My secret fear of the beauty industry
The conflict between natural and made up beauty
Hello, I’m Molly and I write about my slow and simple life in the Scottish Highlands. Please subscribe to support my work and if you want to read more of my stories. You can also find me on YouTube and shop my Slow Scottish Store and sustainable Teemill Clothing.
My first experience in wearing make up was not a positive one.
It was my first day of high school. My best friend and I had decided it would only be appropriate to wear make up for this monumental occasion.
But alas, in my nervous state that morning, I’d forgotten all about this until 10 minutes before I had to leave for the bus. Stricken by the thought of the upcoming humiliation, I frantically tried to remedy the situation.
Unfortunately, my make up supplies were limited and mostly stored in my mother’s bedroom dressing table, and she had not yet arisen due to a bad headache.
I dithered at the door before quietly creeping in and applied some products in the near darkness. As a child of the 90’s, these products of course included blue eyeshadow.
I’ll always remember my friend’s look of horror when I hurriedly alighted on the bus. Thankfully, we managed to scrape most of it off with crumpled tissues and bottled water before we arrived.
Things did not improve much as I progressed into my teenage years.
As I was home educated from the age of 13, I was saved from a lot of the pressure to keep up with my peers. But not completely. I’d try my best to replicate those looks I admired in magazines, whenever my best friend and I visited the ‘big city’ on our infrequent shopping trips.
I’d feel confident when leaving. But within minutes of arriving at the bustling shopping centre, I felt myself deflate. I couldn’t compete with the flawlessly made up girls I seemed to be surrounded with. How did they do it?
By the time I got to University, I’d just about grasped the basics of make up.
I had one look. A little foundation (usually the wrong shade), blusher (to brighten up my embarrassingly pale complexion), an epic layer of mascara and red lips if the occasion was fancy enough.
I always steered conversations away from make up. Made fun of my shoddy application skills. Secretly feel like a failure that I didn’t understand how to shape my eyebrows of what bronzer was.
It almost felt like a relief when I started my career in wildlife conservation. Now, the tables had turned and it was actually uncommon to wear make up, or really put much effort into your appearance at all, which made sense as many of us lived in wellies.
From this point, I’d pretty much given up to make up altogether.
I’m not alone in this. Interestingly, this is a declining trend as one survey highlights that only 39% of women said they wear make up daily in 2019, compared to 52% in 2015.
This is no doubt partly fuelled by the increasing awareness of the ethics of these companies. Shockingly, over 80% of countries still allow animal testing for cosmetics. Our planet is suffering from this industry’s enormous amount of plastic waste and toxins that pollutes our waters and atmosphere.
Add to this the concerns about the impact of make up on our health, its no wonder the tide is turning.
These are issues I was becoming increasingly aware of by my mid-20s, as I was transitioning into a vegan and minimalist lifestyle. Make up just became even more complicated.
Then I entered the influencer world.
Suddenly I was accosted by numerous beauty brands, all wanting to send me products.
Although occasionally I felt the pressure of 12 year old me, wanting to fit in, especially now I was on a larger stage, I stood firm. It was not genuine for me to work with brands that I had no interest in and didn’t align with my values.
Beyond this, I was acutely aware of the responsibility that came with sharing my life online. I wanted to promote positive self image and celebrate natural beauty. So I said no.
That is until Merit got in touch. Despite my usual misgivings, their website appealed to me immediately.
They call themselves a minimalist beauty brand. Choosing to only stock a limited range of high quality products that are all vegan, cruelty free and kind to the skin and the planet. They are firm supporters of natural beauty.
I was impressed. So, after a little hesitation, I said yes.
I’ll admit, I rather overexcited to receive these products. The packaging was so classy. I felt very grown up to add these to my make up collection.
Yet, I was still scared. I put off applying them, worried that I would undoubtedly do it wrong. After reading and re-reading the instructions online, I tentatively gave it a go.
Three things surprised me.
One, the ease of the application. Even a novice like myself figured this out in no time. Even if I didn’t own a foundation brush!
Two, it felt just like skincare. My skin didn’t feel clogged from their Minimalist complexion stick (part foundation/part concealer) and their lipstick left my lips feeling moistened rather than dried out. You can watch me try on these products here
Thirdly, I enjoyed every moment of it. I felt my confidence swell as took in my reflection. Yes, I looked more made up, but I still looked like me. A more refined version of myself that I felt suited my 30s. My blue eyeshadow days were well behind me…
I should say, none of this content is sponsored. I’m under no obligation to share Merit with my audience, but I always enjoy sharing what adds value to my life and aligns with my values.
So no, I don’t think I will suddenly become a beauty influencer. I still intend to be bare-faced 90% of the time. But now, I have wonderful tools to add to my self care regime. This is how all make up should feel.
I would be fascinated to know your thoughts and experience with make up, or the beauty industry more generally, so please do share them below.
Until next week,
Molly
xx
I couldn’t identify with this more! My first experiences with make up were not dissimilar...but actually on my first days in high school I insisted on wearing very pale powder to cover my rosy cheeks and teamed with my dark brown hair, well it was more Morticia Adams than anything else. I also feel there’s a huge pressure on young girls to confirm these days and there needs to be more barefaced selfies! That said, now that I’m in my 40s, I feel like I’ve got the right balance between enhancing my natural features whilst not looking “made up” and I think that’s the secret isn’t it? Looking exactly like yourself with a little enchantment if needed. No need for contour (scary) or 70 shades of lipstick cluttering up drawers! Thank you for your super honest and real approach as always 🙂
Hi, Molly! I think I was born to do make-up. As an adolescent I covered up everything- my smell, my complexion- everything. I was made up every day and spent hours masking myself. I continued this well into my thirties. Now, at 47, I’m decoupling the last vestiges of the lack of acceptance of what I truly look like by removing the henna from my hair. I’d say this has and is the most brutal of all the processes. The makeup application just faded away but this is work and requires a setting aside of mainstream ideas about age, beauty and vitality. I’m healthiest, happier and more intentional than any moment that has come before but when I look in the mirror I’m aghast by the reflection of my roots with their rampant wisdom - grey hairs. I’m investing a lot into lightening the line of demarcation so the change isn’t so noticeable but it is all I see. Yet, I know this is what I want to see my years of growth reflected back to me - I’m just struggling with the transition. Because transitions are hard - thresholds are ripe for tripping. As always, Molly, thank you for sharing your journey. XO