Have you ever noticed that woman that doesn’t wear make-up, looks beautiful and has great skin? I know I have; and I am always so envious! My mom is a great example of someone that has probably worn make-up only a handful of times in her entire life (doesn’t need it) and never uses anything but plain ol’ soap to wash her face! I mean, I understand that some of us are just natural beauties and some of us have little flaws like dark circles or discoloration, whatever it may be, nobody is perfect. But I wanted to touch on this subject because I did some research about my own skin and found that the products I have been pouring onto my face since I was 15, are actually causing my skin to age faster and take on more issues, than if I were to have just gone without.
You see it all goes back to a concept I like to call manufactured demand. Large corporations like our beloved Johnson & Johnson, and the Proctor and Gamble’s of the world have been creating manufactured demand for decades. We as consumers see ads telling us how inadequate we are as a woman or man, and how we can look and feel better if we buy their products. And unfortunately we buy into it. Think about it for a second…picture yourself in the cosmetic section of a department store. How many products are there for diminishing wrinkles, smoothing, moisturizing, hiding, fading, covering, etc. Not to mention the toxins packed inside these pretty little packages.
If the advertisements actually read off the ingredients during a commercial instead of saying phrases like “infused with avocado extract” or “natural proteins to smooth” We probably wouldn’t be so intrigued to buy! It would sound a little something like this,”Buy our new foundation infused with, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamide MEA, Glycol Distearate, Dimethicone, Fragrance, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Ammonium Xylenesulfonate, Disodium EDTA, PEG-7M, Citric Acid, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone…Okay, so you get the point! What are all of these things? And what are they doing in my make-up!?
Its not as if these products are removing our imperfections forever. They are just masking them temporarily so we have to continue buying the product; or in some cases, they are making this so called problem even worse, and the process continues! Its a vicious cycle between consumer and distributer, powered by the media and advertising giants. And although the economy may be benefitting from it, YOU are not!
As a woman I understand the pressures of looking good and appearing to have accomplished beauty with great ease. This is also a manufactured emotional disconnect that the media has been instilling in all of us for years. But what I am doing to fight back is more rewarding than any cream, lotion, or potion could ever provide me. I am embracing my flaws! Yep I said it! Now don’t get me wrong, I am a mascara girl and always will be. But I will no longer purchase the products that fill me with false hope and broken promises. I owe it to my skin to stop loading it with ingredients that damage it in so many ways.
Are you feeling a little defeated? Don’e be! I am not saying you have to go throw away all of your make-up. But I would suggest weaning yourself off of a product or 2. I started with concealer, which I have been addicted to since I discovered the dark circles under my eyes that I am genetically inclined to have. It was tough, but I found some home remedies that help me feel better about my darkness on the daily! If you would like to know my dark circle tips, please comment below and I will tell you my secrets. : )
As for the rest of you beauties wondering if I am just going to burst your beauty bubble and make a run for it, I have provided a link that I found very helpful. It is not the prettiest website in the world but it is full of great natural alternative information! I hope it helps you with your weaning : ) If you dont want to give up your tried and true products, then dont! Just remember, moderation is the key!
Peace, Love & Alternatives,
Elisabeth