10 Steps Towards A Totally Conscious Grooming Routine
Image by: Liberty
With searches for buzzwords like vegan, sustainable, clean and conscious on the rise, the beauty industry is finally cleaning up its act. Here’s our lowdown on the best natural beauty buys to purify your regime, one step at a time…
Right now, clean beauty is one of the industry’s most talked about movements with searches for ‘vegan beauty’ more than doubling in the past year. As we all try to do our bit to give the world a break and back-pedal on years of environmental aggravation (sorry, Earth), more and more people are seeking out beauty options that still have cult-status but are infinitely kinder and more considerate of our surroundings.
So how exactly does one commit to a more conscious beauty regime, you may ask? By looking to brands that make effective products using natural, sustainably sourced and often vegan-friendly ingredients, with zero-waste packaging that is recycled or recyclable. But don’t be put off by the level of label-reading involved - we’ve rounded up the best ethically responsible, ingredient-conscious brands and products to know, all in one place.
From the cult names you already know like Aesop and Malin & Goetz to conscious newcomers like The Lost Explorer, it’s never been easier to go cruelty-free. Whether you’re looking to experiment or want to overhaul your entire regime, we’ve picked out the best natural grooming and beauty buys for every step in your routine.
Aesop
In Two Minds Facial Cleanser
£37.00
Aesop has grown into one of the world’s most sought-after skincare brands, known for their holistic approach and quality plant-based formulas with scents that literally make you stop in your tracks to get a good whiff. The In Two Minds Facial Cleanser, enriched with Salicylic Acid, Witch Hazel and Sage Leaf, is free from cruelty as well any nasties (as is their entire range, don’t you know).
Dermalogica
Daily Milkfoliant
£35.00
Plenty of us have already turned our backs on the environmentally-damaging microbeads trend, searching out new and inventive ways to exfoliate our skin. Coming out on top has got to be the Paula's Choice acid exfoliator - and it’s way less scary than it sounds.
Marks & Spencer
Ren Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic 100ml
£16.00
Ren’s Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic has already garnered quite the cult following. Enriched with lactic acid, willow bark and azelaic acid, the tonic targets uneven texture and refines pores without the inclusion of any skin-damaging parabens, sulfates and phthalates or any animal by-products.
LOOKFANTASTIC
Omorovicza Instant Perfection Serum (30ml)
£92.00
A few years back, a couple of gimmicky sounding ingredients in your usual cleanse-tone-moisturise routine was about as fancy as it got when it came to shaking up a beauty routine. Nowadays we’re all about busting out concentrates with every kind of serum under the sun. If serums sound closer to a chemistry lesson than your morning get-up-and-go, we recommend a one-stop ointment like OMOROVICZA Perfecting Serum to reduce lines and bring back a youthful glow (all whilst remaining totally vegan-friendly, of course).
Sephora
MALIN+GOETZ Vitamin E Face Moisturizer 118ml
£48.00
Packed with powerful antioxidants and active ingredients, this firming moisturiser from vegan brand Malin & Goetz is one of our repeat-buys. It blends progressive science with the best Mother Nature has to offer for instant daily hydration that guarantees a plump, fresh face every time. Extra points awarded for the chic, environmentally-conscious glass container.
Liberty
LE LABO Face Mask 125ml
£45.00
Le Labo aren’t just about fragrances, you know - they also serve up some incredible body and skincare too. This intensive face mask is enriched with charcoal, bitter almond and radish seed to cleanse, repair and detoxify your skin. It has been developed to be kind to skin and the world we live in, which is a winning combination in our book.
Aesop
Moroccan Neroli Shaving Serum 100ml
£45.00
Whether you’re growing your fuzz out (and impressively avoiding plastic razors in the process) or shaving it off for the summer, there’s plenty of grooming brands out there that’ll be happy to make your chin-care a little more conscious. We love Aesop's shaving serum for a soft touch and hard stance on vegan produce. If you're a shave traditionalist, Aesop also have an excellent animal fibre-free shaving brush and some stellar creams to go with it.
Aurelia London
Restorative Cream Body Cleanser 250ml
£0.00
What better way to cleanse yourself than with a shower gel that does the body and environment good? Aurelia, known for their award-winning probiotic skincare, have transferred their revitalising formulas from the bathroom cabinet to the bath itself with their range of conscious body washes. We’re currently obsessed with the Clementine, Rosemary and Mandarin Body Cleanser, in case you’re wondering.
Susanne Kaufmann
Deodorant Roll-On
£25.00
Natural deodorants are on the up, and whilst we’re not totally convinced of their odour-squashing capabilities, we’re definitely all ears when it comes to seeking out gentle formulas with organic ingredients. If salt water doesn’t quite hold up on the hot and sticky commute, give the Susanne Kaufmann Men's Deo Stick a whirl - its natural active ingredients offer calming properties and a fresh yet subtle scent.