Nécessaire

As a brand that is both Climate and Plastic Neutral Certified, Necessaire uses a range of recycled packaging materials to complement their clean, vegan, cruelty-free body-care products. Producing exfoliators and natural lubricants, Necessaire adheres to EU’s standards for safe and clean beauty, as well as allocating a 1% earth tax to environmental non-profits that fight to defend our air, water, land, and wildlife globally. Try their Eucalyptus body wash to rid the skin of impurities, a daily multi- vitamin cleanser that promises to cleanse and nourish your body with niacinamide, vitamin C, and omega-6.

£ 20.00

NÉCESSAIRE – THE BODY WASH EUCALYPTUS

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Fussy

Fussy – the ‘natural deodorant that doesn’t stink.’ If you are looking for deodorant that will come beautifully packaged and delivered straight to your door, look no further. These plastic free refills are natural, vegan, and certified carbon neutral, and to make matters more exciting, you can choose from shades of lilac, blush or burnt orange to brighten up your bathroom! Durable and planet- friendly, we can’t think of a better product to invest in – for your body nor for our planet.

£ 13.00

GET FUSSY – DEODORANT

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Summer Fridays

Summer Fridays is your one-stop shop for all your recyclable, cruelty-free and vegan skincare, that never falls short of hydration or rejuvenation. Their Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream Moisturiser is filled with antioxidants to plump and protect your complexion, leaving your skin with a luminous, smooth finish without ever clogging your pores. Achieving glowing skin should never come at the expense of our planet, but when it comes to Summer Fridays; you’ll never have to worry.

£ 16.00

SUMMER FRIDAYS – CLOUD DEW OIL-FREE GEL CREAM MOISTURIZER

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Milk Makeup

Partnering with How2Recycle to provide more detailed recycling information on their labels, Milk Makeup is more than just a Tik-Tok favourite. Whilst their Lip and Cheek stick is 100% vegan and does not contain any animal-derived ingredients, it is also the perfect product to brighten your lips and cheeks, giving them that irresistible glow. Apply the cream directly on lips or cheeks for a sheer tint, then blend with your fingertips.

£ 18.00

Milk Makeup – Lip & Cheek

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Dear Sundays

Sundays Studio creates non-toxic and vegan product lines that are mindful of not just your cuticles, but the Earth too. Their Non-Toxic Nail Antibacterial Cuticle Serum cures wounds, kills surface

bacteria, restores moisture, and strengthens your nails beds, topped off with a natural scent, too! Credited for its mindfulness, if you’re looking for new nail products, then Dear Sundays is perfect.

£ 14.95

Dear Sundays – Non Toxic Nail Antibacterial Cuticle Serum

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Words by : Gracie Eastwood

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The post Sustainable Beauty Brands You Need on Your Radar appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Sustainability-wise, swimwear can have a seriously detrimental effect on the environment. When it comes to our wardrobe, we all know that we need to shop more sustainably, but it’s especially crucial when it comes to swimwear. Why?, Swimsuits are made from synthetic materials such as nylon and polyurethane (a mix of Lycra, Spandex, or Elastane), whose production depletes natural resources.

These synthetic materials are all derived from petroleum oil which is problematic for several reasons. It produces environmental pollution during extraction and fibre production, harms natural resources and wildlands, and is non-biodegradable.

Another reason swimsuits tend to be less sustainable than other clothing is because synthetic material often doesn’t last long, losing its shape quickly – which leads to many replacements. Furthermore, swimwear is currently extremely difficult to recycle, resulting in polluted landfills and harmful microplastics released into the environment.

Taking care of our wardrobes is more critical than ever – and eco-conscious dressing shouldn’t be overlooked during the holidays. These days, there are numerous sustainable swimwear brands to discover, each offering stylish silhouettes and environmentally friendly production methods.

In a world where fast fashion is on the rise, we know we need to change how we shop. We can eschew fast fashion by renting or buying second-hand, where possible. If you are looking for something new for an upcoming holiday, consider shopping with brands that place sustainability first- after all, renting out swimwear is hardly realistic. 

Shop these sustainable swimwear brands for a guilt-free summer.

Matteau

Made in Australia, Matteau supports Australian textile manufacturing however it can. Matteau’s swimwear is made out of eco-friendly materials like Repreve, ECONYL, and yarn spun from fishing nets, fabric scraps, and industrial plastics.  With its efforts to offset carbon emissions and trace materials back to their original sources, Matteau is always striving to be as green as possible. In addition, Matteau is a brand that appreciates the uniqueness of everybody. Founders of the company Ilona Hamer and Peta Heinsen embrace all different body sizes and designed swimwear that would accommodate and empower all their customers. It’s no surprise that models and fashionistas, Jeanne Damas and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, are fans of the brand. 

Shop here: https://int.matteau-store.com/collections/swimwear

Fisch 

It is well worth checking out Fisch’s vibrantly coloured and printed Eighties-inspired poolside styles if you want to make a statement. Fisch is committed to “ocean upcycling”, transforming harmful ocean plastics into contemporary swimwear. Fisch is also a partner of Healthy Seas – a team of skilled divers that safely remove ghost nets from the ocean floor, which later make Fisch’s fabric. Each piece is crafted from econyl, and woven in a mill in Italy just two hours from their factory, minimising its carbon footprint, therefore reducing its environmental impact. As well as being eco-friendly, Fisch promises its customers that the swimsuits are long-lasting.

Shop here: https://fischswim.com

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a California-based swimwear and beachwear brand that believes style and sustainability go hand-in-hand. As one of the first brands to introduce eco swim fabrics in 2010 with EcoLuxTM- a piece of ultrafine matte jersey fabric and EcoRib, which is a stretchy ribbed fabric made from recycled nylon and plant fibres, Vitamin A is still staying ahead of the curve by combining feminine design with sustainable innovation two decades later. The brand’s swimwear prints are inspired by ‘70s beach glamour. Water-saving digital technology is used to create the prints, while recyclable and biodegradable packaging boxes are used for packaging them. A variety of options are available- each one as eye-catching as the next. Vitamin A’s bikinis and bodysuits are designed and manufactured locally in California, significantly reducing shipping and transportation emissions. All dyeing and knitting of the fabrics are done in one place, further reducing their carbon footprint.  

Shop here: https://www.vitaminaswim.com

Peony 

The brand says its designs are “the first bloom of peony flowers”. 

Taking its name from the flowering plant that signals summer’s arrival, peony is the sustainable swimwear label encouraging us to live life fully. The brand combines classic shapes with soft colour palettes to create confident pieces, a reflection of Australian designer Becky Morton’s deep love of the ocean. 

Swimwear label Peony uses fabrics made from recycled polyester and specially developed linings in order to reduce waste to create sustainable pieces that are durable and strong. The brand aims to ensure that all processes and chemicals are environmentally friendly. The packaging also is biodegradable and compostable.

Shop here: https://us.peonyswimwear.com

Vanessa Sposi

Inspired by the rich culture and sunny settings of Ibiza, Vanessa creates a tableau of pastels and neutral tones reminiscent of the rising and setting sun.

Designing swimwear that is infused with natural antioxidants, aloe vera and vitamin E that soothes and nourishes the skin, Vanessa Sposi is a brand that is ethically made and eco-conscious. Placing sustainability at the heart of its mission, Vanessa Sposi uses oeko-tex certified fabrics, free of harmful substances and econyl- recycled yarn from ocean plastic waste. Resulting in cleaner oceans and swimwear that is good for your body. 

This brand is a member of ‘1% for the Planet’, which commits to donating 1% of sales to environmental non-profits annually.

Shop here: https://vanessasposi.com/en/ete-03/

Words by Chanelle Jassim

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The post Sun, Swim and Sustainability appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Eco-friendly beauty products are now more available than ever before. Sustainability has become increasingly popular recently due to the deteriorating environment. When it comes to beauty, the industry is sadly well known for its negative impact on the environment. However, many beauty brands have been changing the ingredients within their products and how they package them. We have collated a few of the brands offering sustainable beauty products.

Face Halo

Are you still using cotton pads to take off your makeup? It’s time to swap out the cotton pads and start using the Face Halo Makeup Remover Pad. Used by makeup professionals, the award-winning Face Halo is highly rated. As well as removing all your makeup, it will also deeply cleanse the skin while gently exfoliating. This dual-sided reusable makeup remover replaces up to around 500 cotton makeup wipes! To use the Face Halo, wet the pad with cold or warm water and softly wipe away your makeup. The Face Halo removes stubborn mascara by adding more water to the pad and holding it on the eyes for 10 seconds.

£ 17.95

Face Halo Pads

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£ 55

Face Halo Gift Box

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Spectrum Brushes 

The well-loved brand Spectrum is based around doing better for our planet. They continually strive to make more sustainable choices, and their products are vegan. The Spectrum Beauty Fix 6 Piece Brush Set is an essential set to start with when making the change to using sustainable makeup brushes. Within the brush set, you’ll receive six brushes to create a full face of makeup including, the A03 foundation brush and the B04 eyeshadow blending brush. After using these cruelty-free, high-quality brushes, your makeup will look flawless. On Earth Day 2021, Spectrum shared to their Instagram how they REDUCE RE-USE and RECYCLE as a brand. The post also included how they have designed new plastic-free packaging. The brushes are available to buy in various colours and patterns, so there is something for everyone. Spectrum Brushes are the sustainable swap to make this year.

£ 30

Spectrum Brushes Zodiac Set

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£ 35

Spectrum Brushes 6pc Set

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Fenty Skin Refills

Sustainability sits at the heart of Fenty Skin. One of the ways Fenty Skin is environmentally friendly is by their refillable packaging. Popular products such as the Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturiser and SPF have a refillable option to purchase to save buying a whole new one. As well as being cruelty-free and vegan, the Hydra Vizor is also non-comedogenic, meaning it is suitable for those with acne-prone skin. As it says in its name, this SPF is invisible. Therefore, it works well on all skin tones. 

Another Fenty Skin product in the refillable range is the Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream Refill. This overnight cream will give the skin the boost of moisture it needs for plumper skin with hyaluronic acid. Over time, fine lines and pores will visibly improve in appearance. Just like the SPF, the overnight Recovery Gel-Cream is non-comedogenic. When it comes to finishing your Fenty Skin product, you can recycle the inner container and refill it. Refills save a lot of plastic and extra waste. So it’s necessary to consider refills when you are purchasing a new product.

£ 64

Fenty Beauty Day + Night Moisturiser Bundle SPF

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£ 28

Fenty Hyrda Vizor Refill

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£ 36

Fenty Gel Refill

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Garnier Shampoo Bars

As of 2021, Garnier shifted towards a more environmentally focused and sustainable future. Available now are various products that include environmentally friendly ingredients and packaging. Garnier is now offering four different shampoo bars, each targeting a hair concern. Shampoo bars are not only better for the planet, but they are a lot better for your hair health. They don’t include any nasty ingredients as many shampoos do and, shampoo bars last much longer than a liquid shampoo. The Garnier Shampoo Bars can last up to two months. They are easy to use and will leave your hair feeling softer and nourished. A shampoo bar is an easy swap to make with many more benefits for you and your environment. 

£ 7.99

Garnier Ultimate Blends Honey Treasures Strengthening Shampoo Bar for Damaged Hair

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£ 3.99

Garnier Ultimate Blends Delicate Oat Strengthening Shampoo Bar for Damaged Hair

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Wild Deodorant

Spray deodorant harms the environment due to the chemicals used within them. However, Wild has designed a sustainable deodorant made from recycled plastic and anodised aluminium. The deodorant comes in a customisable case and has compostable, 100% recyclable refills. Wild have produced this deodorant with active natural ingredients and added essential oils for the scent. Moisturising and hydrating, this deodorant is the perfect sustainable beauty buy to level up your eco-friendly game. Wild are transparent about what goes into their deodorants, so you know what’s going onto your skin.

By making these simple swaps, you’re taking the first steps towards a cleaner future. Always look for recyclable packaging or packaging made from recycled materials. Zero waste beauty is our future so let’s start making changes now.

£ 25

The “For Her” Pack – Wild Natural Deodorant

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£ 25

The Spring Pack – Wild Natural Deodorant

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Words By Eleanor Coleman

The post Eco-Beauty: Sustainable Beauty Buys To Add To Your Basket appeared first on Voir Fashion.

It’s been one year and five months since I decided to stop buying fast fashion. I’d always been partial to a quick peruse around a vintage market or charity shop, but I’d never really thought about the morals behind shopping this way, or its positive impact on the planet. It’s probably horribly clichéd to watch one documentary and suddenly dramatically alter your lifestyle (I’m referring to the part of my lifestyle that involved blowing my student loan on weekly ASOS parcels), but that’s essentially what happened.

I told myself that my decision to write about ‘sustainable fashion’ for my final year dissertation was purely observational – I’d be looking in on the increasingly popular buzzword as an impartial bystander. After all, the term was so vague and overused. I had a reusable coffee cup, I always carried a spare tote bag around with me in case of an impromptu trip to Tesco Metro – but there was no way I’d be giving up my love of fun, experimental fashion in lieu of linen tunics and organic cotton basics. I don’t do basics. But here’s the inside scoop: fun and experimental fashion doesn’t have to cost the earth, nor the quality of life of some of its most vulnerable inhabitants. 

So, in October 2019, I sat down with a cup of tea and pressed play on Andrew Morgan’s seminal documentary The True Cost (2015). The documentary’s main case study was the tragic collapse of a Bangladesh garment factory called Rana Plaza in 2013, in which employees had expressed concern about the building’s safety only hours before. Over 1,000 garment workers were killed in the incident. There are plenty of other reasons to cut down on your fashion habits, fast or otherwise, including the fact that it takes an estimated 2,000 litres of water to produce one pair of jeans (UN Environment Programme, 2019). Morgan’s documentary includes a plethora of similarly shocking facts, and I implore anybody who hasn’t already watched it to do so. It’s important. 

But the thing that surprised me the most after my eye-opening viewing of The True Cost (after successfully retrieving my jaw from the floor, that is) was the ease at which I could stop buying the poor quality clothing and plastic jewellery I so loved. I deleted my shopping apps, avoided the websites and unsubscribed to the emails of what had been my favourite fast fashion retailers, and that was that. No more ‘Hey Bae! Want 20% off?’, ‘We miss you! Here’s a cheeky discount on us!’ or ‘Buy this piece of plastic cloth for £0.36p in the Black Friday sale!’ flooding my inbox. What I didn’t do, however, was stop shopping. I needed to fill the gaping hole in my life that fast fashion had left, and I did so by regularly hitting the parade of charity shops that sat conveniently between my university and my house. I’d wander home from a lecture and just ‘quickly’ pop into Scope or The British Heart Foundation. These ‘quick’ trips usually ended up taking around an hour and whilst this was miles better than my previous habits – it still wasn’t great.

 I was contributing money to charities, and giving clothes that would otherwise be in landfill a new life. So what was the problem? Here’s the problem: I was still consuming a mass of poor quality clothing and plastic jewellery – just secondhand. Having convinced myself ‘if it’s from a charity shop, it’s fine’, I continued to consume. And consume. And consume some more. 

Gradually, I’ve reined it in a little with the impulse thrifting. The pandemic helped (not a sentence I would utter in ANY other area of life), but I was still able to access my favourite online secondhand platforms. Scrolling Vinted became a habit (read: addiction) during lockdown, but I now limit myself to one or two visits to the app per week, which rarely result in actual purchases. I also had to avoid Facebook for a while after joining the Swap Family group and swapping out half my wardrobe for new pieces, a lot of which ended up back on the group once the novelty of *new things* had worn off. These are all great platforms, by the way, when used healthily. Whatever that means. 

No documentary was ever going to stop me from craving new things – that’s human nature. But the part of fashion I love most is being playful and trying new things, and I’ve learnt that it’s possible to do this without taking a huge, hypothetical crap on the planet. Shopping isn’t something you can get ‘right’, and I don’t expect everybody to stop buying fast fashion altogether. Hell, I know that’s not happening any time soon. But here are some simple tips for the budding conscious consumer: 

– If you see something you like/want/‘OMG NEEEED’, check Depop, Vinted, ASOS Marketplace, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Vestiaire Collective, etc. for similar styles or the exact piece. If you don’t find it the first time you look, don’t give up straight away. Sellers are uploading new things constantly. 

– Search for vintage alternatives! Fashion is cyclical. If there’s a trend you’re into at the minute, there’s a chance people were into it 20 years ago. Have a lookie. 

– If you’re going completely cold turkey on fast fashion, you don’t have to turn to expensive sustainable brands if you don’t have the budget. It is, however, a good idea to save for quality versions of the garments you love and wear most. For me, that’s underwear and jeans. 

– Scour Depop and Instagram for small businesses to buy from. There are quite literally thousands of them – and they’re fun! The cute thank-you-notes, the little bags of Haribo, the pretty tissue paper, the fact that you won’t pass multiple people in the street wearing the exact same thing. 

£ 785

Jean Vintage Chanel Monogram Tank

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£ 214

Gucci Vintage Criss Cross Sandals

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£ 11

Gemini Accessories Rae Earrings

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£ 70

Tommy Hilfiger Dungarees Denim Short

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£ 42

Xfemina Satin Knickers

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£ 80

Vintage Vivienne Westwood Tartan Handbag

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£ 6

Gilberrt Cocoa Gingham Oversized Scrunchie

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£ 235

Chanel CC Sunglasses

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£ 18

Lazy Disco Flirty Hearts

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£ 75

Jean Vintage D&G Spellout Bracelet

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I’m still far from a perfect consumer, but I’ll let you in on a secret: there’s no such thing. I simply made the decision to start making more informed decisions about my purchases, and want people to know that it wasn’t as tricky as I’d suspected. Not to be cynical or anything, but I suppose that’s my little contribution to our crumbling world.

Here are links and lists for more help and starting points, so you can become a more concious consumer:

DOCUMENTARIES:
The True Cost
Stacey Dooley Investigates: Fashion’s Dirty Secrets

APPS:
Good On You
Whering

BOOKS:
Fashionopolis
Stitched Up – The Anti Capitalist Book of Fashion

SMALL/INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES:
@withloveevie
@geminiaccessories
@itsrooper
@milliejaneuk
@junkldn
@gilberrt.uk
@gingham_girls_studio
@lazy_disco
@xfeminadesigns
@soulandflare

Words By Pippa Simmonds

The post Why I Cut Ties with Fast Fashion appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Sustainability has become one of the main issues of 2020. The importance of sustainable living beyond recycling but into every part of your lifestyle, including your beauty routine, is imperative to curb climate change. A sustainable beauty routine refers to the conscious effort in minimizing the carbon impact of various steps in your beauty routine. So how can you achieve a sustainable beauty routine?

To incorporate sustainability into your beauty routine here are a few easy alternatives to incorporate into your routine.

Use of make-up sponges

During our usual beauty routines, we utilize single-use make-up wipes and cotton pads which are not recyclable and take a considerable long time to decompose. Replacing the use of single-use make-up wipes and cotton pads with make-up sponges that can be rinsed and reused is one step closer to a sustainable routine.

Package free or sustainable packaging

One of the leading causes of environmental pollution is single-use plastics. These plastics if not recycled, end up in landfills and take thousands of years to decompose. Unfortunately, these plastics are the same used to package some of our favourite beauty products. To reduce the consumption of single-use some beauty brands like Lush, Ethique have adopted a package free system to their products. Another way is to consume brands that either use sustainable, recyclable packaging. Brands that use class and metallic packaging are ones to look out for when searching for sustainable packaging.

Shop on a loop

Recycling organisations like the Terracycle loop have adopted methods where their consumers can buy the products while renting the packaging. Ren is also supplying in label-free bottles whereupon the next purchase you can return the previous container. You can also seek out brands with refillable business models where your products can be refilled. Brands like My Myro deodorant and Kjaer Weis make-up have adopted these methods when it comes to their products.

Recycle in the bathroom

The main way to adopt sustainability is through the recycling of the products. This applies to your beauty routine the recycling of beauty products may be difficult as it is to recycle something comprising of various materials. However, many beauty brands are offering to recycle their packaging for you. Beauty brands such as MAC, Lush, Origins, Le Labo and Kiehl’s offer their own make-up return programs. Whereby you receive a free product or discount when returning old ones, other brands like L’Occitane offer 10% off on new products when they return a full-sized recycled product from any brand. This can be something to factor into while searching for beauty brands.

Alternative materials

When it comes to beauty accessories and tools, most of them come in plastic, switching the material with easily compostable and biodegradable materials like bamboo. This is best for tools like toothbrushes and hair combs.

Words by Precious Njogu

Graphics by Georgia Walters

The post Top Tips for a Sustainable Beauty Regime appeared first on Voir Fashion.

More people are starting to worry about climate change, mostly Millennials and Gen Z’s who have started talking more about what we can do to save our planet for the generations to come.

Is your Instagram feed being filled by beauty bloggers talking about the environment and different ways you can change your beauty regime to become more eco-friendly?

More people are starting to worry about climate change, mostly Millennials and Gen Z’s who have started talking more about what we can do to save our planet for the generations to come. Since the blaze in the Amazon rainforest last week, more and more people are beginning to consider ways to become eco-friendlier in their day-to-day lives, including in their skincare and beauty regimes.

We love a product with beautiful, glossy packaging that we can show off on our dressing table, but chances are, it’s made from plastic. Sure, your limited-edition eyeshadow palette with 28 different colours looks good and probably cost you a pretty penny, but after you throw it out it will take decades to decompose, as well as the one you buy to replace it, and the one after that.

Zero Waste Week announced at the beginning of the year that over 120 billion units of packaging are produced every year by the global cosmetics industry. As well as the actual container, this includes the unnecessary boxes, wrappers and bags that they all come with!

You have probably received a Lush Cosmetics Snow Fairy set for a Secret Santa and know them for their delicious bubble bars and bath bombs. But they are also famous for their eco-friendly, black recyclable pots that they collect back from the you in exchange for a fresh face mask. They are recycled for more yummy products after being sanitised and melted into new containers – and the pots are only used if the product needs a container.

Lush have so many products that do not need any packaging like their bath bombs and massage bars. They have also formulated their own shampoo bars and solid deodorants, which sounds frightening but work just as well! Most recently the company has created “naked” products, with no wrapping or packaging at all and are zero waste. The products are so popular that Lush have even opened naked-only shops with zero packaging in Manchester, Milan and Berlin, but don’t worry, only the products need to be naked.

BYBI is a skincare brand that is 97% recyclable, most of their products live in cute little glass bottles instead of plastic. And for when glass is not an option, BYBI use bioplastic. What is bioplastic you ask? Well it is a type of plastic that is derived from sugarcane, a renewable source that has a low risk of running out, hooray! Plus, they use boxes made out of grass for shipping, because like they said “just think about how quickly grass grows compared to trees!”.BYBI, like Lush, have circular recycling so you can send back your empties to be reused.

Products that you haven’t even thought about like toothbrushes, razors and makeup remover pads can be made from bamboo that helps lower our plastic waste.

Remember that eyeshadow palette we were talking about? Well you can get refillable palettes that you can fill with eyeshadows, bronzers, blushes and highlighters instead of buying multiple plastic palettes. This way you can be more selective and choose your favourite shades and not waste that contour shade that is too warm for your skin tone and makes you look like an Oompah Loompah!

If you didn’t fall asleep in your science lessons you will know that trees absorb Carbon Dioxide in exchange for Oxygen- making it a win-win for us and our environment. But the number of trees on our planet is decreasing due to them being cut down, meaning more Carbon Dioxide is left in the atmosphere heating up the planet like an oven, resulting in more global warming.

The Body Shop builds bio-bridges that “help regenerate forests and protect them from exploitation, poaching and unsustainable harvesting.” This helps endangered animals and habitats, and helps protect the forests so the trees can continue to capture CO2, yay! The Body Shop is now on a quest to find renewable ingredients from natural origins to create sustainable products.

There are so many more brands and products in the beauty industry that is helping to make the world of cosmetics more sustainable, and 9 out of 10 times the products are high quality, affordable and will still look good on your countertop!

Words by Georgia Palmer

Graphics by Katie Janes

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