It is almost Halloween season again, and sustainability is not perhaps the first word that comes to mind related to the fun-spooky festivities. What associates with Halloween is often quite the opposite, waste. All we can see are thousands of unused pumpkins, candy wraps everywhere, wear-once costumes ready to be thrown out after single use, and skin-irritating face paint. But it doesn’t have to be like that! After some research, we've come across 5 eco-conscious alternatives to Halloween beauty, working as effective substitutes for the harmful, skin-deteriorating chemicals we’ve encountered before.
Words: Aleksandra Medina
Image source: LUSH Handmade Cosmetics
Why mineral make-up? According to dermatologists, mineral make-up provides excellent sun protection and has natural anti-inflammatory benefits. Mineral make-up is highly recommended for people suffering acne, roacea prone-skin, post-surgical peel skin, or inflammatory skin conditions. It is free of various potentially harmful ingredients, such as preservatives, parabens, synthetic chemicals and artificial dyes.
Image source: Elegant Minerals
1. Elegant Minerals
Our pick: 18PC Natural “Party Animal!” Face Paint Dye-Free, Paraben-Free Costume Makeup Kit
Elegant Minerals, a Texas based company, sets its goal to be 'the best mineral makeup at an affordable price, along with superior customer service'. Elegant Minerals manufactures their make-up in the US from the highest quality cosmetic-grade minerals.
As for Halloween, Elegant Minerals offers a large selection of long-lasting mineral eye shadows with over seventy colours to choose from, including face paint kits.
Image source: Klee Girls
2. Klee Girls Natural Mineral Make-Up
Our pick: Pretendi Naturali Face Paint
Klee, a company basing its production in Canada and the US, makes it its mission to provide little girls with the best and safest natural makeup. Its Pretendi Naturali face paint, perfect for Halloween, is made with only wholesome and natural ingredients.
As a Member of the Safe Cosmetics Business Network, Klee never uses parabens, artificial colours or any other harmful ingredients. Their moto: 'Why should we risk putting on cheap chemicals on our kids’ skin when it’s at its most delicate?'
Image source: No Nasties
3. No Nasties Make-Up
Our pick: Happy Hair Chalk
The Australia based brand delivers chemical and cruelty-free natural kids play make-up, face paint and hair chalk, ideal to use for Halloween. Natalia, a proud mother of two, created No Nasties as a safe alternative for make-up. The founder of No Nasties has thought it all through, starting from all natural, cruelty-free mineral make-up to its recycled cardboard packaging.
Image source: Pinterest
4. Homemade Make-Up @thesmartmama
If everything else fails and you don’t have the time to wait for the shipment of the product and it’s October 30th, you can always try making your own homemade eco make-up. Jennifer Taggart, the creator of TheSmartMama, offers ideas (from her blog archive) on how to make fake blood, edible goop, homemade face paint and fairy glitter from things found in your household or easily accessible at any supermarket.
Image source: LUSH Handmade Cosmetics
5. LUSH
Our pick: Monsters' Ball Bath Bomb
And if Halloween is not your thing and you’d rather stay in and hide from the rainy autumn weather and the trick or treaters, treat yourself (pun intended) to a Halloween themed bath bomb from Lush. Lush has been one of the most successful companies, publicly fighting against animal testing, practicing ethical buying and preaching handmade, vegetarian products.