This past month, a new student-led club has made waves at Branson, and it’s happening in the beauty aisle. The Clean Beauty Club, founded this fall by Li Clayton ‘28, is sparking conversations around beauty and sharing donated products from brand partners.
She said the inspiration for the club came from an unexpected place: a fundraiser.
“I was volunteering at a gala for Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, and they were talking about the chemicals we put in our body from beauty products,” Clayton ‘28 said. “I thought it was super interesting and wanted to share that with the Branson community and how knowing about clean beauty can make a real impact.”
The club has already collaborated with major clean beauty companies, like Tower 28 and Roz Haircare. To find the right partners, she reaches out directly to brands to pitch a collaboration. In return, the club provides social media promotions showing the authentic student impact the brand helps cultivate.
The Clean Beauty Club’s meetings have already been busy and packed, something Clayton sees as a sign of momentum and rising student interest.
“We’ve already had such a huge turnout at the meetings, which was a big goal,” Clayton said. “With almost 60 members, I hope the club will continue having this kind of turnout in the future.”
From the start, first impressions from members have been overwhelmingly positive.
Harper White ‘28 said, “I’ve loved going to the meetings so far, they’re well attended and the club is run really well.”
“The first meeting was really fun, and I loved all the products. It’s cool to learn about all the impacts and clean brands,” Corrina Bouligny ‘29 said. “Li has done a great job with the club so far.”
For many members, the club is already changing habits by encouraging members to check ingredients before buying and applying products, exactly the awareness Clayton hoped to spark.
Siena Yanez ‘29 said, “It’s actually pretty cool because I struggle with finding good products that don’t cause acne and are actually worth my money. I know more about these makeup brands now.”
“It’s made me more careful with the products I choose to use on my skin, and getting to know what brands are clean and eco-friendly has been incredibly important too,” Montana Newsom ‘28 said.
The club’s message is beginning to stick after just two meetings, which is more than just giving out products. The Clean Beauty Club has also cultivated a warm and inclusive community towards female empowerment. “I’ve really enjoyed the community of the Clean Beauty Club. It’s a super warm and relaxed environment,” Anya Sridharan ’28 said.
In just a short time, the Clean Beauty Club has grown from an idea to a visible presence on campus. As interest continues to rise, Clayton hopes the momentum will “continue at Branson, and even spread to other schools too.” Whether through education or partnerships, the club’s impact is already beginning to show in the Branson community.
“I’m hoping for the club to continue growing so we can spread a wider message, maybe even expanding outside of Branson,” said Clayton. “I’m excited to see how far the club’s message can reach.”
