Previously, we looked at fast beauty. However, all hope is not lost as the spotlight is now shone on slow beauty. Slow beauty is a contrast to the fast-paced beauty industry. Rather than mass-produced products that ride the rapidly changing trends, slow beauty is devoted to cultivating the longevity of beauty products (Nast, 2020). At its core, slow beauty utilises quality ingredients that are derived from ethical productions method to increase the longevity of a product. The longer the shelf life of a product, the lesser the need to repurchase and thus generating less waste.
Besides the social and environmental impacts of slow beauty, how does slow beauty appeal to one? Did you know that it takes 4 weeks for active ingredients in your beauty products to start having an effect? This is because it takes 28 days for your skin to renew, and only then will see you be able to see the difference (Tianus, 2022). Yet, given the rapid turnover rate of fast beauty, our skin is unable to respond in time. As such, it is not uncommon to see people trying a product a few times, and moving on to the next product because they see no visible results. Hence, jumping onto the trend of fast beauty may do little to no benefit to our skin at the of the day. Instead, slow beauty low beauty is a gentler alternative to the current trend of harsh and invasive fixes that promise quick fixes.
Indeed, beauty takes time and there are sustainable beauty brands that you may want to keep a lookout for. For example, Typology does its part in both the ingredient list of their products, while not neglecting their packaging as well. Under their TEN collection, they strive for minimalist formulas while producing maximum results. With their carefully chosen ingredients of no more than ten, these essential and naturally active ingredients prioritise quality over quantity. Other than the content, their products are stored in aluminum tubes (2021). The use of aluminum allows them to be recycled repeatedly without losing their quality. At the same time, its air property also keeps the product fresh so that consumers can utilise them to the very last drop. In order to ensure carbon footprint is minimised during transportation as well, their products are kept flat which means smaller packages are necessary.
While slow beauty is making its appearance through sustainable brands, we as consumers cannot just simply buy less and call it “slow beauty”. Rather, slow beauty is more about a change in perspective that encourages a more responsible and healthier beauty. At the same time, this also calls for a change in our behaviour in taking our time in making purchases and being patient with a product rather than expecting overnight miracles. As we are mindful of what we put on our skin, let’s be mindful of the impacts our choices have on the environment. Making a switch to slow beauty does not require an overnight massive overhaul. Instead, do so one at a time.
References
Nast, C. (2020, December 16). Why slow beauty is the new clean beauty. Vogue India. https://www.vogue.in/beauty/content/why-slow-beauty-is-the-new-clean-beauty
Sophie. (2021, February 5). Is typology the answer to our vegan natural skincare prayers? A Shift. https://ashift.eu/2021/02/05/is-typology-the-answer-to-our-vegan-natural-skincare-prayers/
Tianus, H. (2022). How long does it take for your skin to renew? https://henrytianus.com/blogs/news/how-long-does-it-take-for-your-skin-to-renew