Slow beauty is nothing but returning to a slower, simpler way of approaching beauty, inculcating clean practices that consider the larger picture and the planet, and striving to be sustainable in every step of the way. It’s about taking a step back and reassessing our behaviour and choices, and asking questions. It’s also about realising that all of this needs to be circular, long lasting and sustainable in practice, not just in theory.
According to WGSN’s Big Ideas 2023 report, beauty routines and products will be reshaped by a sharper focus on health, science, sustainability and social justice in the post-pandemic era, with long-lasting, reusable, planet-friendly and circular products gaining precedence over the rest. Slow beauty urges one to be mindful and not oblivious by taking small, impactful decisions—like studying the back of the bottle, researching ingredients and their source, reading up on a brand’s sustainable initiatives, reducing waste and discarding correctly, and ultimately, consuming only as much as we need.
“Slowing down and being mindful in our daily tasks, including beauty, helps in our overall well being,” says Dr Debbie Palmer, a board-certified osteopathic dermatologist, co-founder and medical director of Dermatology Associates of New York and author of Mindful Beauty. She has a simple enough solution: focusing on the moment, “Soak life up to the fullest. Notice how the product feels and pay attention to how it smells. What is the product’s colour? How does it feel in your hand or on your face as you apply it? By being present in the moment, you can practise slow beauty,” she says.
If you’re in the present wholly, there’s not much that the fear of the future can do. “Focusing the mind helps to not only block out the negative energy around us, it helps to harness the healing power of the body,” says Dr Palmer, “when we’re calm on the inside, we feel better, have more energy and creativity, and exude more radiance on the outside. We’re more successful overall.”
But, in order to sustain this practice we’ve got to identify and switch to nourishing, sustainable products that can help in our slow beauty lifestyle. Ahead, our product picks from brands that are prioritising this philosophy to get you started:
Cocomilk Oil, Call of the Valley
View this post on Instagram
By opting for slower, patient and extremely gentle processes that protect the integrity of the natural resources used, Call of the Valley has brought forth pure, unadulterated oils that work to nourish the hair, body and face. Handcrafted from start to finish, their 100% organic cocomilk oil is extracted without any high heat or machinery, preserving the properties of coconut to its fullest in the bottle.
Crème Blush, Ruby’s Organics
View this post on Instagram
If you’ve been meaning to switch to ‘natural and clean’ makeup, Ruby’s Organics has plenty to pick from. The women-led brand focuses on skincare-infused makeup that is free of parabens, petrochemicals and alcohol. Get their multipurpose cream pot that works just as well on all features of the face i.e. eyes, lips and cheeks.
Wild Rosehip Supercritical Face Oil, Purearth
View this post on Instagram
Sourcing and using homegrown ingredients in their zero-waste studio ethically and responsibly, working in fair terms and empowering local women of those regions, and blending formulas rooted in Ayurvedic wisdom lies at the core of Purearth. Their 100% Wild Rosehip Supercritical Oil is hand-harvested in the Himalayas, and is a singular product that will target sun damage, pigmentation, scars and ageing skin.
Moringa Beauty Trio Set, Moringa What
View this post on Instagram
Harnessing the healing powers of moringa, the brand works in collaboration with small holder farmers in India to produce natural, non-toxic, cruelty-free and sustainable products. Initiate yourself into a slow beauty ritual with their trio set of 100 per cent moringa oil for skin and hair, face exfoliant and face mask mixing bowl.
Dream—Sleep Inducing Oil, Secret Alchemist
View this post on Instagram
Using clinical aromatherapy, the brand aims to bring balance to your beauty routine with products that are made from 100% natural ingredients. Roll on this therapeutic oil infused with ylang ylang and Roman chamomile at night-time to sleep soundly, peacefully.
