Zao is a French brand, founded in 2012 by four friends who loved nature and were increasingly uneasy about how much waste the beauty industry creates. Its signature look started with a gift. On his travels in Asia, co-founder David Reccole was given a bamboo pen by a friend in Taiwan. That made him wonder why makeup couldn’t be housed the same way.
The name blends two ideas from Eastern philosophy, Zen and Tao, and that sense of balance runs through the brand. Bamboo was chosen for its looks, but also because it grows back in four to five years rather than the decades a tree needs. Most of the range is refillable, so the case is something you keep and only the makeup inside gets replaced.
The formulas are made from plant extracts, vegetable oils and butters, and mineral pigments. They contain no petrochemical derivatives or synthetic preservatives. Products are certified organic or natural by Ecocert, and the whole range is vegan and cruelty-free approved by PETA, right down to the synthetic bristles on the brushes.
The result is makeup that feels considered without asking you to compromise on colour or finish.
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A swipe of this and I look like I’ve just come back from a walk, even on the days I haven’t made it out! It blends in seconds with your fingertips and you can build it up if you want more colour.
I dab a little on my lips as well for a matching flush, so it earns its place in my makeup bag twice over.
I’m much more of a tinted balm person than a lipstick person. This gives a hint of colour and keeps my lips comfortable when I’m out in the wind and cold.
There’s a little peppermint tingle when it goes on, and it’s easy to slip into a coat pocket.
Mascara is the last thing I put on and I want it to stay put without flaking by lunchtime.
I like that the case is bamboo and you can buy a refill rather than throwing a whole tube away each time.
My brows have a mind of their own, so a clear gel is a must. This keeps them in place all day without going crunchy or leaving any colour behind.
One sweep through with the brush and they stay put, even on a blustery walk.
I don’t own one shade of this, I own about four. I blend them together and use the darker ones to contour, so I can warm my face up or add a bit of shape depending on the day.
It’s creamy, it goes on quickly with fingers or a sponge, and it doesn’t sit heavily on the skin. The bamboo case is refillable too, which matters when you’re buying more than one.
This is my no-fuss eye makeup. Scribble the chunky pencil across your lid, smudge it out with a finger and you’re done in under a minute.
The colours have a soft metallic sheen that catches the light without being too much. And the pencils are made from certified cedar from sustainably managed forests.
A bit of bronzer brings colour back to my face, especially in the colder months. I sweep it along my hairline, cheekbones and jaw for a warm, healthy look.
Because it’s a baked powder it’s soft and easy to blend rather than chalky.
I use this as a lip liner. It stops balm or lipstick from wandering and gives a little more definition to the shape of my mouth.
The texture is soft enough to blend inwards so there’s no hard edge. It works on eyes and brows too, but mine lives in the lip section of my bag.
If I could only take one product out of the door with me, it would be concealer. This one is light, covers what I want it to cover under my eyes and doesn’t go cakey as the day goes on.
A couple of dabs, tap it in with your fingertip and you’re done. I like that it’s 98% natural too.
I find powder gives a softer, more natural result on my brows than a pencil. I fill in any gaps with an angled brush, then comb through so they don’t look drawn on.
It’s a refill that slots into one of Zao’s bamboo palettes, so when it runs out you only replace the powder.