Ethical Beauty Spotlight

Ethical Beauty Spotlight: Sweet LeiLani Cosmetics

An ethical beauty brand made of natural ingredients that also brings no harm to animals or to our planet...yes, please! I discovered and fell in love with Sweet LeiLani Cosmetics because of what they stand for...ethical beauty practices. Products that harm living beings, or bring harm to our environment are far from beautiful. I do not want to put harsh chemicals on my skin and I do not support endangering animals or the planet in the name of “beauty”...seems like a no brainer but unfortunately, many brands in the cosmetics industry prefer to cut corners and sell products that should never be made. Here is the breakdown of what makes Sweet LeiLani Cosmetics such a beautiful brand...inside and out!

Vegan and Cruelty Free

No animal should ever be used for testing cosmetics, period. Sweet LeiLani Cosmetics understands this and that is why they do not conduct animal testing in any way whatsoever. If they can create beautiful products, why can’t other brands? Rabbits, mice, rats, and guinea pigs are usually the victims to this horrendous practice which includes many torturous procedures including being burned, shaved, and forced fed to determine what a lethal consumption amount would be. These animals suffer blindness, swollen eyes, and internal bleeding before they are put to death by asphyxiation...yes, they break their necks or decapitate their heads. According to the Human Society International, approximately 100,000 to 200,000 animals die every year in the U.S. due to animal testing. 

Some brands actually use animal by products in their formulas such as crushed beetles, guanine (which is bat poop, yes, you read that correctly), animal fat, and gelatin which consists of boiled animal skin, ligaments, tendons and bones. Urine from pregnant horses is extracted for estrogen in cream based products. If you’re just a bit nauseous after reading this, that means you understand why Sweet LeiLani Cosmetics do not use animal by products as no brand ever should.

Free of Parabens, Gluten, & Fragrance

Another reason why Sweet LeiLani Cosmetics totally rocks is because they do not believe in putting parabens, gluten, and fragrance into their products. Who wants to put processed garbage on their face? Not us! Parabens are unnecessarily used as a preservative in cosmetics and critics suggest that parabens may be directly linked to health risks such as chronic diseases, and cancers. Products containing gluten can create havoc on individuals with gluten sensitivities or Celiac Disease, and it’s just not needed in makeup...so why bother with it?! Similar to gluten, adding fragrances can cause skin irritation even if you don’t have an immediate reaction. According to the Environmental Working Group, long term use of cosmetics with fragrances can lead to hormone dysfunction, reproductive issues, and have also been linked to breast cancer and diabetes.

I apologize if you are feeling a little depressed after reading this but as consumers, we need to be aware of the grim reality of what really goes on behind the scenes at cosmetic companies. The good news is that now more than ever consumers are demanding transparency and are starting to ask questions about where their products come from, how it’s made, and what ingredients are being used. Be a part of the social mission and demand change by supporting ethical brands that care about people, animals, and our planet. 

One more awesome fact about Sweet LeiLani Cosmetics is that the packaging is completely made out of 100% post consumer ecological material and vegetable ink. These cosmetics are truly ethical from the inside out! 

You can discover more about Sweet LeiLani’s Cosmetics here.

P.S. I must mention that I am simply a fan of the company and we just happen to share the same name (with different capitalizations).