Philosophy is about more than good skin — it’s about giving back: to Mother Nature, to women, and to those with mental health challenges.
In the 1800s women went all out in the name of beauty, and a targeted skin-care regimen was front and centre in the quest for beautiful skin. However, not all treatments were particularly good for you.
Mrs. S.D. Powers, a beauty columnist for Harper’s Bazaar in the 19th century, advised women to consider coating their face with opium overnight, followed by a vigorous wash of ammonia in the morning for fresh, clean skin. Arsenic wafers served to add radiance (and cleared the skin of freckles and tan) and nightly mercury eye treatments made those peepers really stand out.
Luckily, more care and consideration go into skin-care products today, and Philosophy — a brand that was launched in 1996 by a female medical aesthetician — makes products that are not only good for the skin, but for the mind and planet as well.
Philosophy began with the idea that high-quality, all-natural skin care could, indeed, enhance a person’s looks, but it could also serve a grander purpose, to take small steps, every day, to care for ourselves, each other, and the world around us. In other words, true beauty is more than skin deep.
What does it mean to be “clean”
Step into any retail beauty brand store and you’ll find several products that call themselves clean, but what does “clean” really mean?
Clean skin-care and fragrance products are those that use sustainable plant-based ingredients and safe synthetics, with the goal of being non-toxic to the user and the environment. And, while the Canadian government has rules and regulations surrounding the use of certain chemicals and compounds, Philosophy goes beyond what’s required by authorities, and over and above some of its main competitors, to create safe, high-performance products.
At the start of 2022, the brand renewed its pledge to eliminate ingredients we now know are dangerous — like parabens, BHT, and phthalates — from all new products and to re-formulate existing ones to be in line with the brand’s clean commitment.
Clean skin-care and fragrance products are those that use sustainable plant-based ingredients and safe synthetics, with the goal of being non-toxic to the user and the environment.
Putting words into action
Philosophy has always stood for being kind to Mother Nature and, as the brand has grown, so has its determination to protect her.
The brand relies on biotechnology, whereby active ingredients are produced by bio-fermentation or cell culture, high-quality synthetics, and responsibly sourced natural ingredients to produce its skin care, but this is only the beginning.
Its manufacturing plant uses 100 per cent renewable energy and Philosophy is working to offset 100 per cent of its carbon footprint by the end of 2023. And the brand is transitioning its packaging to FSC-certified recycled paperboard and post-consumer recycled plastic and glass, saving up to 45 tonnes of virgin paper and 80 tonnes of virgin plastic each year.
Philosophy also sources services that operate in an ethical, sustainable, and socially conscious way. Supply chain partners and businesses must demonstrate responsible practices through third-party assessments and audits and must comply with high standards in the areas of human and labour rights, environmental protection, and anti-corruption.
Philosophy has always stood for being kind to Mother Nature and, as the brand has grown, so has its determination to protect her.
Beauty with a purpose
One of the first things you notice about Philosophy that makes it stand out on the shelves is its inspirational product names, such as Hope in a Jar and Eye Anti-Wrinkle Miracle Worker. These anti-aging products come with motivational taglines, like “Live with optimism, renew with hope” and “When you embrace today and believe in tomorrow, it’s always your time.” But these aren’t just clever names and slogans — Philosophy’s founder went through some rough times herself and had a vision of always giving back.
A charity focused on mental health and well-being was founded by the brand named the Hope & Grace Initiative. A portion of every product sold goes to support community-based mental health efforts.
According to research conducted by the organization, more than 450 million people worldwide suffer from mild to serious mental health issues — such as post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, self-esteem issues, and financial stress — all of which disproportionately affect women around the world. This translates to one in five adults suffering from mental illness in any given year. Philosophy takes this seriously and has donated $5.8 billion to the charity since 2014, providing a great deal of hope and grace to a lot of people, because when we give, we also get.
