In the world of wellness, we’re all for getting the most out of our ingredients – and now, that savvy, waste-not ethos is revolutionising our skincare routines. Enter the rise of upcycled beauty, where coffee grounds, fruit pits, and leftover grape marc from wineries are being transformed into powerful scrubs, potent oils, and super-effective serums.

Think about the half-empty coffee pot, the orange peel in the compost bin… now imagine them being transformed into radiant complexions and silky-smooth skin. This is the magic of upcycling: taking nutrient-rich leftovers that would otherwise be wasted and turning them into skincare gold. It’s a win-win for your glow and for the planet, making our beauty routines a force for good, one repurposed ingredient at a time.

Upcycled products are part of a conscious shift towards a more circular and sustainable beauty industry. By giving a second life to these nutrient-rich leftovers, innovative brands are creating products that are as kind to your skin as they are to the planet. Get ready to meet the brands turning what was once considered waste into genuine skincare gold.

UpCircle 

With a mission to repurpose ingredients that would usually go to waste, UpCircle has built a cult following for its innovative and effective formulations. They’ve taken orange peel wax, a by-product from the juice industry, and transformed it into a nourishing conditioning crème. This natural wax is rich in botanical lipids and Vitamin C, working alongside coconut oil and bamboo extract to intensely moisturise, protect your strands, and seal in hydration.

UpCircle ‘Conditioner Crème with Rosemary Oil + Bamboo Extract’ – £19.99

NEOM

For a truly energising start to your day, meet NEOM’s ‘Super Shower Power Body Polish’. Formulated with 100% upcycled exfoliants – think coffee grounds rescued from British baristas and almond shell from the food industry – it gently buffs away dullness to reveal incredibly soft, hydrated, and glowing skin. Soothing organic oat milk moisturises as you polish, while an invigorating, 100% natural blast of spearmint, rosemary, and eucalyptus essential oils awakens your senses. It’s the ultimate two-in-one: a moment of refreshment for your mind and a visible glow-up for your skin.

NEOM ‘Super Shower Power Body Polish’ – £28

Green People

Green People has long been a pioneer in natural beauty, and their commitment to upcycling is woven into some of their most beloved products. The Cranberry Seed Powder in their ‘Fruit Scrub Exfoliator’ is upcycled from the seeds, pulp, and peel left behind during juicing, acting as an amazing natural exfoliant that smooths skin without scratching to reveal a radiant glow.

Green People ‘Fruit Scrub Exfoliator’ – £23

Caudalie

Since 1995, Caudalie has masterfully repurposed the by-products of the French wine industry, transforming discarded grape seeds and vines into their iconic, antioxidant-rich serums and creams. But their innovation doesn’t stop there. Their luxurious Premier Cru line features an even more unexpected hero: rosewood residue. After the essential oil is extracted for perfume, Caudalie rescues the leftover material, which is still packed with compounds that improve skin firmness and smooth the appearance of wrinkles. 

Caudalie ‘Premier Cru The Cream’ – £85

Wildsmith

Proving that upcycled beauty can be the height of luxury, Wildsmith utilises ingredients sourced from its own British farms. Bringing their farm-to-face innovation to an ultra-nourishing moisturiser, their breathable gel-cream delivers up to 72 hours of hydration through slow-release bioactives. It features upcycled English barley ferment, which works alongside pentavitin and niacinamide to calm, hydrate, and reinforce the skin barrier. 

Wildsmith ‘Hydrating Light Cream’ – £90

KraveBeauty

KraveBeauty is putting its money where its mouth is by embedding sustainability right into its formulas. A perfect example is their ‘Plumptuous Lip Jelly’, a treat for your lips that’s also a treat for the planet. Its hydrating formula features a whopping 55% upcycled ingredients, including rich plum oil sourced from discarded French plum kernels that would have otherwise gone to waste. 

KraveBeauty ‘Plumptuous Lip Jelly’ – £20

Words by Frankie Jabarkhyl