52. UpCircle Beauty

Founder: Anna and William Brightman
Founded: 2016
Website: upcirclebeauty.com

You may be familiar with UpCircle’s founders Anna and William Brightman, particularly if you watch Dragon’s Den, where the siblings won an investment from Tej Lalvani and Touker Soleyman in 2018.

But their story is older than that. For five years, UpCircle has been helping consumers to take care of themselves and the environment at the same time. The company uses discarded natural ingredients to create award-winning cosmetic products that you can use with a clear conscience.

UpCircle has repurposed more than 350 tonnes of used coffee from London cafes, each batch of its eye cream uses leftover bark from a red maple tree, and its body cream alone has utilised 300,000 date seeds that would’ve otherwise been thrown away.

For instance, UpCircle has repurposed more than 350 tonnes of used coffee from London cafes, each batch of its eye cream uses leftover bark from a red maple tree, and its body cream alone has utilised 300,000 date seeds that would’ve otherwise been thrown away.

And that’s not all. As UpCircle states, its items are “natural, organic, vegan, cruelty-free, palm oil-free, sustainable, handmade in the UK, and housed in 100% recyclable and refillable packaging.”

Now that’s caring about the climate.

We’re body positive, gender neutral, represent all ages, and encourage diversity in all forms. We use real customers in our imagery. Anna also speaks on female empowerment, and mentors young girls on kick-starting their own businesses.

UpCircle also takes its consumers’ needs seriously, and aims to reach people of all kinds. As William told us, “we’re body positive, gender neutral, represent all ages, and encourage diversity in all forms. We use real customers in our imagery. Anna also speaks on female empowerment, and mentors young girls on kick-starting their own businesses.”