7 sustainable beauty brands by Latinx entrepreneurs

September 15-October 15 is officially National Hispanic Heritage Month, where we recognize the accomplishments of Hispanic Americans and how they’ve influenced American culture, history, and identity. Throughout the next month, Very Good Light will be sharing a series of stories that aim to put a spotlight on the Hispanic American experience. From Hispanic Americans in Hollywood to entrepreneurs blazing their own path, we’re telling the stories that have shaped the fabric of American culture. Hispanics are a vital part of America’s past, and their achievements are essential to a prosperous future.

The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that 1 in 3 Americans will be Hispanic by the year 2060, which means Hispanic entrepreneurship will be critical to America’s continued success.

To celebrate Latinx contributions to American culture, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite sustainable beauty and wellness brands that are owned by Latinx entrepreneurs. These products are vegan, cruelty-free, or planet-forward. You can feel good about shopping these brands to expand your beauty cabinet and support Latinx businesses. Here are seven Latinx sustainable beauty and wellness brands to shop for Hispanic Heritage Month – and always.

1. LoYo Body

LoYo Body founder Jessica Perez is a Puerto Rican sustainable skincare developer with more than seven years of experience in the beauty industry. Before launching her clean beauty product line, she worked in a spice factory and attended massage school. She’s a firm believer that our environment doesn’t have to be compromised by our beauty and skincare habits. Clean, sustainable skincare is good for the planet and good for your skin.

Perez launched with bath and body products, but LoYo Body has since expanded to offer skincare. The collection includes a cleanser, serum, soap, and more.

2. NeedCrystals

Mexican licensed esthetician Lorena Balensi has over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry. After looking into harmful cosmetic ingredients and their effects on the skin, she decided to change how she approached her facials. She opened a spa that specializes in non-traumatic chemical peels and results-oriented skincare. She launched NeedCrystals to provide her clients with microdermabrasion treatments they can do at home.

NeedCrystals are premium quality microdermabrasion crystals made from 99.55% pure white aluminum oxide and sourced from clean environments. With NeedCrystals, customers can get great results without having to come into her salon. The crystals provide optimal but gentle abrasion without damaging the delicate epidermis, or surface layer of the skin. NeedCrystals are sustainable, natural, cruelty-free, and ideal for any skin type.

3. Cuerpa

Edwin Jimenez Casanova was just 18 when he immigrated to the Bronx, New York, from the Dominican Republic. He recently launched Cuerpa, a natural beauty line created with high quality and responsibly sourced natural ingredients. Cuerpa stems from the Spanish word “cuerpo” which means body. In some Latin American countries, the word “cuerpa” is used to refer to a beautiful, voluptuous, or sensual body.

Cuerpa products are free from synthetic ingredients, parabens, phthalate, fillers, chemicals, animal testing, mineral oils, petroleum, and sodium laurel sulfate. The collection is made of innovative high-performance formulas with active ingredients such as natural herbs, clay, and vegan oils that are scented with high-quality essential oils. The beauty line offers face oils, face mists, lip balm, and more.

4. Sanara

Rebekah Jasson Jenson is a Tejana of Mexican descent who created a plant-based skincare line called Sanara. The collection celebrates indigenous Latin American botanicals by utilizing native all-natural ingredients for the products. The plant-based skincare collection is free of artificial colors or fragrances. The Sanara collection includes body oil, bath soaks, and body polishes that are packaged in containers that are meant to be repurposed. For instance, the Yerba Maté bath soak with Aloe & Jojoba oil is encased in a beautiful rose gold aluminum container that can be repurposed into a plant pot.

5. Lights Lacquer

Cuban social media superstar Kathleen Fuentes (better known as KathleenLights) is a popular beauty YouTube vlogger. She’s the mastermind behind Lights Lacquer, a vegan and cruelty-free nail polish collection which launched in 2019. The “seven-free” formula is created without toxic chemicals such as toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, TPHP, and xylene, which are common in many other non-vegan nail polishes.

Every shade of Lights Lacquer is hand-selected by Kathleen. She draws inspiration from her vast knowledge of makeup, color theory, the world around her, and Pantone reports on color trends of the season. She also names each polish. The inspiration for the names of the nail polishes ranges from Kathleen’s favorite TV shows, expressions, names of her loved ones, and crowdsourced suggestions from her fans. Past collections include GRL PWR, a tribute to women’s empowerment, and Polished Gems, a collection of colors featuring Kathleen’s favorite gemstones alexandrite, ruby, emerald, smokey quartz, amethyst, and more.

6. Marine + Vine

Chilean-American business attorney turned eco pioneer Evelyn Ginossi created the clean body care company, Marine + Vine. The idea for the collection crystalized while she was vacationing in the Mediterranean. The products continue to be influenced by her global explorations. Currently, the brand offers body oils and balm bhat transport customers’ ambiance to Tahiti.

7. Latina Beauty Box

Beauty expert Stephanie Flor curated the Latina Beauty Box inspired by her Ecuadorian and Costa Rican heritage. The self-care box intends to bring inner strength and beauty to users with an assortment of products, including a floral bath soak that will soothe tense muscles, open pores, and purify the skin. The special blend was inspired by Flor’s travels in Latin America and her indigenous roots. The mix includes salts sourced from Peru’s Sacred Valley, organic lavender, chamomile, rose petals, and more. 10% of proceeds are funneled into community development initiatives and cooperatives that promote female entrepreneurship.