The Beautywell Project

The Beautywell Project The Beautywell Project aims to end skin-lightening practices and chemical exposures.

Individuals live in a healthy lifestyle and embrace their identity and culture.

Thank you to the Star Tribune for featuring our Executive Director, Amira Adawe, and the work of The Beautywell Project ...
12/16/2025

Thank you to the Star Tribune for featuring our Executive Director, Amira Adawe, and the work of The Beautywell Project as we work to support Somali American students navigating fear and uncertainty on Twin Cities campuses.

Thank you to reporter Emmy Martin and photographer Alex Kormann for covering this important issue.

12/12/2025

Thank you to everyone who tuned in yesterday for the Skin-Lightening Products Stakeholder Meeting, an in-depth discussion on the current outreach, education, and regulation work being done to eliminate mercury from cosmetic products in Minnesota.

We would like to thank Assistant Commissioner Kirk Koudelka, Andrea Novak, Micheal Xiong, and John Gilkeson from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for hosting this vital discussion. Thank you also to the other panelists, Jenni Lansing from the Minneapolis Department of Health and Jameson Liu from Hmongtown Marketplace, for their valuable insights.

We especially want to thank the Minnesota Legislature, including Senator Sandy Pappas and Senator Foung Hawj, for their tireless work in passing this important legislation. Their support is enabling the MPCA to work collaboratively with businesses, conduct education, and lead towards effective regulation.

Watch the full “Skin-Lightening Product Stakeholder Meeting” at bit.ly/mpca-beautywell or through the link in our bio.

Beautywell presents: Know Your Rights Training for Young WomenJoin us for a powerful, community-centered workshop design...
12/10/2025

Beautywell presents: Know Your Rights Training for Young Women

Join us for a powerful, community-centered workshop designed to help young women understand their rights and learn how to confidently navigate interactions with ICE or law-enforcement officers.

What you’ll learn:

- Your legal rights regardless of immigration status.
- How to stay safe during unexpected encounters.
- What you can say (and what you don’t have to say).
- How to support yourself, your family, and your community.

This training is free, supportive, and judgement-free. Knowledge is power. Come learn, connect, and protect your rights.

Register at bit.ly/beautywell-rights-training

We stand with the Somali community and condemn the unjust and discriminatory targeting of communities we serve and our n...
12/10/2025

We stand with the Somali community and condemn the unjust and discriminatory targeting of communities we serve and our neighbors.

For more information about how to protect yourself and your community members:

- Register for our “Know Your Rights” training at bit.ly/beautywell-rights-training
- Scan the QR codes in this post to access legal resources about your rights.
- Local immigrant rights organizations provide emergency response training, resources, guides, and hotlines for immediate support.
- Some local immigration law firms provide free legal aid. Contact a local immigration rights organization for more information.

Remember that everyone, regardless of status, has the right to remain silent, to ask for a lawyer, and to refuse to sign anything without a lawyer present. We love our Somali neighbors and will continue to support the safety, health, and wellness of the Somali community in Minnesota.

Join the Fight Against Toxic Beauty Products!Tomorrow, December 10, 2025, at 1 p.m. (CST), the Minnesota Pollution Contr...
12/09/2025

Join the Fight Against Toxic Beauty Products!

Tomorrow, December 10, 2025, at 1 p.m. (CST), the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is hosting important virtual stakeholder meeting on skin-lightening products. Our founder and Executive Director, Amira Adawe, will be on the panel!

Join us to discuss agency updates, outreach efforts to educate businesses, and next
steps in regulating these toxic products.

A Major Win for Public Health!

We are proud to share that the Minnesota Legislature granted the MPCA significant funding to take action on skin-lightening products that contain mercury, thanks to the dedicated advocacy of the Beautywell Project!

The MPCA has been appropriated $405,000 in 2026 and $355,000 in 2027 from the Environmental Fund to carry out this important work.

The funding's purpose is specifically designated to:
- Increase education for businesses.
- Conduct compliance inspections.
- Carry out product testing.
- Enforce regulations to reduce or eliminate mercury in these products.

These funds will help ensure the MPCA meets its annual requirements to engage with community-based organizations for outreach, local health departments for public awareness and safety enforcement, and other interested stakeholders like dermatologists, manufacturers, and environmental justice advocates.

Your voice matters! Come to the meeting to hear the updates and help shape the future of product safety in Minnesota.

The meeting details at bit.ly/beautywell-mpca


Using skin-lightening products exposes you and those around you to dangerous levels of toxic chemicals. These products a...
12/08/2025

Using skin-lightening products exposes you and those around you to dangerous levels of toxic chemicals. These products are unregulated, and high level exposure to mercury, hydroquinone, steroids, lead, and arsenic can lead to severe harm to your health.

For more information, visit our product Beautywell Database and Knowledge Hub at thebeautywell.org/data

Stay safe, protect your health, and embrace your natural beauty 💚

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Beautywell Breakfast, the first of many to come. Our deep gratitude for your...
12/04/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Beautywell Breakfast, the first of many to come. Our deep gratitude for your continued support, partnership, and engagement with our work.

To learn more about our upcoming work to combat this global industry and build a safer, healthier world, join us tomorro...
12/03/2025

To learn more about our upcoming work to combat this global industry and build a safer, healthier world, join us tomorrow at our community breakfast.

🗓️ Thursday, December 4th from 9:00am to 10:00am
📍 1821 University Ave W, Suite 464-28, St. Paul, MN 55104

Come connect, engage, and exchange with us.

RVSP at bit.ly/bwbreakfast

12/01/2025

We invite you to connect with us, engage with our work, and learn about upcoming initiatives, including a documentary with filming locations in the USA, East Africa, and Asia.

📅 Thursday, December 4, 9:00–10:00 AM
📍 The Beautywell Project, 1821 University Ave W, Suite 464-28, St. Paul

Please RSVP here: bit.ly/bwbreakfast

⚠️ If you or one of your loved ones currently use a skin-lightening product, stop usage immediately! Skin-lightening pro...
11/28/2025

⚠️ If you or one of your loved ones currently use a skin-lightening product, stop usage immediately! Skin-lightening products are NOT SAFE. They contain toxic levels of heavy metals that can cause neurological damage, kidney damage, and even cancer.

Don’t throw the product in the trash! Dispose of it safely at a hazardous waste site. For more information, contact us directly.

Address

1821 University Avenue W Suite 464-28
Saint Paul, MN
55104

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