Science of Beauty
Ethical Sourcing & Global Beauty Rituals
July 23rd, 2021 Clubhouse Event Takeaways
Moderator: Rahama Wright — Founder, Shea Yeleen
Anne Suinner-Lawoyin — Owner, Anne’s Apothecary
Charlynn Avery — COO, Yeleen Beauty
Angela Gray — Co-Founder, Yina
The sourcing of ingredients to create sustainable beauty products for a global community is an increasingly hot topic as consumers become more mindful of what goes into their products. The Science of Beauty Collective, an international community of female entrepreneurs with a mission to bring transparency and challenge industries to produce effective personal care products, has gathered an amazing group of entrepreneurs and thought leaders as they discuss ethics as they pertain to ingredients and global beauty rituals. Moderated by founder and CEO of Shea Yeleen, Rahama Wright, this includes thoughts and discussion featuring founder of Anne’s Apothecary — Anne Suinner-Lawoyin, COO of Yeleen Beauty — Charlynn Avery and Co-Founder of Yina — Angela Gray.
How does ethically sourcing play a role in your brand?
Anne says: For us at Anne’s Apothecary, ethical sourcing and ethical consumption are interconnected. We don’t source products that ultimately negatively impact the environment and culture of origin at any stage of our growth. Essentially, we focus on ingredients that are sustainably sourced, or its cultivation is replenished in some way.
Charlynn says: Ethical sourcing is a deep concept that takes into consideration not only a sustainable supply chain, but also the notion that sustainability is that which can be maintained for a long time on multiple levels. How workers are treated and paid, the respect they are given as they handle the ingredients, their work life balance, and kindness to the planet in that process is all a part of the ethics of sourcing mindset for Yeleen Beauty and Shea Yeleen.
Angela says: What really makes YINA unique are the Chinese medicinal botanicals we formulate with. We make sure these herbs are sustainable and rigorously tested for heavy metals and safe to use both internally and externally. Knowing where our ingredients are grown and who we are supporting is an ongoing endeavor at YINA. Understanding and acknowledging all the love and care it takes to grow a natural resource is vital in our sourcing efforts, while also paying fair value.
What rituals are a key part of your product development?
Anne says: Product development takes about a year or 2 for us and it involves a deep dive into the outcome that I want. Typically at Anne’s Apothecary, we focus on what we want to achieve, for example a body butter that has an ease of application, less grease, or 12 hour more moisturizing time. The rituals we employ include utilizing our focus group to test our products over a period and respond with feedback.
Charlynn says: Thinking about inherent skin care practices that suit the ingredients and also thinking about how to get multiple benefits from a product (I.e. argan, shea or sesame oil) to maximize its nutrient absorption and potential for positive impact on skin, hair and body systems. I like to look at usage of ingredients over time and how we evolve with them. Oiling practices for skin and hair drive why I create what I do along with the idea of slow, intentional healing.
Angela says: We infuse Traditional Chinese Medicine wisdom and principles in our product development process. Ethical sourcing and rigorous understanding of plant alchemy is a must in formulating our products. Our natural skin care products are made with living formulations. Meaning formulations that need to be adjusted based on the plant quality, seasonal environmental changes, and customer needs.
Tell us about your hero ingredient and why you chose that ingredient.
Anne says: We don’t have a hero ingredient but a hero product. Our Black Honey facial cleanser came out of an idea that I had. I wanted to harness the skincare benefits of honey without stripping honey of its consistency and warmth. I couldn’t afford to hire a cosmetic scientist so I had to scour the internet asking cosmetic scientists for their generosity in helping me perfect my formula and help me discover what I was missing. It took a year before I finally nailed what our Black Honey facial cleanser is today. It’s a natural cleanser that warms on contact and can be used as a honey facial mask and as a cleanser. This duality is why we love it, and for $15, it’s such a good deal.
Charlynn says: Shea butter is the hero ingredient for Shea Yeleen. Shea butter contains linoleic, palmitic, stearic, and oleic fatty acids, vitamins A, E and F and antioxidant vitamins which are beneficial in promoting both circulation and healthy skin cell growth. It is easy to use and absorbs well on all skin types. Shea butter is also ideally suited to hair care, deep conditioning and nourishing to all hair types.
Angela says: One of the super antioxidant ingredients we use in our formulations is white peony tea. White peony tea is minimally processed and retains a lot more of its phyto-nutrients. We source this ingredient from a kind humble farmer, Mr. Wang, in Fuding, China. We remember taking hours to drive up to his remote tea farm, listening to his story about how he cares for the tea plants while sipping a cup of tea.
What are some of your personal rituals?
Anne says: Every night I set up tasks for the next day. Every morning I spend 10–15 mins meditating on the positive things I’m grateful for. For skincare, Sundays are scrub and bath soak days. As a mom of 2 active boys, I relish this time for myself as it helps me reset and get ready for the following week.
Charlynn says: My personal skin care rituals include dry skin brushing (an exfoliation practice) and oiling the body for massage and moisture benefit.
I pay close attention to what my skin feels like and needs, and I use what suits my skin type best. That can change over time and in different environments, so it’s adaptive.
Angela says: I practice a yang sheng (nourishing life) lifestyle. Eating with the seasons, bathing, exercising, sitting. Beauty and wellness are one. Work days can be long, but I make sure to take a midday nap, an afternoon tea ritual, and no screen time an hour before bed.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs who are interested in ethical sourcing and being intentional about how they make their products?
Anne says: I would encourage them to pursue their passion for a sustainable business. There is enough space for us all.
Charlynn says: Ask questions. Find folks that are committed to kind and generous business and who know sourcing and supply of pure and sustainable ingredients. Pay attention to small brands that maintain a high degree of integrity and follow those examples. And don’t compromise on your ethics to save money as it could potentially take you down a path you and your consumers don’t want to go.
Angela says: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Establish a relationship with your vendors. People don’t need another product, but they would love something that is created with intention and will inspire them to stay healthy and beautiful.
Interested in joining our collective to bring more science in beauty? Want to learn more? Find us on Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/scienceofbeau-gqs7640/shared_invite/zt-ui2gkwuu-uD2XNg9GwL9EVj5qtKhwoQ
