Some “Of Interest” stories and news that are currently on my mind: shops that support Black-owned clean beauty and eco-fashion, product recycling programs, and new clean beauty releases.
Shopping at Galerie.LA for ethical, eco-friendly women’s clothing. 
I’ve been eyeing up the beautiful things from LA-based ethical, eco-friendly shop, Galerie.LA and plotting everything I want to purchase. This shop features ethical and eco-friendly women’s clothing, home goods, beauty, and accessories from emerging brands worldwide.
Galerie.LA is also a Black-owned shop, founded by celebrity stylist, Dechel Mckillian. The shop even has a rental policy for LA-based stylists. Galerie.LA has a physical shopfront in Downtown Los Angeles, but during COVID-19 only their online shop is open. This is such a lovely shop to support with so many amazing brands! Check out the shop.
Shopping at BLK + GRN for non-toxic beauty and skincare.
Another great shop that I’ve been creating a long shopping wishlist for is BLK + GRN, an all-natural marketplace that is Black-owned and includes beauty, skincare, and lifestyle goods from Black artisans. The curation on BLK + GRN features artisan brands that are “carefully chosen by Black women’s health experts who know what an all-natural product truly looks like.”I really love that BLK + GRN not only offers some amazing beauty and skincare products, but also serves to uplift Black artisans in the beauty, skincare and wellness space, and I’m all for supporting these brands. Specifically eyeing these products: organic makeup remover pods, organic soy nail polish remover, acai gentle exfoliating mask, and matcha and turmeric tea.
The 15 Percent Pledge for economic empowerment. 
This pledge calls on major retailers to commit a minimum of 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses. A minimum of 15% represents the percentage of Black people that make up the U.S. population. The 15 Percent Pledge was initially conceived by members of the retail and fashion industries to mobilize large multi-brand retailers yet the founders say individuals even at the consumer level can participate. “The spirit of this pledge and the steps we propose can be adopted across industries and in the lives of every individual, even at the consumer level.” Learn more and sign the pledge here. I’ve signed it and discussed with friends and family to sign it too!
ILIA’s new makeup recycling program.
ILIA Beauty has partnered with TerraCycle to help with their mission of recycling the hard-to-recycle, namely beauty products. Now, U.S. customers can request a free shipping label to mail back up to 5 empty beauty products (ILIA or other brands too) per month. As packaging becomes more over-the-top and “Instagram-worthy” rather than less wasteful, it’s critical that brands get on board with sustainable packaging and proper recycling. It’s just as important that brands educate and help consumers realize most beauty packaging can’t be recycled like normal. I’m so excited ILIA finally has a recycling program and I can’t wait until more brands adopt this idea!
Kjaer Weis 100% recyclable Red Edition packaging and new Flush and Glow Duos. 
As if Kjaer Weis’ iconic silver refillable compacts could get any better, the brand has introduced a new format for their products. The Red Edition packaging is 100% recyclable, compostable, and refillable, as it’s made from lightweight, eco-friendly, recyclable paper. While not all Kjaer Weis products are available in the Red Edition packaging yet, the initial launch features Red Edition cream blushes, cream glows, eye shadows, lip tints, powders and cream foundations. Available only at Kjaer Weis now.
I’m living for these new Flush and Glow blush and highlighter duos! These two-in-one cream compacts feature the high-performing, buildable organic cream formulas we all know and love. There are 4 available duo shades and refills seem to be on the horizon. (Fingers crossed! I have an empty KW blush compact that I’m hoping to fill with one of these.) $56 each, .12oz
Elizabeth Suzann closes business and announces what’s next.
At the end of April, pioneering sustainable clothing brand, Elizabeth Suzann announced they were closing due to lack of sales and devastating financial strains as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Elizabeth Suzann stood out as a brand with an admirable brand mission, that had achieved so much in moving the needle on sustainable practices in fashion through their commitment to ethical production and transparency. The brand played a leading role in building a huge community of slow fashion lovers.
The brand founder, Elizabeth Pape says that she’ll be re-opening the business independently in the fall, slowly rebuilding by taking limited orders and hand-making all garments on her own. She also has plans to develop sewing patterns and kits for the brand’s cult-favorite garments to focus less on consumption and more on skill-sharing and teaching. While I’m sad to see Elizabeth Suzann go, I’m looking forward to what is in store. I’m very excited for the sewing patterns and kits as a rookie sewist. This NY Times article says goodbye to the cult-favorite brand.
New Fitglow skin correctors. 
High-performing natural formulas are Fitglow Beauty’s forte, especially in my experience with their outstanding makeup products. I personally love their incredibly buildable and nourishing Conceal+ and their newest offerings, two skin correcting concealers, seem to be built upon the success and popularity of Conceal+. The two skin correctors are, the Correct+ Eyebright, and Correct+ Peach.
The Correct+ Peach is formulated to “combat blue-hued dark circles and spots,” “block pigmentation,” and brighten the appearance of eyes. As it’s name suggests, the color corrector has a peach-toned shade.
The Correct+ Eyebright has a light yellow tint and formulated to revive “tired-looking eyes” to give skin an overall “more bright, smooth and lifted look.” $42 each, 6.2ml.
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