Aesop

Aesop was founded in 1987 by Dennis Paphitis in Melbourne with the objective to formulate skin, hair and body care products of the finest quality. In-depth research is done to source the best plant-based and laboratory-made ingredients, and only those with a proven record of safety and efficacy are being used. In each of the unique stores, informed consultants are pleased to introduce the Aesop range and to guide your selections.

Since its start, Aesop has maintained an independent approach to product research and development. The team of skilled chemical scientists works out of the Head Office in a utilitarian, custom-built laboratory – conceptualising product ideas, researching blends, and creating prototypes. Ingredients from the most reputable suppliers across the globe are sourced which are then made into unique formulas using contemporary technology and long-established scientific practices. New products are launched only in response to genuine needs expressed by clients, and only after extensive research delivers formulations of the highest quality and efficacy.

A sincere interest in intelligent and sustainable design extends to every aspect of Aesop’s workings. Just as meticulous research is integral to the formulation of each product, the label´s utilitarian containers are created with utmost care to ensure they function with ease and are pleasing to your eyes. In seeking new locations, the first consideration is to work with what already exists. It is Aesop´s intention to weave the label into the fabric of place and add something of merit rather than impose a discordant presence. In 2003, in an underground nook in the Melbourne bayside suburb of St Kilda, the first in-store customers were welcomed. The space – once a narrow ramp descending into an underground carpark – set the benchmark for future architectural ambitions.

Aesop is proudly Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny approved and is included on PETA's cruelty-free list. Aesop is also vegan, as no animal-derived ingredients (such as beeswax, honey or lanolin) are used in Aesop products. Many of the ingredients used are ‘natural’ by definition, but some are not. Since Aesop’s inception, the benefits that plant-based products can have for the skin have been celebrated. However, the remarkable results that science can deliver are also appreciated. Accordingly, Aesop chooses to incorporate high-quality, scientifically validated and skin-friendly ingredients in its products to perform specific functions, from a selection of reputable sources.

Aesop uses certified sustainable (mass balance) Sodium Palm Kernelate and Sodium Palmate in the Body Cleansing Soap Slab and Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides in the Sage & Zinc Facial Hydrating Cream. The label offsets the remaining palm oil and palm-derived ingredient consumption through the Palm Trace scheme run by Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). These certificates give money back to growers who produce sustainable palm oil to reward and encourage their efforts. Aesop recognizes the complex ethical, social and environmental issues associated with the production and consumption of Palm Oil and the significant impacts on biodiversity. Though it may seem that the best solution is to replace palm oil with other types of vegetable oil, this would lead to further social, ethical and environmental implications. Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)-certified ingredients are used in the mentioned formulations because Aesop is acutely aware that switching to an alternate source would result in greater land being consumed.

Aesop started the Aesop Foundation with a particular emphasis on the development of literacy. The Foundation’s focus on story-telling and literacy recognizes that stories offer the opportunity to share our own experiences and help us to gain an insight into the lives of others. Literacy broadens horizons, fosters individual agency and enables communication—both within and beyond our immediate communities. Viewing literacy in the broadest possible sense, the Aesop Foundation fosters cultural richness and, in turn, empowers people to share their stories in their own words and their own ways. The aim is to build long-term relationships by providing grants to charities who deliver programs of sustained impact within the regions in which Aesop works. By developing open and transparent partnerships, initiatives that align with Aesop´s funding objectives and values are supported. Since 2017, the Aesop Foundation has committed over AU$4.656M to charities in Australia.

Based: Victoria, Australia

Ships to: Worldwide.

Products: High quality skin, hair and body care products.

Mission: To formulate skin, hair, and body care products of the finest quality, using plant-based and laboratory-made ingredients with proven records of safety and potency.

URL: Aesop

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