There are brands that, like clockwork, remind us to support women on International Women’s Day in March and Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. And then there are companies that embrace philanthropy all-year around. There is nothing wrong or right with either because, well, being generous in this economic climate can be challenging. That being said, we do tend to lean towards the ones that want to empower women, regardless of the day.
Beauty products and the carefully made formulations look and feel even better when you know that someone else’s life is a tad bit less stressful because you decided to buy from them. As consumers, it is entirely on us to pick and choose what we apply on our skin. so imagine if your beauty buy is empowering women somewhere around the world? Today, we’re going to deep dive into three beauty brands that are working hard employ local talent so that they can make a difference in the lives of people at the grassroots level. Remember, supporting these brands can lead to actual change but it is essential to shop sustainably. Choose sensibly where your spending power goes.
Pahadi Local
Image source: Instagram.com/Pahadilocal
The brand procures beauty and wellness products from the Himalayas and was actually launched to help the local communities there. For its tea range, it works with women from three villages in Leh and the Nubra Valley to collect the key ingredients that include lavender, rosehip, sea buckthorn and wild roses. These are cleaned, dried and then packed for further processing. In 2018, it completed its first Pahadi Empower project where it set up solar panel heating systems in the community centre in Leh used by the women who collect teas in the summer months.
Purearth
Image source: Instagram.com/Purearth
This ayurvedic brand founded by Kavita Khosa, a lawyer-turned-skincare expert, has won multiple awards for its artisanal and small batch skin and wellness products. Her main goal was to rope in marginalised women and groups and provide them with an income. Today, the brand works with smaller self-help groups in the in the remote Himalayas and rural tribal areas and offers them micro-financing so that they can comfortably provide all the wild ingredients required for the production of its potions and salves on time.
Naturma
Image source: Instagram.com/Naturma_life
This skincare brand is co-founded by Shivani Shah, a yoga and educational therapist. Here, you will find a wide range of skin, hair and body products that are made by local Aurovillians in Tamil Nadu. The inspiration behind the brand is the universal township of Auroville that is based on the concept of conscious living. The beauty line is supplied by NGOs who train local communities and underprivileged workers around them and empowers them by giving them a stream of income.
Banner image source: Instagram.com/Purearth