What can be seen when you start to take notice? 👀
When @theunseenalchemist , founder of @theunseenbeauty , started asking herself this, modern magic began to happen: A pollution-sensing compound that changes color in accordance with the levels of contamination in the atmosphere, gemstones on a headpiece that change color in response to brain activity, an eye cream that turns into a bright silver when exposed to a camera flash, and more.
Lauren Bowker has captured the imagination of the world by asking how materials can be ‘seen,’ and continues to do so through her material science backed beauty company.
We visited @theunseenbeauty lab to explore their latest product, ABSORPTION: A mascara and eyeliner crafted from the world’s first non-toxic black pigment sourced from upcycled algae biomass, for our latest installment in @parley.tv ’s Material Revolution series. Read the full interview with @theunseenalchemist at the link in our bio.
Join the waitlist and be the first to get your hands on the ABSORPTION collection as soon as it drops. Enjoy lengthened lashes and high pigment payoff, without a strain on the environment.
The ABSORPTION collection marks a pivotal shift in cosmetic colour production, embodying THE UNSEEN Beauty's mission to pioneer new possibilities by inventing world-firsts in colour cosmetics. We are leading the charge in long-overdue innovation, setting a new standard for sustainability in colour cosmetics. One ingredient at a time, we’re safeguarding the planet and revolutionising the beauty industry. Welcome to the future.
Join the waitlist, link in bio.
After more than five years of extensive research and development, we've unlocked a new possibility in beauty. In collaboration with @livinginktech , we're excited to introduce a bio-based black pigment derived from upcycled algae waste biomass. The ABSORPTION collection offers an environmentally friendly alternative to existing black-pigmented beauty products that is non-toxic and reduces carbon emissions by 200% compared to Carbon black.
Introducing ABSORPTION.
We understand the importance of doing things differently to protect our planet, so we're proud to be paving the way towards a more sustainable future in the beauty industry. The ABSORPTION collection is a breakthrough innovation featuring Algae Black™ as a world-first sustainable black pigment.
Join us on this journey. Waitlist opens soon.
Burning Fossil Fuels:
Did you know that one of the most common ways to create colour in beauty products is by burning petrol? Yes, petrol. The colourants used in black mascara and eyeliners, among other products, come from carbon black, a pigment that is extracted through a process of refining crude oil. This process contributes to 30-40 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
The global production of carbon black was estimated to be 8.1 million metric tonnes in 2022, 6% of which is used for speciality applications such as beauty pigments. By 2033, global carbon black production is expected to increase by 23 million tonnes. That isn’t looking good for the beauty industry's carbon footprint.
What if we could find an alternative to this process? What if we could use upcycled waste materials from sustainable sources to create a more environmentally friendly possibility?
DOP @louismackay
Crushing insects:
Did you know that many of the world's most popular red lipsticks and blush products still use crushed cochineal beetles (Carmine) to obtain their colour? We do not support this outdated practice and promise never to use Carmine in any of our formulations for the sake of beauty.
While some brands may use other pigments or dyes to match the colour of Carmine, there are still significant sustainability challenges in sourcing these materials for beauty products. We understand that change can't happen overnight, but we are focused on pursuing alternative methods, like lab-grown or upcycled materials. We are taking steps to disrupt the beauty industry's ‘normal’ practices and lead the way towards a more sustainable and responsible future.
DOP @louismackay
Mining the planet:
Did you know that the process of creating pigmented colours in cosmetics often involves open-pit mining? Unfortunately, this method is among the most harmful in the industry. It requires the removal of extensive vegetation, topsoil, and rock to extract mineral deposits, resulting in a large amount of waste production and by-products that can adversely affect air and water quality. Moreover, open-pit mining is often associated with unethical practices such as child labour and poor working conditions.
So, how can we create a more sustainable and ethical alternative to this? Our long-term goal is to develop lab-grown ingredients to offer more sustainable colour choices, but this requires significant investment and time. In the meantime, we are dedicated to sustainably sourced ingredients such as upcycled waste and by-products from various manufacturing processes. This is a significant step towards creating a more environmentally responsible solution that works in the long-term.
DOP @louismackay
Take the test: Do you know where the colour in your cosmetics comes from or how it is sourced? Due to a lack of innovation in colour ingredients today, all beauty brands, including ours, are faced with outdated methods of creating colour, such as:
- Mining the planet
- Crushing insects
- Burning fossil fuels
But what if material science could provide better alternative solutions? We believe we have a responsibility to show the world it is possible to create more sustainable colour choices, one colour at a time.
Our journey is only just beginning – will you join us?
