ABOUT SPELA

Spela is a Portland, Oregon based cosmetics line.  We are committed to creating high quality, long wearing formulas that are vegan, cruelty free, nontoxic, and made in the U.S.A. 

NON-TOXIC FORMULAS

We watch our ingredients so you don't have to.  In the U.S., the FDA has banned only 11 ingredients in cosmetics (the last time they passed any legislation on this was 1923!).  Meanwhile, the countries of Europe have worked together and now the European Union has banned nearly 1400 ingredients.  Yes - you read that right - 11 versus 1400!!

The fact that all of the countries of the E.U. were able to get over the bureaucratic hurdles and reach a consensus on banning these ingredients shows that these are ingredients with convincing evidence of harm to human and environmental health.  

We hold ourselves to this higher standard, and make all of our products E.U. Compliant so you can feel confident about what you put on your body, and you don't need to google every ingredient in our products. 

VEGAN

Did you know that a lot of cosmetics still use animal products?  A lot of these are lurking in the ingredients list under names you wouldn't recognize, making them seem better than they are.  For example, Carmine which is a common red pigment used in a lot of lipsticks, is actually the crushed up shells of Beetles.  No thank you!  We keep our products vegan so you can avoid these things.

CRUELTY FREE

You'd assume that by now cosmetics would all be cruelty-free.  You're wrong.  Some of the biggest names in cosmetics still test on animals (we won't name them but they're easy to find!).  The most common animals for cosmetic testing are rabbits that are held in cages, and shaved to expose their bare skin.  They then have products tested on both their skin and in their eyes (they don't have tear ducts and so their eyes don't naturally clean out).  In a world where animal testing is not necessary, we believe through and through that this is horrific and totally wrong.  Our products are cruelty free and always will be. 

MADE IN THE U.S.A.

Our products are made from start to finish in the U.S.A.  This is important for a few reasons.  First, it means that we know everyone involved in the manufacture of our products has safe working conditions, and is paid a fair living wage.  On top of this it means we are keeping dollars here in the U.S. to help our local economy thrive.  Lastly, but definitely not least, we have more oversight over our production, including the ingredients, what goes into our products, and how they are tested.

WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN 

As a Woman owned company, we are so aware of how much more progress we need to reach real meaningful equality between men and women.  At Spela we believe that a world in which women are business owners and make incomes at similar rates to men is a world that empowers women.  Whenever possible we strive to purchase from women owned business and to hire women freelancers. 

OUR FOUNDER

Born in Iran and raised in Vancouver, Canada (we left Iran as political refugess when I was 3), I fell in love with cosmetics at a young age, but have always been conscious about the products I put on my body (for example even though I'd often wear a full face of makeup I'd almost never wear lipstick because many of them give me a weird allergic reaction where my mouth gets super itchy). As a long time vegetarian and animal rights activist I learnt of how extensive the use of animal products are in products you would never expect them in, and the extent of animal testing in industries where it isn't necessary. 

After following a more traditional career path, I left a career as an attorney to pursue my passion.  While working as an attorney in Los Angeles, I found that it was difficult to find a product that gave me the impact I wanted in the courtroom that would stay put while being animal-friendly, and free of harsh chemicals and allergens.  From this, Spela was born to create a line of lipsticks in ultra wearable colors, that are clean, but still lasted all day.  We are continuing to grow slowly and conscientiously so that we will always stay true to our core values. 

I relocated just before the launch, and Spela is now based in Portland, Oregon where I live with my husband,  little French Bulldog Leon, and love to spend my time in my kitchen cooking, at farmer's markets, or gardening.