The Body Shop's Rainforest Shampoos. Courtesy Photo
As the transparency behind the making of beauty products grows ever clearer with the rise of socially-conscious shoppers, fair trade ingredients are increasing in popularity. The
Avon-owned
mark brand's
new entry into the market even suggests the concept is about to go mainstream.
But what does it mean if ingredients are "fair trade?"
Under regular conditions, rural farmers often have no choice but to accept paltry pay that is lower than their cost of goods because of competitive international market pricing. Fair trade means farmers around the world receive fair pay for their work that allows them to make a living wage.
Fair trade also requires safe and humane working conditions, direct trade that is free of a costly middleman, and care that the community and environment are not harmed, but instead enriched by the business.
The Body Shop's founder -- Anita Roddick -- is credited with starting the fair trade for beauty products concept in 1987, when her international travels led her to discover destitute conditions that many small villages faced while farming natural ingredients. Roddick decided to work directly with the farmers and pay a fair price for goods, so that their families and communities could grow along with their businesses.
Some critics argue that fair trade raises the prices of goods, but The Body Shop says that today's customer isn't just focused on getting the cheapest price possible.
"Many consumers want more than to just buy the latest new product, they want to know that their purchase is making a positive difference to someone somewhere else in the world, or to the environment," says Shelley Simmons, director of brand communications and values for The Body Shop.
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The Best New Fair Trade Beauty Products
Check out the best new fair trade products on the market.
Courtesy Photo
Sun Damage Repair Treatments
Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Sun Damage Daily Moisture Lotion, $12.99
The popular bargain brand combines vitamin C with pine essence, which studies have shown to be especially effective in breaking apart pigmentation clusters just below the skin's surface. Lycopene and full spectrum SPF 28 protects against future damage. Garnier claims that you'll see sun spots begin to fade within two weeks of daily use.
Sun Damage Repair Treatments
Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector, $44.50
The newest addition to its popular Repairwear line of anti-aging products, Clinique's Laser Focus combines a potent peptide complex and antioxidants like pomegranate juice extract and vitamins C and E to boost natural collagen production and cell turnover. The formula also boasts three patented enzymes contained in liposome technology that reverse the UV damage the brand refers to as "solar scars."
Sun Damage Repair Treatments
La Mer The Regenerating Serum, $250
Known for its creation by an aerospace physicist as a burn cream for lab accidents, as well as its super-luxe price points, La Mer's newest launch treats the lines and wrinkles incurred by sun damage as "micro scars" of chronic inflammation that destroy collagen. A bio-fermented formula containing marine plant stem cells, antioxidant lime tea and a sea algae and peptide complex targets the areas of skin stress. Colloidal gold -- or nano gold particles suspended in water -- offer a fancy smoothing and firming finish to the serum.
Sun Damage Repair Treatments
MyChelle Apple Brightening Serum, $44.29
MyChelle's serum rides the current apple stem cell technology trend with a formula that includes power antioxidants resveratrol and organic acai to protect against free radical damage and strengthen skin against future damage. Marine extract Algowhite reduces pigmentation, while the peptide Melanosatine 5 prevents the activation of tyrosinase, which causes the pesky darkness to form in the first place.
Sun Damage Repair Treatments
L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Complete SPF 30 Day Lotion, $16.99
If sun spots have mottled your complexion, L'Oréal's newest lotion treats photoaging daily with a blend of pro-retinol A and elastin that unite for rapid cell turnover. SPF 30 is added to protect the results you achieve and prevent future sun damage. The lighter lotion is perfect for normal to oily skin types that otherwise clog underneath heavier anti-aging creams.
Sun Damage Repair Treatments
Comfort Zone Sun Soul After Sun Face Cream, $28.50
Your best bet for immediate post-sun treatment is a moisturizer that both replenishes and nourishes. Comfort Zone's new face cream uses Argan oil to comfort skin with its natural fatty acids, and biosaccharide gum 2 to reduce inflammation. The narcissus bulb prolongs the cellular cycle, which means improved elasticity. You'll also get a gentle cooling sensation upon application, thanks to menthyl lactate.
Sun Damage Repair Treatments
Perricone MD More Than Moisture SPF 30, $65
If sun rays have left your skin parched and thirsty, Dr. Perricone's new moisturizer uses soothing olive oil polyphenols, brightening vitamin C, exfoliating alpha lipoic acid and firming DMAE for a full replenishing punch-in-one. Non-chemical mineral sunscreen protection makes it an ideal choice for sensitive skins that react to other UV ray protectors.
Sun Damage Repair Treatments
Olay Total Effects Moisturizer Plus Cooling Hydration, $18.99
Beach bums can protect skin more effectively with a lotion like Olay's Total Effects Moisturizer Plus instead of just slathering on traditional sunscreen. The moisturizer is a lightweight fluid that uses niacinamide -- or vitamin B3 -- as well as pro-vitamin B5 to restore the skin's natural moisture barrier. Cooling water technology is released upon contact, which soothes sun-stressed skin and refreshes with a kick of mint extract.
Sun Damage Repair Treatments
Beautisol Pure Peptide Rescue Serum, $120
Formulated for pure sun damage reversal purposes, Beautisol's peptide-packed serum targets collagen creation, wrinkle reduction, and brown spot brightening. Think of it as a heavy-duty replenisher for mature skins who have already seen more than their share of sunny days -- and the after-effects.
Sun Damage Repair Treatments
CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM, $13.99
For sensitive skins who are afraid to try more complex and heavier creams, CeraVe's light lotion is a gentle alternative that still offers the basic sun damage-reversing ingredients of ceramides and niacinamide. Hyaluronic acid deftly hydrates without adding grease or weight to the skin, and non-irritating zinc oxide offers full sunscreen protection.
Sun Damage Repair Treatments
Fair trade could even be good for business since investors don't have to worry about sweatshop-like risks in the supply chain, which could be the death of a brand, says Karen Sinclair, the founder of the organic
Sophyto skincare line.
"You only have to look at what happened to Nike; they were denounced for the poor pay and conditions of workers making their products. Nike's shares fell considerably after repeat media exposure," Sinclair tells StyleList.
Fair Trade USA - an organization that offers industry certification so shoppers know that stickered products are the real deal -- says that the other common complaint that fair trade partnerships take away from American jobs isn't a credible criticism.
"Almost all of the products that are Fair Trade Certified can't be grown locally. Cocoa butter, vanilla, tea and coffee are grown in the global south, in farming communities that need our help the most. We strongly support the buy local movement, and Fair Trade Certification goes hand-in-hand with this train of thought," public relations manager Katie Barrow tells StyleList.
While looking for Fair Trade USA's certification is a great way to make sure products meet stringent standards, not having certification doesn't necessarily mean that a brand is not legit.
Giants like The Body Shop say that they don't pursue certification because having products meet custom standards in each of the 65 countries their products are sold in isn't feasible.
Instead, rely on your own internet research and hop onto a brand's website to see if specifics are listed anywhere on what the fair trade ingredients are, and where they come from. Be suspicious of any one touting the fair trade phrase without any details to back it up.
For an international journey of inspiration that we've done the homework on, check out our gallery, above, of the best new fair trade products on the market.
Cocoa Fair Trade in Ecuador
Learn About Fair Trade Coffee
Why Buy Fair Trade Goods?
Impact of Globalization on Fair Trade Production
Fair Trade Me, 9-22-2010, 11:19PM
Great Article,
Thanks
Its heartening to hear that, given the choice, people will opt for ethical and sustainable methods of production both as producers and consumers. It seems the fair trade and green company list is growing every week.
Regulation is also the way to go as the word "Natural" can be bent so many ways.
Cheers
Inger
http://www.fairtradeclothing.org
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