As natural and cruelty-free products are all the rage these days, perhaps no one woman was more influential on that natural beauty care market than Anita Roddick, Founder of The Body Shop who died yesterday at age 64. She was the first to take environmentally sensitive packaging into the marketplace and to bring global awareness to the cosmetics industry. According to a source:

Dramatic and energetic, the 5-foot-2-inch Ms. Roddick described herself as a flower child of the 1960s who launched the company in 1976 to support herself and her two children. Her nature-based cosmetics, such as pineapple facial wash, jojoba moisture cream and elderflower eye gel, came out just as the environmental movement took off. The Body Shop’s promotion of recycling and its use of suppliers among indigenous people in developing countries made the British company a phenomenon, growing from a single store to more than 2,100 stores in 55 countries within 30 years. The company was purchased in 2006 by L’Oreal of France for $1.2 billion.

Known to run in circles with Elton John and Princess Diana, Roddick was actually named a dame commander by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003. She was a true visionary and eco-entrepreneur that has inspired many. Read her full tribute here.