Even before the spotlight was firmly on ethical business and sustainability in the beauty world, Shanah and Alysha knew they wanted their brand Peggy Sue to be kind to the Earth as well as people’s skin. More than that, though, they wanted to produce beautiful, effective products that women would be proud to display on their vanities. “I wanted to create a brand that was as eco-friendly as possible while steering away from the brown generic packaging that a lot of eco friendly brands were using at the time,” Shanah says. “Like most women, I wanted to use products that were beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. We worked incredibly hard to create a solid business plan and then a range of organic skincare products that are kind to our bodies and the world around us.”
Co-Owner Alysha explains that a desire to leave the world better than they found it is a major driving force behind the brand. “Both Shanah and myself have an undeniable determined desire to make a positive difference to the world around us. We didn’t want to become another brand that provides single-use products that contribute to landfill. We know we’re only a small business, but we firmly believe we all have a role to play in protecting our environment and fighting the good fight against climate change. We want to help pave the way towards real solutions that minimise our carbon footprint, that help address the consume-and-discard cycle and that educate and encourage Australians to make more sustainable and natural choices.
So what are the different measures Peggy Sue has taken in order to make the brand a leader in sustainability? “Sustainability to Peggy Sue means helping our customers feel beautiful and loved while preserving the beauty in the world around us,” Alysha says. “To do this, we are paving the way in sustainable self-care products. Our range is offered in printed glass packaging with product refills available. The glass bottles and jars mean they are able to be used again and then recycled at the end of life. Our printed glass means there is no need for printed stickers. Our refill options mean that our customers have the option to wash and reuse their packaging. When we reuse packaging, we not only divert waste from landfill but we also cut the energy and resources required to completely reproduce the same packaging form raw materials again.”
And it doesn’t stop their, with their products also being designed and produced designed using natural ingredients to help skin perform at its best. “We love using flower and fruit extracts in our products because they are all just overflowing with antioxidants and hold so many benefits for the skin,” Alysha says. “One of our favourite concoctions is our Intensive Eye Cream which has both red wine and coffee bean extract blended throughout. Two of life’s greatest gifts in one eye cream! Good for the tastebuds and your skin! Coffee extract is famous for its brightening and tightening abilities, so it’s perfect to help reduce circles around the eye area as well as reducing puffiness and minimising fine lines and wrinkles. The red wine extract is a super unique skincare ingredient that also boasts a wealth of benefits. It helps boost the skin’s collagen production which is a protein that holds your skin cells together. It also keeps the skin around the eye area strong and healthy while boosting elastic fibres and aids in slowing down the ageing process.”
Add all of this to the fact that Peggy Sue also sells refills on all their products (bar one) to save on packaging, offers the option to recycle elements of packaging they can’t refill, and uses an ethical supply chain, and you’d be hard pressed to find another company that does more for the environment. “Peggy Sue is all about helping our customers feel beautiful and loved while preserving the beauty in the world around us,” Alysha says.
Beauty Editor Faves from Peggy Sue
Blue Tansy Oil
I’ve been looking for a natural oil to help when my skin gets cranky for a while and I’ve finally found it with Peggy Sue’s Blue Tansy Oil. The blue tansy extract is known for its soothing properties, and the oil also features watermelon, blueberry and acai oils which are super rich in antioxidants and fatty acids to make you glow. Plus it just feels super yummy on my skin.
Bath Brew Pockets
Think the joy and luxe feeling of a bath bomb without the mess. Bath Brew Pockets are like giant teabags for your bath, that infuse the water with colour, botanicals and goodies to make your skin and muscles feel amazing . And while they can’t be refilled like Peggy Sue’s other products, they CAN be composted so, environmental win too!
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
