CONSCIOUS BEAUTY. A journey of discovery. BEAUTY & WORDS_ Nicola Brittin PHOTOS_ Julia Kennedy

I only buy great make up. Being a make up artist in the fashion industry I’m looking for good colour pay off. Smooth application. Base ranges for all skin tones. Strong selection of colours. Matts, creams, shines, shimmers. Long lasting. Highlighters with shimmer, highlighters without shimmer. Bronzers that are actually the colour of tanned skin. Clear Mascaras, blue mascaras, great mascaras.

Skin: Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, Eyes: Illamasqua Artistry Palette - Experimental, Mascara: Inika Curly Lash vegan Mascara, Highlighter: Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder

I’m not a vegan and in all honesty, I don’t choose my make up or skincare based on how it was made or what packaging it comes in. 

What I know is I want to be better, I want to choose better but I still want my make up and skincare to be THE BEST. There is no compromise here. 

Skin: Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, Eyes : Illamasqua Artistry Palette - Experimental, Lips: Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick in Soaked, Blush: Inika Organic Baked Blush Duo in Burnt Peach, Highlighter: Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder

Skin: Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, Eyes: Illamasqua Artistry Palette - Experimental, Lips: KVD Vegan Beauty ‘Studded Kiss’ Satin Matte Cream Lipstick in Backstage Bambi, Lipgloss: Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lipgloss in Fever

So this magazine is a timeline of my journey.

I want to know what brands out there are creating the top products but aren’t testing on animals/ using palm oil/ animal products or using destructive packaging. 

I want to know what statements like ‘Recognised by PETA’ mean.

I want to know why more brands aren’t using refillable packaging. 

I want to know if washable cotton pads and bamboo cotton buds are really viable options.

I want to know even if brands are ticking a lot of these eco boxes, are their work forces treated well and paid well?

I want to know more about product content and product testing. If a product contains no animal by-product but is tested on animals, is it fair to give yourself a pat on the back for ticking the ‘vegan’ box, but blatantly flout animal rights issues? And conversely, do manufacturers using animal by-products but testing only on humans occupy a higher moral plane for ticking the ‘animal rights’ box. 

These are sensitive issues which I intend to investigate over the next few months.

Skin: Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation, Stick Eyes: Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter eyeshadow in Foil, Blush: Inika Organic Baked Blush Duo in Burnt Peach, Highlighter: Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder, Lips: Inika Organic Certified Organic Vegan Lipstick in Auburn Ambition

What (I think) I do know is that no one is doing this perfectly. But I want to give my money to the brands which are trying. I mean really trying, not just using the buzz words.

This planet doesn’t have the time to waste waiting for us to get things perfect. We just have to crack on with as much as possible.

And as I sit here writing this during Covid- 19 lockdown, listening to reports about dolphins in the rivers of Venice and deer wandering the empty streets of Japan, I hope, just maybe, all beauty brands might come back to work with a different view on these issues and appreciate how quickly mother nature can turn things round if you just give her a break.

Skin: Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, Lips: KVD Vegan Beauty ‘Studded Kiss’ Satin Matte Cream Lipstick in Roxy, Eyes: Illamasqua Artistry Palette - Experimental, Mascara: Inika Curly Lash vegan Mascara, Highlighter: Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder

Skin: Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, Blush: Inika Organic Baked Blush Duo in Burnt Peach, Highlighter: Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder, Lips: Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable lipstick in I’ve Been

Skin: Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, Eyes: Inika Organic Certified Organic Eye Pencil in Emerald, Blush: Inika Organic Baked Blush Duo in Burnt Peach, Highlighter: Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder, Lips: Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable lipstick in I Live for