Exclusive News about China
Product Corner: boscia
J-Beauty is all the rage and we are completely on board with it, especially after getting to try a wide variety of products from boscia. Spoiler alert: There is nothing we do not love! The formulas are all plant-based and influenced by the co-founder’s Japanese heritage, and they are so incredibly innovative. Here are some of our favorites (which were really hard to narrow down!).
With sheet masks and overnight masks becoming all the rage, I have longed for the old-school peel-off masks that have taken a back seat in recent years. This mask is the face mask of my dreams. It has a light, fresh scent and applies smoothly to the skin. While many peel-off masks tend to be stripping, this one is the opposite; it lifts gently without feeling like you are ripping off a layer of skin. Afterwards, my face feels so super smooth and hydrated, and I look bright, fresh, and alert. -Caitlin
The undereye area can be such a pain. Dark circles, puffiness, sensitivity, dryness, you name it! There are always issues. So, we are beyond thrilled to have found one product that helps combat all the challenges: Indigo Eye Cream. This amazing lightweight formula helps to reduce puffiness, gently calms and moisturizes skin around the eye area, and does away with dark circles thanks to the unique color-correcting formula. It can be used on all skin types and does not leave an oily residue. -Kim
Tsubaki™ Swirl is an incredible concoction, a luscious swirl of gel and cream for deep hydration. The formula combines an amazing lightweight gel with a rich cream, which allows for superfast absorption and serious skin quenching to occur simultaneously. It acts as an anti-aging moisturizer and helps increase collagen. Plus, the omega fatty acids help deliver moisture deeper into the skin. It’s light enough to use as a daytime moisturizer and rich enough to slather on before bed. Treat yourself to this and you won’t be sorry! -Kim
I love a good eye mask. This one, however, is in a category of its own. Rather than the typical eye pads that are submerged in a solution, these pads are infused with crystals, hyaluronic acid, and vegan collagen, and stick directly to your undereye with no detectible liquid. As suggested, I left my eye masks on for several hours (or overnight), and afterwards my under eyes were plumper and smoother. Since these eyes masks are not wet at all, they pair perfectly with a face mask applied at the same time (hint hint, Cactus Water Peel-Off Mask) to give yourself some extra self-care and pampering! -Caitlin
Breaking News from China
We have been waiting for years for news about China’s animal testing policy. Finally, on March 4, the NMPA (China’s governmental agency for regulating pharmaceuticals and personal care products) announced that it would end the animal testing requirement on imported general cosmetics. This important step will help to remove the barrier for many cruelty-free brands that have not registered their products in Mainland China. The final details are still in being worked out, but here is what we know so far:
- The law will come into effect on May 1, 2021.
- The new regulations will only apply to general use cosmetics and do not include hair dyes, hair-perming products, freckle-removing and whitening products, and sunscreens.
- Excluded products include mother/baby products and products containing new ingredients.
- Companies wishing to register will need to provide a Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices in place of toxicology tests, but it is not yet determined who will issue a GMP certificate in the U.S. and Canada.
The bottom line: The announcement is good news, but there will still be many hurdles and costs for companies wishing to register to sell in China. Change will not happen overnight, but certainly things are moving in the right direction for the animals. At this time, the Leaping Bunny Program in the U.S. and Canada still only allows for the sale of products into China through Cross Border E-Commerce (which does not require registration with the NMPA). We are in direct communication with our partners in China who are working diligently on obtaining updates on new information. We will keep you posted!
New Companies
Spring is officially here and, with it, a new bundle of companies making the commitment to cruelty-free products. Check out some of our most recently certified brands below, which vary from hair care, nail care, and skincare.
Quebec personal care brand focusing on products formulated with plant-based, local, and organic ingredients with eco-friendly packaging.
Celestial Soapery
Mother and son team handmaking bath, body, and home fragrance products.
Dndgel
Nail care brand with gel polish, dipping powder, and decals to give yourself a salon quality manicure in your own home.
Esas NYC
Farm-to-beauty lifestyle brand that encourages self-care rituals.
Ferreira Signature Line
Hair products formulated with organic plant extracts, essences, and oils to be gentle while also promoting healthy hair growth.
HiBar
Salon-quality shampoo and conditioner bars available in several formulations to achieve your desired results.
Ildi Pekar
Skin care products and treatments developed by an esthetician, formulated with flowers, herbs, and thermal waters.
Handcrafted personal care products formulated with organic and therapeutic ingredients.
Just a Sip
Natural hair and skin company for women and men, specializing in beard care and hair growth.
Nosta Beauty
Cosmetics that spark nostalgia.
Pink Chawkulit
Heavily pigmented and handcrafted nail polish, infused with argan oil, and available in shades of pinks, browns, and neutral tones.
TOOD
Clean and colorful makeup that anyone can use.
Untamed Humans
Unisex and affordable skincare company sourcing ingredients from farms and fields in and around Portland, Oregon.
Velour Beauty
Brand specializing in eye centric cosmetics to complete any makeup look.
XMONDO Hair
Vegan, professional quality haircare products that are paraben, sulfate, and gluten-free.
Company Spotlight:
Prima
This month, we are excited to interview Jessica Assaf one of the Co-founders and Chief Education Officer of Prima, a personal care brand that has garnered quite a following since its launch in 2019. Please read below to learn more about Prima’s cofounders and inception, and the actions it has taken to be a sustainable and transparent company.
Is there a story behind the name of your company, The Uplifters’ Prima?
We consider ourselves Uplifters to the core, combating today’s epidemic of stress through uplifting education, scientific integrity, and the highest quality products. We believe that hemp and CBD are catalysts for a global uprising—one that redefines wellbeing by elevating plant-based healing and empowering people to feel better in their bodies, every day.
We chose to name our brand Prima because Prima means many things in different languages: best, excellent, first, top quality––all descriptors of what we’re building. In Spanish, Prima means “female cousin,” and hemp, our hero ingredient, is the female cousin of marijuana, so it felt like the perfect word to name our brand.
What efforts do you take to be a sustainable company?
Our self-imposed uncompromising standards for sustainability and safety required us to know the farm, the soil, the people, and the approach at a very intimate level. All of our hemp biomass is naturally grown using only organic principles as defined by the United States National Organic Program (NOP). This means no harsh, synthetic additives during the entire process: no pesticides, no insecticides, no herbicides, no petroleum-based chemical fertilizers, no hydrocarbon solvents, and no irradiation.
To us, sustainability means a deep level of care, commitment, and action to soil, water, plant, product, and human health, with a core focus on minimizing impact on resources. As a Certified B Corp, sustainability is built into the DNA of our brand, and we are also Carbon Neutral.
What is your favorite Prima product and why?
My favorite product is The Afterglow, our age-defying face cream with 500 mg CBD, four types of hyaluronic acid and turmeric, ashwagandha, butterfly ginger and gooseberry extracts. It’s our version of La Mer and it not only moisturizes the skin but also protects the skin against environmental stressors like blue light pollution.
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What is Prima’s most popular product?
The Bath Gem, our CBD and epsom salt bath bomb, is a bestseller, and has been called “a day at the spa for $16” –– it relaxes the body and mind, moisturizes the skin, and even supports sleep!
What has been the most rewarding part of creating Prima?
Hearing from our customers! We’re fortunate to have best-in-class solutions for the epidemic of today: stress. Since launching products, we’ve heard from countless customers about their success using Prima to support better mood, sleep, immunity, and less stress. We took our decades of learnings from the healthy products and natural beauty industries to create the most elevated products to drive meaningful functional benefits to the skin, body, and mind. We’ve obsessed about the consumer experience at every step in the process, and believe Prima is our best creation yet.
Are all of Prima’s products vegan?
Yes, all of Prima’s products are vegan and cruelty-free, doctor-formulated, gluten-free, non-GMO, and free of thousands of chemicals of concern.
Why is being Leaping Bunny certified important to Prima?
We believe that businesses have a responsibility to not only protect the health and safety of consumers, but all living creatures. As champions of sustainability, it was imperative to further our commitment by aligning with the Leaping Bunny Standard and take a stand against animal testing and cruelty. No animals should ever be harmed in the creation of consumer products, and this standard should be a requirement for all businesses moving forward.
What is something unique about Prima that others may not know?
We’re the first hemp CBD brand to be a Public Benefit Corp (PBC), EWG Verified, Made Safe Certified, and we’re a Certified B Corp, which highlights our value for transparency, accountability, and social impact. We’re building industry-defining standards that we hope the entire CBD industry will follow.
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