From a water-saving shower head to period pants that really work and a Dragon’s Den skincare success, these are the products that really impressed us this Earth Day
Tomorrow, Saturday 22 April, marks Earth Day - now in its 53rd year, it’s a good moment to pause and reflect on how we can live more sustainably and make better choices for our planet. Obviously how much stuff we consume is a thorny issue. No one is suggesting you never buy a beauty or wellness product ever again but we can be a little more thoughtful about what we buy. Small changes add up, after all. So to mark Earth Day, here is our edit of 13 products that’ll help you do your bit, from period pants to refillable bottles to reusable makeup pads.
The menstruation game-changer: Lazy Oaf x Ohne Period Pants, £29
“Period pants have truly been a life-changing discovery for me and these are some of the comfiest I’ve tried - and I feel that opting for period products that have less of an impact on the planet is a must-do. The three different designs can’t help but make you smile, no mean feat when you’re on your period. For every pair bought, another is donated to the Choose Love organisation which will give them to refugees or displaced people around the world. They come in two absorbency levels; medium which is the equivalent of two tampons and super which is the equivalent of four. To clean them you simply give them a rinse, pop them in the washing machine and leave them to air dry. They’re a no-brainer.”SJ Corfield-Smith, GTG Beauty Director
The sexy sanitiser: Never Go Alone Handwipes and Portable Case, £20
“Having got into the hand sanitiser habit in Covid, I now can’t do without it and this brand, born in the pandemic, elevates a necessity to a pleasure, with sustainability as part of its DNA. I particularly like the biodegradable wipes (sometimes you need more than just a spray) in a refillable, handbag-sized container, with 65 per cent alcohol to zap germs on your hands or surfaces. I also have the refillable sanitiser spray which has both skincare ingredients and the luxe ‘Edition 01’ scent which is woody and peppery. Whenever I get them out of my bag with friends, I get an appreciative chorus of ‘Ooh what’s that?’” Victoria Woodhall, GTG Editorial Director
The zesty shower essential: Faith In Nature Grapefruit & Orange Shampoo 1 litre, £13
“This monster bottle of shampoo is a must-try for anyone looking for a sustainable and effective hair care solution. This 1 litre bottle is not only a great value, but it is also packaged in recycled plastic, which helps to reduce waste. I love the refreshing fragrance of orange and grapefruit, as it’s been perfect for a morning pick-me-up, and the shampoo leaves my hair feeling clean, soft, and nourished. The formula is made with 99% biodegradable ingredients, which means it won't harm the environment when it goes down the drain. To also help reduce waste, you can also refill your bottle in shops that stock Faith In Nature.” Christina Callaghan, GTG Commercial Director
The luxe scar soother: Anokha Rosehip Replenishing Balm, £110
"An all-natural, planet-friendly skincare range isn’t what you’d necessarily expect from a New York plastic surgeon but Dr Nina S Naidu’s Anokha is just that. Her botanical ingredients pack a serious punch, however, promising clinical results. This latest launch - a balm her patients use post-surgery to help heal wounds and reduce scarring - is crammed with rosehip, sea buckthorn and pomegranate. I can’t vouch for its efficacy on surgery scars (I’m guessing my decade-old C-section incision is beyond help) but it worked its gentle magic on a cut on my face. It can also be used on dry patches and smells heavenly. Expensive yes, but what a treat - and five percent of each sale is donated to various humanitarian charities, which is a lovely gesture." Kerry Potter, GTG Associate Editor
The plant-based polish: Essie Gel Nail Polish Gel Couture, Love collection, £8.99
"These stunning Spring nail shades are from Essie’s new Love collection, exclusive to Superdrug. For the first time, the brand’s polish is 80 percent plant-based, containing ingredients derived from cotton, corn and sugar cane. But, fear not, the new, planet-friendly formula is just as reliable as the original one - superior quality to its rivals, not easily chipped and opaque to the point that you can get away with one coat. There are 20 brights, neutrals and pastels to choose from - which one will be adorning your Earth Day nails?" Amy Rostas, GTG Beauty and Social Media Assistant
The considerate SPF: Caudalie Vinosun SPF50 High Protection Cream, £28
“One of my favourite new SPFs last year was Caudalie facial SPF50+ milk, which felt luxe on the skin, and offered broad-spectrum protection, while leaving out the sun filters said to cause most threat to marine life. Now there’s a whole range of face and body sunscreens, all featuring antioxidants for an extra layer of protection. This facial SPF cream is my pick of the bunch. It’s rich but not greasy and has a gentle orange blossom and jasmine perfume, which reminds me of tiare flower, the ultimate tropical island scent. I’m not a great fan of fragrance in skincare but this is just lovely and doesn’t irritate my skin. It makes wearing daily sunscreen a pleasure rather than a chore." Ingeborg van Lotringen, Contributing Beauty Editor
The foolproof refill: The Body Shop Peptalk Refillable Lipstick, £11 for lipstick bullet and £5 for refillable case
“Amid The Body Shop’s new range of refillable makeup, the lipsticks caught my eye because they are so simple to use. Others I’ve tried required an engineering degree to set it up but with this you just take the lipstick out of the (recyclable) packaging and click it into the (recycled) aluminium case and away you go. The lipsticks are made from Fair Trade shea butter and there are 20 wearable shades to choose from.” SJCS
The Dragon’s Den skincare hit: True Skincare Radiance Renewal Vitamin C Serum Renewal 10% Stabilised, £19.50
“It’s two years since Emma Thornton appeared on Dragon’s Den with her waterless, organic and affordable skincare brand True and received a resounding yes from all the dragons. Meeting Emma, I was blown away by how meticulous and detailed she was in her dedication to sustainability and also producing performance skincare that stands up to the best. I love this ten per cent vitamin C serum and am astonished that, given the quality of ingredients and luxe look it, like most things in the range, comes in under £20.” VW
The reusable makeup remover: Face Halo Reusable Bamboo Pads, £15 for 8
"These are a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional makeup removers and I’m now using them for all my liquid skincare products. With every pack of eight replacing up to 2,000 disposable cotton rounds, the rewashable, reusable and compostable pads are designed to be used again and again. They’re made with 80% bamboo and are vegan, cruelty-free and soft on the skin - what’s not to like? Not only are they better for the environment, but they’re good for your wallet too. The website has prices in USD, but don't worry it will change to GBP at checkout and the products are shipped from within the UK." CC
The pioneering sanitary pad: Fluus Flushable Day Pads, £5
"Over the past three years, I’ve been on a mission to find the most sustainable solutions for my periods, from the best re-usable period pants to trialling menstrual cups (not convinced). This Fluus pad pitches itself as the world’s first flushable (yes, really) sanitary towel. They’re made with cellulose plant fibres and a natural adhesive derived from tree sap - patent-pending, microplastic-free flushable tech which means they break down and dissolve in water over time. I must admit, it did feel weird at first chucking them down the toilet. A few months in and I’ve got used to the process - and I’ve had no plumbing issues so far!” Fluus is currently offering 25% off your first plan (15 or 45 pads) with the code ‘WELCOME25’" Jemma Thompson, GTG Design and Social Media Manager
The budget eco eye pencil: Kiko Green Me Eyeliner & Khol, £8.99
"Italian high street beauty brand Kiko got in there relatively early with brushing up its eco creds, launching its Green Me Collection five years ago. The highlights of this season’s range update include these kohl eyeliners - call me nostalgic, but I delighted in the fact they reminded me of the wooden pencils we used at school. The shades - muted greys, browns and plums - are ideal for low-key daytime wear. I also loved the diddy tins of hand cream and lip balm, and the body and face soaps in solid bars. It all adds up to far fewer plastic bottles clogging up your bathroom bin - and landfill sites." KP
The fresh-bum solution: Wype Toilet Paper Gel, £14.99
“Admit it: a wet wipe feels nice and fresh when one goes to the toilet. But wipes are of course the devil when it comes to the environment, and even biodegradable ones should never be flushed down the toilet. Enter Wype, which is a pH-neutral, rose water-based gel you squirt on your toilet paper for bidet-in-a-bottle experience. The gel is silky and viscous so won’t soak into your paper and make it fall apart. At least, doesn’t with mine - if you have very flimsy paper it might be a issue. It comes in a very discreet metal pump bottle, which is refillable and holds the equivalent to eight packs of wet wipes. Ingenious.” IvL
The water-saving shower head: Hello Klean Purifying Shower Head, £59
“It’s not often I bring home something from work and the whole family loves it, but this hard water filtering attachment, which fits all showers, upgraded everyone’s wash time by seeming to magic extra pressure out of nowhere. It makes you feel as though you are using more water, when in fact you’re consuming 25 per cent less. Part of that is down to the doughnut shaped head, which gives the illusion of a full jet. It softens our hard London water, filters out chlorine and metals and smells. The refills are recyclable and cost £40 around every four months.” VW