I love bath and body goods. Specifically, I love bath and body goods made by independent all-natural companies that are headed or co-headed by women. Here are some reasons to buy independent:
1) Limited or no artificial ingredients.
2) Incredible quality.
3) Environmentally conscious.
4) You're actually supporting a small business, rather than a huge toiletry conglomerate.
5) Great customer service.
6) The customer is assumed to be intelligent.
7) Supporting women financially is an important tenet of feminism, and until the day we have mandated maternity leave, universal day care, and other services women need, one of the most effective ways you can support women is with your dollar.
Here are some of my favorite companies from which to purchase:
Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab: Founded by Elizabeth Barrial (nee Moriarty), this perfume oil company sells concentrated oils that you can wear straight on your skin, or use to make your own scented products. They have a general catalog with scents based on Shakespeare, Alice in Wonderland, Neil Gaiman, and more. They also have seasonal and monthly limited edition scents. I recommend joining a community such as Sin and Salvation or bpal.org to get started. The turnaround time is a little slow, but always worth it, and the lab is very communicative.
Villainess Soaps: My favorite B&B company, hands down. Brooke Stant is the owner of this one, and everything is handmade by her and her staff. With clever names and a beautiful site design, this company appeals to anyone with a spark of adventure. There are limited edition seasonal blends here as well. The turnaround time is extremely rapid, and the communication is fabulous. Plus, if you order $100 worth, shipping is free!
The Soap Box Company: This is an amazing woman-owned etailer that sells items from many woman-owned companies, including Arcana Soaps (a personal favorite), Villainess, Bunny Butt, Bella Lucce, and more. The company is currently readjusting after a move and site revamp, but the quality of goods just keeps getting better, the turnaround time is rapid, and the customer service is great. Orders over $100 ship free, and you can frequently get free stuff!
LUSH: The most mainstream of the companies I'm going to list (this one has actual storefronts), LUSH is also the most up front about their environmental concerns. Founded by a husband-and-wife team, LUSH recently pledged to stop using palm oil, and proceeds from select goods go to different charities worldwide. Most (if not all) of the wrappings they use are recyclable, and their shampoo bars (a personal fave) require no plastic bottle. All LUSH products are vegetarian, and some are even vegan. The quality is incredible, and the retail customer service is amazing.
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