The newest buzzword in the beauty industry quickly rising in popularity is blue beauty. Aptly named, blue beauty focuses on making products safe for both the ocean and sea life. In a movement founded by Jeannie Jarnot, she explains blue beauty more in-depth in an article with Elle magazine. Jeannie said, “A lot of people associated blue with being ocean-friendly. And that is a part of it, but there’s more to it. Blue Beauty brands make sure their products are environment friendly – which includes being ocean safe as well as sustainably sourced, minimizing carbon footprint, etc. It also looks at ways their practices contribute back to and have a net positive effect on the environment.” Blue beauty is not only a significant trend, it is something the beauty industry should have focused on long ago.
The beauty industry may not like to advertise that they are one of the most significant contributors to plastic waste. However, it’s the truth. Every year, over 8 million tons of plastic are found in the ocean. This is a startling statistic that should shock those who hear it. Those in the movement hope to morph the beauty industry to be more proactive instead of reactive in terms of sustainability.
The movement is still in its early ages. Blue beauty has made headlines for the last year, and many small indie brands are following the trend. However, in terms of industry giants, this may take a few years to stick officially. Cruelty-free, vegan products and clean ingredients are all beauty buzzwords that have been floating around for years. However, even some of the biggest brands still have yet to follow these trends.
However, do not be discouraged. Japanese beauty giant Shiseido is stepping into the blue beauty game. Shiseido announced their “Shiseido Blue Project” that aims to “respect oceans, protect beauty.” Although this may seem like small steps for a big company, as the company is teaming up with world conservation leaders to “conserve 30% of the ocean by 2030, it is a forward movement.
The industry as a whole is on the road to change, with help from younger generations taking control and using their buying power for good. Many of the big blue beauty brands are new and small and do not have billions of dollars of capital, but they are run by hard-working people who have a passion for positive change. As consumers, if this is what we want for our future, safe products for us and help preserve the environment, we need to spend our money to reflect our beliefs.
The beauty industry may seem like an impenetrable place that is secure and never moving or changing. But we have the power for change. The products are supposed to be made to feel our best selves, not ruin our homes. Remember that buying wisely does not mean giving up great, fun, and exciting products.
One of the most well-known brands that focus on the ocean is Tower 28 Beauty. A brand written about in giant beauty publications is in Sephora and has beautifully pigmented products. You should watch several others on the rise, like Blue Heron Botanicals, Mara beauty, One Ocean Beauty, etc., if blue beauty interests you.
Words by Annika Petersen.
Graphic by Fai McCurdy.