There is no denying the LGBTQIA+ community’s influence in the beauty world. Every year when June rolls in, we’re surrounded by rainbow-themed make-up looks and collaborations, but it is important to make sure you stand with the queer community all-year round and ensure that you’re shopping consciously.
Never forget that true allyship lasts longer than 30 days and includes signing petitions, attending protests, educating oneself by communicating with the community, watching movies and reading books, and just supporting the community in any way you can. One such way involves shopping from queer-owned brands and organisations that put their money where it counts, that is, in uplifting the community.
So, we want to bring your attention to some amazing brands in India that are either owned by the very talented members of the LGBTQIA+ community or are associated with companies that do more than just lip service when it comes to aiding the cause.
Firdous Organic
The brand offers a wide range of delicious looking (and smelling) soaps as well as candles that are made using camel and goat milk and red wine. The philosophy behind that Firdous Organic? To formulate products that present moisture loss.
The Nature Masons
The Nature Masons are just the zero-waste brand to buy from if you’re looking to adopt a sustainable dental routine and say goodbye to all the unnecessary waste generated by toothpaste packaging. The brand’s newly launched re-formulated toothpaste tablets look very promising and contain oral health MVPs like charcoal and peppermint. Note, they also contain fluoride which is essential to maintain teeth health.
FAE Beauty
Remove all traces of your pride make-up with FAE Beauty’s no BS Cleanser, a cucumber and cantaloupe-rich product that cleanses and hydrates skin simultaneously. Need more reasons to love the brand? Well, FAE Beauty stands for Free And Equal Beauty and is gender-neutral, vegan brand that is on a mission to do away with all outdated stereotypes.
NYX Cosmetics
Internationally, NYX Cosmetics has an ongoing partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Centre and the brand donates over $100,000 each year. The Indian arm of the brand collaborated with members of the LGBTQIA+ community this year and supported them and their work across digital handles. It ran a campaign called #PaintYourPride and encouraged everyone, regardless of their gender, to play with colours and in any way they deemed fun.
Flower Beauty
Founded by everyone’s favourite ‘90s superstar Drew Barrymore–who identifies as bisexual–this beauty brand is not only cruelty-free but strives to create products that are clean and suit all skin types and tones. If under-eye dark circles or spot correction is something that ranks high on your beauty routine, you need to try the brand’s Flower Beauty Light Illusion Full Coverage Concealer.