Why I Removed Palm Oil from My Skin Care: A Personal and Planetary Choice
The Harm of Rainforest Clear-Cutting
I cut palm oil from my Hungry Eyes balm in 2018—not because the bulk supplier was irresponsible, but because I knew that standard palm oil production devastates ecosystems. Companies clear massive rainforest areas to plant oil palm, pushing orangutans toward extinction, with estimates showing only 50,000–65,000 orangutans remain in the wild. That number drops further when you consider habitat loss and poaching—many fear they could be extinct in fewer than 25 years (Orangutan Trekking Tours, Wikipedia, World Wildlife Fund).
Palm Oil vs. Orangutans: The Reality
Palm oil plantations strip away the forests that orangutans and countless other species—and even indigenous groups—depend on. Studies reveal that over 50,000 orangutans have died in Borneo and Sumatra alone because of palm oil deforestation (Orangutan Trekking Tours). At this rate, our rainforests and their inhabitants face a rapid slide toward collapse.
Even “Safe” Palm Oil Isn’t Safe Enough
Earlier, I sourced Fair Trade, organic palm kernel oil from West Africa, where orangutans don’t exist. Yet, in 2018 I still chose to remove it entirely. I increased shea and cocoa butter, kept baobab, avocado, almond oil, and beeswax the same—and felt the environmental weight lift.
Toxic-Free Beauty Means Ethical Beauty
We also stopped using Dr. Bronner’s products because they still contain palm oil. I value clean ingredients—so I research every component, especially for items I package and sell. My shop offers products like Bog Water Herbal Shampoo specifically to stay free from palm oil, keeping my home and offerings truly planet-safe.
What You Can Do Today
Walk your home and check labels. Many items list “vegetable oil,” which often hides palm oil. Unless you see RSPO certification, your purchase may support rainforest destruction (One Green Planet, World Wildlife Fund). Every dollar you spend is a vote—for ecosystems or against them.
“It’s surely our responsibility to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on earth.”
— David Attenborough
Thanks for choosing to buy—and live—mindfully,
