Druzy mag Fashion, Beauty, Art and Culture Issue 1 Spring/Summer 21
Photography by Amanda Souza and Pawel Czerwinski SPRING/ summer 21
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EDITOR’S LETTER Welcome to the very first print issue of Druzymag, a biannual publication that aims to influence positive change and introduce fresh perspectives on fashion, beauty, art and culture. Druzymag is a platform that aims to inspire creatives globally, and act as a podium for them to showcase their achievements. Throughout our ‘Creative Spotlight’, which will feature across both print and online channels, we hope to build a community where we can support each-other as visionaries. In this issue, we focus on the transition to Summer, featuring an array of topics from the feminist shaving brand, the gentrification of Depop and the films to watch this summer. Carrie-Beth Blackburn x
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CONTENTS Skin Is In: Our Three-Step-Routine to a Glowing Complexion................................................... 4- 5 Creative Spotlight................................................................................................................................... 6- 11 The Brand That’s Teaching Us Not to Be Afraid of Body Hair.................................................. 12- 13 How Depop Users Are Gentrifying Charity Shops......................................................................... 16 What to Watch This Summer................................................................................................................ 18- 19 The Perfect Poolside Reads................................................................................................................. 20- 21 To Be Featured & Contact...................................................................................................................... 22- 23
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SKIN IS IN. OUR THREE-STEPROUTINE FOR A GLOWING COMPLEXION
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This is an unflawed hydration support formula that also visibly plumps without drawing water out of the skin. Partner with Niacinamide 10% which aids in maintaining the balance of sebum activity and blemish control – perfect for the hot, sticky summer days that often leave our skin feeling congested and to of course treat the ongoing effects of maskne.
he life of a skincare addict is rarely boring, and with Summer 2021 fast approaching giving hope of an end to COVID-19 restrictions, it means that we’re ditching the masks and baring all. After almost a year of being subject to constant maskne and dehydrated skin, it’s time to give ourselves some TLC and plan out a new skincare regiment to achieve the perfect summer glow. The brand leading the way is The Ordinary, known for its clean, clinical approach to skincare, whilst also being one of the most affordable brands on the market – Prices start from just £2.99. The products are available from a multitude of both online and brick and mortar retailers that include ASOS, Cult Beauty, & Other Stories and Boots
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.At first glance, you might feel intimidated by some of the names, and you might be thinking ‘Retinol 0.2% in Squalene... Is that safe?’ Fear no more, we’ve tried and tested a bundle of The Ordinary products to formulate a fool-proof threestep-routine that cleanses, replenishes and protects your skin, ready for all that Summer 2021 has in store.
Starting off with The Ordinary’s Squalene Cleanser, which is scent free, meaning it’s suitable for absolutely all skin types. The balmlike cleanser is perfect for heavy-duty make-up removal and for restoring the skin’s freshness. The product must be rubbed between the hands for 10 seconds to create a clear oil consistency before being applied to the face in a circular massaging motion for at-least 60 seconds. After using this product, your skin will be feeling plumped to perfection, ready for the next step. These next two serums go hand in hand especially if you have combination skin. After cleansing, while the skin is still damp, gently pat a few droplets of Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 into all areas of the face excluding the eyes.
The last step, which under no circumstances can be missed. Is to moisturise and protect. The Ordinary’s Natural Moisturizing factors retails for £4.90 and likewise to the cleanser is scent-free. The light-weight moisturiser can be used both in the AM and PM to help seal in all of the incredible properties from the previous step. Unknown to most, SPF should be a part of our skin-care routine all year round. No exceptions. SPF not only protects our skin from UV damage, but it also helps reduce signs of ageing. The Ordinary’s UV Filters SPF 30 is enriched with antioxidants and is specifically designed for application to the face ensuring a lightweight feel and not a hint of that overwhelming scent we’re so used to smelling from a typical drugstore lotion. By following this routine, your skin will be thanking you and showing luminous results within just four weeks - You won’t regret it.
Photo by Monstera SPRING/ summer 21
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CREATIVE SPOTLIGHT AMANDA SOUZA PHOTOGRAPHER, BRAZIL Welcome to the Creative Spotlight. For our Spring/Summer issue we’re highlighting Brazilian photographer, Amanda Souza, and her self-portrait photo collection inspired by shapes and the warm tones of Summer - Perfect for our Spring/Summer issue.
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‘Estrid isn’t just a razor. Estrid is a fairly priced, cruelty-free, quality razor that is specifically made for women. This might sound kind of obvious, but before we created Estrid it wasn’t. We had a hard time finding a razor that was made for the female shape, but available at the same price as one built for the male jawline.’ – Amanda Westerbom, Estrid co-founder.
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The Brand That’s Teaching Us Not To Be Ashamed Of Body Hair
While most of us can agree that body hair is natural and should be normalised, there still is a monumental amount of pressure for females to shave, a recent survey by The Guardian found that three out of four women feel as though shaving any visible areas of skin before heading out into public is a MUST. Estrid was founded on the idea that shaving is a choice and not a necessity and so, in a radical move to start a fluff-embracing revolution, the brand exclusively promotes their products on the shaggy legs of women with ‘real bodies’. More often than not, female targeted razor brands feature smooth,
silky and hairless skin on slim models – and that’s before the shaving demo. ‘We wanted to see all kinds of gorgeous people use it – because nothing is quite as beautiful as all the different shapes, curves, and shades of the human body.’ – Amanda Westerbom, Estrid co-founder. Don’t think Estrid’s ethos could get any better? Well... it can, they’re 100% vegan and cruelty free and have made a commitment to climate-compensated shipping. You might be sat questioning; how can a razor be vegan? Typically, the smooth lubricated strip on a typical razor includes animalderived glycerine. Estrid starter packs begin at only £7.95 and includes 1 steel handle, 1 wall holder, and 2 razor head cartridges. Then after that the subscription is £9.99 per month and Estrid have made the refill process completely effortless Gone are the days of scouring through razor head refill packs at your local drugstore, only to find the ones you bought are for a different model. Only shave for the odd, monthly special occasion? No worries! Aiming to reduce waste, Estrid tailor your subscription to your shaving preferences whether you need refills each month or just occasionally, they’ll be sent right to your door ready for when you need them most.
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Photography by Toa Heftiba
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eet the razor that everyone is talking about. Estrid are the Scandinavian born, vegan and cruelty free self-care brand that are teaching women to embrace the bristle. Estrid have positioned themselves as feminist and denounced the pink-tax (the added cost to female-targeted everyday hygiene products), which we can all agree whatever your gender, is an outdated and inequitable concept. According to Monzo, on average women pay 11% more for a standard disposable razor than their male counterparts. Instead Estrid have given their consumers the option to donate this amount to The Fawcett Society, a charity fighting for gender equality. The brand also donates a portion of their profits to Women for Women, a charity helping survivors of war rebuild their lives.
Photo by Allan Franca-Carmo
SUMMER FASHION TREND
POP OF COLOUR 14 Druzy mag
Photo by Mike Von
TANGERINE
DREAM SPRING/ summer 21
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HOW DEPOP USERS ARE GENTRIFYING CHARITY SHOPS
Trend-aware and business minded Gen-Z’s have spotted a money-making opportunity on the social shopping platform ‘Depop, since its launch in 2013 the app now boasts over two-million users according to Statistica.com, and the app is now charity shops largest competitor. Most top sellers on Depop source their items from local charity shops, and market them as sustainably sourced and vintage, the items can sell for a mark-up price, in some cases items are sold for ten times more the charity shop asking price. 16 Druzy mag
As sustainable fashion and vintage trends are so popular, consumers with a healthy disposable income are more than happy for Depop sellers to source the unique items and to pay that ‘little’ bit extra. ‘The gentrification of clothing, as I see it, is an appropriation of workingclass culture, in which uppermiddle-class students see something funky in dressing traditionally working-class - Katie Moseley, The What She Said Magazine So, how exactly does selling on Depop gentrify charity shops and the people that buy from them? In response to the popular demand of second-hand clothing, and to price-match Depop sellers, charity shops have hiked up their prices considerably over the past few years. Ultimately, this means that the individuals that rely on them to provide good quality clothing for a fraction of the price are now unable to turn to charity shops as their main source of clothing – Instead, lowincome individuals now consume from fast-fashion brands such as Primark, which means in the long run they will have to spend more money as the quality of items are poor and typically don’t last long.
Photo by Girlwithredhat
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here’s no better feeling than rifling through your local charity shop for an hour or two and scoring an authentic, vintage Elle knit for £3 in the bargain bucket- which you then proceed to brag about for the foreseeable. Charity shops offer a largely positive impact; they raise money for good-causes, offer a sustainable alternative to fast-fashion and are a centre for those in need. However, in recent years charity shop prices have soared and long-gone are the £1 rails that low-income individuals rely on as a sanctuary to clothe themselves which has forced them to source cheaper alternatives from fast-fashion stores.
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Photo by Mike Von
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Photo by KoolShooters
WHAT TO WATCH
THIS SUMMER
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LUCA
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ixar has developed a reputation for being one of the most original and innovative studios in animation and we always expect highly from them. While their most recent feature film Luca doesn’t quite reach the heights of their previous hits, it still remains an enjoyable summer flick for all ages. This charming tale follows Luca, a young sea monster bored of his aquatic lifestyle under the sea, desperate to go out onto the surface that he’s warned is a dangerous place for creatures such as him. He decides to explore life beyond the water, convinced by his new friend, a self-claimed expert on everything human. They both travel to the nearest town, a quaint Italian coastal fishing village, which they soon discover harbours a longstanding hatred and fear of mythical sea creatures. The film’s message is clear and well-intentioned, a story about fitting fit and being yourself despite what everyone else thinks. As you’ve come to expect from Pixar, the film is an impressive example of what animation can achieve. The voice acting is superb, particularly from young talent Jacob Trembley (room, wonder). The only reason the film doesn’t achieve more of an impact is that it doesn’t venture much further outside its own simplicity. There are hints of lore and unanswered questions that might leave more detail-oriented viewers wanting more. At its core it’s a warm film about friendship and above all else it has heart, which is something we all need from movies lately. Sometimes playing it safe is fine, especially for a children’s film. Ironically, Pixar’s reputation for complex and deeply emotional storytelling has meant that it’s often reviewed outside the world of animated film, which in itself is a massive compliment.
A QUIET PLACE 2
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he sequel to the 2018 nail-biting horror hit, once again helmed by director and co-writer John Krasinski. Following on moments from the events of the first film, the Abbott family are forced to travel outside the safety of their home to the unknown world beyond. The begins with an effective opening that shows us the very first day the creatures arrived. Within a few minutes the entire cinema was silent – the film demands you to listen and watch carefully, much like the characters have to in order to survive. The world and the enemy that has changed the world these characters inhabit is the strength of this film. It becomes more disappointing in retrospect. The experience of watching the film is one you won’t forget, thanks to excellent sound design and performances - a welcomed refreshment after a year of absence from cinema. Looking back however, the film lacks the focus of the original. It sets itself up for an obvious third instalment which in itself isn’t a negative, as I’m as happy as the next person to be transported to this world again, but it’s clear that this franchising of the film will affect the story. Already the second instalment feels slightly dragged out, lacking the wider scope hinted at the end of the first film.
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THE PERFECT POOLSIDE READS
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he past year gave us the luxury of time and as a form of escapism from continual negative news stories, most of us turned towards a ritual of daily reading as a form of escapism. Books are back in fashion and what better time to read than on a slow, summer’s day? If you’re like us, then you like to do your research into a book before making the dedicated purchase. We’re so happy to unveil the top two books we’ve read over the past year, that will be sure to compliment a growing collection.
DAISY JONES AND THE SIX - TAYLOR JENKINS-REID
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uthentic, dramatic and one of those books that are perfect for an easy poolside read. Taylor Jenkins Reid adopted an interview style of writing to unearth the story of Daisy Jones and The Six that is so intriguing and original that it has left a multitude of readers questioning why they had never heard of this iconic rock band from the 1970’s - they’re fictional! The novel is based on Fleetwood Mac’s journey to stardom and is everything you could hope for from a story about a rock ‘n’ roll band. Music enthusiasts, this is a summer must read.
QUEENIE - CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS
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inner of Book of The Year 2020 and often described as the modern-day Bridget Jones. Queenie is a 25-year-old British/Jamaican journalist navigating life in London after her long-term relationship came to a sudden halt. However, this isn’t your typical romcom, Queenie allows the reader to experience life in London from the point of view of a young black woman and explores controversial topics of conversation including racial stereotypes, the Black Lives Matter movement, abortion, and sexual harassment. This novel is political, honest, full of humour and impossible to put down.
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Photo by Reggienald Suarez
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WANT TO BE FEATURED IN THE AUTUMN/WINTER 21 DRUZYMAG ISSUE? 22 Druzy mag
Photo by Ambrose Chua Thanks for your interest in Druzymag! We’re currently looking out for talented creatives in the fields of photography, art, and design to be featured in our ‘Creative Spotlight’ for our upcoming Autumn/Winter Issue. Alternatively, if you’re a budding writer and would like to submit an article, we’re always interested to hear your thoughts on Fashion, Beauty, Art, and Culture. Please head over to Druzymag.com and fill out an application form on our ‘Want to be featured’ page.
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Issue 1 Spring/Summer 21
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