Why This Skin Care Brand Put Naked Human Bodies on Its Products
There isn’t much that grabs my attention in the skin care aisle at the drugstore beyond Day-Glo “Buy 1, Get 1 Free” labels. I can pick up a bar of soap, a bottle of bubble bath, or a packet of facial cleansing wipes without blinking an eye, simply because the packaging is, well … basic. But I couldn’t help but stop and stare when boxes of House of Senses grooming products recently landed on my desk.
House of Senses seeks to change people’s perception of being naked as dirty. (Photo: House of Senses)
The beige boxes are covered with images of naked human bodies — mostly men with their fingers intertwined or lying on top of one another. These provocative visuals coupled with cheeky product names like Glory Balls and Noisy Nights are an “alternative to the pure, white, and family life world promoted by the personal care industry with an emphasis on authenticity and freedom,” according to House of Senses founder Ana Meira.
House of Senses hand-milled bar soaps. (Photo: House of Senses)
Meira and creative director Jota set out to create a skin care line that targets people who did not identify with what is “subtly imposed on us by the grooming industry.”
“There is a misconception of naked human bodies as something dirty. We love human bodies; we like it ‘dirty’ and want to encourage human body interaction, which we believe is ostracized and minimized in modern society,” Meira told Yahoo Beauty. “Sadly, even social media promotes a [discriminatory] culture of shame, and against that, we can only develop nude-friendly packages that people want to reuse and support #freethenipple!”
Even though the packaging is emblazoned with masculine bodies, Meira notes that the brand isn’t catering to “one specific gender but a certain lifestyle,” which celebrates and respects everyone.
Get clean (or dirty) with House of Senses Glory Balls. (Photo: House of Senses)
Meira and Jota were also inspired to use fewer and better ingredients in a smarter way. Hence, none of the House of Senses grooming products contain phthalates, parabens, or SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate).
The hand-milled soaps ($24) are 100 percent vegetable-based and blended with moisturizing oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil. Glory Balls ($20) boost your bath-time experience thanks to their vegan, shea butter, and vitamins A, E, and D formulation. And the Body Wash ($27) creates a rich lather that gets you clean without leaving behind any icky residue.
Scrub away with House of Senses Body Wash. (Photo: House of Senses)
What’s up next from this American-made skin care brand? Meira says to be on the lookout for a velvety body cream that has a subtle scent and absorbs quickly.
That’s all the convincing I need to get naked!
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