Positive Beauty: what 10 years in the beauty industry has taught me
Always the optimist, more recently I’ve served it up with a side of realism. The truth is social media has brought so much toxic positivity that I feel like it has dialed down my ability to see everything positively. Sometimes I feel self-love is so far from the goalposts I need to take off my rose-tinted glasses and give them a quick scrub. Working on waking up and liking what I see looking back at me feels like a life's work. And some days are better than others. Self-acceptance of who we are is so much more attainable. I liked Kate Lindstedt’s [1] account on the problem of the Self Love Movement, have a read. I know I’m not alone. There’s a big difference between Self Love and Self Acceptance.
I fought my love of beauty for a long time being a psychology graduate. Makeup was only ever meant to be a creative escape. Until I entered the industry and realised how much it needed me. To be honest I couldn't believe the way these vulnerable people were spoken about in the makeup chair. Part of course was to bring a willing model to allow us to use their faces. We spoke about their drooping eyes, how to make their cheeks slimmer, the non-existent brows, dull complexions, eye bags. I saw more shaming in the industry: their lack of makeup brushes, minimal skincare routines, and their age (regardless of what it was). I decided early that style didn't work for me.
I learned quickly to be human. And never be apologetic with a compliment (yes even when you can't take it). I don’t care because once I've said it might it just hang about in the air long enough that you’ll hear it? What happened was transformational. I could smell their fear in my chair and then when I showed them the mirror the relief at what they saw... well it's priceless. It worked so it stuck. And so I decided Positive Beauty was my style.
Natural just made sense. When I saw a chance to transition to clean beauty in my kit, my ethos, and my business, it was such a glaring synergy. I couldn't ignore it. Risky as I knew I was turning my back on the cult products the marketers had brainwashed us into thinking we had to have as makeup artists. But I saw it as a choice to choose products and suppliers that honour our planet, our bodies and try to fill the concerns that I had about the beauty industry. I took it. Being able to choose these products and spread the message about positive beauty is my privilege.
“Makeup is not about the need to, should, would, or could. It's about the want to. And how it makes you feel” – Amy Hughes.
Amy Hughes is a natural beauty and wellbeing writer. Pretty presses her buttons. Passionate about positive beauty her down-to-earth approach resonates. She strives to prove beauty is not superficial but a valid and accessible route to wellness. Read more at amy-hughes.com.
[1] https://www.byrdie.com/self-love-eczema-essay