Wellness

6 Black-Owned Wellness Businesses to Support this February and Beyond

published on February 13, 2023 by Mindy Chung

It’s that time of year again! February is Black History Month, and that means we get to discover—and promote—Black-owned brands and companies we may not have heard of before. So in case you’ve been meaning to look up some new sustainable alternatives and ways to support small Black-owned businesses, here’s 6 bookmark for your next trip to the wellness aisle!

Brown Girl Jane

Black female owned and operated, BGJ focuses on resolving inequity in the wellness space for WOC. The company sells an array of fragrances, CBD supplements, skincare, and candles—all ethically sourced, vegan, and cruelty-free. Their pledge for transparency means you can see what ingredients they don’t include, and their 3^rd party lab test result here.

Oui the People

While this company may sound more like a fragrance brand than the last, Oui the People actually sells personal grooming supplies—most notably their razors. Their mission statement outlines how they’re creating sustainability from “product to packaging” with their reusable glass bottles and stainless-steel recyclable blade heads, as well as reiterating their commitment to continue creating more opportunities for sustainability in their process.

Olamina Botanicals

Centered in healing with herbalism and holistic solutions, Olamina is an incredibly curated and seasonal apothecary. The company sources their ingredients directly from a community of medicinal herb farmers, as well as from plants they grow and harvest themselves. This Black-female founded brand offers salves, tinctures, tonics, and more. All with the intention of empowering you to heal your mind, body, and spirit.

Reel Paper

Eco club member Reel has created a tree-free, sustainable toilet paper alternative out of bamboo (that’s surprisingly soft!). The B-Corp Certified company not only packages in plastic-free recyclable paper and biodegradable packing materials, they also work to offset any carbon emissions created by their supply chain through partnerships with Flexport and the Carbonfund.org Foundation. Set up a recurring subscription and never worry about running out again, and find more ways to make your bathroom more sustainable here.

Honeypot

A Black female-founded and owned period product company Honeypot gives back in multiple ways. The products themselves are hypoallergenic, plant-based, cruelty free, and Organic Content Standard (OCS) certified. Honeypot also dedicates a percentage of its sales to donate to organizations that support sexual wellness services, clean water and menstrual product accessibility, and health education.

BLK+GRN

BLK+GRN is a collection of Black female artisans whose products have been vetted to create a sustainability-centric marketplace. Their mission is to create a space that funds Black women and their businesses while offering non-toxic health and wellness products to Black consumers. Their rigorous 4 step approval process ensures that every product offered on their platform is sustainably sourced and packaged, made of clean ingredients and tested for efficacy by in-house professionals.

While this is only a minute sampling of the vastly untapped market of Black-owned businesses—concentrated here in the wellness space—hopefully one or two of the names on this list caught your attention. These companies all work towards the betterment of the Black community; giving back monetarily or by creating a product that fills a need for a green alternative to everyday goods. Allyship doesn’t always have to be something you share on your social media. Sometimes all you have to do to support POC businesses is wipe with bamboo.

6 Powerhouse Mushrooms to Add to Your Diet

published on July 5, 2022 by Mindy Chung

I don’t know why, but talking about mushrooms always makes me giggle. Maybe it’s because when you mention mushrooms people seem to imagine hippies, and tie-dye, and lots of fringe. They think that you’re going to tell them a story about transcending the universe or limping through a bad trip. But with the rise in holistic health and natural supplements, mushrooms have taken on a whole new purpose and image in the public eye.

Curiosity and experimentation have driven a new interest in the health benefits of non-psychoactive mushrooms; they’ve been shown to help with anxiety, stress, and even sleep. And while I can’t choose the best mushroom supplement for your personal needs, this guide will help you decipher which mushroom has the kind of benefits you’re looking for. Here are the 6 most common mushrooms you’ll find today, and what they’re supposed to help with.

best mushroom supplement for health + what they do

Cordyceps for energy

These mushrooms are known for helping your body oxygenate more efficiently. That means better blood flow, and in turn, more energy. Cordyceps are a great choice for athletes or anyone prioritizing their physical health. They’ve been shown to improve performance, speed up recovery time, and may also help with libido. So, whether you’re trying to work up a sweat in the gym, or in the bedroom, this mushroom has got your back.

Lion’s Mane for the brain

One of the most potent medicinal mushrooms, lion’s mane is a fantastic aid for mental clarity and cognition. Full of antioxidants, this hairy mushroom boosts immunity while lowering anxiety. It helps to create calm focus, promotes memory retention, and is great for anyone who needs help studying. It’s amazing for brain health because it fosters and promotes nerve growth and preservation, which can help prevent neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s later on in life.

Reishi for your mood

I feel like out of all the mushroom supplements, reishi has been dominating center stage the last few years. It’s no surprise when you consider its calming effects; in a world that’s full of stressful situations, I’m sure everyone could use some help relaxing now and then. The effects of reishi can also help with depression and sleep as it boosts and stabilizes your mood via the powerful antioxidant, triterpene, it contains. So if you’re looking for something to help you wake up a little happier every day, or maintain your mood throughout the day, reishi may be just what you need.

Turkey Tail for immunity

I always think this is such a funny name, but if you’ve ever seen a fresh turkey tail, you’d know the moniker is pretty accurate. This striped and fan-shaped mushroom has been studied for its cancer-fighting properties, and contains a compound called polysaccharide-K (PSK) which is known to stimulate the immune system. Turkey tail is so effective it’s used in Asia as a supplement to cancer treatments, and is being studies for its potential to slow tumor growth. This mushroom is a great choice for anyone who is particularly conscientious about their physical health and wellness.

Chaga for aging

While every one of these mushrooms is a great source of antioxidants, chaga is a particularly great choice for combating oxidative stress, which is known to cause skin aging. Its anti-inflammatory properties mean that it can also help with feeling old, and not just with physical signs of aging. This is a great choice for someone who may be a little older, who wants to look as youthful as they feel.

Shiitake for cholesterol

A common edible mushroom used in a variety of cuisines, shiitakes make seem more like an average joe in comparison to the other fungi on this list. But while the delicious umami-flavor may be what initially attracts you to this mushroom, shiitakes are actually also known to promote heart health and lower cholesterol. They contain eritadenine, a compound that inhibits an enzyme that can contribute to the production of cholesterol, as well as sterols, which block cholesterol absorption in your body. So, if you’re looking to switch out the Cheerios or Special K for something less sugary, shiitakes may be something you’d like to add to your diet.

Have you ever tried a mushroom supplement?

The Self Care Habits to Build Now For The New Year

published on November 29, 2021 by Angela Hamilton

A few weeks ago I was chatting with Tatiana of Zuahaza about their latest decor collection Hichu (photographed throughout the post by Victoria Holguin Fotografia) and the topic of self care came up. Their cozy pillows, throws, and scarves are definitely tailor-made for day of self care: relaxing, meditating, enjoying a good tea or read. But as important as we all know (and tell each other) it is to put ourselves first, when the holiday season comes… well, all bets are off.

It makes sense, right? It’s the season of gratitude and giving, and self care hardly seems caring. But (are you ahead of me here?) we can really only give our bests to others when we feel energized and inspired to, and that doesn’t happen without self care. It’s easy to think it’s fair or fine to deplete ourselves throughout the season, with the intention of turning it all around in the new year. I hear you, I am there right now.

Let me first say that self care isn’t a reward; you don’t need to have committed a number of selfless acts to deem yourself worthy of your own attention. Self care isn’t the solution to burnout, it’s the prevention.

All year I’ve been experimenting with self care activities in hopes they’ll become habits engrained deeper than other less successful coping mechanisms I’ve tried. While each still (and may always) require an effort, there are a few that I can’t imagine walking into 2022 without. Of course, for every one that has worked, there’s something that hasn’t. Self care is all about finding ways to care for your own wellbeing that are right for you. Your work isn’t done unless you are finding healthy ways to cope with and ease stress, restore energy, tune into yourself, and feel good.

self care habits to build now for the new year

daily self check-ins

The most important habit I’ve built this year is to check in on myself throughout the day—whether it’s a work day or weekend. It started as scheduled moments: checking in with myself while practicing better breathing (see below) or while on a meditative walk. I’d try to tune into how I felt at the moment, what I was anxious about, how I could feel better, not just what was next on my to do list.

After a few months I realized those check-ins had made it easier to recognize (and most importantly, pause to correct) when I was feeling super nervous, tense, down, etc. Instead of letting an entire day go by in a funk, I’d acknowledge it, then use one of my other self care habits to cope.

That might be my most important lesson learned this year. You can’t take care of yourself if you don’t recognize when you need care. We recognize it in our pets, our partners, our kids, but it’s harder to see it in the mirror.

self care every day, but not all day

There’s one other hurdle to actually making your own wellness a habit, and that’s the idea that it needs to be an entire act or routine. I mean, how often are we talking about routines? As part of these habits, I also spent the year trying (and falling off of and trying again) to build a morning ritual. Starting the morning off right is the ultimate self care, I’ve heard. But we don’t always have a ton of time in the morning. So you have to fit it in where you can. Maybe it’s only ten or twenty minutes in the morning, then another 15 at lunch, then a one minute breathing exercise before that afternoon Zoom call.

You want to know how to use self care throughout your day, and not think of it has a few hours or a day here and there to make up for lost time.

To truly care for yourself, you need to weave these acts of self-compassion and mindfulness throughout your day, each day. But it doesn’t have to mean long hours in a yoga class, meditating, or at the spa (unless you can!).

pinpoint your favorite mini acts of self care

You might be wondering what acts of self care I’ve been talking about. What’s inside those ten or twenty minute pockets? I’ve tried many, but these made a difference for me. They are acts that make me feel more calm and centered after, and that I know I can return to whenever, even discreetly if I need to, throughout my day.

Breathing better. The book Breath by James Nestor taught me the importance of and science behind breathing correctly. Slow, deep inhales through the nose and full exhales. I finally understand why people started advising others to take “deep breaths” in chaotic situations. I practice as often as I remember throughout the day, but I make a more dedicated effort when I have a few minutes to focus.

EFT Tapping. I learned about tapping on Instagram, actually, as a lot of mental health accounts I follow recommend it for anxiety and stress. It involves gently tapping acupressure points on your own body while bringing a specific stressor to the mind.

Journaling. Journaling is the one habit I’ve kept most of my life, and I fall off enough to know just how much better I feel when I’m “on”. I prefer to journal in the morning, when I have time alone. But sometimes if I can’t sleep at night or feel beyond overwhelmed, a quick journal session can help greatly. It essentially forces you to focus only on one thought (or worry) at a time, and once you start writing it down you naturally begin to release the stress, or think of solutions.

Walking meditation. I’ve always gone on walks almost daily. Eventually I learned that my walks (I don’t listen to music or podcasts) are the best time to be both inside my head and out. I spend sometime simply thinking, letting my mind wander. And I spend other moments observing my surroundings, appreciating details. I’m as intentional as possible, yet I feel free. If you find it hard to settle into a sitting meditation, give it a try.

The best part of these acts? Each can be done for as little or as long a time as you’d like. Often my tapping sessions are less than ten minutes. It’s one of my favorite ways to calm down when I’m faced with a stressful situation head on. I’ll do a few rounds and with each tap the tension eases just a bit. More importantly, it gives me a second to realize I can handle what’s coming my way. Hard to realize that when you’re too busy preparing!

Reflecting on my wellness journey in 2021, I can see that these self care habits have truly made a difference. I’ve built them slowly and imperfectly. But the holiday season, wonderful as it is, IS stressful. Instead of letting the overwhelm build into the new year, I’m staying on it. Practicing, practicing. There will always be overwhelming situations, but I’m feeling a bit better about my response to them now.

What self care habits have you built this year? What do you want to change or add in the new year? Thanks to Zuahaza for sharing the photos to go along with this essay. Shop the Hichu collection here.

How I Green My Natural Hair Routine + DIY Natural Shea Butter Hair Cream

published on September 16, 2021 by Tatyana Thomas

The natural hair journey is a long (very long), beautiful process. In the beginning, it takes a lot of patience, adaptability, and trial and error. Sounds similar to the sustainable living journey, doesn’t it? Keep reading to learn more about my own sustainable natural hair care journey, including my tips for keeping the process as eco-friendly as possible.

Cleansing

As naturals, we have to be very mindful of the products that we put into our hair and the ingredients they contain. Sulphates and other drying ingredients can lead to breakage and damage in the long run. Not to mention, most hair care products come in plastic packaging, and a laundry list of not-so-sustainable ingredients.

A great alternative to conventional natural hair care products is African Black Soap. It’s all natural, chemical-free, and detoxifying. You can find it at your local beauty supply store in the soap aisle. You can also find similar products on Etsy or from seller Ethical Chick (pictured below), who uses ethically sourced products and recycled packaging.

Moisturizing with DIY Shea Butter Hair Cream

The next big staple in sustainable natural hair care is a nourishing moisturizer. Whether you use the LOC method or you do a wash and go, moisture is important. I enjoy making my own DIY shea butter cream, full of enriching oils. All you need is refined shea butter (not the yellow one!), jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, and any other oils that you hair loves. Mix thoroughly, until all oils are blended. Be sure to keep it in an air tight container. The cream lasts for months, and can be used on your hair and body.

Styling and Protecting with Thrifted Scarves

Now that you’ve cleansed and moisturized, it’s time to style your thick curls. To avoid tangling and breakage, I usually put my hair into a protective style, like 2 strand twists. This helps to lock the moisture into hair and protect your ends. My favorite way to dress up my twists are with head wraps and scarves, which you can easily find at your local thrift store! I have gotten most of the scarves in my collection for $3 each. Plus, thrift shops are always the best for finding fun colors, textures, and fabrics that no one else will have. I love this video by Jae from faceovermatter over on Youtube and was inspired to create my own version to share on Insta:

When you start on a more eco friendly lifestyle, you realize just how many areas of your life are connected to this journey. Once you find what works for you in both your sustainable and natural hair journeys, you’ll feel empowered to bring sustainability to other parts of your routine. It can be challenging but you’re guaranteed to learn a bunch of unique and inventive things along the way.

What are your favorite sustainable natural hair care products and tips? Would you like to see more posts on this topic? Let us know!

10 CBD Brands To Know About

published on July 28, 2021 by Mindy Chung

Last month we came out with a blog debating the sustainability of the CBD industry. And as heavily hinted/promised, this month we have a list of 10 #ecoclubapproved CBD companies that emphasize sustainability within their business models! Each brand has its own set of priorities when it comes to sustainability (and as with all things small business, no single bran can do it *all*), but today we’re focusing on sustainable packaging, Black female owned brands, and those with an emphasis on local sourcing. Let’s get into it.

cbd brands with sustainable packaging

I’m going to be 100% with y’all—finding companies that were dedicated to and implementing sustainable packaging was unexpectedly difficult. Which is why I applaud these brands all the more for taking that extra step to reduce their impact on Mother Nature.

Floramye
First up is eco club directory member, Floramye. They were instrumental in the creation of my original blog on CBD, and base their brand mission on practicing sustainability with all their products. Floramye stresses the importance of ethical and sustainable packaging; utilizing recyclable Italian glass with wood lids, and excluding any paper products while minimizing the use of plastic.

Daughter of the Land
Founded in 2017, every aspect of member Daughter of the Land focuses on sustainability, from their organic and fair-trade food grade ingredients, to their biodegradable and fully recyclable packaging. All of Daughter of the Land’s CBD products are packaged in compostable, recyclable, or reusable containers.

Plant People
While Plant People does source its ingredients globally, they are exceptionally transparent about where each component comes from. They also avoid plastic and dyes in their packaging, using 100% recycled and 100% biodegradable cellulose tissue in their shipping cushioning.

Black female-owned cbd brands

There is something especially beautiful about the Black community reclaiming an industry they have been disproportionately victimized in. These bad-ass boss babes have all shown up in different ways, but are still creating equally important impacts for their community and the environment.

Frigg
Created by the former CMO of Papa & Barkley (another CBD company), Frigg is a female-founded company. The company stresses transparency in all aspects of its business; their site provides easy access to their product philosophy, sustainable practices, and ingredients used, with blurbs about each of their benefits.

Buena Botanicals
Family-owned and founded by twin sisters, Buena Botanicals products are organic, hand-harvested, eco-responsible, and ethically grown in full sun and organic soil at a cooperative out of Colorado.

Undefined Beauty
Sh(EO) Dorian Morris founded Undefined Beauty with the intention of democratizing wellness. Undefined Beauty is sustainably sourced, cruelty-free, and accessibly priced; an element that’s hard to come by with niche commodities like CBD.

locally sourced cbd

9 times out of 10, it’s easier for US businesses to cut costs by outsourcing production to overseas factories where workers are under paid and subject to unsafe conditions. That’s why these companies—with their dedication to eco-friendly and U.S. sourced hemp—are truly changing what it means to be a sustainability-minded business.

Charlotte’s Web
Anyone who knows anything about the medicinal properties of cannabis and cannabis by-products has probably heard of Charlotte’s Web. What originally started out as a family venture to help one special needs child, has developed into a full-blown business that now grows its hemp on certified organic U.S. family farms.

Hollingsworth Hemp
This Washington-based CBD company truly emphasizes its family-owned and operated beginnings. All Hollingsworth Hemp CBD hemp is grown on their family farm in small batches and “Grandma Dorothy Approved”.

Verma Farms
Inspired by the Hawaiian islands, Verma Farms products are organic and made with pesticide free, unadulterated American-grown hemp. (P.S. they have a pet CBD line for any of you with fur children!)

Dazey CBD
Dazey CBD may be the paradigm of what locally sourced CBD should look like. As they put it on their website, “happy cows may come from California, but happy hemp comes from Oregon.” Dazey grows their CBD hemp open-air, and has the drone footage to prove it.

Hopefully, this list has given you all a few ideas if you’ve been curious about CBD brands. There’s many reasons to try and seek out sustainable brands, but first and foremost is the unavoidable reality that CBD is a consumable good. If you’re opting for a holistic health product, you probably don’t want to skimp on quality.

Let us know down below what you look for when choosing a CBD brand!

Top Rated Clean Beauty Products for 2021

published on March 12, 2021 by Angela Hamilton
updated on November 2, 2021

Few things are more satisfying than finding your new go-to beauty or skincare product. It can take a lot of trial and error (AKA wasted dollars) to find the right fit for your needs and coveted look. Choosing clean beauty adds a layer of complexity because 1) products are usually made with less conventional ingredients, so you aren’t quite sure about effectiveness, impact, etc., and 2) if you are searching for clean beauty, chances are you simply want to ensure your products aren’t made from potential toxins. But what are those toxins, anyway? And do we trust the people saying they are toxic? What do we know?! Acccck. Lastly, there’s the added concern that the term green beauty attempts to address, which is whether the making of your beauty products are harmful to animals or the environment.

And unfortunately, yes, the criticisms that green beauty faces are correct–it’s still part of a largely unregulated industry that allows any company to label their product in any way they’d like, which means of course that they can claim something is or isn’t toxic or environmentally friendly or whatever, as long as it’s in accordance with their own self-made standards. I’ve taken this into account when choosing products to link to on our site, but I certainly don’t know all the answers! I just know the companies I’m personally comfortable buying from.

All that to say, take the term ‘clean beauty’ with a gain of salt. There isn’t currently a perfect umbrella term for beauty that respects nature, animals, people, and stays clear of harmful chemicals, and has a proper certification system. The list below is a compilation of the top rated clean beauty products in 2021 across many sources, but uh huh, being green as well is a big deal to us too, so that’s definitely a factor in what we’ve chosen here too.

Tower 28 Shine On Lip Jelly is high shine and super moisturizing. It’s non-comedogenic, non-irritating, gluten and fragrance-free, since it’s designed for sensitive skin. See their no-no list right here. It’s also vegan and made in USA.

Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser is top rated because it’s super effective on many skin types and smells great. Another Credo Beauty (who has the most extensive clean beauty standards) approved product, Indie Lee is pretty focused on empowering the consumer… Check out their blog and podcast for more education on specific ingredients and industry knowledge. They’re always made with ethically sourced ingredients and eco friendly packaging. They also have a recycling program.

Glow Elixir CBD Beauty Oil from Undefined Beauty is hydrating, lightweight, and CBD infused. Their “free-from” list is pretty extensive and includes artificial dyes and synthetic fragrances. It’s vegan and made in USA.

Eu’Genia Shea Butter only contains one ingredient, 100% pure shea butter harvested with a cooperative in Northern Ghana. Loved because it’s super moisturizing, dermatological strength, and good for sensitive skin and skin issues.

Saie Dew Balm is touted as a effective, dewy buildable highlighter that includes a unique ingredient: marshmallow root extract. They are committed to nontoxic, ethically sourced ingredients.

Clean beauty coveted ILIA’s Limitless Lash Mascara has some of the best ratings of any mascara for its non-clumping, non-smudge formula. It was named best in green beauty by Allure, Glamour, and The Detox Market. It is made from 99% naturally derived ingredients. Ilia is also part of Terracycle.

Exa High Fidelity Foundation comes in 45 shades, no wonder it’s top rated! It’s also plant based, cruelty free, vegan, dermatologist tested, and safe for sensitive skin. When it comes to packaging, they have yet to ditch plastic completely (because of the pump and cap, like most beauty brands), but they say they’re looking for solutions.

Kari Gran Lip Whip is loved by those who prefer a natural looking lip color that doesn’t dry you out. Kari Gran uses organic ingredients and sustainable practices such as their ‘plastic neutral’ promise, which is kind of an interesting way to approach the plastic in beauty issue.

Kosas The Sun Show Moisturizing Baked Bronzer is a top rated fragrance-free, talc-free bronzer made with shea butter. They’re also leaping bunny certified. See more here.

More of a skincare product, Kinships’s Self Reflect Sunscreen is making waves as an effective mineral sunscreen with plant-based probiotics. It’s super lightweight and easy to use as a base below your makeup.

Mischo Beauty Worthy Nail Polish is known for their luxe vegan nail polishes and this is rated best of the best. Everyone loves that they’re glossy, durable, and chip-resistant.

Axiology Vegan Lipstick is top rated as a non-drying formula with many gorgeous hues! They’re PETA certified, and between their natural ingredients and amazing packaging (including their zero waste balmies that you know we are obsessed with), I think they’re one of the greenest beauty brands out there.

Another Ilia product made the list of top rated clean beauty. ILIA Multi Stick is an award-winning multi-use product. Personally I love multi-sticks like this. It’s definitely sustainable not to have to buy multiple products!

54 Thrones Beauty Butter is having a moment due to its nourishing shea butter formula (not to mention, beautiful branding and feature in Oprah’s favorite things!) that’s also Paraben-Free, Cruelty-Free, GMO-free, and Sulfate-Free.

When it comes to eye makeup, Aether Beauty Amethyst Crystal Gemstone Palette mixes pretty hues with moisturizing ingredients like coconut oil to keep things smooth and glowy. The only fragrance included comes from essential oils. Also Credo Beauty approved.

Have you tried any of these top rated clean beauty products? Any of your favorite brands on the list? Stay tuned because we’ll be sharing reviews for a few of these trendy options!