Editorial

A creative guide to putting the planet into programme editorial.

Editorial

Production

A practical guide for everyone working in TV and film production

Production
Production Handbook
Production Handbook

In your role

Hair + Make-up

Cruelty free... organic... plastic free packaging... for the hair and makeup departments it's not just skin deep.

Top Tips

1. Check the credentials: Make sure the products you’re working with are ethical, sustainable and non-toxic.

2. Reduce, re-use, recycle: Try and reduce packing, making sure everything that can be is recycled.

3. Keep learning: Our training provides you with the climate context upon which this all fits as well as practical guidance. Come along!

Ingredients

Naturally, we all need to consider the ingredients being used in our products. H&M Artists will need to consider if the actor has any allergies to certain ingredients. Other things to consider with ingredients is if they are sourced sustainably and ethically.

Vegan beauty is also a potential misnomer. While many people are switching to certified vegan beauty products, too often there has been no consideration if the vegan ingredients are being made from synthetic (petroleum-based) chemicals, which are hugely impactful on the environment and health.

Packaging

Unfortunately, packaging is a necessity – one which carries both practical and legal requirements and implications. Although there are big advancements being made in packaging, we are currently still beholden mainly to plastic (incl. variables) and glass. All coming with their own set of environmental impacts and pros and cons. 

Ultimately, we need to demand better-designed product packaging, and not only focus on what the actual packaging is made from. 

What does an example of better-designed packaging look like? Containers that are designed with limited components and airtight, avoiding oxidization and contamination of the product, thereby limiting the need for harsh preservatives. Once the product is finished, it should be 100% reusable or recyclable.

What questions can a makeup artist be asking of suppliers to make sure they’re sourcing the best products?

  • If a product contains palm oil: Where and how is the product sourced and certified? (see below: Certifications to look out for)
  • Why does this product contain toxic or potentially toxic ingredients? Are they essential to the product efficacy? 
  • What sustainability measures does the company have in place? What is the policy on water usage?
  • Where are you sourcing your mica from?
  • Why can I not find a full ingredients list on the website?

Eco makeup for HD filming

  • Hiro Cosmetics – great concealers, semi-matte liquid foundations and  liquid lipsticks
  • Benecos – affordable eyeliners in a wide array of “fashionable” colours
  • Ilia – transitioning foundation 
  • Inika – great pressed foundations and powders
  • Absolution Cosmetics – Best Demi-matte lipsticks and great liquid liner
  • RMS Beauty – eyeshadows, lipsticks, pressed eyeshadows, highlighters
  • Esse Probiotic Skincare – Biodome friendly foundations, sans silicone. Premium skincare
  • Gressa – Excellent matte foundations, a wide range of skin tones.
  • Jane Iredale – Comprehensive product line. Brilliant Lip & cheek stain
  • Eco by Sonia – safe tanning solutions
  • TanOrganic – safe tanning solutions
  • Concrete Minerals – loose coloured mineral pigments for mixing into various mediums or used as loose eyeshadows.

Eco-friendly hair products

Innersense – a Californian hair care brand with a conscience. They offer a full styling and hair care product range for all hair types. 

Rahua – a luxury vegan range that protects the Amazon and its indigenous people. 

Intelligent Nutrients – a wide range

Less is More Organic Hair Care – great onset friendly sizes

John Masters – wide range

Original Minerals (styling & colour systems)

Tabitha James Kraan

Organic Colour Systems 

Kazumi Root Vanish – temporarily covers grey (5 colours) 

OriginalMinerals 

Recycling

While more and more brands are producing sustainable packaging, how we use them and dispose of them is also crucial to the likelihood of the packaging being recycled at all. So, we have a responsibility to safely and efficiently dispose of product and follow local municipalities recycling policies for maximum impact.  

Are there any recycling schemes within the beauty world that can be tapped into – over and above the normal recycling schemes?

TerraCycle has teamed up with Garnier to provide recycling for hard to recycle beauty product items from any brand (ie: items that cannot be recycled in regular recycling schemes) – and it’s a free service.

If you were to do 3 simple things what would they be?

  1. Finish what you have before ordering anything new – irrespective if it’s considered clean or not and recycle them properly. 
  2. Investigate suitable replacements that uphold core sustainability values and systematically start making the switch.
  3. Define your personal value proposition (what causes are most important to you ie: health, environment, animal welfare, religion, inclusivity, social impact – all of these are covered by clean beauty by the way – and start your journey there. Doing something because it matters to you, makes giving up certain comfort products much easier. 

If there are 3 things you should stop immediately – what would they be? 

  1. Supporting brands that don’t support the environment.
  2. Buying or accepting products you know you won’t use or finish
  3. Using non-biodegradable or reusable consumables.

If you wanted to make a bigger change – what would be the next step?

  • Develop a sustainability plan and implement it into your life too. Without a plan, sustainability is not sustainable. 
  • Use a continuity sheets app instead if printing. 
  • Ask production what other initiatives they are doing on set to support sustainability and how you can get involved.
  • Opt-in to Meat-free Mondays or other plant-based initiatives on set.
  • Start a Plastic Swear Jar Challenge in the bus/makeup room
  • Appoint a member of the team to oversee department recycling as part of their duties.
  • Investigate local recycling policies to ensure as much packaging can be recycled as possible.
  • Challenge other departments to a competition about who can keep t their carbon footprint the lowest.
  • Get the team to do a “show-and-tell” about their favourite clean/eco products.
Production
Producers + Directors
Lighting + Camera
Sound
Post Houses
Production Design
Costume
Hair + Make-up
Studio Facilities
albert Grad

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Sound

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Post Houses

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Production Design

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Costume

A stitch in time ...could help save the planet. There's so many things a costume department can do, ready to take on the challenge? Find out how

Hair + Make-up

Cruelty free...organic...plastic free packaging... for the hair and makeup departments it's not just skin deep. Find out how

Studio Facilities

You can give productions a helping hand by making sure your studios are as green as possible. How? Read on for our top tips. Find out how

albert Grad

You now know more than most and it is time to show us what you've got. Find out how