Clean & Smart
The “clean” beauty movement started out as a great idea but has fallen prey to the cult of misinformation. It’s true that our modern lives are heavily reliant on many fast, cheap, and harmful synthetic ingredients. On the other hand, just because something is natural, doesn’t mean it’s good. At Rub, we want to be clean and smart. We prefer natural ingredients but sometimes natural is not the smart choice. Sandalwood, for example, has been harvested to near extinction for its precious oil and all-natural mica is often mined by children as young as four. When natural ingredients do more harm than good, or simply don’t exist, we turn to responsible synthetic options.
Palm-Free
At Rub, we are proud to say that all Rub products are completely palm-free.
Palm oil isn’t inherently bad. It’s efficient to grow, petroleum-free, and potentially healthier to eat than animal fats. The issue is scale. Palm oil is in everything from granola bars to lipstick to biofuel. It is the most widely used edible vegetable oil in the world. When massive global industries across the economic spectrum all descend on the same natural resource at the same time, the pressure fuels deforestation, destroys habitats, and drives indigenous communities off their land. This is why so much of the global supply is now referred to as “Conflict Palm Oil.”
We know that Rub is a tiny company, and our choices won’t shift multinational corporations. But it matters to us. We choose palm-free formulas because we don’t want to contribute to an industry linked to environmental and human rights harms. And we’re not alone, we’re part of a growing movement of brands and consumers demanding better and building a stronger market for palm-free alternatives.
Environmental Sustainability
At Rub, we believe that you shouldn’t have to worry about what’s in your products or be concerned about how they were made. That’s our job. We source natural, organic, and fair-trade materials whenever possible. Our packaging is made from glass, metal, or paper materials, with as little plastic as possible. We are always evaluating our environmental impact and strive to make improvements in our sustainability practices. Finally, we are fiercely vigilant against greenwashed suppliers and producers, constantly researching ingredients and investigating the supply chain to give you confidence that Rub soap products are good for you, good for the planet, and good for the communities and people in between.
Vegan, Except for the Beeswax
Nearly everything made at Rub is completely plant-based. All rub soaps and body butters are entirely vegan but when it comes to lip balms, nothing beats beeswax. We are always looking for substitutes that perform just as well and when we find a winning formula we will make the switch.
