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Could You Be A Socially Responsible Buyer of Beauty?

3 May, 2016 - 08:04pm by - First Lady | 12 Comments

By BR Kellie

One of the things I really love about the First Lady of BR, Nat, is that she’s got a good heart. She cares. A lot. She’s all for equality. Social injustice sees her getting her growl on. The animals are truly her friend – she’d have enough to fill a zoo if she could, I’m sure of it. She’s the kind of person who rages against the machine, and does so in an effectual and eloquent way.  And she’s pretty good at reminding me of the things I ought to care about too.

Recently she sent me this article from www.lennyletter.com. It was all about shopping ethically, and she put it to me that perhaps we ought to think about buying beauty ethically. I read the article. Finished it. Shut my laptop and looked down at my cheap as chips chain store dress and felt bad about buying it, then I thought about what makeup I had on my face and then opened my laptop and asked Google if my $3 Jordana lippy was cruelty-free. It is. Phew. Still, good old Catholic guilt made a little nest in my stomach, and I got to wondering if the rules of being a socially responsible shopper in the Lenny article could be applied to buying beauty products. 

Rule #1 - Shop Vintage & Second Hand Stores. I had a wee hum and ha about this. You see, as you know BR is all about supporting the New Zealand beauty industry, which means buying from local distributors. So buying from a second hand store doesn’t necessarily support the local beauty industry, even though if it’s a charity store you’re supporting a good cause… and you’re also ensuring things aren’t being chucked into a landfill. But then, if it’s second hand, well, you don’t know whom it’s come from and whether they’ve ever had a nail fungus or conjunctivitis or something equally as unwantable. Or whether it’s been given a squirt with isopropyl to have clear it of any goobs. Quandary!? I think I’ll stick to the BR policy of buying fresh from local distributors.

Rule #2 - Upcycle. Hmmm, I feel this can be done with makeup. Lippies you don’t enjoy as lipsticks could make for a good blusher. Candle jars can be repurposed as brush holders. Eyeshadows you don’t use on your eyes can be mixed with clear nail polish to create your own custom polish. Yep. Doable.

Rule #3 - Look Out For Fair-Trade Labels. Usually my mind immediately goes to my favourite blocks of Whittaker’s chocolate when I think about fair trade products… but buying fair trade beauty products is also possible. Perhaps even easy! Off the top of my head I can think of four brands who use fair trade ingredients wherever possible - Lush, Trilogy, Welda, and The Body Shop.  Trade Aid also stocks a natural fair trade skincare range called BioNatyr.

Rule #4 - Go Local. Ah, this one’s not hard – heck for us Kiwis this one is almost too easy as New Zealand has many producers of skincare and beauty products. Living Nature, Rovie, Bee Sensual, True, Doll Face, Antipodes, The Aromatherapy Company… really, the list could go on and on and on. We’re spoilt for choice.

Rule #5 - Buy Less, Buy Responsibly, and Wear Longer. Ah, this can be done, because really it’s just a good old pan challenge, where you only use what you have until it’s gone before replacing it. I don’t know about you, but if I were to try it with my eyeshadow collection I’d still be using them when I was 97. (Except I wouldn’t because expiry dates and hygiene…) But it does give a wakeup call though, how much do we actually need? How much will we realistically use? Was the purchase of my 40+ lipsticks/glosses actually necessary? (There goes that pang of guilt again!)

Rule #6 -Make Yourself Heard. In the article this refers to letting companies know that you’re not happy with their ethical practices. Something that can be translated into the beauty industry, especially if you’re big on cruelty-free products, or ensuring those that create beauty ingredients are paid fairly for their work and products. Whether your write an email, start a petition or sign a petition, we can all be agents for change.

Thanks, Nat, for sending that link my way. While I’ll still be a dirty old meat-loving, leather-wearing, head-in-the-sand-on-some-issues Pixie, it’s good to remember there are ways we can be better, and do better.

So do tell… are you a sustainable lover of beauty? What do you do? How do you manage it? Or, like me, will you be making more of an effort to improve what you buy and how you buy in the name of looking after the world and those who live in it? Chat away… 

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Comments

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16th May, 2016

The thing about sustainability is that if something isn't then it will one day just cease, for one reason or another. I do like the points you've made here Pixie there are always ways we can do better.

11th May, 2016

I'm getting there with #4 & #5. I will upcycle, but am not prepared for a rainbow anything right now. It has to be the right thing. I have too much stuff.

4th May, 2016

As I've gotten older I have become more aware of the history behind the product(s) I am buying. The last few years I have been investing more in New Zealand/Australian skincare and make-up as they are usually cruelty free. I definitely already do # 3-4 and mostly #5 however I am guilty of succumbing to advertising and buying products I really don't need.

4th May, 2016

I used to buy, buy, buy makeup by the fistfuls in my early teens. Several moves and a series of bad breakouts later I had trimmed down my stash, waaay down the number of lippies I had could be counted on one hand. Then I got into skincare. I bought mainly New Zealand brands. In fact it was just last year when I did my first overseas order for makeup and skincare. Last year saw me add to my makeup collection but I had a new motto, few and fancy. I wanted a collection containing things that I was actually going to enjoy and planned to use. Dark reds and purples, nude shades and bright pink found there way into my collection of mostly neutral toned lipsticks and glosses. I finally started owning highlighters and a bronzer, instead of a way too dark foundation. Some primers were added to my collection as well as some expensive eye shadow palettes and I owned more than one blush. New Zealand is still my fave for skincare items and I do grab some pretty good second deals off friends for unused makeup and skincare items. I'm into natural and organic stuff as well so the majority of my skincare is pretty much cruelty free already, since I don't think NZ or most companies will test things like rosehip or jojoba oil or essential oils of orange on animals.

4th May, 2016

I definitely agree with this article, I have been trying to shop more cruelty free and NZ brands. I love supporting NZ brands which is so easy to do cause there is so many amazing brands. I also think that more natural products are probably more better for your skin. I think I could definitely do rules 3-6. I am not sure if I would buy make up from a second hand shop though.

4th May, 2016

I consider myself socially responsible. I haven't bought a single skincare or makeup item in 2016. I have a massive stash that needs to be used so I am choosing to work through it slowly. There have been many temptations however. I also avoid products containing microbeads and I recycle all beauty containers where I can.

4th May, 2016

I am really happy to support NZ made and fair trade and cruelty free -These are all the things I look for -I love second hand stores but not for makeup.

4th May, 2016

I've grown up with those kind of ideals so it's not too hard for me. Hence my love of Lush and The Body Shop. I have tried a lot of brands that don't fit these ideals too particularly with make up because there wasn't a long enough lasting, affordable or existent cruelty free etc option. But I have been excited to see the NZ cosmetic market start to offer more options. Local ingredients, better for your body and better for the world is the ideas I've been taught growing up. And on food I get a 9.9/10 especially thanks to brands like Whittakers. Skincare I'd get a 9/10 but make up is less at 6/10. Clothes I'd also get less but I'd gain a point with the article for buying long lasting things. Though that means leather often which pro animal rights person here has significantly struggled with.

3rd May, 2016

When I saw a documentary on Kmart it made me cringe, because I love the place. But it made me aware of why their prices are so low. I'll admit to owning alot of make up but I hapilly pass them on to others. I love clothes swapping with girlfriends and have also joined a site that I can do this on. I love upcycling with my children too. I plan to turn my daughters doll house into a stationery/bookshelf.

3rd May, 2016

Sometimes I do think or ask myself "do I need this?. Sometimes I just can't control myself. Specially there is 25% - 50% sale.

3rd May, 2016

I think I'd be most likely to do #5 and #6.

3rd May, 2016

I strongly believe in sustaining the beauty industry...single handedly. I buy anything and everything. And if it's on sale I buy two, 15% off and I'm there! So I'd say I'm socially responsible in helping the economic situation of the country. Landfill not so much...

Koni
3rd May, 2016

Lol ok I had a good laugh here!!

Julieal
4th May, 2016

Good on you -the country needs a lot more like you XX

Pifithrin
4th May, 2016

Hahaha! That was great

pintsize
16th May, 2016

Keeping the economy alive :D love it :D

itsclearascrystal
4th May, 2016

Watch the documentary on the body shop if you want to see a nicer retail documentary. Not sure how accurate it is though.

Macs
4th May, 2016

I'll definitely do that. I love those sorts of programmes that are real life.

ladythorn
9th May, 2016

What was the Kmart doco called Macs? Keen to watch it! :)

Macs
9th May, 2016

Im struggling to find the article. Once I find it il get back to you.

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