You are going to hear a lot more about ‘upcycled’ ingredients, in the coming months and years. The beauty industry has woken up to the fact that there are perfectly good by-products of various extraction processes which could usefully be repurposed.

That has been UpCircle’s signature from the get-go, and – just at the point where our wind-whipped, centrally-heated lips are screaming for some TLC – this B Corp-certified beauty brand has incorporated upcycled shea butter and hemp seed oil into this nourishing-but-not-greasy, skin-loving balm, then infused it with a touch of grapefruit and rosehip oils.

The pot is neat, handbag-friendly – and what we also really like is that (with a bit of fiddling), they offer a ‘Return and Refill’ service, which works like this: 

• Order the refill service online, when you’ve reached the end of your original pot.

• Then thoroughly wash and dry the empty lip balm jar (warm, soapy water works). Ideally you’ll then put it in the initial packaging (if you’ve hung onto it), or simply wrap carefully.

• You’ll then receive an e-mail with a Freepost label, to drop at your local Post Office (alternatively, you can hand-write the package).

• UpCircle then aim to return your jar with a fresh batch of lip balm, within 24 hours of receipt.

Trust us: though they’d never say it, this is a LOT of hassle for them – and hats off to UpCircle for offering this above-and-beyond service. Our lips – and the planet – are happier, for it. 

Lip Balm with Hemp Seed Oil + Shea Butter/£11.99 – buy here

Return & Refill Lip Balm/£9.59 – sign up for your refill here

Prize Draws