As Angela Davis once said, “The importance of doing activist work, is precisely because it allows you to give back and to consider yourself not as a single individual who may have achieved whatever, but to be a part of an ongoing historical movement.” As the IOF continues to bombard Gaza, it’s important to keep in mind that solidarity is not just a noun. One way to effectively stand with the innocent Palestinians is to make sure that not a penny of our hard-earned money goes towards funding or abetting a genocide. It’s never been more vital to utilize our power of choice and make a conscious effort to support homegrown companies. If you’re looking for what brands to support, here are six cruelty-free, Palestinian-owned beauty brands– from makeup and hair care to scents and skincare– you can shop to continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
SimiHaze Beauty
SimiHaze Beauty, which recently launched in the region, is the brainchild of Palestinian-American DJ duo Simi and Haze Khadra. The twins founded their vegan, cruelty-free line of skincare-infused blushers, lipsticks, bronzers, lip balms, and eye stickers in 2021. In addition to a nourishing and hydrating ingredient list, the multi-use formulas also come in sleek, playful packaging that you’ll want to proudly display on your bathroom counter.
Hindash Cosmetics
Palestinian-Jordanian painter-turned-celebrity-makeup-artist Mohammed Hindash launched his eponymous cosmetics line in 2021. All of the eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks, mascaras, and eyeliners that make up the namesake brand’s collection are vegan and cruelty-free, giving us another reason to shop Hindash Cosmetics.
Orebella
Part-Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid made her official foray into the beauty industry last week with Orebella, a line of “intentional skin parfums.” The first collection for the hotly-anticipated brand featured three non-alcohol-based scents that double as moisturizers.
Biosilk and Chi
Farouk Shami is a Palestinian businessman from Beit Ur who immigrated to Houston, where he founded Farouk Systems, a billion dollar hair empire that manufactures Chi and Biosilk products. Shami, who lost three of his brothers and two of his cousins after they were killed as boys by a bomb left from the war, has a factory based in Ramallah, where he employs hundreds of people as a way to give back to his country.
The Dirty Lamb
Founded by Ahlam Khan in 2016, Dirty Lamb is an all-natural skincare line made out of strictly organic, ethically-sourced ingredients. The Palestinian-American entrepreneur, who was unhappy with the skincare available on the market, decided to quit her job as a NICU nurse to develop a range of serums, moisturizers, toners, and creams– all made fresh weekly– out of household ingredients like cinnamon, turmeric, and peppermint, combining her passions for cooking and beauty in one.
