Natural Sustainable Skincare Without Deforestation: Real Sustainability for Your Skin and the Planet
More and more of us are starting to ask a simple but powerful question: Where do the ingredients in my skincare come from? In a world where every decision has an environmental footprint, skincare can no longer be viewed as purely cosmetic. It’s an ethical choice. At Twelve Beauty, we believe true beauty starts with respect. With botanical formulas backed by science, created with integrity and without compromise. Our mission is clear: to offer natural sustainable skincare that is effective, traceable and free from harmful shortcuts. No controversial ingredients. No greenwashing. No excuses.
The problem is that many common cosmetic ingredients come with a hidden cost: deforestation, loss of biodiversity, carbon emissions, and even human exploitation. This invisible reality is what drives us to go beyond just “natural”. Because natural isn’t enough unless it’s also sustainable.
In this article, we’ll explore how conscious formulation protects both your skin and the planet, and how Twelve Beauty has been applying standards for years that are only now becoming legal requirements in the EU.
Why the EUDR Matters: A Turning Point in Beauty
The EUDR (European Union Deforestation Regulation) is a landmark law that ensures certain products, including their raw materials, sold or exported from the EU are deforestation-free and produced in a legally compliant manner. It comes into effect on 30 December 2025 for large companies and 30 June 2026 for micro and small businesses.
Its aim? To reduce the environmental impact of EU consumption on global forest loss and ecosystem degradation. And it directly affects sectors like skincare, where ingredients such as palm oil are still widespread.
At Twelve Beauty, we haven’t waited for this regulation to become mandatory. We’ve been ahead of the curve for years, formulating without any raw materials that pose an environmental risk. Our approach to natural sustainable skincare doesn’t just comply with the EUDR, it goes far beyond it.
Why Does It Matter for Skincare?
Palm oil and other high-risk raw materials are found in thousands of cosmetic products. Under the EUDR, companies must practise “due diligence”: they must trace their entire supply chain, assess the risks, and prove their products don’t contribute to deforestation.
Failing to comply will lead to serious legal and commercial consequences. However, for us, the greatest risk is different: losing the trust of consumers who are seeking transparent, genuinely ethical, natural sustainable skincare.
Deforestation: The Hidden Impact on Planet and Skin
The consequences of deforestation are devastating:
- Environmental: destruction of wildlife habitats (such as orangutans or tigers), loss of biodiversity, CO₂ emissions, soil erosion, and water pollution.
- Human: displacement of Indigenous communities, violation of labour rights, and the erosion of local food sovereignty.
And the beauty industry is not immune to these impacts. Healthy ecosystems are essential for growing clean, potent, high-performance botanical ingredients. Depleted soil cannot produce quality actives. Which is why protecting biodiversity is key to protecting skincare efficacy.
Moving Beyond Harmful Ingredients: Our Clean, Conscious Alternatives
Instead of relying on raw materials with high environmental costs, we select botanical actives that deliver visible results, without compromising on sustainability:
- Mallow flower extract: calming and deeply hydrating, ideal for sensitive or reactive skin.
- Plant-based squalane: upcycled from olive oil, it enhances skin elasticity and prevents transepidermal water loss.
- Spent Grain Wax: a by-product of the beer industry, this antioxidant-rich wax supports the skin barrier and locks in hydration.
- Sunflower seed unsaponifiables: a gentle, skin-repairing emollient sourced from a low-impact European crop.
- Shea and Cupuaçu butters: rich moisturisers that soothe, protect, and repair, all sourced through ethical trade and sustainable harvesting practices.
This is natural sustainable skincare in action: clean, effective and uncompromising.
Traceability and Responsible Sourcing: The Heart of What We Do
What Is Traceability?
In skincare, traceability is the ability to track an ingredient from its source, farm or forest, through every step of the supply chain until it reaches your bathroom shelf. It’s about transparency, quality assurance, and environmental accountability.
For us at Twelve Beauty, traceability is a cornerstone of our process. It allows us to:
- Verify the true origin of every ingredient.
- Comply with (and exceed) regulations like the EUDR.
- Ensure genuine sustainability, no greenwashing or half-truths.
- Protect the potency and purity of our botanical actives.
- Reduce ecological and ethical risks across the board.
How We Ensure It at Twelve Beauty
We’ve built a traceable, ethical supply chain based on these key principles:
- Rigorous supplier vetting: We only partner with producers who meet ISO 14001:2015 standards and share our commitment to reducing pollution and preserving ecosystems.
- Continuous material innovation: we actively explore new, lower-impact raw materials—like Spent Grain Wax and non-palm-based emollients.
- Responsible packaging: Our Stellar Aura Bronzing Cream comes in packaging made entirely from Sulapac biobased material. It’s 100% biodegradable, free from persistent microplastics, and offers the lowest carbon footprint in the industry.
- Certified Environmental Management System (EMS): Our ISO 14001:2015 certification keeps us accountable to real, measurable environmental goals.
Every single decision is made with a single guiding principle: that natural sustainable skincare is not just a claim, it’s a daily practice.
Organic Glycerin: Purity and Sustainability in Every Drop
The Story Behind Our Glycerin
Glycerin is one of the most common ingredients in skincare, prized for its humectant properties. But not all glycerin is created equal. While most brands use generic vegetable glycerin, Twelve Beauty takes it a step further:
“We use only organic-grade glycerin in our formulations.”
You’ll find it in formulas like Ideal Rebalancing Level Serum and Rapid Eye Treatment, two of our most glycerin-rich products. Our glycerin is sourced from Karanja oil, offering both skin benefits and sustainability.
Why organic grade? Because it guarantees higher purity and traceability. It means no contamination, no environmental shortcuts, and no compromise on efficacy. This is skincare that nourishes not just your face, but also the ecosystems that make such ingredients possible.
A Brighter Future for Skin and Planet
Natural sustainable skincare is more than just a trend – it’s a responsibility. In this article, we’ve explored:
- The importance of the EUDR and its impact on the beauty industry.
- Why Twelve Beauty chooses to exclude high-risk ingredients like palm oil.
- Our unwavering commitment to traceability and ethical sourcing.
- The superior alternatives we use: mallow flower, squalane, sunflower actives, and organic glycerin.
All of this is backed by our ISO 14001:2015 certified Environmental Management System, and a company-wide culture that strives to reduce our impact on water, soil, air, and biodiversity.
We invite you to question what’s behind your skincare. To choose brands that not only nourish your skin but also protect the planet. Because every drop matters. Your skin deserves the best, and so does the Earth.
