With the holiday season upon us, I am sure that everyone is thinking about their gifts and what to give and what to ask for. I know that I sure am! But what I ask of all of you this December, is to try and consider how eco-friendly your gifts really are. And here are some easy ways to make sure!

The first is packaging. First off, naked products are better products. Brands that sell their products without excessive packaging or any packaging at all are an incredible zest! Some of these brands are Lush, Axiology, Antonym Cosmetics, Elate Cosmetics, Kjaer Weis and more! Buying clothing items in-store is also another great alternative. Just bring your own bag, and you can buy tons of clothes for others. Finally, when you wrap them up, you can actually use craft paper to wrap it. Tie it up with some ribbon (Preferably wick ribbon or something biodegradable) and then add some little flowers and you have a beautiful gift all set!

Next, you can buy from brands that don’t test on animals. The unfortunate reality is that when brands test their products on animals, there are no legal limitations on what can be done to the animals. I won’t go into the graphic details, but the animals that are tested are dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, pigs, sheep, monkeys, chimpanzees, and most commonly rats, birds, and mice. But don’t worry! By supporting brands that don’t test on these animals, you are already making a huge difference.

Finally, you can use our app, One Zest, to find local and sustainable stores to shop at. All of these shops are close by, and you can find affordable pricing. And never forget, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

One Zest hopes to come to the US shortly!

Happy Holidays!

Maé