How Trade Policy Is Affecting Our Natural Beauty Products
At Mojo Spa, we’ve always believed that beauty should feel good, inside and out. For over two decades, we’ve hand-crafted our products in small batches using high-quality, plant-based ingredients. We’ve never compromised on our values, and we’ve never cut corners. But today, we want to share something that’s been quietly reshaping the way we do business: tariffs.
Tariffs Are Changing the Cost of Natural Beauty
Tariffs might sound like a distant economic issue, but for small businesses like ours, they show up in every bottle, balm, and bar of soap. Many of the natural ingredients we rely on, such as cocoa butter, coconut oil, aromatic extracts, and golden jojoba oil, are imported. When tariffs are added to each of these ingredients, the final cost of our products multiplies.
Take aromatic extracts, for example. A 10% tariff on jasmine, ylang ylang, and vanilla might not seem like much on its own. However, when multiple extracts are used in a single product, the cost stacks up quickly. Cocoa butter has surged nearly 400% due to global shortages and poor bean quality. Coconut oil faces up to a 32% tariff from major suppliers like Indonesia. Glycerin, a key ingredient in our soap bases, has doubled in price due to trade frictions, freight hikes, and supply chain disruptions.
Why We Won’t Compromise on Quality
We could pivot like many companies do, swapping out vegetable glycerin for mineral oil or replacing cocoa butter with cheaper fillers. But that’s not who we are. Mojo Spa was built on the belief that natural beauty should be nourishing, safe, and effective. Our founder, Amanda, started this company because she couldn’t find products that met her skin needs and values. That commitment to quality is why we’ve lasted 25 years, and why we won’t compromise now.
Some ingredients, like cocoa butter, simply have no substitute. While we’ve been working hard to re-formulate products using ingredients less affected by tariffs, that process takes time. With the holiday season approaching, we’re faced with difficult decisions. We can either rush out inferior products that don’t meet our standards, or temporarily discontinue certain items while we develop new, tariff-resilient formulas.
The Ripple Effects Go Beyond Ingredients
It’s not just raw materials. Freight costs have spiked due to global shipping disruptions. Third-party suppliers are raising prices to hedge against future tariffs. As a retailer, we see firsthand how consumer spending has shifted. Tourism is down, confidence is low, and many customers are tightening their budgets. This has led to what economists call stagflation, where costs rise but demand stays flat.
What This Means for You and Us
We want to be transparent with our community. You may notice some products temporarily unavailable or prices slightly adjusted. These changes are not about profit. They are about survival, integrity, and staying true to our mission. We are doing everything we can to absorb costs, reformulate thoughtfully, and continue offering the high-quality, feel-good beauty products you love.
To help you stay informed, we’ve created a dedicated blog post that outlines which products are affected and how. You’ll find clear badges on product pages and options for custom requests through our Virtual Beauty Bar. Read more about the changes here: Supply Changes = Product Changes
Your support means everything. Every purchase helps us weather these challenges, continue handmaking products in Chicago, and uphold the values that make Mojo Spa more than just a beauty brand. It is a movement for self-love, wellness, and authenticity.
