In a World full of Limited Beauty Ideals and Standards, it's Time for Change.
This manifesto seeks to evolve the outdated, restrictive idea of beauty, celebrating diversity and individual uniqueness instead. This is about shifting our perspective from fixed definitions to an evolving understanding of beauty that grows and changes with us, respecting our personal journeys.
Our Guiding Beliefs:
At Higher Self Beauty, we believe that:Skincare products must reflect their quality through the ingredients they contain.
This prioritizes product integrity by ensuring that the quality of ingredients justifies the product's claims and price. It means sourcing and using high-quality, effective ingredients that benefit the consumer's skin. As such, the efficacy and safety of these ingredients should always be backed by credible scientific research.
Misusing 'clean' and 'natural' labels on potentially harmful products must be discouraged.
Misusing these labels is a growing trend that preys on consumers' need for knowledge about ingredients. Brands should be transparent about their formulations and demonstrate their commitment to these labels by avoiding potentially harmful or toxic ingredients.
Overhyping ingredients that don't effectively penetrate the skin is unacceptable.
Using ingredients that can't penetrate the skin or aren't present at effective concentrations is misleading and unethical. Products should contain ingredients that deliver promised results through scientifically proven delivery methods and at appropriate concentrations.
Excessive packaging for marketing purposes, without any benefit, is toxic.
Overpackaging contributes to environmental waste, especially when done solely for marketing purposes.
Brands should minimize packaging, use recyclable materials, and prioritize the product's quality and effectiveness over visual appeal.
Toxic injections should never be portrayed as healthy.
Promoting invasive cosmetic procedures like facial injections as healthy or risk-free is misleading, as these procedures may have side effects or health risks. This is a call to highlight non-invasive, safe alternatives for achieving skincare goals.
Selling smooth, poreless, lineless skin as the ideal should be overturned.
Selling the idea of lineless, poreless, smooth skin as the ideal perpetuates unrealistic beauty standards and causes women suffering. The skincare industry should embrace and promote skin health over perfection, encouraging consumers to understand and appreciate their natural skin.
A New Perspective is the Evolution:
We aim to explore the true nature of cellular aging and whether it is natural or influenced by factors such as stress, and toxicity. To achieve this, we emphasize:
The importance of self-acceptance, self-expression, and self-expansion.
Embracing our individuality, including all our unique features and characteristics, is critical to our overall psychological well-being. Self-acceptance should not be subject to external validation; it is a personal journey of recognizing one's worth, irrespective of societal standards.
Appreciating that changing one's appearance can be a form of self-expression and communication, not necessarily a lack of self-acceptance.
Changing one's appearance can play a significant role in fostering self-confidence and self-expression. The ability to express ourselves through physical appearance can be a form of art and communication chosen and controlled by the individual.
Shifting from fearing physical decay to appreciating and embracing change.
As we age, our bodies, including our skin, naturally change. These changes are a testament to our experiences and our journey through life, not necessarily physical decay. Fearing aging impedes our ability to embrace the natural metamorphosis of our bodies.
Challenging the Beauty Narrative:
To tackle the issue of society and the beauty complex undervaluing women as they age, we strive to:
Nurture a new relationship with and story about beauty.
Conventional beauty has been excessively linked with external appearances.
Beauty isn't a universally defined standard in this new relationship but a deeply personal and subjective concept. It's about feeling good within ourselves, cherishing our bodies, and respecting our skin as a unique and expressive feature of our identity.
Raise awareness of internal decay and energy loss as a result of inflammation, not time lived.
Aging is not just an external process happening to you. It's essential to acknowledge internal aspects such as energy loss and internal inflammation in the narrative instead of attributing facial aging solely to outside forces like oxidation and gravity.
Promote sustainable approaches to beauty beyond product use to our relationship with resources, bodies, and nature.
Sustainable beauty isn't just about using products with minimal environmental impacts but also minimizing our demands for excessive product usage.
We define sustainability by cultivating a lifestyle that prioritizes harmony with our bodies and respect for our resources and natural environment.
Recognize that feeling beautiful is an internal sensation and that external appearance and expression play a significant role in communication and self-identity.
Looking good to others is deeply interconnected with feeling good. It's an internal sensation that comes from acknowledging and valuing ourselves and having that reflected back by the people around us. Thus, our self-identity ties firmly with our perceptions of beauty.
Resolve The Disconnect Between Inner and Outer Beauty:
Create a symbiotic relationship where self-acceptance and self-expression can coexist harmoniously by:
Practicing self-intimacy and self-appreciation through using high-quality products with targeted delivery systems.
Self-intimacy refers to developing a deep and personal understanding of ourselves. In terms of skincare, this involves understanding our skin and its unique requirements. By using high-quality products with targeted delivery systems, we can meet our skin's explicit needs, fostering a stronger, more intimate relationship with ourselves.
Taking care of our skin is also a form of self-appreciation. It's a way of respecting and loving our bodies, taking time from our day to provide the attention and love it deserves. It's acknowledging that we're worth the time, effort, and investment to maintain healthy, glowing skin.
Accepting our roles as agents of change and embracing it.
We are each an active participant in our lives, and we have the power to shape and influence our health and well-being. This understanding allows us to embrace our roles as agents of change in our beauty journeys.
We can make conscious choices about the products we use, the habits we cultivate, and the self-thoughts we nurture. By embracing our influence, we take charge of our self-expression, opening up possibilities for growth, improvement, and transformation.
Understanding that self-improvement is a form of self-acceptance that drives higher health standards for our bodies.
Traditionally, self-acceptance and self-improvement have been viewed as contradictory. However, in reality, they intersect. When we choose to improve ourselves, we accept ourselves enough to realize we deserve to be the best versions of ourselves.
In beauty and skincare, choosing to elevate our health standards, seeking better, more effective skincare products, or adopting healthier lifestyle habits are forms of self-improvement rooted in self-acceptance.
Taking Action Towards this New Beauty Ethos:
To embark on this journey and put this ethos into action, we ask:
Do we truly accept ourselves and adhere to our standards?
Everyone must ask themselves - do I genuinely accept who I am, including my flaws, strengths, and all my personality? Furthermore, assessing how consistently you adhere to your personal standards is essential. Setting these standards is one thing, but staying true to them requires resilience and discipline.
What health standards do we set for ourselves?
Establishing health standards involves setting benchmarks for physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Defining these standards requires a thorough understanding of our body's needs, mental health requirements, and emotional well-being. It is essential to critically assess the measures we take to maintain our overall health, the routines we establish, the food we consume, our physical exercise, mental relaxation practices, and our skincare routines.
How do we want to express ourselves and communicate with others physically and mentally?
Self-expression can happen through various mediums, such as art, music, speech, outward appearance, or interactions with others. It's vital to reflect on how our chosen modes of expression align with our authentic selves. Can we communicate our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs clearly and honestly? Are our physical appearance and personal style truly reflecting who we are?
Do our relationships and lifestyles reflect the standards we hold for ourselves?
For a well-balanced life, our relationships and lifestyles must align with our standards. Do we maintain relationships that honor and respect our personal ideals? Are our lifestyle habits conducive to achieving our self-intimacy goals?
Embracing Diversity in Beauty Perspectives
In our quest to redefine beauty, it is crucial to adopt an inclusive beauty ethos that:
Celebrates beauty expressions across cultures and races.
The beauty of diversity is that it brings with it an array of unique and distinct expressions of beauty. Cultures worldwide have traditions, customs, and beauty standards, each as vibrant and meaningful as the other. Celebrating beauty across different cultures and races also encourages the appreciation of diverse physical features, skin types, and complexions, creating an environment that emphasizes inclusivity.
Encourages diverse gender-based views of beauty, including men, non-binary, and transgender individuals.
Beauty is not confined to any gender. Everyone, including men, non-binary individuals, and transgender people, has a unique journey with beauty and skincare. Expression of beauty can also be an essential part of someone's gender identity journey; it can help them explore, understand, and communicate their individual identities.
We create a more inclusive and understanding beauty community by acknowledging and supporting these diverse gender-based views. We emphasize the importance of self-expression and self-acceptance, irrespective of a person's gender identity.
It is mindful of age diversity and the beauty experiences of people from different ages.
Our perception and experience of beauty also evolve as we age. The concerns, priorities, and aspects of self-care differ among different age groups. Recognizing this age diversity requires us to cater to other age group's specific needs and concerns, enriching their beauty journey.
By acknowledging and respecting these varied experiences, we foster a culture that appreciates the beauty in each stage of life. Understanding that aging is a natural process – and celebrating its beauty – is a step towards appreciating and respecting our bodies and journeys.
The Role of Community and Society in Shaping Beauty Standards:
A refined beauty ethos acknowledges the pivotal role society plays in shaping our perceptions of beauty:
Promoting positive body image at the community level.
Community-level efforts are crucial to create a nurturing environment for self-confidence and positive body image. This can be achieved through workshops, local support groups, and awareness campaigns emphasizing self-acceptance, personal growth, and healthy body image. By engaging local businesses, influencers, and community leaders to participate in these initiatives, we can foster an inclusive and supportive space that allows individuals to learn and grow together.
Encouraging respectful discussions about self-expression and acceptance.
Open and respectful discussions about self-expression and self-acceptance are essential for building a healthy understanding of beauty and identity. By fostering empathetic and respectful communication, we can help break barriers, encourage learning, and promote a broader understanding of how beauty can be expressed and experienced.
Advocating against harmful stereotypes and prejudices related to beauty.
Challenging and dismantling the stereotypical and discriminatory notions of beauty is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and diverse understanding of what it means to be beautiful. We can raise awareness and challenge misconceptions about beauty standards by advocating against these harmful stereotypes through public campaigns, educational programs, and influential media. Encouraging diverse representation in media, fashion, and beauty industries is another significant step towards establishing an environment that celebrates diversity and the uniqueness of individual expressions of beauty.
Including beauty and self-image education as part of school curriculum.
Integrating beauty and self-image education into the school curriculum can help lay a strong foundation for self-confidence and identity formation in young people. Well-structured educational programs can teach students about diverse beauty standards, body positivity, and self-expression while emphasizing the importance of mental health, self-acceptance, and self-care. By incorporating these lessons in schools, we can foster the development of an inclusive, empathetic, and body-positive mindset in future generations.
Beauty is an Energy, not an Aesthetic or Age:
This energy takes shape through our cells, our emotions, our thoughts, our actions, and our spirit. It is the spark in the eye, the passion in a heart, the kindness in an action, and the wisdom within decades lived. It is sincere laughter, compassionate gestures, and a thirst for knowledge. It is the courage of authenticity and the strength in vulnerability.
Recognizing beauty as an energy rather than just an aesthetic or age necessitates acknowledging the inherent dynamism of beauty—its capacity to evolve, transform, and pulsate through every stage of our lives. Whether we are witnessing the fiery curiosity of youth, the fierce courage of adulthood, or the profound wisdom of old age, each phase exalts a distinct shade of beauty.
With this New Standard and Ethos of Beauty:
We envision a more inclusive and empowering approach transcending external perception and transforming beauty into an inner sensation of energy diffusion, skin intelligence, and a vibrant self-image.
Through this, we are actively evolving the skincare and beauty industry by fostering positive community values and societal impacts one face at a time.
Raise your hand and say YES, you're taking the call to embrace the evolution of beauty! Don't hesitate—join our movement today.
Leave a comment, share our message with others, and let's create waves of positive change, together in this evolution of beauty and celebrate the unique energy that resides within each of us.