So by now, you’ve definitely heard of green beauty, but have you heard of blue beauty yet? I came across the term about 6 months ago and have been diving in ever since! As someone who loves to find the next best ‘clean beauty’ product for my skin (and yours!), I had to know what this new term was all about. And, I think it’s important that we all have this awareness as consumers and humans on this planet… because we all have to do our part to keep our world as beautiful as we are. When nature gets compromised, so does our health & existence. So grab a chair and we’ll dig in!
Over the past few years, while green beauty has become more popular, it’s also become a wider, more generic term. Most brands agree it means using ingredients and packaging that is sustainable and safe for the planet, but that is a subjective definition and not widely agreed on. Terms like clean, green, and natural are not FDA regulated, so brands can use them loosely. Jeannie Jarnot took note (gotta give a fellow female founder a shoutout) that ocean conservation was being under prioritized in conversations about eco-friendly beauty products and coined the term “blue beauty" and a new category was born.
Why does the Ocean Needs EXTRA Love?
Blue beauty isn’t just about the ocean, it’s about making sure that the ocean is a greater priority for beauty brands. Even with green beauty on the rise, ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate (which are incredibly harmful to barrier reefs) are still being widely used in sunscreens. From the toxic ingredients that we wash down the drain to nearly 9 million tons of plastic, more pollution ends up in the ocean every year. Blue beauty is about reef and marine life safe ingredients, sustainable packaging, and brands that actively support ocean conservation through their efforts to reverse reef damage and ocean pollution.
How Do You Recognize Blue Beauty Brands?
Labels can be challenging to decipher, often overwhelming and sometimes very misleading. Most beauty brands screen ‘Pick Me!’ as they tout their efforts and make it seem like they're doing more than competitors. Here are a few ways that I assess products before buying:
Check Out The Brand Behind the Product - While product labels might be full of buzzwords like “green” or “ocean-friendly,” brands truly committed to blue beauty standards will have plenty of information about their efforts on their website as it’s embedded in the brand’s ethos and mission. Brands that aren’t as clean won’t be as transparent.
Pay Attention to Packaging - True blue beauty products use either zero-waste packaging or are working their way towards it with reusable and minimal packaging. Layers of plastic bags and bubble wrap are a huge red flag.
Buy Closer to Home - Products manufactured and shipped internationally have a huge carbon footprint (e.g., create more damage to the environment). Buying local and/or supporting brands that use sustainable shipping methods is important.
Read the Ingredient List - Common ingredients in beauty and wellness products are surprisingly toxic to the environment, especially coral. A few of the worst offenders include oxybenzone, octinoxate, parabens, triclosan, silicone, artificial ‘fragrance’, sulfates, and microplastics. Make sure you take a hard look at the small print to ensure that you aren’t buying one of these big ocean offenders!
What Brands Count As “Blue Beauty”?
As blue beauty continues to emerge, the standards are being kept very strict to avoid overuse and dilution of the term seen with other eco-friendly beauty terms. Below is a roundup of some of the brands that are currently paving the way for Blue Beauty.
Price Point: $70-$90
Graydon’s Full Moon and Superfood serums are *chef’s kiss*, which makes sense considering culinary school was the inspiration behind the brand. With small batch formulas, superfood ingredients sourced from local farms, and special efforts to respect the ocean, Graydon is my top blue beauty recommendation. And, their serums feel fabulous on the skin.
8 Blue Beauty Brands to Try
Looking for more Blue Beauty options? Below are a few more Blue Beauty brands that have both amazing reviews and top-tier ocean sustainability efforts.
Price Point: $30- $50
Organic, vegan, and sustainable skincare line created with bio-active banana science proven to help skin glow
Price Point: $200+
Natural & rejuvenating skincare products created to honor beauty and simplicity
Price Point: $25- $40
Vegan, zero-waste, and refillable, Upcircle Beauty creates natural products from salvaged ingredients
Price Point: $5- $100
Offering a return and refill program throughout Europe, Beauty Kitchen offers a range of personal care products made with simple, natural ingredients
Price Point: $28- $40
Haircare, skincare, and cosmetics made with organic ingredients that are good for you and the planet
Price Point: $25- $50
A local brand specializing in regenerative ingredient sourcing, minimal packaging, and naturally prepared flower, gem, moss, and lichen essences
Price Point: $40- $60
Skincare products created with Ayurvedic principles and packaged in Miron violet glass bottles to keep ingredients fresh
Price Point: $20- $40
Holistic self-care, wellness, and beauty products made with ocean-friendly ingredients
Just stumbled across my blog and want to know more? Read more about my journey and how I ended up a wellness guru here – The Shaping of My Purpose, Passion and Pusuit – & don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter so we can stay connected!
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