UpCircle Beauty: Sustainable Skincare Made from Upcycled Ingredients
UpCircle Beauty is an award-winning, UK-based sustainable skincare brand pioneering the circular beauty movement by transforming upcycled food and botanical byproducts into high-performance skincare. Founded in 2016 by siblings Anna and William Brightman, the brand began by rescuing used coffee grounds from London cafés and has grown into a globally recognized Certified B Corp available in more than 55 countries.
The UpCircle Beauty Philosophy
At the heart of UpCircle Beauty is the concept of “byproduct beauty.” Rather than allowing valuable natural ingredients to go to waste, the brand gives them a second life in effective skincare formulas. This circular approach helps reduce waste while uncovering the natural skincare benefits found in ingredients that are often overlooked.
UpCircle Beauty addresses waste across both the food and beauty industries by combining ingredient upcycling with efforts to reduce reliance on unnecessary plastic. Transparency is also central to the brand, with an emphasis on open communication and an engaged community of customers known as “UpCirclers.”
From Food Waste to Skincare
UpCircle Beauty has developed innovative ways to transform a variety of nutrient-rich byproducts into skincare ingredients.
Used Coffee Grounds & Chai Spices
Coffee grounds rescued from local cafés are repurposed into antioxidant-rich facial exfoliators and other skincare products. Chai spices are also given a second life as part of the brand’s creative approach to ingredient upcycling.
Fruit Stones & Argan Shells
Byproducts from the fruit and oil industries are transformed into nourishing oils and natural exfoliating ingredients, helping make use of materials that might otherwise be discarded.
Maple Bark
UpCircle utilizes maple bark salvaged as a byproduct of the wood industry, incorporating it into skincare for its naturally occurring skin-supporting properties.
Upcycled Flowers
Discarded flowers, including roses, can be repurposed into skincare ingredients rich in antioxidants and beneficial botanical compounds, demonstrating how beautiful natural materials can have a second life beyond their original purpose.
A New Approach to Sustainable Beauty
UpCircle Beauty demonstrates that sustainability and high-performance skincare can work hand in hand. By transforming discarded ingredients into thoughtfully formulated beauty products, the brand is helping redefine what sustainable skincare can look like.
With its circular economy model, innovative ingredient sourcing, commitment to transparency, and focus on effective botanical skincare, UpCircle Beauty offers a more conscious approach to beauty one where waste becomes an opportunity for something valuable and beautiful.