Beauty products help us transform ourselves into our ideal selves. Skincare helps us get that flawless skin. Foundation helps us get that perfect glass skin and concealer helps us hide all our problems. Contour helps us get that snatched look. And while I now appreciate women who can do good make-up, I think it is a problem when people think that they have “flaws” that need to be corrected.I also think that as conscious consumers with access to SO much information online, we could all be more careful with the brands we support. Here are some beauty products that we should all collectively stop buying now –
1. Skin whitening/lightening creams – I understand that beauty companies thrive on making people feel insecure but this obsession with being ‘fairer/whiter/lighter skinned’ is so archaic. Every single skin tone is beautiful and everyone should be proud of their skin tone.
2. Face bleaches – I object to these for the same reason as skin whitening creams. Add to that, face bleaches are so much worse since they can have an adverse reaction on your skin.
3. Artificial tanning products – Why make yourself feel bad about your natural paleness and opt to constantly artificially tan yourself? I follow this YouTuber who constantly artificially tans herself to the extent that her hands are SO orange always.
4. Lip Plumping Products – They work on the concept of irritating your lips into looking plump (for a very short period of time) – come on – beauty doesn’t have to be pain!
5. Products from brands that still test on animals – I was in for a rude shock recently when I realized that my favourite K-Beauty brands are actually not cruelty-free! Why do we need to do animal testing when there are technologies that have replaced this cruel practice altogether? I hope more consumers come forward and demand that beauty brands do away with animal testing. Even huge conglomerates like Loreal still aren’t cruelty-free (some of Loreal’s sub-brands which they have bought could be cruelty-free eg: NYX). Ethical Elephant is a great website to check for these details about brands before purchasing from them.
6. Products from brands using unethically sourced mica – Mica is found in a lot of make-up and skincare products (check ingredients – mica is listed as “CI 77019”). Mica is what adds that shine/glimmer to make-up. But mica mining is riddled with problems. A lot of companies source mica from mines in villages in India and with the boom in the makeup industry, mica mining also saw a boom. This has led to a problem of child labour in the industry because child labour is cheaper and they are able to go into the smaller more treacherous parts of the mine. A lot of brands have now moved to ethically sourced mica, linking a list I found on Ethical Elephant. Please check the ingredients on your makeup/skincare before you buy them and crosscheck to ensure they come from ethical sources.
What are some beauty products that you think we should all collectively stop using? Do you agree with my picks?
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Happy Panda 
I completely agree with all of these. Especially the ones that could be a simple swap like cruelty-free.
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I know right? Technology is so evolved that there is literally no need to harm some poor animals.
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The Ph is a huge market for whitening products. In a country that struggles with poverty and hunger, our people buy whitening products. This is where we are as a society.
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Same – India had this skin whitening cream called ‘fair and lovely’ which had been the most popular cream for decades before feminists called it out and they just changed their name to ‘Glow and Lovely’. *EYE ROLL*
I think because of colonization, a lot of our countries were made to feel like white skin is better, an ideology that passed down through decades. I’m glad to see things changing in India now.
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I absolutely hate the skin whitening products! It is first of all so toxic, because that just decreases self esteem. But we still live in a country where Fair and Lovely is the rage and racial inferiority exists.
I’m against Mica too, because the miners who do the work contract so many infections and fatal problems. Here’s to hoping the beauty standards are REALISTIC.
Love your opinions!
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Yes, I agree with ALLLLL of your picks! And I had no idea about #6. Before I buy anything, I run it through the EWG skin deep database and I will be sure to look out for products with mica. In general, lees is always more and we need to be okay being happy with the way Mama Nature made us. She’s a creative genius and I don’t doubt her artistry!! 😍
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Agreeeed!!!❤️
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I agree with you on these products but I. A huge fan of L’oreal. I wish they would stop animal testing. I honestly don’t know if I would stop buying from them. I do limit my spending.
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Hope this blog spread awareness among people!
Fully APPRECIATE your work!
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Thank you – I hope so too. Especially about animal cruelty and child labour.
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I had no idea about #6. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. It’s something I will look out for in future purchases.
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I’m so glad to hear that. ❤️
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I am with you on all of these!
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Yay! So glad to hear that! ❤️
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I agree with all of these ideas, though I’m left wondering the difference between using a spray tanning product (I’ve never used one) and changing one’s appearance with makeup. Good for you in avoiding products that have come to fruition through animal testing.
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I’m not sure if my explanation will make sense – I’ve always had crazy curly hair. All through my teens I hated my hair and I’d think that once I was a little older I’ll get it chemically treated and straightened. But now I love my natural curls but still use a straightener once in a while to straighten my hair out. I see make-up as accepting yourself and still wanting to experiment with your look. I see spray tan/skin whitening creams as aspiring to alter yourself since you don’t like what you have. Not sure if that makes sense!
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Oh yes, absolutely with you, and it is very easy to make a different choice, I think.
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Yes, I totally agree!!!
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Such an amazing blog and very straightforward talk!!
Loved it…
Kudos
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Hard agree from me! I am 100% with you in this list and it honestly breaks my heart to see half the world buying skin-whitening products, while the other one kake-tans until everyone’s orange… 😥
As for cruelty-free products, I recently realised that many many brands stil test on animals, and it is quite hard to find some that are clean. There are many resources online and on social media to help stay clear of really bad ones luckily! Thank you for sharing, this is such an important topic to talk about!
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Me too! I was watching a random video on YouTube a few weeks back when I discovered that my absolute favourite Korean Beauty brands are not cruelty free and it was such a huge shocker. Especially now that there are plenty of other ways to test products! 🥺
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