“The slow arrow of beauty is the noblest kind of beauty, which does not carry us away suddenly….But rather the kind of beauty which infiltrates slowly, which we carry along with us almost unnoticed, and meet up with again in dreams” Friedrich Nietzsche
WHAT IS SLOW LIVING
Don’t you wish you could just slow down a bit?
Everything today seems to be instant and immediate. But more conscious consumers are switching to a new lifestyle based on a holistic and natural approach to looking after themselves. Slow Beauty is a movement that has many similarities to the Slow Living and the Slow Food movement. This emerged in the 1980s as a campaign championing local, seasonal, environmentally sustainable and ethically produced foods. Slow Food is about thinking carefully about what we are putting inside our bodies. Slow Beauty is a natural extension of this. It’s all about considering the products you buy and making sure they are good for you and the planet.
Before delving into slow beauty its worth looking at what Slow Living is. According to Kyle Kowalski, Slow living is “a life philosophy, a state of mind and being, a reflective approach, and methodical process to daily life”. He goes on to suggest that:
- Slow living is purposeful and fulfilling
- Slow living is taking a long-term view of your own life and the world around you
- Slow living is about wellbeing and doing everything as well as possible instead of as fast as possible
- Slow living is conscious, intentional, mindful, and living deeply
- Slow living is an organic and natural way of living
You can see more of his work at https://www.sloww.co/slow-living-301/
Livia Firth of Eco-Age says “we buy at a pace that is completely unsustainable.” She believes that this is because “we treat so many products as disposable.” Her proposal? That everyone is more mindful about how and what they shop for “Slow living is buying less often and with more purpose”. She goes on to say that “It’s basically about becoming a more conscious and aware consumer, being more informed and making better choices. It’s about undoing the damage we are causing by overconsuming and taking a bit of time to reflect on what we actually want and what we really need. It’s quite a philosophical way of shopping.” https://eco-age.com/
WHAT CAN SLOW BEAUTY BE
There’s not much out there on slow beauty, but based on what has been developed for slow fashion and slow food the following ideas seemed a good starting point:
- Slow Beauty slows down the pace of shopping and consumption. It's about ‘less is more’
- Slow Beauty is a natural lifestyle choice.
- Slow Beauty is conscious and mindful.
- Slow Beauty takes a long-term approach rather than fast quick-fix methods
- Slow Beauty celebrates differences and individuality
- Slow Beauty is not obsessed with cosmetic perfectionism or being standardised
- Slow Beauty is about quality instead of quantity—ingredients that are good for people and the planet, which have been sourced with quality in mind
- Slow Beauty is purposeful and intentional.
- Slow Beauty is ethical and sustainable. It considers the products’ lifecycle – the connection between raw materials, the environment, human labour, etc.
SLOW BEAUTY: A NEW LIFESTYLE MOVEMENT
Slow Beauty should take all parts of your life into account. It’s not only about skincare, but it’s also about wellbeing as a whole. Getting a good night’s sleep, a balanced diet and exercise are all part of slow beauty, because it’s a lifestyle choice. It also considers the environment and promotes sustainability through every aspect of production. It raises questions as to how the ingredients are sourced and the overall impact on people and the planet. Even the packaging itself needs to reflect the same ideology. Slow Beauty is a gentler and kinder alternative to the current trend for harsh and invasive aesthetic fixes that promise immediate results. It’s important to take the time to choose what products to buy. Slow beauty encourages us to think about what we really need from a product so that we make conscious choices about what we use.
Here are some ideas on how to slow down your beauty habits. These aren’t a set of rules you must follow. The quest for perfection is always stressful and totally the opposite of Slow Beauty’s more relaxed and kinder way!
Choose Products with More Natural Ingredients
Look for products that are natural and organic to provide your skin with the purest of ingredients. Nature knows best and that’s why plant extracts and natural oils are things to look out for in your skincare products. Much of what you place on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream. This means you should be aware of the nasty chemicals and synthetic additives lurking in standard skincare and cosmetics. They can go directly into your body. As a rule of thumb, the simpler and more natural a product’s ingredient list, the better. Organic is obviously preferable, as it means no harmful pesticides have ended up in the formula or back in the soil. Understanding all the complicated-sounding ingredients listed on packaging can take time, so do your homework.
At Organa Beauty & Wellbeing we aim to do the homework so that you can be reassured that the products you buy are good for you and the planet.
Invest in Slow Skincare
Invest in your skincare over the long-term and try not to expect instant or overnight results. All those quick fixes are only temporary. That’s why it’s very important investing in a quality skincare ritual, which can see slower, but longer-lasting results. Slow beauty products focus on improving your skin’s own functions, like the rate of cell turnover, so that the effects of the product can be seen working long after you apply it. It’s important to give your chosen beauty product time to work its magic. The skin renews itself every 28 days on average. That’s why it’s recommended to try a new product for at least 28 days to really see the benefits. When practised over time, these little moments add up to big results - not only in feeling healthier and more joyful but in achieving true beauty and timeless ageing.
Reframe your Attitude to Ageing
So many glossy ads for big beauty brands portray ageing as something to be ashamed of, but also something to fight against. They still feature models who are barely out of their teens or a Hollywood celebrity that’s been Botox-ed and air-brushed. And yet ageing is an entirely natural and unavoidable process. Nourishing and caring for your skin is probably better than subjecting it to a raft of toxins in the name of smoothing out every wrinkle. Slow Beauty is all about working harmoniously with your skin to produce more natural results. It’s about celebrating your face and body, not punishing or being ashamed by them.
Being Mindful
Mindfulness seems to be everywhere these days. But, if you’ve not given it a go yet, it’s genuinely worth investigating. In a nutshell, mindfulness is just taking the time for the things that matter most. When it comes to beauty, it simply means understanding that real beauty comes from within. Health and emotional wellbeing are key to looking your best. Slow Beauty is not just about products and treatments, it encompasses diet, exercise and stress reduction. It’s about taking in a deep breath, thinking about what would make you feel good – and making time for it. In practice, this works differently for each and every individual. For example, it could be as simple as taking a walk in the countryside, going to a yoga class or downloading a meditation app and using it.
Eco-Friendliness
Once you’ve decided you don’t want to use products that contain harmful chemicals, it often follows that you become aware of the risks these same toxins pose to our wider world. Unfortunately, too many skincare, beauty and personal care products are made without considering their ecological effects. Now that the facts about the threat of climate change are so well-known, it makes sense to swap to products that are environmentally friendly. For example, many sunscreens contain chemicals that are toxic to marine life, so it’s worth seeking out a natural, mineral sunscreen instead.
Be Yourself and Take Time for Yourself
Taking time out for yourself is not only part of Slow Beauty but also essential for mental well-being. Recreate that spa environment at home and indulge yourself. Choose products that you are excited to use. It doesn’t have to take a long time, but a regular skincare ritual is a great start to a healthy pattern.
The Slow Beauty movement is also about celebrating individuality and embracing our differences. In Japan, they have a concept called ‘wabi-sabi’, which is about appreciating the natural beauty of our imperfect world. That is Slow Beauty. It’s about learning to love the skin you’re in.
DIY. Slow Beauty at Home
Going one step further why not try making your own products at home. Here’s one of our slow beauty DIY tips:
Simple Salt Body Scrub
This simple DIY salt body scrub is great for removing dry skin and nourishing your skin in the process. Use this regularly in the shower and you will probably find that you don’t need any moisturiser or butter for your body.
You will need:
- 1 1/4 cups avocado oil (or another oil from your kitchen, such as olive oil, almond oil, raw sesame)
- 1 cup sea salt (in rocks)
- 1 cup sea salt (ground)
- optional 15-20 drops lemon-scented tea tree oil (or grapefruit or another citrus essential oil)
- A large bowl (I prefer glass)
- A spoon for mixing
- 2-3 small glass jars (I keep small jars with plain lids to repurpose for DIY beauty products)
Method:
Simply add all the ingredients and stir to combine. Add the essential oil last as it will probably stir through better. Fill up your jars. These will keep for as long as the essential oil’s shelf life. Check out the labelling to find out how long that is. If you use this salt body scrub twice a week in the shower you will probably use both jars in under 6 months.
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