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“I have always believed in the healing power of nature,” says MuLondon’s founder, Bo. It is the idea at the center of the UK-based skincare company—using what our own planet provides us to thrive healthily and naturally.
An appreciation for nature and its abundant beauty and resources was instilled in Bo from an early age.
“As I was growing up, this love and fascination for the botanical world was reinforced by my mother,” he explains. “She would often talk to me about medicinal plants, their properties and their Latin names, and she would show me what natural remedy to use in case of cuts, bumps, bruises or an upset tummy. A whole new world opened up to me.”
Nature remained a throughline for Bo.
Next was a role at a biodynamic farm in Sweden. It was there, he said, that the “unspoilt coast of the magnificent Baltic Sea” made him realize the intimate connection between all things inhabiting this planet.
There was an unexpected side effect to living in Sweden, however. The combination of genes, stress and the lack of sun caused Bo to develop eczema and psoriasis, which in turn led to a drop in self-confidence. Skin and self-esteem have always gone hand-in-hand—don't you remember the days of acne, puberty, and high school? But Bo was determined to do something about this.
“I wanted an alternative to steroid creams, so I went back to my roots,” he says. “I started reading everything that I could about herbs, essential oils and natural skincare. I realized there were too many ingredients in everyday products, and most didn’t do much.”
So, he began making his own, testing them on himself and friends, and when results were successful, the idea was born to create his own line—with higher standards. Because while it is important, of course, that skincare products are safe, Bo posits they should also be effective and kind.
Revolutionary, huh?
It’s not the only way MuLondon strives for progressive practices, though. When it comes to ethics as a company, MuLondon is committed on several fronts.
“Being green is at the core of what we do. For us, it’s personal, so we choose to work with organizations and certifiers that are aligned with our values and beliefs.”
Beyond being a Green America Gold certified business, MuLondon is also registered as organic, cruelty-free, and vegan, as well as a member of 1% For the Planet and a Certified B Corp. You can read more about how MuLondon strives for these high standards here.
MuLondon is also a proud supporter of the UK LGBTQ organization Stonewall.
What does that have to do with skincare and being a green business? (Besides being featured on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, of course!)
As Bo, who is gay, put it to someone who emailed him about staying out of politics, “We are, and always have been, a political company. That is baked into our very core and what we stand for. Buying our products—buying any product—is in itself a very political act. When you do that, you’re supporting everything that company stands for.
“Our values are kindness, compassion and inclusion, and we will continue to speak up for that.”
Bo, MuLondon's Founder
It goes back to Green America’s core principle of voting with your dollar.
Being a good company is more than using recycled materials or posting Black Lives Matter on Twitter. To truly be a good company, it is about being a force for the triple bottom line: people, planet, profit. And that is where MuLondon’s support for Stonewall originates.
By being a company that is kind to the planet and people—including fair wages and demanding inclusivity—it builds a more holistic and progressive approach to the economy, of which we are all a part.
And that’s what Bo stresses—we're not alone.
“I’ve learned to ask for help - from my peers, my customers, the organizations I work with and business support networks.”
He suggests you do the same, because it can go a long way: “Ask how you can develop and what you can do better. I now understand that there’s always room for improvement. There’s so much I have learned by working with our certifiers. They have helped me see where my blind spots are.
“We can all grow and thrive in harmony if we are mindful of our relationship with nature and ourselves.”
