NYC beauty mavens joined actress Minnie Driver and The Body Shop last Wednesday evening to celebrate 21 years of its celebrated Community Trade program. Founded by Dame Anita Roddick (RIP), The Body Shop spends $11.5 million annually via the program buying ingredients and accessories from marginalized communities across the world, paying producers a fair price for goods and giving them access to the global market (for those not in the know, this is practically unheard of.) Huzzah!

The beauty retailer also announced their plans to increase the breadth of the program in the next two years. Today, 60% of The Body Shop products contain at least one Community Trade ingredient; by 2010 this figure will rise to 75%, with new suppliers, including Women in Business Development of the Polynesian islands of Samoa coming on board to produce high-grade ingredients like cold-pressed organic virgin coconut oil. The ingredients will be incorporated into existing Body Shop favorites like our beloved Coconut Body Butter, yum.

To learn more about the Community Trade program or to purchase The Body Shop products, visit The Body Shop, 154 Spring Street or www.thebodyshop.com.