Beauty Blog

Beauty Industry rebel and Body Shop founder Anita Roddick died on Monday after suffering a brain hemorrhage. She was 64 years old. Roddick is remembered as an iconoclast in the industry she strove to change and make more environment, animal and woman friendly before such labels were fashionable. Roddick proved that a cosmetic chain could be wildly successful minus animal testing and earth-polluting ingredients–she was even labeled the “Queen of Green” and utilized recourses from farmers in developing countries.

She got a lot of flack when she sold the Body Shop to L’Oreal last year, but she vowed that the extremely profitable move was a chance to change the Beauty Industry from the inside. And while it’s hard to judge how strong her impact was in such a short time, the presence of “green” products is unarguably at an all-time high. Plus, the Body Shop hasn’t skimped on social consciousness since the buyout as is evidenced by the company’s recent industry-revolutionizing decision to use only sustainable methods for producing palm oil.

We’ll miss you and your influence, Anita.

The Body Shop has just released a high-shine lip gloss that will help women around the world and in more ways than one. For one thing, Stop Violence in the Home Hi-Shine Lip Treatment ($11.50) is made with Community Trade marula oil from Eudafano Women’s co-operative in Namibia, which ensures that women in depressed rural communities will get fare wages for their labor in producing the gloss ingredient. Second, The Body Shop will donate 75% of the proceeds of the lip treatment to FACE TO FACE, an organization that offers plastic surgery to survivors of domestic violence to repair injuries to the face, neck and head caused by their violent partners and spouses.

And in addition to all the good the purchase of this gloss can do, the product itself is top-notch. I was a little frightened by the way it sparkles in the tube (I’m not much of a sparkler), but the effect is subtle on the lips, providing a ultra-flattering shine and lots of moisture. Plus, the passion fruit scent is delicious, but not overwhelming. I’m luxuriating in it as I write this.

Get your own at Body Shop stores or on their official website.

Click here to read more about other steps the Body Shop is taking to promote social consciousness in the beauty industry.