I know I say it every month but there really is so much happening in the sustainable beauty sphere. More brands are adapting and evolving to increasing customer demand, with eight in 10 Australians now want to shop more sustainably. We’re seeing brands shift their packaging, launch ethical lines and talk more about their sustainability commitments. And while, yes, there is still a long way to go, it is great to see that brands are listening and acknowledging where they’re at on their sustainability journey. 

Christmas is coming! There’s no denying it. Whether you’re counting down the days or trying to avoid the Christmas cheer, it’s pretty much unavoidable with carols starting to play, Christmas trees up and fruit mince pies in shops. If you’re looking for a way to give yourself or someone else a fun gift then look no further than an advent calendar. I love these two because the Body Shop box focuses on supporting local communities and the L’Occitane calendar is completely reusable for many years to come. You can also read more about our favourite advent calendars, here.

Body Shop Box of Wishes & Wonders

Conscious Code: Community

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L’Occitane Reusable Advent Calendar

Conscious Code: Packaging, Community

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I don’t think I could get through this column without mentioning the 2023 Sustainability Issue of Gritty Pretty Magazine. Guest edited by yours truly it is overflowing with so much goodness from refillable beauty guides to inspirational stories from women who have been kicking goals in sustainability for the last couple of decades. Teresa Palmer graces the cover and her approach to sustainability is so relatable and something that everyone should read, here.

As we’re coming closer to the Christmas and party season, glitter starts to pop up everywhere. Aside from your decade-old Christmas decorations or the shine on Christmas wrapping paper, the shimmer in many of your beauty products is also often made from tiny fragments of plastic. Yep, you’ve probably never thought too hard about it before (I hadn’t) but glitter is pretty much microplastics ready to enter our oceans and environment. 

Mica, a naturally occurring shiny mineral was introduced into many beauty products a few years ago until it was discovered that the majority of the labour used to mine the mineral were children as young as eight-years-old. So, it’s important to consider where this ingredient is being sourced from. The following products contain certified ethical mica. 

Charlotte Tilbury Collagen LipBath

Conscious Code: Cruelty-Free

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Flavedo and Albedo

Conscious Code: Cruelty-free, Vegan, Packaging: recycled

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I don’t like being prescriptive with sustainability as everyone is so very different but if you’re new to sustainability or just getting started on your journey then I cannot recommend switching to reusable makeup wipes enough. Not only are they great for removing your day’s makeup but they are also good to use when you’re using a cleansing oil.

Face Halo 3-pack

Conscious Code: Packaging: reusable

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