The Beautywell Project

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Is Lead Hiding in Your Beauty Routine? đź’„While many think lead is a thing of the past, it is still a very real health ris...
04/29/2026

Is Lead Hiding in Your Beauty Routine? đź’„

While many think lead is a thing of the past, it is still a very real health risk today. We often hear about lead in old house paint (pre-1978), but it’s hiding in places you might not expect—including your makeup bag.

✨ Spotlight on Cosmetics
Lead can be found in everyday products like lipsticks, mascaras, foundations, and powders. Because these are applied directly to your skin daily, they can cause especially high levels of exposure over time.

Other Common Sources of Lead:
Toys: Specifically plastic toys made from vinyl or PVC.

Pottery: Vintage or handmade cookware and food storage can leach lead from decorative glazes and paints.

Water: In homes built before 1930, lead piping can leach into your water system.

Soil & Dust: Lead from old exterior paint or historical leaded gasoline can settle in the soil near roads and buildings, or turn into household dust.

Why It Matters
Lead exposure is often “invisible” until it becomes severe. It can lead to neurological, kidney, and liver damage, as well as pregnancy complications and developmental harm in children.

Protect Yourself
Test: Ask your healthcare provider for a lead lab test—it’s the only way to know for sure if you’ve been exposed.
Screen: Use home testing kits for household items or send water samples to an accredited lab.
Learn: Knowledge is power!

đź”— Visit our database for more info: thebeautywell.org/data

HealthyLiving

📢 Research Alert: Toxic Heavy Metals in Salon ProductsAt the Beautywell Project, we are dedicated to ensuring that beaut...
04/25/2026

📢 Research Alert: Toxic Heavy Metals in Salon Products

At the Beautywell Project, we are dedicated to ensuring that beauty is safe and healthy for everyone. In partnership with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, we are conducting a study in local salons to address chemical exposures and improve the environment for both workers and clients.


Research Findings:
A total of 21 frequently used salon hair products were tested for six toxic heavy metals: Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Nickel, and Mercury.


â—Ź Products of Concern: Our research identified four specific products with elevated toxic concentrations that exceed global regulatory limits:

â—‹ Custom-made henna powder: Found with elevated cadmium, lead, and nickel.

â—‹ ColorProof Powder Fix Spray: Found with elevated lead.

â—‹ Matrix Color Sync: Found with elevated nickel.

â—‹ Calura Permanent Shine Color: Found with elevated nickel.

⚠️ A Critical Warning:
There are no safe levels of heavy metals. Any level of exposure is unsafe for salon workers and clients. Because these products are used frequently over long periods, these toxic metals can build up in the human body, leading to severe, long-term health risks.


🌿 Take Action:
These results highlight an urgent need for safer product choices in our salons. By staying informed and demanding healthier alternatives, we can protect our staff, our customers, and our entire community from harmful chemical exposures.


Always check out Beautywell’s database where we share products we tested: www.beautywellproject.org

HealthEquity CleanBeauty

Celebrate Earth Day with Beautywell! 🌍✨At Beautywell, we believe that true beauty is sustainable. Protecting our planet ...
04/22/2026

Celebrate Earth Day with Beautywell! 🌍✨

At Beautywell, we believe that true beauty is sustainable. Protecting our planet means embracing natural beauty and choosing products that are kind to both our bodies and the Earth. 🌿

Join us in celebrating our home today and every day. Let’s commit to a future where beauty and sustainability go hand in hand.

Children look up to their parents and learn from what they witness.When we use skin-lightening products, we are setting ...
04/14/2026

Children look up to their parents and learn from what they witness.

When we use skin-lightening products, we are setting an example to our children and reinforcing colorism from within the home. When a child witnesses her mother trying to change her skin tone , she also learns that there is something wrong with her own skin tone , which creates an intergenerational cycle of skin lightening and trauma from colorism.

Daughters often look up to their mothers, and see them as the most beautiful woman in their eyes, the same way mothers often see their daughters as the most beautiful girl. We should value ourselves the same way we value our mothers and daughters.
Set a good example for your children and stop using skin-lightening products. Embracing your natural beauty will allow your children to embrace their natural beauty. Destigmatize this topic with your children and have open conversations about the importance of embracing your skin tone and staying away from skin-lightening products.

For more information and to access our product database, visit:

thebeautywell.org/data

To solve a problem, we must first name it. For National Public Health Week, the Beautywell Project is highlighting color...
04/09/2026

To solve a problem, we must first name it. For National Public Health Week, the Beautywell Project is highlighting colorism as a critical public health and equity issue.

Colorism—a term coined by Alice Walker—is the systemic preference for lighter skin over darker skin. This discrimination is rooted in racism and impacts how individuals are viewed and valued in society. From unfair school suspension rates to the pressures of a multi-billion-dollar skin-lightening industry, colorism affects the mental and physical well-being of our global community.

The Facts:
• Colorism is a global issue practiced within both white power structures and POC communities.
• Historical practices like the “paper bag test” and “Blue Vein clubs” created deep-seated stigmas that we are still fighting today.
• Your skin is beautiful, valuable, and powerful. It makes you who you are.

At Beautywell, we lead international efforts to end skin-lightening and celebrate beauty in all shades. Don’t let colorism divide us.

Learn more and find educational materials at thebeautywell.org.

Stop the Mix, Start the Conversation. 🛑✨It’s a common myth that mixing skin-lightening creams makes them “safer” or “fas...
04/02/2026

Stop the Mix, Start the Conversation. 🛑✨

It’s a common myth that mixing skin-lightening creams makes them “safer” or “faster.” In reality, mixing products or using small amounts of multiple products is still incredibly dangerous for your health.

We must talk to our friends and family about these dangers. Beyond the physical risks, these products promote colorism and can lead the children in our lives to dislike their own natural skin color.

Be the role model your children deserve. Let’s embrace our natural beauty and build a future where every shade is celebrated.

Visit our Knowledge Hub to learn more about product safety: đź”— thebeautywell.org/data

03/30/2026

Hiring: The Beautywell Project is looking for a Communications & Development Manager to amplify our mission by challenging colorism, exposing the health risks of skin-lightening products, and empowering communities.

This role will lead communications for our upcoming documentary, manage digital storytelling, and grow the funding needed to expand our impact.

đź“ŤHybrid (St. Paul, MN)

⏱️Part-time (25-30 hours/week)

đź’˛$30-$32/hour + 3 weeks PTO

If you’re passionate about public health, storytelling, and social justice, we would love to hear from you!

📧Apply: beautywell@thebeautywell.org

03/25/2026

On the Beauty-Wellness Talk, we are joined by Lynn Thomas, University of Washington historian and author of “Beneath the Surface: A Transnational History of Skin Lightening.” Together, we dive into the colonial roots of colorism in South Africa and how historical hierarchies continue to influence beauty standards and opportunities today.

In this episode, we discuss:

The dangerous presence of mercury and hydroquinone in unregulated products.

How misleading labeling and social media amplify the pressure to lighten skin.

The gap between government regulation and real-world enforcement.

The urgent need for community empowerment to celebrate natural skin tones. 🌿

Let’s dismantle these toxic beauty standards together. ✊🏾✊🏿

🎧 Listen to the full episode: Search for "Beauty-Wellness Talk" on all major podcast platforms. Here is the link:

https://thebeautywell.org/podcast/episode/interview-with-dr-lynn-m-thomas-the-history-of-skin-lightening-practice-in-south-africa/

03/20/2026

At the Beautywell Project, we take pride in celebrating the diverse cultures and traditions that make our community so vibrant. To all our friends and neighbors celebrating today, Eid Mubarak! 🌙✨ We wish you a day of peace, joy, and health.

03/17/2026

Hiring: Program Manager (30 hrs/week) 📢

Are you passionate about public health, health equity, and community leadership? The Beautywell Project is looking for a Program Manager to lead our high-impact initiatives!

In this role, you will drive change across several key areas:

âś… Youth Leadership: Managing social media ambassadors and digital advocacy.

âś… Community Training: Certifying salon professionals as health advocates.

âś… Media Partnerships: Working with ethnic media to spread vital health information.

âś… Systemic Change: Organizing our 2027 Stakeholder Conference.

The Details:

đź’° Pay: $29 per hour

⏰ Schedule: Part-time (30 hours/week)

đź“Ť Location: Hybrid (St. Paul, MN)

🌴 Benefits: 3 weeks of Paid Time Off (PTO)

Ready to make an impact? 🔗 View the full description: [thebeautywell.org/jobs/program-manager] 📧

Apply today: Send your resume to beautywell@thebeautywell.org

Join us in driving policy and systems change to build a healthier, more equitable future! 💚✨

03/17/2026

Jam Lorenzo joins the Beauty-Wellness Talk to discuss the impacts of colorism, skin-lightening practices, and chemical exposure in the Philippines.

Jam is the Deputy Executive Director and Head of Policy Development and Research at BAN Toxics, a Philippines-based organization focused on addressing chemical-related issues, including mercury in skin-lightening products. They conduct research, market monitoring, and educational programs to raise awareness and advocate for safer alternatives.

Jam joined us on our podcast, the Beauty-Wellness Talk, to discuss how colorism and skin-lightening are affecting chemical exposure and pollution in the Philippines, where mercury-added products are the second-largest source of mercury pollution.

To listen to the full episode, find the “Beauty-Wellness Talk” on all major podcast streaming platforms. The link is in our bio.

Skin lightening products don’t just harm you—they harm the ones you love. When these products are in your home, the risk...
03/12/2026

Skin lightening products don’t just harm you—they harm the ones you love. When these products are in your home, the risk spreads to your entire family:

• Through the Air: Mercury vapors can be inhaled by everyone in the household. 

• Through Touch: A child can be exposed simply by touching their mother’s skin. 

• Through Food: Storing products in the fridge can contaminate food shared by the family. 

• To the Youngest: Using these products while pregnant or breastfeeding directly exposes babies to toxic mercury. 

Mercury exposure is serious and can lead to permanent brain, vision, and hearing damage in children. 

Keep your household safe from toxic chemicals. Say no to skin-lightening products.
Learn more at our Knowledge Hub: TheBeautyWell.org/Data 

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1821 University Avenue W Suite 464-28
Saint Paul, MN
55104

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