the beauty edit

The trouble with the word ‘beauty’ is that it has so many definitions. It becomes confusing for the modern-day woman or man to pick through all the different types of beauty and decide on what she or he really means. The question is, what is the true definition of beauty? The poetic beauty of nature, of ‘rolling hills and crashing waves’, the beauty of the face, that jawline and those eyes, or the beauty of human nature, of the senses and of emotions?

One of the most commonly used definitions of beauty today is the one commercialised by the use of beauty products. A largely female-based industry, the beauty industry thrives on loyal customers who have a passion for learning the art of make-up. It is an industry that is often slammed for objectifying women and for stripping away body image and self-esteem by focussing on the seemingly vain goal of perfecting a winged eyeliner, or finding a mascara which does not clump. There are two sides to every story, and the beauty industry is definitely not an exception.

Personally, I would not call myself particular invested in the beauty industry. The most makeup I wear, even on blog shoots, amounts to lipstick, mascara and maybe eye-shadow. Every time I try to fill in my eyebrows I end up looking like an angry Mii from the Nintendo Wii, and if you asked me about how to find the right colour foundation, and what primer to use, I would have absolutely no clue. Basically, I like to stick to the basics and go for a more natural look. But I also have a lot of admiration for those professionals, or self-learned make-up artists, who practise to create a perfect brow shape.

I don’t see make-up as an attempt to conceal one’s personality or to become a fake version of yourself. Using make-up is a choice and is an expression of your personality and your passions. It is just as justifiable as loving fashion, or loving to read. That’s why we see so many beauty bloggers succeeding; because the beauty industry is not just about selling products. It is about the people behind it, who are actually passionate about how to use these products.

This blog post is about my personal beauty favourites; today, I am talking about beauty in terms of the industry. It is focusing on a physical beauty, the beauty of moisturised skin or a glowing face. And that’s okay.

Dior Addict Lip Glow in Pink

This is something I can wear every day to freshen my face up a bit before going out. It is subtle and doesn’t dry out your lips. The balmy texture of the baby pink stick does exactly what the name suggests; brings out the natural colour of your lips. I love this product because it is simple for every-day use and brings out the natural aspect of your own lips. It also has a gorgeous case and fits everywhere.

http://www.sephora.com/dior-addict-lip-glow-P236816?skuId=1162650

Coffee Scrub

Whether it be Frank Body, Combi Café or impromptu DIY scrub made with coconut oil and ground coffee in the middle of the night, coffee scrub is always a good idea. It acts as an exfoliant and a moisturiser all at once and leaves you smelling like heaven. Daily, weekly, monthly, whatever floats your coffee boat.

https://au.frankbody.com/products/original-coffee-scrub

Benefit ‘They’re Real!’ Mascara

This mascara is so worth it. Even if you accidentally apply 500 layers, ‘They’re Real!’ will still leave you with gorgeous, natural-looking lashes which last the entire day. No clumps and no fuss.

https://www.benefitcosmetics.com/product/view/theyre-real

Soap & Glory Righteous Butter Body Butter

This is the best moisturiser I have ever used, because it actually works. It comes in two sizes, doesn’t kill your nose with an overpowering smell and spreads out easily – it will last you a very long time! The thin texture absorbs really quickly so you won’t have sticky legs and fingers.

http://www.soapandglory.com/the-righteous-body-butter

Water

Free and in abundance, water is all around us. It is so important to hydrate periodically throughout the day to keep you and your body going. We are made up of lots of water and we need to drink lots of it to keep up with ourselves. Hydrating has had a noticeable positive influence on my skin and keeps me feeling fresh.

Sleep

We all know that we can’t function without a good night’s sleep, and neither can our skin. I always start breaking out on my face when I get less sleep than usual; I find that there’s such a noticeable difference in my skin when I do get enough sleep in just a couple of nights.

Love, Ingrid