When I first heard of uruku, I thought it was some kind of musical instrument, piece of clothing, or new workout fad. Actually, it’s a small red seed from the fruit of the urukum plant native to tropical rain forests. Uruku contain urukum (also called annato), a deep orange pigment. For thousands of years, the pigment has been used as body paint by native tribes, such as the Yawanawa. Urukum pervades Yawanawa life, from sunscreen and mosquito repellent to religious rituals. The Yawanawa believe that urukum connects them to spirits and guards them against evil.
Before the 1990s, missionaries and adventurers took advantage of the Yawanawa and their land. The tribe was virtually enslaved, gaining no profit from harvesting rubber plants for those that unlawfully occupied their land. Bira, a city-educated native of the Yawanawa, launched a legal battle to reclaim lost land. In 1992, he and the tribe partnered with the socially conscious beauty company Aveda, who donated 13,000 uruku seedlings for cultivation. Since then, the Yawanawa has acquired rights to total of 450,000 acres of land protected from deforestation. Tashka, a 26 year-old wunderkind, is now the chief of this small but fascinating tribe. He has spoken out at numerous events in the United States regarding indigenous peoples’ rights and brought Joaquin Phoenix and television show 4REAL to Brazil to increase public awareness of the tribe. For the most part, the Yawanawa is enjoying high levels of production and revenue.
So why include this topic, mostly botanical and anthropological in nature, in the beauty section? Annatto pigment is used in food coloring, flavoring, and makeup. Aveda has an Uruku Line of beauty products, including bronzer, lipstick, liner, and gloss that incorporate urukum and Yawanawa culture. Staying true to the company’s sustainable mission, the Uruku line has no synthetic pigments and is made of primarily natural, organic ingredients. Besides feeling great about your reduced environmental impact, you can also pat yourself on the back for contributing to the economic development of the Yawanawa tribe and their rain forest protection services.
All in all, Aveda’s Uruku Line make a difference the world over while making you look great. For more information on Uruku products or other Aveda makeup, stop by the KRIZA Aveda Salon Spa. Their trained professionals can find the perfect eco-friendly makeup for you.
We are located at The Patios, Valencia. Call today for your Aveda experience at 661-287-9778. Please visit www.KrizaSalonSpa.net.