Cleanlogic puts Braille on its packaging to help visually impaired people buy grooming products
Cleanlogic’s sustainable paper packaging and the addition of Braille join a growing number of brands looking to make beauty more inclusive for people with visual impairments
W hen Pharrell Williams launched his Humanrace skincare collection, the packaging included a feature that seemed simple, yet is rare in beauty – the names of the products were printed on the top in Braille.
Braille is a writing system that uses raised dots to represent letters of the alphabet. People with visual impairments run their fingers over the top of these dots to read what they say. This way they know what has been written. Braille is a common feature on drug packaging, for example, yet it’s not often included in beauty and skincare lines.
Cleanlogic is a US brand looking to change this. Inspired by his mother who lost her sight as a child, founder Isaac Shapiro set up Brands with Braille. Cleanlogic adds functional Braille on its packaging where possible, “to help blind and visually impaired individuals lead a more independent life”. A portion of all Cleanlogic’s sales also goes to visually impaired charities.
Humanrace
This was recently made easier when the brand switched to all-paper packaging (made with 100% tree-free paper and soy-based ink). The brand also partnered with the American Foundation for the Blind to make sure the Braille was accurate.
Cleanlogic’s commitment to sustainability
Cleanlogic is also sustainable. In 2018, it launched a line of certified organic cotton exfoliators. These are the only bath and body accessory to be Control Union Certified. All Cleanlogic products are also free from dyes and use soy-based foam.
“At Cleanlogic we believe in doing the right thing. That means taking care of more than just your skin,” the company explains. “We believe taking care of the environment is critical for a greener and “nice and clean” world. That’s why we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and developing sustainable products.”
Google
The rise of more inclusive brands
Sadly, at the time of writing Cleanlogic isn’t available in the UK. However, the addition of Braille, and the push for more inclusive beauty is gaining traction. Cleanlogic and Humanrace are joined by L’Occitane, Dr. Jart, and Bioderma in adding Braille to packaging. Procter & Gamble recently launched Herbal Essences bottles that can be differentiated by touch, too.
There are also apps that help people with visual impairments. Google’s Lookout app, for instance, will use your phone’s camera to “see” objects. Its text-to-speech technology then reads out what it sees. Alternatively, the Be My Eyes app connects you to a sighted person for assistance.
Our sister site, mamabella, has recently covered beauty launches from the likes of Ivoree Beauty – a range designed for people with albinism; Guide Beauty, designed for people with Parkinson’s Disease and other mobility issues; plus many more. You can read more about the best inclusive brands here.
