Members of the Mazunte cooperative at work
Most of the natural cosmetics made by Cosméticos Naturales de Mazunte can be found at México L&Q in Puerto Escondido.
Several years ago the goal was to find a sustainable means of supporting local families. The outcome was the Mazunte cooperative of natural products, now a thriving little enterprise that manufactures a wide range of natural cosmetics, from shampoos, bug repellent, soaps, sun block, creams and lotions and more.
The cooperative was born after the federal government imposed a ban on the capture of sea turtles in 1960, a move that directly affected 90% of the families of Mazunte, who had relied upon the harvest of turtles and their eggs for 30 years.
Facing the prospect of acute economic hardship, the community turned to the production of soaps and other cosmetic products, and with the support of government and non-government agencies, Cosméticos Naturales de Mazunte was created.
Nearly the full line of their products is available in Puerto Escondido at México L&Q.