Many of the chemicals I warned consumers about in the early days of my blog have since been banned, and while the topic is not uplifting, it’s great that, for example, the accumulation of microplastics in humans is now being continuously discussed in the media.
Chemicals in cosmetics have been (perhaps a little oddly) my passion since 2008 when I founded a blog called Kemikaalicocktail, which has since grown into a media that reaches hundreds of thousands of people each month. I remember in the early days of my blog, my goal was to test whether a modern woman could use natural cosmetics without others noticing. At that time, natural cosmetics products were often a bit rough around the edges, the scents were more like odors, and especially makeup products were almost always a compromise compared to conventional makeup products. Hippie products.
Today, skincare and makeup work excellently with natural cosmetics, and you can hardly tell the difference between natural and conventional cosmetic products. Product development and marketing have made huge strides, and the roles have reversed: where "hippie cosmetics" once tried to reach the level of conventional cosmetics, now the world’s biggest brands imitate natural cosmetics, and greenwashing is widespread. Consumers are finding it hard to know what is truly natural cosmetics and which products are merely claiming to be so.
My mission since the beginning of my career has been to share information about the risks of chemicals and to inspire people to turn to natural cosmetics. Together with the Latvian natural cosmetics brand Mádara, I designed the Pihlaja (Rowan) and Nokkonen (Nettle) lines, which were sold in Finland for almost a decade, and many of the products became bestsellers. Since then, I’ve longed to return to cosmetics design, and it has been a dream come true to found Blank&, where our core ingredient is a carefully selected plant extract.
Whenever a new brand enters the cosmetics market, it must invent something new. For us, that means scientifically studied botanical actives and honest natural cosmetics — without greenwashing. Hemp is one of the most ecological raw materials, yet its benefits have been underused, largely due to stigma and legislation: many plant extracts could only be used in cosmetics in recent years.
Even today, and even among authorities, the terms cannabis, marijuana, and hemp are mixed up. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the psychoactive compound of cannabis, mostly derived from marijuana, while calming extracts from hemp are a different matter. Both come from cannabis plants, but just like Fell Birch and the Curly Birch, they are two different cultivars.
Almost all skin types benefit from the positive effects of carefully chosen plant extracts: they’re anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, moisturizing, and help regulate sebum production. This is particularly useful in treating acne or eczema. These ingredients are also well-suited for clogged and atopic skin, even for psoriasis. That’s why Blank& exists.
I will be writing much more about skincare ingredients in this blog and will also highlight current information and new research as it is released.
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Noora Shingler
Chief Creative Officer, Co-Founder
