Jada Pinkett Smith Says Willow and Jaden Inspired Her New Career Move
The actor co-founded a sustainable and affordable personal care line.
She's been an actor, a talk show host, and the lead singer of heavy metal band, and now, Jada Pinkett Smith is making a new career move. Pinkett Smith is the co-founder and creative director of a sustainable line of personal care products called Hey Humans that is available exclusively at Target. So far, the brand has released toothpaste, body wash, lotion, and deodorant. She founded the line with Maesa, a beauty incubator that has worked with other celebrities, including Priyanka Chopra and Taraji P. Henson.
While this is a new foray for Pinkett Smith, she explained in an interview with People that she was inspired by her kids with husband Will Smith, Willow and Jaden, and what they've taught her about sustainability.
"What really inspired me was my kids, Willow and Jaden, who have educated me around the environment and the necessity to really shift habit in the way we consume," the 49-year-old actor told People. "I love personal care and I'm a beauty junkie, but recently I've had a lot of anxiety around packaging, and I thought, 'What can I do in this space?'
Read on to see how she answered that question and to learn more about the new beauty line. And for more on Pinkett Smith and her children, check out Jada Pinkett Smith Regrets Doing This One Thing With Her Kids.
When it comes to sustainability, her kids are teaching her and not the other way around.
"I'm old school," Pinkett Smith told People. "I really am, so all of this is very new for me. I'm on a journey in regards to getting educated and just doing my part in regards to how I can be part of the sustainability movement. We're always talking about, 'Let's save the planet.' At the end of the day, it's really about how do we sustain humanity."
The star shared a video on Instagram to announce her involvement with the line. In it, she mentions Jaden's work with Just Water, the bottled water brand that he co-founded. Instead of being packaged in 100% plastic bottles, Just Water water comes in a carton made of primarily paper and plant-based plastic, along with some traditional plastic and aluminum, according to the brand's website.
You know Pinkett Smith as an actor and the host of Red Table Talk, but did you know she also fronted a band? Find out more with 15 Actors Whose Singing Careers You Completely Forgot.
Hey Humans currently consists of four products and is 99% plastic-free.
So far, Hey Humans has released toothpaste, deodorant, body wash, and lotion in a variety of scents. "I really wanted to start with products that we use every day—toothpaste, deodorant, body wash—and find ways that we could have a more sustainable packaging," Pinkett Smith said.
The products come in primarily paper and aluminum containers and are 99% plastic-free. There is plastic used on the opening and lid of the toothpaste tube.
Pinkett Smith is particularly excited about the deodorant. "They started sending formulations and one of my favorites that made me fall in love with Hey Humans was the deodorant," she told People. "I had such a hard time finding natural deodorant. My kids were like, 'Use lemon under your arm,' I'm like, 'That's not enough odor protection.' So, that is one of my favorite products with Hey Humans, I just love the deodorant so much."
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Pinkett Smith wanted to make sure the line was good for the planet and affordable.
"Not only did I want to help create quality personal care products that have recyclable packaging but I wanted it to be accessible to everyone," Pinkett Smith says in her Instagram video. For that reason, all of the products are $6 or less. As you can see on the Target website, the body wash and lotion are $6, the deodorant is $5, and the toothpaste is $4.
Pinkett Smith isn't the only celebrity who has started a personal care brand. Read about another successful actor-turned-businessperson in Jessica Alba Says Her Daughter Didn't Know She Was Famous For Years.
Will is (hilariously) showing his support.
Will posted a video of himself using the toothpaste on his Instagram account. The clip shows him messily brushing his teeth and pretending to talk while captions of what he's "saying" about the product appear on screen.
"Jada changed out all the products in the bathrooms in the house so nobody's allowed to use nothin' else!," he captioned the post. "Congrats @jadapinkettsmith on launching @heyhumansofficial!"
The Smiths have been married for over 20 years. For more famous couples like them, check out these 12 Beloved, Long-Term Celebrity Couples, Then and Now.
