Pretty Ugly

A film about toxins hiding in our cosmetics

Major Project Update!

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We’re launching a crowdfunding campaign NEXT WEEK for PRETTY UGLY through the film crowdfunding platform Seed & Spark! We wanted to be sure to give you advanced notice before we go live next week since followers of our blog have been such a champion of the project.

We have an amazing campaign planned starting the very moment we launch on August 24th. We’re hosting a virtual, kick-off cocktail hour, going live on Instagram with cast members, showing behind-the-scenes clips of the film and so much more! 

WHY WE’RE CROWDFUNDING
We’re conducting this campaign to raise our LAST ROUND of support, which will cover expenses to complete and release the film, known as finishing funds. This includes costs to edit the film footage and color correct it, as well as editing and mixing the audio. We’re also running the campaign to expand our audience so that we have a wide network of viewers excited and ready to watch the completed film when we premiere it in early 2021.
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Our Awesome Updates!

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We hope you are staying healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re sending hugs, prayers and good vibes for a safe return to normalcy soon. During this time, we’ve stayed very busy making progress on the film. Here’s the latest: 

Our Latest Filming News

We journeyed up to New York to spend a day filming with LOLI Beauty founder Tina Hedges, whose products are organic, vegan, food-grade, sustainable, and Made in a Free World, ensuring no one is trafficked or exploited in their supply chain. Tina’s products are so clean, you can actually eat them! We had a blast with her as she shared all about her journey from big beauty executive working at two of the leading conventional beauty companies to now being a clean beauty alchemist, mixing her own magical products and sharing her formulas with the world. Check out pictures of Tina mixing ingredients just below!

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A Big Thank YOU and Happy Holidays!

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The Season of Cheer is Already Here!

We hope you and your loved ones are celebrating a very special holiday season. We have so much to be thankful for as we reflect back on this year. We raised more than $15,000 in cash and in-kind donations in 2018, thanks to your immense generosity! From big-hearted, individual donors to thoughtful givers who attended the teaser release party in June, to contemplative contributors at our recent Yoga for A Cause class, we have been blessed with very generous supporters. We are absolutely honored to have you by our side and grateful for each and everyone of you. Thank you for your generous giving!

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The Film Trailer Is Live! The Teaser Party Was A Hit!

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PRETTY UGLY FILM TRAILER DEBUT

We are thrilled to unveil the Pretty Ugly film trailer, which is now publicly available! You can find this two-minute sneak peak on our website, Facebook and Vimeo too. Please share it with your friends, family and colleagues and help us get the word out about the film!

 

UPCOMING YOGA FOR A CAUSE CLASS AND TEASER SCREENING

Since the big teaser party this summer (details below), we’ve been busy at work planning additional screenings and fundraising opportunities, including an upcoming event on Saturday, October 27th! Mind the Mat in Del Ray, Alexandria is graciously hosting a “Yoga for a Cause” class (the film!) and will be led by the amazing yoga instructor Olivia Sheldon.

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A History of Personal Products and Cosmetics Government Regulation

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There are often two reactions from people when I share with them the purpose of Pretty Ugly. If the individual is aware of the issue of concerning chemicals in our personal products and cosmetics, their eyes light up and they become overjoyed as I share the reason for creating the story and my hope in how it will help educate and empower people to make healthier choices for themselves and their families.

The other reaction I get is from people who believe the situation “isn’t that dire” and that the government must regulate products and protect us from any potential health hazards. These are the people to whom I can’t wait to show the finished film.

So what is the regulation situation? The reality is the last cosmetic-focused bill to be passed into law was in 1938. Yes, that’s not a typo. It has been nearly 80 years since a federal law was passed to regulate the cosmetics industry in the United States. [Read more…]

“Makeup Your Mind” – Guest Blog Post for A Courageous Beauty

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Pretty Ugly’s filmmaker, Andrea Palombella, was recently invited to write a guest blog post on the popular fashion blog, A Courageous Beauty. It is pasted below. Enjoy!

The Ugly Truth About Your Beauty Products…

I am so excited to have Andrea Palombella take over the blog today! Andrea is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and activist based in Washington, DC. Shocked by the types of potentially toxic chemicals in products she used everyday, Andrea dove in to learn as much about the issue as possible. Being a storyteller, she knew she had to share her discoveries with the world. The film PRETTY UGLY is a candid look at the safety of chemicals in personal care products and cosmetics.

nail-polish
IMAGE BY ANDREA PALOMBELLA

Fresh nails, on point hair and that hot, new lip color. These are all things I adore! I love trying new styles in both the fashion and beauty arenas. But, I also discovered several years ago that personal care products and cosmetics are one of the least regulated goods in the United States. Chemicals like formaldehyde, lead and phthalates were in many of the products I was using, and I’ll bet they’re hiding in your bathroom cabinets too. [Read more…]

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