GMO and free of phthalates, sulfates, parabens, gluten, and talc   Sustainability: Recycled aluminum, glass components, and responsibly sourced paper; works with TerraCycle's Zero Waste Box platform to prevent landfill waste   Known for: Multiuse products you actually want to use everywhere   Many clean brands make multiuse products, but Ilia is one of the few that actually nails it. Its signature multiuse serums, illuminators, and color sticks wear equally beautifully on your eyes, lips, and cheeks—no easy feat, considering the many good-but-not-great examples we've tried. Ilia formulates with added skin-care ingredients meant to protect from environmental stressors. The Polka Dots and Moonbeams highlighter has a permanent place in our hearts, as does the dewy Nova Liquid Light.

4. Rituel de Fille

Natural and organic: Yes     Cruelty-free: Yes   Safety: Free of parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes or fragrances, and gluten   Sustainability: No palm-oil-derived ingredients, to minimize environmental impact; sources raw materials from companies with ethical labor practices   Known for: Witchy, celestial colors   Rituel de Fille is a force of its own in the natural makeup world. Founded by three sisters who were inspired by the magical side of clean ingredients, the brand embodies a witchy, celestial aesthetic that truly stands apart. Every detail, from the constellation-inspired packaging to the creative names, will hook you in instantly. If you try only one thing from the brand, make it the glimmering Eye Soots. The highly pigmented, buttery eye shadows come in an otherworldly range of colors that light up on your lids. While you're at it, you might as well also pick up the Rare Light Luminizer in Solaris; it's a highlighter that legitimately makes you look like you're bathed in iridescent sunlight.

5. Vapour Beauty

Natural and organic: Yes   Cruelty-free: Yes   Safety: Champion safety status from the EWG and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics   Sustainability: 50% renewable energy across facilities (100% daylight solar by 2022), 97% waterless products, reused or recycled packaging shipped in compostable materials   Known for: Taking organic makeup to the next level   If you haven't tried Vapour Beauty yet, you're really missing out. The under-the-radar favorite considers how to make its products more natural and sustainable at every single level, which is transparency we can appreciate, given how often brands attempt greenwashing. Vapour draws its inspiration from the elements. The founders wanted to capture everything they loved about nature and translate it into an edited line of makeup essentials. Fan favorites include the nonsticky Elixir Gloss and buildable blush. Having tried them both, we can confirm they live up to their reviews.

6. W3ll People

Natural and O=organic: Yes     Cruelty-free: Yes   Safety: Free of fillers, gluten, propylene glycol, petrochemicals, and petroleum by-products   Sustainability: Handmade in small batches in the U.S.   Known for: Subtle, versatile makeup   W3ll People's philosophy stems from how much our skin is capable of absorbing. Its founding team consists of a makeup artist, cosmetic dermatologist, and eco-friendly entrepreneur. Together they've created a comprehensive line of basics that focus on lightweight textures and comfortable wear. Most of the products are infused with organic aloe vera, which helps soothe and moisturize any part of your face it touches. To see how gentle and effective their line is, we recommend testing out the creamy Optimist Lipstick, which totally negates the need for balm. Equally impressive is the Expressionist Mascara, which is one of the best subtly volumizing formulas we've tried (natural or not).

7. 100% Pure

Natural and organic: Yes   Cruelty-free: Yes   Safety: Free of commonly used FD&C colorants and heavy metal dyes   Sustainability: Recycled packaging; partners with multiple organizations to make an environmental impact, including trees.org, Leaping Bunny, and more   Known for: Creating everything you could need for a full natural beauty routine   We'll definitely give 100% Pure props for its makeup, but the brand also deserves a mention for how comprehensive its complete line is. Aside from color cosmetics, the brand also formulates skin care, hair care, and body products—each one adhering to its strict natural standards. The brand easily functions as a one-stop shop for anyone looking to overhaul their entire routine. For those wanting to start smaller, its pigmented Long Last Liquid Eyeliner stays true to its name. Pair it with the Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder—it dries to the ideal, fluffy finish.

8. Kosas

Natural and organic: Clean; natural ingredients with some safe synthetics to increase performance     Cruelty-free: Yes   Safety: Free of parabens, phthalates, BHA/BHT, mineral oil, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, and petrolatum   Known for: Flattering, wearable pigments   Kosas made its mark with popular tinted oil foundations and blush duos that let you achieve a surprising amount of dimension on your skin. The brand focuses on feel-good formulations, like (chic) sweatpants for your face. Check out the aforementioned oil-foundation hybrids, which deliver a super-sheer and dewy finish, while subtly evening out tone. Wear it with any shade of its blush duo compacts; no matter which one you choose, the blush-highlighter combinations each layer together to create complexion-flattering results.

9. Bite Beauty