Weekly Roundup: Lush’s cruelty-free EU campaign, Kosa names Angela Stevens as ambassador

01 Apr 2022 --- This week in personal care news, ethical beauty and personal care brand Lush has announced its “Keep the Cages Empty” campaign, in addition to unveiling its first vitamin C product, a color-changing facial scrub. Haircare brand Kosa Professionals revealed award-winning hairstylist Angela Stevens as its new brand ambassador. Colgate promoted its recycled plastic products for World Earth Day. Meanwhile, Míage Skincare will be featured in the 64th Grammy Gift Lounge.

Brand campaigns
Kosa Professionals has announced its new brand ambassador as Angela Stevens, an Emmy Award-winning hairstylist and children’s book author. Kosa and Steven’s partnership will see Stevens help educate consumers on how to properly style their hair using Kosa’s heat tools for all hair types. Stevens is known for versatile and trendy looks and has worked with major pop culture influences such as Rihanna and Keke Palmer. Stevens has worked with celebrities including Rihanna, Lupita Nyong’o, Keke Palmer and Rita Ora.Currently, she works as the hairstylist for the Oprah Winfrey Network series, All Rise.

Lush recently launched its campaign for a cruelty-free cosmetics industry in the European Union (EU). The Keep the Cages Empty campaign, in support of Humane Society International (HSI), seeks to combat regulatory demands for cosmetics testing on animals before sale. Notably, Lush accuses the EU of going back on its word to strive for higher ethical standards with regard to the use of animals in the cosmetics and personal care industries. Lush names the European Chemicals Agency and European Commission (EC) as counter actors to an industry free of animal testing. Lush’s campaign calls for EU citizens to sign a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) to combat the EC’s regulatory walk-back. A poster for the campaign featuring the HSI’s mascot, Ralph the Bunny, laments: “The promise of a cruelty-free Europe has been broken.” The poster contains a QR code allowing residents to scan and sign the ECI easily from their phones; the campaign aims for at least one million signatures by August to compel a meaningful response from regulators.

Brand launches
In other Lush news, the company recently showcased three new exfoliators and the company’s first vitamin C product, a facial scrub. The Co-Mingle body scrub’s exfoliant comes in the form of ground tagua nut, a wild-growing legume whose production Lush says provides income for local communities and contributes to rainforest preservation. The Happy Skin facial exfoliator contains vitamin C and enzymes for clean and clear skin. The dual-use foam contains 10% vitamin c formula. The company recommends that the scrub can also be used as a mask, and the formula changes color from deep purple to light pink when rinsing off for a unique user experience. Míage's entire line will feature at the Grammys.

For this World Earth Day (April 22) Colgate is imploring users to switch out older, less environmentally friendly toothbrush models for more ecologically sustainable options, such as the Recyclean brush, made entirely from recycled plastic and plant-based materials. Also on offer is Colgate’s aluminum Link brush. As part of Colgate’s Sustainability & Social Impact Strategy, the company pledged to cut the amount of its toothbrush plastic waste in half and eliminate a third of new plastics used. The company aims to transition to 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable plastic packaging by 2025.

Meanwhile, Míage Skincare announced its entire lineup of products will feature in the official 64th Grammy Awards Gift Lounge and inside the official Talent Gift Bags. The bags, which will feature goodies will go to presenters and performers at the show. The line is waterless and offers human stem cell science along with isotonic nutrient delivery for skin. Míage’s range includes an Isotonic Eye Elixir, a night cream and day lotion, a lip treatment and a face wash.

Edited by Olivia Nelson