The emerging connections between all of these issues fuel the momentum of eco-beauty activism. After only a few minutes of conversation, people invariably discover that the over-arching mission of eco-beauty— to create cosmetics which are safe for the consumer to use, safe for the environment, and safe and ethical to the workers who manufacture, package and distribute them—touches on one or more areas of pressing personal concern.  

Many trailblazers have contributed to the forward-movement of eco-beauty. At the forefront is the nonprofit advocacy organization, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which applies tireless pressure upon manufacturers to phase out the use of chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and other health risks, and to replace these ingredients with safe alternatives. As of August 2007, more than 600 companies have signed The Compact for Safe Cosmetics (also known as The Compact for Global Production of Safer Health and Beauty Products). Other agencies, such as LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) promote and support eco-responsible capitalism through educating and supporting green business practices.  

 

The eco-beauty movement parallels all great social movements in that it arises from a deep collective experience within society, and a collective desire for greater justice. As eco-beauty takes form in numerous related ways, it reflects the “Gaia Hypothesis”, the holistic concept which likens all life to the consciousness-mind of a single, sentient organism. In this way, eco-beauty represents the earth and all of its inhabitants awakening as one being which is just now becoming fully aware of itself. When we begin to understand that every aspect of our life on earth influences every other aspect, we cannot help but be moved by the call to activism.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.