The year 2014 saw so many trends come and go across the globe. Thankfully, not all of them (e.g. ear cuffs) are here to stay. As informed and conscious consumers we relish the fact that beauty regimes have cycled back to popular do-it-yourself and home recipes that work without requiring a large budget. Indeed, last years social media conveyed an increase of blogs and articles by wealthy socialites, models and celebrities sharing and advocating their natural and home beauty remedies. Why choose a DYI mix instead of buying products, even ones advertised as “natural” or “organic”? Basic reasons: it can help to save your budget and your health while enhancing your physical appearance. In addition, traditional home beauty tips and recipes are sourced from and accessible by every culture around the world – physical care does not get more global than this.
While some affordable products exist offering wholesome ingredients and concoctions for your body, by and large, however, a good deal of homework is required to actually find and confirm which are the best products. To begin with, it is increasingly difficult to define what “natural” and “organic” actually mean, as there is no legal or government-based standardization system for these labels [See GOOP’s article on “Clean Beauty“]. Moreover, what is the relevance of only some of these ingredients being natural or organic when included in a compound mixture. Some questions to keep in mind when shopping are: what are the bases for the brand’s marketing claims? what are the actual certification standards and measurements for the labels? even if verifiable (e.g. essential oils), what is their significance for skincare and your skin type?
For over a decade now, our first stop in researching brand and product questions about skincare and makeup is Paula Beguon’s Beautypedia Reviews on her website Paula’s Choice. Best-selling author of “Don’t go to the cosmetics counter without me” (now in its ninth edition) offers videos, newsletters, and online product reviews and price comparisons for free on her website. Paula’s Choice also offers its own line of skincare and makeup – most of these products are fabulous and are available in bargain volumes for the price – and are available for online purchase in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. I have satisfactorily purchased products from this line while living in the United States, Europe and Australia.
For DIY options lifestyle blogs routinely post traditional recipes and rediscovered ‘beauty secrets’ available in none other place than your pantry.
Sample websites, blogs and products:
- Winter recipes
- Holistic Habits
- Beauty of Food
- 75 DIY Beauty Recipes
- DIY Homemade Beauty Products
- Elle’s World’s Best Beauty Secrets
- Around-the-world Beauty Secrets
Another store with wholesome products that we love is: Fat and the Moon (sold on Etsy) with each product made-to-order. We would love to hear some of your favorite DIY beauty tips, products, or wholesome brands.
Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she is beautiful.
~ Sophia Loren
BBG 