Beauty Obsession
I haven't posted much about beauty yet, but I have SO much to say. I've been beauty (product) obsessed for so many years, but my real passion is green beauty. And greening my beauty has been something I've been working on for far longer than has been popular, or even easy. But today, with so many AH-mazing (effective) companies out there, it's getting harder and harder to not want everything, and easier and easier to find things I love.
My initial struggle to find products that were free of harmful chemicals came from a desire to completely rid my life of crap. Mental crap, emotional crap, health crap, product crap, you name it. Over 20 years ago, I was lucky enough to meet and be inspired by an amazing holistic nutritionist who opened my eyes to the world of natural healing, medicines, and beauty products. And it started a journey that to me is about far more than skincare or cult favorites.
When I first started looking to change the items on my shelves, there was already a fair amount of stuff on the market, and with each passing year, I saw the beauty isles ‘eco’ section get bigger and bigger, but initially it was honestly a struggle to not only find a breadth of products, but to find ones that were ACTUALLY good. When EWG released SkinDeep back in 2004 things started to get better and better. It became normal to want to ‘green’ your products, and people were beginning to pay attention. Especially when things that were marketed as natural showed up with lower ratings that showed they were better at marketing than they were at formulating environmentally friendly and clean products. It shed the light on why we need to educate ourselves in the language of ingredients and labels even for things we aren’t directly ingesting. It also became like a glossary of sorts, showing just how many companies and products are actually out there.
Fast forward to about 8-9 years ago when my Instagram obsession began, and when I feel like the world of green beauty exploded (for me). Because there it was, in all its hashtagged glory - a way to find company after company, with the testimonials (comments) to make something worth, or not worth, my time. And with social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and a plethora of online stores dedicated solely to ethical, sustainable, and good for you ingredients, we truly have a world of products at our fingertips.
Ultimately in my journey, I've realized a few things. One is that you ABSOLUTELY do not need chemicals to make good beauty products. That's not to say you don't need science, and we shouldn't equate the two. Companies that use scientific methods, research, and production are not the same as those that use synthetic ingredients. Regardless of whether a product started in a kitchen or a lab, I HAVE found some incredible things that really do work.
Something else I've realized is that the age old advice about beauty is true. Routine matters. It's not just about what you use, but how, how often, and in combination with what. You can use an incredible product but if you put it on once every 2 weeks, it ain't gonna do sh•t. Or you can use it every single day like you're supposed to, but forget to drink adequate water and eat loads of processed foods, and find that your skin just doesn't glow like they said it would. And believe me, I'm guilty of both of the above, but I've realized that when you take the step to take care for yourself, to give back to yourself, to find the products that work, that are filled with wholesome ingredients and things that nourish your skin instead of strip it, that you should look at it as only one part of the process.
You matter - and how you treat yourself in all aspects plays a part in your 'beauty' routine.
I'll also say that just like what constitutes a good diet, a good beauty and skincare routine is also highly individual. Products have to work for you and your skin, and so even if something is wonderful and loved by all, that doesn't mean you will love it too. It's just not the one for you. Keep trying, and keep searching. I know there are some things I now love so much I will continue to use over and over, but I can't bring myself to completely solidify my skincare routine, because that would mean I'd have to stop buying all those amazing new things I keep finding.
And why even mention all of this? Why write and share?
Because my belief is that every thing we introduce into our lives, into our homes, matters. When I open my cabinet and see gorgeous products that bring me joy - either from the sensory experience of using them and smelling them, or from the results they provide, I am creating an energetic impact on myself, and on my surroundings. I am introducing something that elevates my life, my energetic field, and my very human desire to feel good.
THAT is real beauty.
