The Power of Purpose: How Business as Mission Changed Our View of the Beauty Industry
- mlcrendon
- Apr 12, 2024
- 5 min read
Choosing Wellness: Clean Living
My daughter conducted a product and marketing research project for Economics. A simple Social Studies performance task assignment has enlarged beyond an essay report!
We were shocked to discover that many of our family's personal care toiletries and home products contain harmful and questionable ingredients.
Read the Labels!
I challenge you to pick up your beloved soap bar box or face moisturiser and begin reading. Probably more than half of the contents are things you have never heard of. Just listing and typing the contents of lotions or deodorants into a Google search reveals the hidden shadows of a billion-dollar industry blindsiding consumers.
Ask Questions for Honest Answers!
You might not like what you find but ignorance is our weakness. It is easier to remain in our cosy convenience-oriented thinking, casually scrolling and liking posts or products than to engage purposefully and intentionally with harder-to-swallow truths.
What is in (product name) ......?
What is this chemical, compound, or ingredient used for?
Where is it sourced?
IMPORTANT SIDELINE POINT
Mica, a mineral used for luminous shimmer effects in many make-up products is also a controversial ingredient. It is predominantly sourced from mines in India using child labour. Thousands of children, some as young as four are earning less than 70 cents per day working in dangerous conditions!
Our Stand: As advocates for vulnerable children in the Philippines with Lifenet Children's Foundation Inc., this is an extremely concerning and dark issue hidden behind the glitter of the beauty industry's glossy magazine covers and commercials. We believe we have a social and leadership responsibility to respond, educate and make ethical choices which support children's protection, health and welfare. This alone reshapes our decisions about the products we buy, endorse, (and make!)
How is this ingredient produced?
How does this affect my body or the environment I am living in?
It is quite alarming when you start to discover the reality of the manufacturing processes and the questionable add-ons with potential long-term impacts on our health functioning.
Investigating Two Example Products
Hormone Disrupters in Moisturiser
A facial moisturiser that our family used (now in the past tense as it has been eliminated) blatantly contains parabens, which disrupt oestrogen levels. The label also lists significant allergens, and synthetic fragrance ingredients which are even used in pesticides!
The text on the label is very tiny for a reason!
I had to take a photograph and magnify it on my phone to decipher the long unpronounceable names or formulas. Unless you are a chemical researcher you will probably be unaware of all you are applying to your skin, hair, or even using to clean your home.
We have become obsessed with checking for sugar, calories and fat contents in food items but our skin is the largest organ (grade 3 science!) with huge amounts of toxins exposed and absorbed daily.
Cancer-Causing Chemicals in Baby Products
One popular branded product used by many Filipino families also proved to be very concerning.
Here is a list of toxic chemicals found in baby products for you to easily check your labels.
Scientific Research and Debate
(For those interested )
The main ingredient found in 40% of baby lotions is petroleum jelly. Some research indicates petroleum jelly (a colourless byproduct from refining gasoline for our cars and motorbikes) may contain carcinogens as not all petroleum is fully refined or pure. You have likely smeared it on your lips and face in various forms without thinking about its origins.
The important thing to know is whether the source you use has been properly refined! According to Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, you can check on a company's label or website! It should CLEARLY indicate that petroleum is fully refined as white petroleum!
This is just one hugh-lighted ingredient. The debate continues if you care to research further!
Short and Simple Easy-Read Conclusion
Pretty much every product on our shelves or in family bathroom cabinets contains multiple toxins.
You can check the Toxic Twelve chemicals as a starter and see how many show up in your shopping list of products!
Chemical Overpricing
The second part of our investigations revealed how high the markup prices of regular market brand products are.
We are programmed to believe the ingredients and production of mainstream personal care or beauty brands are much higher than their actual cost. The price starts to seem or feel reasonable for well-advertised brands modelled by flawless-skinned beauties.
Tragically, Filipinos may pay almost half a day's wages for a bottle of mid-range shampoo or facial cleanser. The profits made using harmful chemicals are staggering. Essentially we are paying inflated amounts for chemical-laden products which cause physical harm to ourselves and our children.
There has to be a better way!
Welcome to Arukah!
Our mother-daughter entrepreneurship collaboration - Grade 9 Project!
Arukah means to heal, repair and restore. The name communicates our intention for health, safety, quality, and authenticity.
Healthy Clean Solutions
From a Grade 9 Social Studies project assignment we started another of our own;
How to create healthy, and clean products with natural ingredients?
How could we offer safer alternatives without the exploitative prices?
Recipe Testing
We started trying recipes, testing, evaluating, and experimenting with packaging, logos ( 3 versions later), and branding ideas. We are enjoying the creative evolving process towards cleaner choices and healthier bodies. Our minds and perspectives have shifted and now there is no going back.
Reading and Researching Labels Changed Everything!
We have started our first line of alternative products at a much lower price than chemical brands but have also ignited a value for living responsibly and intentionally.
Here are two examples:
Lip Balms
This was my daughter's first choice to work on as she wanted to create a safe, clean product that goes on and near the mouth (without colourings or mica) Chemical-free, child-friendly ingredients are important!
Helmet Spray and Car Fresheners: (Husband's Requests!)
Out of curiosity, we added these items to our chemical and pricing research as 1 product we bought only listed the ingredients as a 'plant-based formula' without the assurance of transparent details of the contents.
A local product is priced at P250; more than half a day's wages but with no ingredient labels or lists on the packaging. Without accurate labelling, we wonder what we unknowingly exposed our skin and lungs to and if it is environmentally responsible. If you can't find answers to your questions you have a problem!
We made our recipes for a fraction of the prices and are happy to start sharing them with friends.
Business as a Mission (BAM)
We believe this is a mission rather than a business. It is an opportunity to educate, and a responsibility to engage. This is how we can love and honour God and serve people. The goal is not to make huge profits but to offer a solution with integrity and purpose.
If you are interested in the BAM approach I highly recommend reading and researching. I started reading about it in 2022 as I love the integration of responsibility, sustainability, ethics, and serving others.
Arukah is our response and hopes for a healthier future ahead
Perhaps this is an emerging social enterprise as ultimately, we would love other women to benefit. The goals are not a business plan but a genuine desire for purposes beyond profit. The idea of coming alongside mothers or students to have supplementary incomes to support their families or complete their education would be a greater dream that extends beyond a homework assignment.
We are just in the early stages but you can check out our Arukah Facebook Page or connect with us on Instagram to see how our journey unfolds.
We have more products and recipes on the way!
(Arukah products are only available in the Philippines!)
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