#5: The GADIS GILA Guide to... shopping in a time of genocide: The "Safe" list (international beauty edition)
From everyday body cleansers for sensitive skin to legacy French beauty, here are the international beauty brands considered "BDS-safe" and are okay to "add to cart".
Research by Atia Shahana.
This article is the fourth of the multi-part series #DecolonisingTheWorld, an exercise in helping us reclaim our sense of humanity—one hefty piece of research, reporting and writing at a time. It’s also part of The GADIS GILA Guide to… a section of the newsletter that rounds up lifestyle recommendations from subject matter experts and beat journalists.
Previously, on GADIS GILA, we wrote about the impact and etiquette of boycotting, and listed brands in the beauty space to boycott or support:
More crucially, we explained why.
BDS platforms are super-helpful but they don’t all align and most—being acts of goodwill—don’t have the capacity to explain the whys. We complement this work by providing mostly primary evidence in our recommendations.
SAFE LIST (in alphabetical order)
The conglomerates and brands below are classified “safe” for the following reasons: 1) There is no evidence supporting their direct and full complicity in the Zionist movement, or their direct and full complicity in the exploitation of oppressed nations. 2) They have held themselves accountable for the ways in which they have been complicit in any of the above, and have displayed evidence of course-correcting.
Biossance is owned by THG, which is headquartered in the UK and has no known links to Israel. THG’s operational infrastructure is known to be a game-changer for the direct-to-consumer market and while it has ownership over a repertoire of beauty and wellness brands, it also provides its supply chain and customer experience to external clients, including, unfortunately Coca Cola.
We’ve not yet started work on the food & drink category for the #DecolonisingTheWorld series, but most of you will know by now that Coca Cola is on the boycott list due to its longstanding relationship with Israel.
Still, The Coca Cola Company undoubtedly employs myriad services to become the household name that it is today—THG being just one of them—so we’ll let this one pass, but of course—use your own discernment.
Further references in relation to THG as a company: Its modern slavery statement; and its dedication towards diversity and inclusivity.
Where to buy: Biossance is available at Sephora, which is strictly on the boycott list, and unfortunately does not ship internationally. If you’re in Singapore, you can purchase Biossance products via Lazada. If you’re in the UK, you can purchase via Cult Beauty, also owned by THG.
Listed on several BDS websites including Disoccupied.com as “safe to buy”, Caudalie is a French skincare brand founded by married couple Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas. To date, Caudalie’s namesake company remains an independent, family-owned institution.
Where to buy: Caudalie is available at Sephora, which is strictly on the boycott list. If you’re in Singapore, you can buy Caudalie at TANGS or via Shopee. If you’re in Europe, the UK or the US, you can order directly from their international website.
Coco & Eve, known for its wide offering of beauty products ranging from body care to hair care, experienced rapid growth after its creation in 2018 by Melbourne entrepreneur Emily Hamilton and her husband Alexander Ostrowski following a trip to Bali. As of time of writing, Hamilton has sold the majority of the company’s stake to US private equity Gauge Capital and its consumer retail operations are managed by Singapore company Supernova.
Where to buy: Coco & Eve is stocked at Sephora, which is strictly on the boycott list, but you can buy their products on Shopee, via TikTok and direct from the Coco & Eve website
Team GADIS GILA is a big fan of Korean-American brand Glow Recipe, founded by Christine Chang and Sarah Lee, who both left their jobs at L’oreal (strictly on the boycott list) to create clinically proven skin and body care products with fun packaging. Incidentally, my favourite range is their watermelon one—smells yummy and is deeply moisturising.
Where to buy: Glow Recipe is available at Sephora, which is strictly on the boycott list, but you can shop directly from the Glow Recipe website or if you’re in Singapore, from Lazada.
There’s been a lot of skepticism and heated discussion over Lush’s stand on Israel’s war on Gaza but there is no denying that the brand, which remains privately owned despite is vast presence, works hard towards being ethical in various areas including environmentalism, human rights and sustainability.
Besides its audacious boycott of big tech since 2023—check out their Instagram page—Lush has even launched the Charity Pot body lotion, whose proceeds are dedicated towards local grassroots projects with goals that align with the above values.
In relation to Israel, BDS site Disoccupied.com states that “Lush has been very vocal with their sales of their watermelon soap directly supporting relief in Gaza”.
The site added that while it would like to see Lush change its labels from “Israel” to Occupied Territories”—a transition that only us as discerning consumers can monitor as the days and months pass, “it’s important to consider the direct quotes from Sindyanna, the organisation Lush sources their olive oil from”.
Citing the Lush website, Disoccupied points out that sourcing its olive oil from Sindyanna is “an activity through which we show the close cooperation between Arab and Jewish societies, demonstrating that we can have a cooperative economy and work together to build a more just and equal society”.
Upon further investigation by the GADIS GILA team, the Lush website, the company has made clear that it does not discriminate between Palestinians and Israelis—which does not mean they support Zionism.
“A longstanding supplier to Lush, Sindyanna reinvest all profits to support their goal of economic and educational opportunities for women. Sindyanna’s team consists of Palestinian and Israeli women who are committed to unity, and are resolved more than ever to fight for humanity and sisterhood beyond national and religious borders,” reads a page on the Lush website on fair-trade olive oil.
Where to buy: Lush has physical stores worldwide, including in Singapore, but also ships internationally directly from its website.
Created by Korean esthetician Alicia Yoon, who’d suffered from severe eczema, US-based beauty e-commerce brand Peach & Lily specialises in skincare products containing “clinically effective and powerful actives” that are A-okay for sensitive skin. It’s backed by private equity funding but remains privately owned.
Where to buy: Peach & Lily website. If you’re in Singapore, you can also buy their products off of Lazada.
Cult brand Pixi Beauty was established 25 years ago by Swedish-born makeup artist Petra Strand, who as a mother of four wanted “multi-tasking, flaw-fixing, youth-enhancing products” for those who’re always “on the go with no time to spare”, according to the brand’s website.
Pixi Beauty appears to have no links to Israel and is labelled “safe to buy” on BDS websites.
Where to buy: Pixi Beauty is available at Sephora, which is strictly on the boycott list, but you can purchase their products from iHerb or directly from the Pixi Beauty website.
Australian brand QV skincare is one shower care alternative to Cetaphil, which is on the boycott list, for those with sensitive skin.
Founded in 1952 by a chemist and his nurse wife in response to a request from the dermatology ward at Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Hospital, it carries a range of cleansers for the face, body and hair, including for babies.
QV Skincare doesn’t appear to have any ties to Israel.
Where to buy: Guardian, Lazada, Shopee, Venus Beauty, Watsons and direct from the QV website.
Another alternative to Cetaphil, Sebamed is a medicinal skincare brand founded by German dermatology expert Dr Heinz Maurer in 1952 and which until today, remains largely independent, with its headquarters and operational facilities situated exclusively in Germany.
It has no known ties to Israel.
Where to buy: If you’re in Singapore, you can buy Sebamed products from Lazada, Shopee, Guardian and Watsons.
Ultra Violette remains independently (and female-) owned, though it has received millions in private equity funding to support its rapid expansion plans. As of time of writing, the Melbourne-born cult SPF brand has no known ties to Israel.
Where to buy: Ultra Violette is available at Sephora, which is strictly on the boycott list, but you can shop directly from the Ultra Violette website.
This is a developing article and will be updated regularly. If you spot an error, hit that reply button and let us know! Do indicate in your email subject if it’s an error, recommendation or something else that you’d like to share. This helps us decide which requests to prioritise and/how to categorise them.
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