Intentionally supporting Black-owned businesses is one way we can do our part to promote racial justice, support entrepreneurs, and foster an inclusive green economy. We hope you’ll start with these stellar body care Green Business Network members who are creating products in a market that often ignores the needs of Black women and women of color.
4 Elements' Shampoo Bars
4 Elements {GBN} is a Chicago-based business specializing in hand-crafted bath products including soaps, scrubs, shampoos, oils, and grooming essentials. Founder Charise LeRoy’s motivation for starting the business was born out of her struggle to find soaps that wouldn’t aggravate her or her son’s skin allergies. Today, Charise serves as 4 Elements’ main artisan, creating soaps that are cold-processed, meaning they retain the nutrients of vitamins and minerals.
4 Elements’ Silk Clarifying Shampoo Bar ($15) contains silk amino acids and multiple oils, and makes a thoughtful gift for the eco-conscious friend on the go.
“The shampoo bars are one of my favorite new products. They’re made with a cold-processed soap that makes a tremendous amount of suds and gets the job done beautifully,” says LeRoy. “Our portable soaps also come in paper packaging so there’s no plastic.”
Plain Jane Beauty's Setting Mist
Skin, Mind, Body Essentials {GBN} is a wellness and beauty company founded by entrepreneur Lake Louise in 2002. Since then, Louise has developed four brands under her company. SMB Essentials includes flagship skin care line Lotus Moon, along with DetoxRx, Plain Jane, and SON for men. Gold-certified Green Business Network member SMB prides itself on its commitment to sourcing cruelty-free, plant-based ingredients and recyclable packaging materials.
Plain Jane Beauty is a purposefully inclusive eco-beauty line offering plant-based make-up foundations, and accessories. In 2019, fragrance-free Coconut Water Setting Mist ($28) was a Healing Lifestyles Earth Day Beauty Awards winner and contains the star ingredients of coconut water, calendula flower, and poppy seed oil.
“This is a must-have for anyone who wears makeup,” says Louise. “The mist instantly absorbs into the skin and adds a soft-focus finish. It also contains revitalizing coconut water electrolytes.”
NAIWBE's MENA Body Moisturizer
In 2011, Sylvia Walker, RN, became an “eco-preneur” when she launched the eco-friendly skin care line NAIWBE (Natural As I Wanna Be) {GBN}. The business offers cleaners and moisturizers, and the website transparently lists ingredients used in each NAIWBE product. Walker also hosts a wellness podcast which can also be found on her website. The Moisturizing Emollient Nourishing Agrarian body moisturizer ($24.99) is gluten-free and made with 95 percent organic ingredients including lemongrass, moringa, shea butter, lecithin, and multiple oils.
“This is our signature certified organic and dermatologist tested product for people with all skin types and dry skin issues,” says Walker. “Hand sanitizers can also be really rough on the skin and with people using them more diligently now, this moisturizer can be helpful.”
Walker is currently offering discount codes and encourages interested customers to reach her at info@naiwbellc.net.
Shop and support Black-owned businesses in your local community and online by visiting GreenPages.org.
