Products With A Cause

Hain Celestial Group, Inc. personal care brands – Alba Botanica, Avalon Organics and JASÖN – have a three-year charitable partnership with CARE dedicated to eliminating barriers to education for women in third world countries.

This year, they’re launching The Qach'umilal Girls’ Education and Leadership Project, which benefits over 150 indigenous girls and adolescents from low income families in western Guatemala by promoting their access, retention and promotion in primary school. This program, Qach U’milal, or “Guiding Star,” helps girls build self-esteem through songs, art and time with mentors and friends. In partnership with CARE, the three brands are contributing $25,000 from the sales of new limited edition products directly to help these girls thrive.

The story behind the products is truly unique…

When the CARE team first started working with these schools, they tried to implement an exercise for the girls to draw images of things that inspire them. The girls did not know where to begin; they were so isolated, and their education so restricted, that the notion of creativity and self-expression was totally foreign to them. Alba Botanica, Avalon Organics and JASÖN are taking actual drawings that these girls have since created and using them to wrap limited edition personal care products whose proceeds will be donated directly back to the local schools.

Alba Botanica Very Emollient Honey Mango Bath & Shower Gel

The art for this limited edition bottle was created by Manuela (age 13), a student at Escuela Caserío Chuatarrás in rural Guatemala.

A hypo-allergenic formula nourishes and softens with aloe vera, botanical extracts and fragrant herbs – mango, honey and pure vanilla. Its ingredients are 100% vegetarian, and it is made without animal testing, artificial colors, parabens, phthalates or harsh sulfates.

Price: $16.99 (32 oz), available for a limited time at AlbaBotanica.com, Amazon.com and Whole Foods; Learn more at www.care.org/alba

Avalon Organics Nourishing Lavender Shampoo

The art for this limited edition bottle was created by Isabela (age 12) a student at Escuela Caserío Sacasiguán, in rural Guatemala.

A gentle, plant-derived formula is enriched with Wheat Protein, Babassu Oil, Vitamin E, Aloe and Lavender, which nourish hair for smooth, healthy-looking results. Its formula is NSF/ANSI 305 Certified: made with at least 70% organic ingredients and free of Parabens, Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, Petrolatum, Artificial Colors and Phthalates.

Price: $19.99 (32 oz), available for a limited time at AvalonOrganics.com, Amazon.com and Whole Foods; Learn more at www.care.org/avalon

JASÖN Calming Lavender Body Wash

The art for this limited edition label was created by Pascuala (age 12) a student at Escuela Caserío Chuatarrás, in rural Guatemala.

A gentle formula cleanses with botanical surfactants and safely nourishes with Vitamin E and Pro-Vitamin B5. A blend of calming Lavender and Marigold Extracts softens and balances skin.

Price: $14.99 (30 oz), available for a limited time at Amazon.com and Whole Foods; Learn more at www.care.org/jason