Move over Clean Beauty, we’ve got a new, more thoughtful approach to ethical and sustainable skin care and beauty on the horizon…just give it a second to get here. That’s right, we’re talking Slow Beauty, the carefully considered cousin to any clean or natural skin-care solution. Slow Beauty seeks to elevate the green promises of typical beauty brands beyond just recyclable packaging and reduced plastic, going all the way back to the formula and how ingredients are chosen, harvested and treated.
These brands are more likely to produce in small batches with limited-time products that reflect the seasonal ingredients present in their region of origin. They’re also more likely to create their products through artisanal, slower processes that pollute less. That means we’re also prioritizing quality or quantity here, as many Slow Beauty products are multi-functional and holistic, meant to be used to the very last drop.
Up and Down The Supply Chain
Amidst a sea of skin-care and beauty promises, Slow Beauty brands are all about taking a step back and evaluating the implications of our products. And that means applying their philosophy all the way down the supply chain in order to ensure all ingredients are being ethically sourced.
While some of these ingredients are commonly discussed among clean and natural brands, many others fall under our radars. Many beauty consumers know that palm oil, for example, is an environmentally devastating industry responsible for serious deforestation. But there are many more common beauty and skin-care ingredients with the same kind of checkered background, including mica as well as crystals and gems.
“Many of the World’s crystals come at the expense of protected rainforest land and endangered animals,” explains now shuttered brand, ĀTHR Beauty. “Many of the mines leak heavy metals and toxic wastewater into local waterways, endangering the people and wildlife nearby. Child labor is also rampant with other common cosmetic ingredients like cocoa butter, shea butter, and carnauba wax. And it’s not just children—adult workers all over the world deal with horrific working conditions and unlivable wages to make these bargain products.”
Another way to cut down on the ethical quagmire of an international supply chain is to do a lot of the actual formulating in-house. FABLERUNE, a farm-based beauty brand, accomplishes this by sticking to small-batch releases that contain the highest quality ingredients.
“When we source ingredients, we only stock an amount that can be used in production within a short window since natural ingredients can have a very short shelf life,” explains FABLERUNE co-owner and aesthetician Bobbie Cunningham. “It’s important that our customers are getting the freshest batch possible. We source small, we produce small, and we’re constantly finding new resources for high-quality ingredients. Everything at FABLERUNE is made in house from start to finish, which is really rare these days. It’s definitely not the ‘easy’ way but it’s the right way for us to maintain our standards and quality.”
Where to Find Slow Beauty
