BEAUTY

CO-EDITOR LIBBY DAWSON

The Beauty in You

BY GLORIA DARGATZ

What is beauty? Am I beautiful? Questions that a lot of people ask themselves on a daily basis, questions that affect a lot of members of society. But what does beauty mean, what is beautiful? Beauty standards vary all around the world. When for example chin tattoos in New Zealand often define beauty, in different cultures in Africa, stretched earlobes with big earrings embrace grace. If you compare these standards of beauty with the western world or other parts of the globe, you’ll find a lot of other ideas of beauty. But not only are beauty standards different all around the world, they also change throughout time. Especially, when it comes to the “perfect” body shape of a woman. For instance, during the Renaissance, a woman reflected the status of her husband, if she was thin, her husband was considered poor. But this changed with the time when up to recently, women should be skinny with no visible fat. And this again changed to that beauty now seems to mean, having curves, with large breasts, wide hips, and a larger rear. But then, women are also expected to have a small waist and long legs with a thigh gap. These beauty standards are not only unrealistic, they often impact the wellbeing of the people affected. Trying to look the way society tells you is right, frequently takes confidence and damages the mental health of especially young women and girls. Especially during puberty girls believe, that what they see in the media, the glamorous looks with full makeup and pictures taken from the perfect angles, are a reality, that these snapshots are the way, they should look, and that you are only beautiful when you reach these really specific and unrealistic beauty standards. All in all: Beauty standards really affect everyone in society, some more some less. But it all comes down to this: No matter, what society tries to tell you, what society defines as beauty, no matter, if you fit these so often unrealistic standards or not, you are beautiful and this is a fact. Because beauty comes in so many ways, and we should start celebrating uniqueness in a person rather than limiting our beliefs, our definitions of beauty on beauty standards.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE!

BY TEEGAN ARICIOGLU

21st Century Beauty

Beauty is a topic that interests me and I believe needs talking about, as I feel it’s a topic that many people, especially in the 21st century, feel insecure about. In today’s world, I feel that there are a lot of stereotypes around beauty and makeup, especially linking to social media pages regarding how a girl should look! As well as the implications this causes for how people show the world natural beauty and the realism behind who somebody is! Something I feel passionate about, is loudly sharing the message of NATURAL BEAUTY to the world…it should come prior to makeup beauty. I want to take the chance to compare natural looks to makeup looks, we need to do this often so we can see where the real beauty lies… as in my opinion the real beauty lies underneath the makeup products that the media encourages women to use. Alongside this, I’d like us all to take a look at the prices of these products, the price that many females are willing to pay. I feel that makeup itself is a stereotype that goes unseen. I feel that to a degree, these expensive brands are out to prey on people who want to look good… people are not as accepting of their own natural beauties as they used to be, so they’re happier and more willing to pay into this. Instead of promoting more affordable brands which provide products that do the exact same job, we are exposed to the most expensive brands. This not only provides a downgrading feeling to any product that isn’t that, but it also makes us spend more money on things we don’t need. Not only that, in my opinion this can lead on to bullying within schools and outside schools, if we don’t use the right products, we don’t fit in. I feel that makeup companies have a way of persuading customers to feel that they should be buying the most expensive products. I want you to know that this is not true. You do not need it, and this is a form of manipulation that goes unseen. We need to be more accepting of natural beauty and encourage people to feel comfortable in their own skin!

SPRING BEAUTY TRENDS 2021

BY LIBBY DAWSON We are well and truly on our way into Spring, and the best thing about a new season is a whole new look! It’s been very difficult for new trends to emerge, as well as get on board with them whilst being in lockdown. However, now that we are (hopefully) post pandemic, and allowed to explore the real world again, it’s really necessary for us to know what’s what!

This Spring, make up trends are all about colour; vibrant lipstick, shimmery shadows and a pink blush too! In general, this is a good time to ditch the warm, muted tones and go for something a little more colourful, it is Spring after all. When else can you match a neon pink eyeshadow with a bold matte pink lip? A fuchsia or red lip is great for adding a touch of Spring into your normal make up look. My favourite is the K.I.S.S.I.N.G Velvet Underground Lipstick by Charlotte Tilbury.

Now more than ever, the glowy skin is in, and what’s great, is that you don’t need a tonne of products to look this way. If anything, you don’t need any! Most importantly, SPF is essential with the warmer months coming, so get yourself an SPF infused tinted moisturiser or cream. This not only gives you the coverage you need, but also prevents against sun damage. My favourite is the Bare Minerals Complete Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream with an SPF 30.

A neutral eyeliner is definitely coming back and I am here for it. I’ve been adding a little wing to my make up looks recently, and not only does it make me look more awake, but it also completes a classic look. As well as this, remember to mix up your colours! Adding a beige, white, cream or brown liner is really going to open up your eyes and add an element of brightness to your Spring look; experiment with your upper lash line too. My favourite eyeliners are by NYX Cosmetics, especially the Faux White Eye Brightener.

Let’s talk hair! Fringes and bangs made a comeback recently, and it seems that they’re here to stay this Spring. Supersized fringes and even the soft

wispy take on the trend, are a great way to give your hair a fresh look without needing to style it too much. By using a round brush, hair volumiser and a hairdryer, you have a new look in less than 30 seconds. And if you didn’t want to commit to the chop, you can simply achieve the same look by switching up your parting. I picked up a round brush from Primark for £2 and some volumiser from SuperDrug!

A trend I’ve definitely been getting on board with this Spring, is adding colour to my nails. Like with everything, our nails are also embracing the colour this Spring with pastels right at the top. My current favourite and colour for the season is definitely lilac; the Barry M Cosmetics Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint to be specific. I love a natural gel nail, so I am very excited that these are on trend; and I am more than happy to trade my usual white or nude, for a pop of colour. Something else I’ve been loving is a classic French manicure but with a coloured tip! It’s simple but so so effective, and it’s a great way to add that touch of colour!

Another product that comes back around at this time of year, is face mists, and this year is no different. There are so many out there to choose from, and they’re a great way to enhance your glowy skin, add hydration, and relieve the tiredness. My favourite for a long time has been the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cumber and Green Tea, it’s so refreshing. Last but not least I cannot but mention my favourite product, a lipgloss. I will never leave my house without one and it completes every look! You cannot go wrong with a hydrated lip so alongside a gloss I have to carry a good balm too. My favourites are the Kiko 3D Hydra Lipgloss in the shades Chestnut or Clear, and the Fenty Beauty Pro Kiss Lip Balm in every shade, (I’m obsessed)!

If you’ve been hopping on any trends or want to get involved with scoping out the upcoming trends for summer, please email me at: libby@student-life. co to be featured!