In 2025, there has never been more makeup and skincare brands to choose from. Behind all of the brands and labels lies a dark truth about the ingredients and methods used to bring these products to the high street. Makeup should not cause harm. Not to your skin or the environment. But many products do both. The good news is that better options exist, so you just need to know what to look for.
Know Your Skin
Before you buy anything, figure out what your skin needs. Is it dry? Is it oily? Does it break out? Your skin type affects what works. Dry skin needs moisture. Oily skin needs balance. Sensitive skin needs fewer ingredients.
When you use the right product, your skin stays calm. You waste less and throw out less. That’s better for the planet, too. If you’re not sure what your skin needs, start with fewer ingredients and simple textures. Avoid heavy perfumes or long lists of chemical compounds. A gentle approach helps your skin stay healthy and makes it easier to spot problems when they happen.
Ignore the Front Label
Look out for words like “clean” or “natural” that don’t mean much. Brands use them to sound good. There are no rules for what these words must mean.
Turn the product over. Read the ingredient list in detail and look out for any ingredients that seem unusual. Look for clear facts. A short list often means a more focused formula. Watch for things like “fragrance” listed without further detail—that can hide dozens of chemicals.
Read: How to Treat Dry and Flaky Skin in Winter?
Choose Simple Ingredients
Good products use ingredients that help skin and break down naturally.
Some examples:
Hyaluronic acid helps your skin hold water. Zinc oxide protects you from the sun without harsh chemicals. Plant oils like jojoba or sunflower feed the skin and are easy to grow. Mineral pigments give colour without synthetic dyes.
Avoid ingredients that last too long outside your body. Microplastics stay in the water and harm animals. Synthetic fragrance can cause rashes and pollute the air.
Be careful with palm oil. If it comes from a clear, sustainable source, that’s fine. If not, it can drive deforestation. When in doubt, look up the ingredient or ask the brand for more details.
Think About Packaging
The container matters. Some packaging looks nice bu,t can’t be recycled. Mixed materials often end up in landfills.
Look for simple packaging. Glass, aluminium, or paper is better. Some brands let you refill the product instead of buying a whole new one. Less waste. Less cost. A minimal design isn’t just about looks—it often reflects a brand’s effort to reduce its impact.
Check the Brand’s Actions
A brand’s words mean little without proof. Go to the website. Read how the company works. Do they list all ingredients? Do they show where the materials come from? Do they explain how they cut waste?
Some brands share full reports. Others just make vague claims. If they don’t share details, ask why. Look for brands that keep things open, even if they admit they’re still improving. That’s a better sign than silence or vague marketing.
Try a Small Amount First
Don’t guess. Try a sample if you can. A patch test helps too. Put a bit on your skin. Wait a day. See how it feels.
This saves money and cuts waste. You’ll only buy full sizes when you’re sure the product fits you. If a brand offers trial kits or sample sizes, that’s a good sign—they want you to feel confident before you commit.
Use Tools to Help You Choose
Reading long labels is hard. There are great apps available that can cut through all of the nonsense and tell you what’s right for your skin. Tools like Yuka or Skin Deep break down what’s inside. They rate ingredients for safety and list any risks.
You can scan a barcode and see what you’re getting. This saves time and avoids mistakes. These tools don’t replace good judgment, but they make learning easier.
Start Small
You don’t need to swap everything at once. Pick one product that has all of the kinder ingredients for your skin and the environment. Some labels do matter. For example, “USDA Organic” means the ingredients meet strict rules. Also, “Leaping Bunny” means the brand does not test on animals. REFY is a great example of a makeup brand that is Leaping Bunny approved for all of their core products, including their lip products and cream blushes. These are signs you can trust. Each better choice adds up. Your skin will thank you, and the environment will too. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress. And that starts with paying attention.