Back in the day (when overdrawn eyebrows and overtly nude lips were still in), I switched from ‘borrowing’ my mother’s makeup—and having no idea what to do with it—to shopping for makeup of my very own (and admittedly still not knowing what to do with it. YouTube tutorials weren’t a thing just yet).
Like most of us who got into beauty before the height of the eco-revolution, I chose what I liked based on colour and feel. ‘Sustainable beauty’, ‘eco beauty’ and ‘slow beauty’ weren’t on my young mind yet, because nobody was talking about them. The media at the time was too concerned with whether Britney Spears would be okay.
Fast forward a few years later (when thanks to the internet, I had finally learned the art of the eyebrow) and I almost took a job at one of the first eco-beauty stores in South Africa. It was my first encounter with a completely different world—one where packaging had to be recycled, and product ingredients were more important than how they looked or smelt (which were both fantastic in a more natural way).
I didn’t end up taking the job, but I did take something far more important: a firsthand, backend glance into the world of slow and sustainable beauty.
As someone whose been on this journey for quite some time now, here are 5 key things anyone looking to swerve into beauty’s slow lane should know:
1. Slow beauty offers an escape to consumerism
One of the first things anyone who shops sustainably—whether in fashion or beauty—learns, is that there’s a great deal of freedom you gain from not feeling like you ‘just need more stuff.’
My Beauty Luv’s Founder and CEO, Toni Carroll, hit the nail on the head when she said “South Africans have unfortunately fallen prey to the cult of consumerism. One of the areas where this is most evident is in the beauty sector, with local women typically owning 19 cosmetic products but only using seven.”
One of the most marvellous trends from last year saw skinimalism take rise.
As the name suggests, skinimalism is all about ‘skin’ and ‘minimalism’. The beauty trend is all about simplifying your skincare collection, and building a regimen that helps you achieve healthy, glowing skin with only the essentials.
Multi-purpose products make minimalist looks easier, on-the-go products more accessible, and are also perfect for the busy bee who has to get ready in a flash.
2. The products feel more unique, and you feel proud for wearing them!
We all feel that sense of pride when someone compliments our aesthetic. Even better, is knowing that they’re not harming any living thing, including the big living thing —Earth.
“Products made using the slow beauty philosophy are more artisanal since they are produced in small batches using seasonal, sustainably sourced ingredients that are not only powerful but multifunctional too. Plus, they are free from the cheap, synthetic fillers used by their mainstream counterparts which tend to dilute the potency of the products and deliver mediocre results,” shares Carroll.
What feels richer than products that don’t just make you feel good today, but tomorrow and tomorrow’s tomorrow? Fewer fears of chemical consequences, no worries of whether the products were made unethically. Wholesomeness in a recyclable bottle that only a few people will appreciate? There’s something special about it.
3. Your eye for quality changes
When you take a slow approach to beauty, you become more thoughtful. No impulse-buys or a bathroom cabinet of products that you don’t ever use because you’re not even sure what they do.
In the slow beauty world, every purchase is meaningful. Researched. It’s like choosing a partner— a product that needs to stick around for a long time.
Your eye for quality becomes laser-sharp. You can tell a gimmicky greenwash from a quality product that’s worth the bucks. And in turn, you actually save money because you aren’t wasting it on products you bought on a whim.
Slow beauty also means long beauty. And in a world that’s pushing us at a rapid speed toward all things fake, there’s nothing more honest than sticking to what you actually need and taking a slow ride — the most gorgeous act of rebellion.
Compelled by:
Also see: The best smoothies for healthy skin
